Plasticity tradeoffs in salt tolerance mechanisms among desert Distichlis spicata genotypes
Brynne E. Lazarus A D , James H. Richards A , Phoebe E. Gordon A , Lorence R. Oki B and Corey S. Barnes C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A University of California Davis, Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
B University of California Davis, Department of Plant Sciences, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
C Quarryhill Botanical Garden, PO Box 232, Glen Ellen, CA 95442, USA.
D Corresponding author. Email: belazarus@ucdavis.edu
Functional Plant Biology 38(3) 187-198 https://doi.org/10.1071/FP10192
Submitted: 21 September 2010 Accepted: 15 January 2011 Published: 29 March 2011
Abstract
We investigated genetic differences in salinity tolerance among 20 saltgrass (Distichlis spicata (L.) Greene) genotypes, including constitutive, gender-based and phenotypic plasticity traits, to better understand the basis of adaptation and acclimation by saltgrass in diverse environments. On average, the plants survived NaCl treatments up to ~1 M, with reductions in growth and health that varied with genotype. For these 20 genotypes in a greenhouse study, we showed that greater plasticity in one salt tolerance mechanism was physiologically linked to lesser plasticity in another. Under various levels of constant salinity stress, genotypes employing a strategy of greater plasticity in foliar Na and lesser plasticity in both foliar K : Na and Na turnover rate were better able to substitute Na for K in some cellular functions, especially osmotic adjustment, leading to increased salinity tolerance. Although we observed gender segregation with salinity in the Owens (Dry) Lake Playa (Inyo County, CA, USA) population planted for dust control, from which the genotypes were collected, we did not observe gender differences in salinity tolerance in the greenhouse. Significant physiological plasticity tradeoffs among genotypes, however, did affect overall salinity tolerance and may be important for this species survival in diverse managed and natural habitats.
Additional keywords: dioecy, dust mitigation, osmotic adjustment, potassium, restoration, salinity, saltgrass, sex ratio, sodium.
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