This paper summarizes the most important reasons for the shortage of drinking water. The shortage of freshwater is mainly caused by the increase of water consumption for the human population and their domestic animals. There are additional shortages generated by the salinisation of irrigated soils and the climate changes causing the extension of dry regions. This is especially true for the southern tropical hemisphere.
The work reported in this paper focusses on the use of saline water for the irrigation of halophytes in desert regions of the world. It discusses physiological and ecological problems, which arise with greenifi cation of landscapes and the management of salt tolerant crops by reutilisating drainage and waste water.
Several examples are presented to explain the circumstances under which halophytes can be utilisated. The physiology as well as the ecology of these species are discussed for some species. These examples are selected from a large number of halophytic species for which we have enough information that we could start with them large production systems.
Physiological and genomic works with halophytes are also valuable for research and development of glycophytic crops. The improvement of salinity tolerance involves work on several genes because of functional as well as structural elements are important for salinity tolerance of plants. Until these problems are solved halophytes will contribute to eleviate the water crisis.
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Koyro, HW., Lieth, H. (2008). Global Water Crisis: The Potential of Cash Crop Halophytes to Reduce the Dilemma. In: Lieth, H., Sucre, M.G., Herzog, B. (eds) Mangroves and Halophytes: Restoration and Utilisation. Tasks for Vegetation Sciences, vol 43. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-6720-4_2
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