PJB-2023-169
Comparative evaluation of structural and functional features of facultative halophytes [Salvadora oleoides Decne. and Salvadora persica L.] adapted to highly saline habitats of Salt Range
Ummar Iqbal
Abstract
Two facultative halophytic species, Salvadora oleoides Decne. (meetha jaal) and Salvadora persica L. (Khara jaal) were collected from highly saline region (Salt Range) of Punjab province to evaluate their structural and functional modifications evolved over longer period of evolution under saline habitat. Each species exhibited high degree of tolerance, and different mechanism of salinity tolerance. S. oleoides exhibited maximum of growth parameters like plant height, shoot length and leaf area, and of physiological attributes i.e., ionic contents (Ca2+ and K+), organic osmolytes (glycine betaine and soluble protein), peroxidase (POD) activity and photosynthetic pigments. Moreover, specific modifications recorded in stem and leaf anatomical features were enhanced stem radius, epidermis thickness, intensive sclerification, size of vascular bundles and widened metaxylem vessels, and enlarge proportion of storage parenchyma tissues, oil gland formation, pubescence (surface hairiness) and size and orientation of stomata. S. persica represents high value of shoot biomass (shoot fresh and dry weight) and leaf number per shoot. In addition, excess amount of leaf sodium content (Na+), proline and stress enzymes mainly superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) are the outmost features of this species to survive in severe environmental conditions. Formation of thick layer of collenchyma in stem, leaf epidermal thickness, low stomatal density and area and narrow xylem vessels certainly aided this species to survive under highly saline environment. In conclusions, both species showed very specific structural and functional modifications in order to survive under highly saline habitats of Salt Range. These adaptive features can be isolated and introduced as genetic marker in salt sensitive species to rehabilitate the salt affected areas.
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