Drought tolerances of three stem-succulent halophyte species of an inland semiarid salt lake system
Victoria A. Marchesini A C , Chuanhua Yin B , Timothy D. Colmer A and Erik J. Veneklaas A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Plant Biology, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
B Key Laboratory of Oasis Ecology and Desert Environment, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China.
C Corresponding author. Email: victoria.marchesini@gmail.com
Functional Plant Biology 41(12) 1230-1238 https://doi.org/10.1071/FP14108
Submitted: 8 April 2014 Accepted: 25 May 2014 Published: 31 July 2014
Abstract
Succulent halophytes of the genus Tecticornia are dominant in salt marshes of inland lakes of Australia. We assessed the drought responses of a C4 species, Tecticornia indica subsp. bidens (Nees) K.A.Sheph. & Paul G.Wilson, and two C3 species, Tecticornia auriculata Paul G.Wilson (K.A.Sheph. & Paul G.Wilson) and Tecticornia medusa (K.A.Sheph. & S.J.van Leeuwen) that occur in the Fortescue Marsh, north-west Australia. In a glasshouse experiment, the three species were grown individually and in different combinations, with varying number of plants per pot to achieve comparable dry-down rates among pots. Prior to the imposition of drought (by withholding water) the three species showed differences in dry mass and physiological variables. As the soil dried out, the three species showed similar reductions of transpiration, osmotic potential and photochemical efficiency. Shoot growth was depressed more than root growth. Tissue water loss from portions of the succulent shoots accounted for ~30% of transpiration during severe drought stress. There was no osmotic adjustment. Shoot tissue concentrations of Na+ and Cl– tended to increase during drought, and those of K+ decreased; however, these changes were not always statistically significant. Chlorophyll concentration decreased but betacyanin concentration increased. Despite occupying distinct positions in a water and salinity gradient, the three Tecticornia species had remarkably similar responses to soil water deficit.
Additional keywords: osmotic adjustment, pigments, Salicornioideae, salt marsh, stress, succulence.
References
Aghaleh M, Niknam V, Ebrahimzadeh H, Razavi K (2011) Effect of salt stress on physiological and antioxidative responses in two species of Salicornia (S. persica and S. europaea). Acta Physiologiae Plantarum 33, 1261–1270.| Effect of salt stress on physiological and antioxidative responses in two species of Salicornia (S. persica and S. europaea).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXhtlOntb7L&md5=60a19a725bdb3d286d372f093fd3375dCAS |
Ben Hamed K, Ellouzi H, Talbi OZ, Hessini K, Slama I, Ghnaya T, Bosch SM, Savouré A, Abdelly C (2013) Physiological response of halophytes to multiple stresses. Functional Plant Biology 40, 883–896.
Bouyoucos GJ (1962) Hydrometer method improved for making particle size analyses of soils. Agronomy Journal 54, 464–465.
| Hydrometer method improved for making particle size analyses of soils.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cai Y, Sun M, Corke H (2003) Antioxidant activity of betalains from plants of the Amaranthaceae. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 51, 2288–2294.
| Antioxidant activity of betalains from plants of the Amaranthaceae.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXhvF2lt7Y%3D&md5=e6afe184377bb859a2a0609824b9eba2CAS | 12670172PubMed |
Carolin RC, Jacobs SWL, Vesk M (1982) The chlorenchyma of some members of the Salicornieae (Chenopodiaceae). Australian Journal of Botany 30, 387–392.
| The chlorenchyma of some members of the Salicornieae (Chenopodiaceae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Carter MR, Gregorich EG (Eds) (2007) ‘Soil sampling and methods of analysis.’ (2nd edn) (Canadian Society of Soil Science & Taylor & Francis Press: Oxford)
CRC (2013) ‘Handbook of chemistry and physics.’ Available at http://www.hbcpnetbase.com [Accessed 2 March 2014].
Duarte B, Santos D, Marques JC, Caçador I (2013) Ecophysiological adaptations of two halophytes to salt stress: photosynthesis, PSII photochemistry and anti-oxidant feedback – implications for resilience in climate change. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 67, 178–188.
| Ecophysiological adaptations of two halophytes to salt stress: photosynthesis, PSII photochemistry and anti-oxidant feedback – implications for resilience in climate change.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2cXotVarurg%3D&md5=8ed049e97b2fc421d1139c9d1f58fad9CAS | 23579080PubMed |
English JP, Colmer TD (2011) Salinity and waterlogging tolerances in three stem-succulent halophytes (Tecticornia species) from the margins of ephemeral salt lakes. Plant and Soil 348, 379–396.
| Salinity and waterlogging tolerances in three stem-succulent halophytes (Tecticornia species) from the margins of ephemeral salt lakes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXht1Gnt7rO&md5=1eba17eaf1284adee8019afd2e917e12CAS |
English JP, Colmer TD (2013) Tolerance of extreme salinity in two stem-succulent halophytes (Tecticornia species). Functional Plant Biology 40, 897–912.
