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Soil-Root Relationship in a Leaf Succulent Halophyte Suaeda vera from Differently Salt-Affected Habitats

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Abstract

Suaeda vera is a succulent halophyte that colonizes hypersaline soils. Ecotypic variability is extremely high. Plant roots are the first line of defense and respond instantly to soil salinity. In the present study, we collected 21 ecotypes from ecologically different habitats to explore the degree of salt tolerance, which can be proved extremely beneficial. This study was conducted to explore the alterations in root morphology, anatomy, and physiology likely to be associated with salinity tolerance. A mechanistic insight was developed to evaluate interaction of soil properties with root modifications toward enhancing survival and development under hypersaline conditions. Increase in salinity was associated with longer root, and, high root fresh and dry biomass. The highest shoot biomass and water contents were found in populations from highly saline habitat (ECe 36.33 to 55.51 dS m−1). Discrete anatomical variations such as reduced parenchymatous region thickness, increased sclerification in the stelar region, and broad metaxylem vessels were recorded at high salinities. The reduced or disintegrated primary tissues (epidermis, endodermis, and cortex) were found to be the main reason that supported the absorption of nutrient from soil-root and root to shoot. The salinity tolerance mechanism relied on root structural modification. The dominant traits enabling salinity tolerance of this species were much larger and fast-conducting metaxylem vessels that enhanced compartmentalization aboveground plant organs. Extensive sclerification in the stelar region involved in water conservation and mechanical strength of roots hence enabled this species to colonize hot arid and saline conditions.

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Data Availability

1. The voucher specimens used for plant identification are deposited to the herbarium facility of the Department of Botany, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, and are available for verification on request.

2. Anatomical slides, photographs, and raw data calculated from these photographs are available with the primary author and can be requested if needed.

Code Availability

R codes and modeling details are available with author(s) listed as bio-statisticians under author’s contribution section of Declarations and can be requested if needed to reproduce the data visualization or other results.

Abbreviations

CC :

Chiniot Chenab River

CH :

Cholistan-Qila Nawab Din

CK :

Chowk Azim

CT :

Control

DF :

Derwar Fort

ES :

Express Way Faisalabad to Sahianwala

GC :

Gutwala Canal

KS :

Kohe-e-Suleman Foothills

LS :

Lillah Salt Range

PP :

Peerowal Plantation

PS :

Pati Sir Lake

RD :

Rajanpur Desert

RP :

Rahim Yar Khan

SH :

Sangla Hill

SK :

Shorkot

SM :

Sahianwala salt marsh

SS :

Sakhi Sarwar

SW :

Sahianwala waterlogged area

TB :

Taunsa Barrage

UC :

Ucchali

WS :

Warcha Salt Mines

CT :

Control

Ca :

Soil Ca2+

Cl :

Cl–

ECe :

Electrical conductivity

K :

K+

Na :

Na+

NO :

NO3

OM :

Organic matter

pH :

Soil pH

PO :

PO43−

SP :

Soil saturation percentage

RDW :

Root dry weight

RFW :

Root fresh weight

RL :

Root length

RWC :

Root water content

SDW :

Shoot dry weight

SFW :

Shoot fresh weight

SL :

Shoot length

SWC :

Shoot water content

R. Ca :

Root Ca2+

R. Cl :

Root Cl−

R. K :

Root K+

R. Na :

Root Na+

S. Na :

Shoot Na+

S. Ca :

Shoot Ca2+

S. Cl :

Shoot Cl−

S. K :

Shoot K+

RtA :

Root area

RcT :

Root cortical thickness

RcA :

Root cortical cell area

RmA :

Root metaxylem area

RpA :

Root phloem area

RsT :

Root sclerenchyma thickness

RsA :

Root stelar region area

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Acknowledgements

This manuscript has been derived from Ph.D. Thesis of the first author submitted to University of Agriculture, Faisalabad

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38040, Pakistan

    Naila Asghar, Mansoor Hameed, Muhammad Sajid Aqeel Ahmad & Farooq Ahmad

Authors
  1. Naila Asghar
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  2. Mansoor Hameed
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  3. Muhammad Sajid Aqeel Ahmad
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  4. Farooq Ahmad
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Contributions

Naila Asghar: principal student who carried out the experimental work, biochemical analysis, anatomical photography and data collection

Mansoor Hameed: principal supervisor of first author

Farooq Ahmad: members of the research team who supervised research planning, collection and analysis of plant material(s)

Muhammad Sajid Aqeel Ahmad: bio-statistician; data visualization, modeling and interpretation

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mansoor Hameed.

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Ethical Approval

The study does not include any animal or human subjects and no specific ethical approval is needed. Other necessary guidelines set by University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, for handling of plant material during conduction of laboratory work were followed. All samplings were done with the least possible disturbances to plant communities and environment. After completion of study, all experimental materials were properly discarded/incinerated in a controlled environment to avoid bio-contamination.

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Asghar, N., Hameed, M., Ahmad, M.S.A. et al. Soil-Root Relationship in a Leaf Succulent Halophyte Suaeda vera from Differently Salt-Affected Habitats. Water Air Soil Pollut 234, 431 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-023-06407-4

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