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Modulation of structural and functional traits in facultative halophyte Salvadora oleoides Decne. For adaptability under hyper-arid and saline environments

2023; Elsevier BV; Volume: 213; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.jaridenv.2023.104965

1095-922X

Ummar Iqbal, Mansoor Hameed, Farooq Ahmad, Muhammad Sajid Aqeel Ahmad, Nargis Naz, Muhammad Ashraf, Muhammad Kaleem,

Plant Diversity and Evolution

Five differently adapted ecotypes were collected from (i) Jhang (JHG-mud flats near the Thal Desert margin), (ii) Rahim Yar Khan (RYK-sandy dunes of Cholistan Desert), (iii) Rajanpur (RJP-stony desert near the foothills), (iv) Lal Suhanra (LSR-hypersaline desert flat area), (v) Khewra mine (KHM-salt affected and sandstone mountain) during the peak of flowering season to unravel the underlying mechanism involved in their ecological success. The ecotypes from desertified regions possessed large leaves, root and shoot K+, total soluble proteins, chlorophyll (chl a, b, tchl, chl a/b and tchl/caro) and carotenoids, and thick cortical region, enlarged pith and its cells area in stems, and leaf thickness in terms of midrib and lamina thickness, epidermal and mesophyll thickness and large sized vascular bundles in leaves. In comparison the ecotypes of salt affected areas surpassed in growth attributes, ionic contents especially root and shoot Na+ and Ca2+, osmoprotectants (total free amino acids and soluble sugars) and antioxidants (SOD, CAT and POD). From this finding, we concluded that S. oleoides evolved multiple tolerance mechanisms at the structural and functional level to ensure survival under hyper-arid and saline environments, and can be explored later at a genetic level to surrogate in sensitive species.