Flowers TJ, Colmer TD (2008) Salinity tolerance in halophytes. New Phytologist 179, 945–963.
| Salinity tolerance in halophytes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXhtFWqur%2FE&md5=5be89aeb6924a58f5526ed228831987eCAS | 18565144PubMed |
Holbrook NM (1995) Stem water storage. In ‘Plant stems: physiology and functional morphology’. (Ed. BL Gartner) pp. 151–174. (Academic Press: San Diego)
Ibdah M, Krins A, Seidlitz HK, Heller W, Strack D, Vogt T (2002) Spectral dependence of flavonol and betacyanin accumulation in Mesembryanthemum crystallinum under enhanced ultraviolet radiation. Plant, Cell & Environment 25, 1145–1154.
| Spectral dependence of flavonol and betacyanin accumulation in Mesembryanthemum crystallinum under enhanced ultraviolet radiation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XnvVWitL8%3D&md5=cec34d78eeb44e1bb11a4fda107d4a15CAS |
Lambers H, Chapin FS III, Pons TL (1998) ‘Plant physiological ecology.’ (Springer-Verlag: New York)
Littell RC, Milliken GA, Stroup WW, Wolfinger RD (1996) ‘SAS system for mixed models.’ (SAS Publishing: Cary, NC, USA)
McDowell N, Pockman WT, Allen CD, Breshears DD, Cobb N, Kolb T, Plaut J, Sperry J, West A, Williams DG, Yepez EA (2008) Mechanisms of plant survival and mortality during drought: why do some plants survive while others succumb to drought? New Phytologist 178, 719–739.
| Mechanisms of plant survival and mortality during drought: why do some plants survive while others succumb to drought?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 18422905PubMed |
Munns R (2002) Comparative physiology of salt and water stress. Plant, Cell & Environment 25, 239–250.
| Comparative physiology of salt and water stress.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38Xhslakurw%3D&md5=b0cf2c24ed0afbb17d466344b5ea8b75CAS |
Munns R, Tester M (2008) Mechanisms of salinity tolerance. Annual Review of Plant Biology 59, 651–681.
| Mechanisms of salinity tolerance.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXntFaqtrw%3D&md5=7779a409bb17e45fbc90b71689d168ecCAS | 18444910PubMed |
Munns R, Wallace PA, Teakle NL, Colmer TD (2010) Measuring soluble ion concentrations (Na+, K+, Cl−) in salt-treated plants In ‘Plant Stress Tolerance, Methods in Molecular Biology 639’. (Ed. R. Sunkar) pp. 371–382. (Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2010)
Naidoo G, Rughnanan R (1990) Salt tolerance in the succulent, coastal halophyte, Sarcocornia natalensis. Journal of Experimental Botany 41, 497–502.
| Salt tolerance in the succulent, coastal halophyte, Sarcocornia natalensis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK3cXkslGit7s%3D&md5=7f10da1732c2d56052efd03c23b6463cCAS |
Or D, Tuller M, Wraith JM (2005) Soil water potential. In ‘Encyclopedia of soils in the environment’. (Ed. D Hillel) pp. 270–277. (Elsevier Science: Oxford)
Parida A, Jha B (2013) Physiological and biochemical responses reveal the drought tolerance efficacy of the halophyte Salicornia brachiata. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation 32, 342–352.
| Physiological and biochemical responses reveal the drought tolerance efficacy of the halophyte Salicornia brachiata.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3sXnsl2lsrg%3D&md5=2cdbe33d09f1b02d231f646207b2f130CAS |
Poorter H, Niklas KJ, Reich PB, Oleksyn J, Poot P, Mommer L (2012) Biomass allocation to leaves, stems and roots: meta-analyses of interspecific variation and environmental control. New Phytologist 193, 30–50.
| Biomass allocation to leaves, stems and roots: meta-analyses of interspecific variation and environmental control.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38XitVKgtr0%3D&md5=9f8ddd79215ab1893d8d3101b0ebc03bCAS | 22085245PubMed |
Rozema J, Schat H (2013) Salt tolerance of halophytes, research questions reviewed in the perspective of saline agriculture. Environmental and Experimental Botany 92, 83–95.
| Salt tolerance of halophytes, research questions reviewed in the perspective of saline agriculture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3sXovVCgsLk%3D&md5=070b83dc703dcfcc93e8d75a9ac31dfdCAS |
Sai Kachout S, Ben Mansoura A, Jaffel Hamza K, Leclerc JC, Rejeb MN, Ouerghi Z (2011) Leaf–water relations and ion concentrations of the halophyte Atriplex hortensis in response to salinity and water stress. Acta Physiologiae Plantarum 33, 335–342.
| Leaf–water relations and ion concentrations of the halophyte Atriplex hortensis in response to salinity and water stress.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Saintilan N (2009) Biogeography of Australian saltmarsh plants. Austral Ecology 34, 929–937.
| Biogeography of Australian saltmarsh plants.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Shepherd KA, Wilson PG (2007) Incorporation of the Australian genera Halosarcia, Pachycornia, Sclerostegia and Tegicornia into Tecticornia (Salicornioideae, Chenopodiaceae). Australian Systematic Botany 20, 319–331.
| Incorporation of the Australian genera Halosarcia, Pachycornia, Sclerostegia and Tegicornia into Tecticornia (Salicornioideae, Chenopodiaceae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Short DC, Colmer TD (1999) Salt tolerance in the halophyte Halosarcia pergranulata subsp. pergranulata. Annals of Botany 83, 207–213.
| Salt tolerance in the halophyte Halosarcia pergranulata subsp. pergranulata.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXht12kur4%3D&md5=be9291f42c5dbc1c5631c037ebf8d971CAS |
Sims DA, Gamon JA (2002) Relationships between leaf pigment content and spectral reflectance across a wide range of species, leaf structures and developmental stages. Remote Sensing of Environment 81, 337–354.
| Relationships between leaf pigment content and spectral reflectance across a wide range of species, leaf structures and developmental stages.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Skrzypek G, Dogramaci S, Grierson PF (2013) Geochemical and hydrological processes controlling groundwater salinity of a large inland wetland of northwest Australia. Chemical Geology 357, 164–177.
| Geochemical and hydrological processes controlling groundwater salinity of a large inland wetland of northwest Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3sXhslWqu7jJ&md5=e93ab823bc5a0f78308b9565c0d629f8CAS |
Solovchenko A (2010) Stress-induced buildup of screening pigments. In ‘Photoprotection in plants. Vol. 14’. pp. 33–65. (Springer: Berlin)
Stintzing FC, Carle R (2004) Functional properties of anthocyanins and betalains in plants, food, and in human nutrition. Trends in Food Science & Technology 15, 19–38.
| Functional properties of anthocyanins and betalains in plants, food, and in human nutrition.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXpvFyktro%3D&md5=a469aa83980e9900caeff3d94fe99c0eCAS |
Strack D, Vogt T, Schliemann W (2003) Recent advances in betalain research. Phytochemistry 62, 247–269.
| Recent advances in betalain research.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXhs1Wmu7s%3D&md5=58b3902a7f67f0bbd6168856b572bf37CAS | 12620337PubMed |
Thomas RF, Kingsford RT, Lu Y, Hunter SJ (2011) Landsat mapping of annual inundation (1979–2006) of the Macquarie Marshes in semi-arid Australia. International Journal of Remote Sensing 32, 4545–4569.
| Landsat mapping of annual inundation (1979–2006) of the Macquarie Marshes in semi-arid Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Timms BV (2005) Salt lakes in Australia: present problems and prognosis for the future. Hydrobiologia 552, 1–15.
| Salt lakes in Australia: present problems and prognosis for the future.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Turner DW (2006) An index of osmotic adjustment that allows comparison of its magnitude across species and experiments. Physiologia Plantarum 127, 478–482.
| An index of osmotic adjustment that allows comparison of its magnitude across species and experiments.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28XosVKgsrk%3D&md5=fef9d3ac0d147f470dadc5f4e758074fCAS |
von Elbe JH (2001) Betalains. In ‘Current protocols in food analytical chemistry’. (John Wiley & Sons Inc.: New York)
Warton DI, Wright IJ, Falster DS, Westoby M (2006) Bivariate line-fitting methods for allometry. Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society 81, 259–291.
| Bivariate line-fitting methods for allometry.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 16573844PubMed |
Wellburn AR (1994) The spectral determination of chlorophylls a and b, as well as total carotenoids, using various solvents with spectrophotometers of different resolution. Journal of Plant Physiology 144, 307–313.
| The spectral determination of chlorophylls a and b, as well as total carotenoids, using various solvents with spectrophotometers of different resolution.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2cXmsFShsbY%3D&md5=8fb203d13ab88e3c514b492bc7f98853CAS |
Wilson PG (1980) A revision of the Australian species of Salicornia (Chenopodiaceae). Nuytsia 3, 3–154.
