Ecological thresholds of Suaeda salsa to the environmental gradients of water table depth and soil salinity

The responses of Suaeda salsa to the environmental gradients of water table depth and soil salinity in the Yellow River Delta, China were analyzed from the aspect of ecological thresholds which were developed from the Gaussian model. Based on the correlation analysis of population biomass, density, height, coverage and abundance of Suaeda salsa, population biomass was selected as the population index for further analysis. The results indicated that the optimum water table depth for the growth of Suaeda salsa was about ?0.42 m, the ecological thresholds were from ?0.92 m to 0.08 m, and the optimum ecological thresholds were from ?0.67 m to ?0.17 m. To the soil salinity gradient, the optimum was about 12.71 g/kg, the ecological thresholds were from 5.17 g/kg to 20.25 g/kg, and the optimum ecological thresholds were from 8.94 g/kg to 16.48 g/kg. However, the effect of water-salinity interaction seemed to be important to the growth of Suaeda salsa, which was discussed through analyzing the water table depth-soil salinity relationship and their interactions. By using Ward cluster analysis and Gamma distances, 69 sampling sites were classified into 7 kinds of Suaeda salsa communities. It was found that there was a remarkable response of the community structure of Suaeda salsa to the water table depth and soil salinity gradients, which can be a switchover from xeromorphic and saline-alkali plants to limnophytes, and vice versa.     

水、盐梯度下黄河三角洲湿地植物种的生态位

利用排序等方法将黄河三角洲湿地19个植物种在水深和土壤盐分梯度下依次排列,并分别划分为低、中、高水深（或土壤盐分）3个生态种组,分析了水、盐梯度下植物种的生态位宽度和生态位重叠.结果表明:水深梯度下,芦苇、盐地碱蓬等中水深生态种组植物种生态位宽度较大,香蒲、穗状狐尾藻等高水深生态种组植物种生态位宽度最小;土壤盐分梯度下,盐地碱蓬、柽柳等高土壤盐分生态种组植物种生态位宽度较大,而中、低土壤盐分生态种组的植物种生态位宽度均较小.水深和土壤盐分梯度下的生态位重叠分别沿着植物种在两种梯度上的排序而规律变化,通常同一生态种组内部植物种的生态位重叠较大,不同生态种组植物种的生态位重叠较小.黄河三角洲湿地植物种在水深、土壤盐分梯度下的生态位分化现象,可能有助于阐释湿地植物共存及带状分布的形成机制.     

黄河口盐地碱蓬湿地土壤-植物系统重金属污染评价

以黄河口盐地碱蓬湿地为例,评价了淹水和非淹水区湿地表层土壤As、Cd、Cu、Cr、Pb和Zn 6种重金属的污染程度及其在土壤-植物系统中的迁移、富集特征,分析了不同积水深度和土壤理化性质对研究区土壤重金属含量的影响.研究结果表明,与土壤或沉积物质量标准相比,黄河口盐地碱蓬湿地土壤受As和Cd污染最严重,而其它重金属污染较轻;非淹水土壤Cd、Cr和Zn含量高于淹水湿地,而As、Cu和Pb则较低;而且淹水土壤As含量随积水深度增加而呈下降趋势,但积水深度对其他重金属含量的影响不明显.相关性分析结果表明,按照受土壤关键影响因子的不同重金属(除As外)可以分为两类:第一类为Cd、Cr和Zn,这些重金属含量受土壤pH值和盐分影响较大,且相互间存在显著正相关关系,表明它们可能有相同的来源;第二类为Pb和Cu,它们受土壤pH值、盐分和有机质的影响,且Pb和Cu之间存在显著正相关关系.除Cr、Cu和Zn外,重金属在盐地碱蓬的根系内一般不发生显著富集,但绝大多数重金属都表现出地上部分的含量比根系更高的现象.     

黄河三角洲重度退化滨海湿地盐地碱蓬的生态修复效果

采用翻地、施肥和芦苇碎屑培肥等土壤改良方法,利用盐地碱蓬在黄河三角洲重度退化区进行生态修复实验研究。结果表明:重度退化湿地土壤改良后,盐地碱蓬能够成功生长,3种改良方法均可有效的降低重度退化盐碱地的土壤含盐量,改良后的土壤Na离子含量均显著低于对照组,土壤脲酶和磷酸酶活性与对照相比有了显著的提高,表明改良后土壤肥力得到了改善。3种改良方法比较,培肥处理组土壤Na离子含量显著低于其他两种方法;盐地碱蓬生物量达到最高值,说明增加有机物的培肥方法可有效的改良重度退化盐碱湿地土壤,达到较为理想的生态修复预期效果。     

盐胁迫下3种滨海盐生植物的根系生长和分布

我国广大滨海地区的盐土上发育着大量的盐生植物,这些植物的根系对维持土壤稳定性,减小风蚀和水蚀具有重要作用。在水培条件下,针对碱蓬、盐角草和盐地碱蓬3种滨海盐生植物,研究它们在不同盐浓度条件下根系分布的差异。结果表明:一定浓度的盐分可以促进3种盐生植物生长,但较高浓度的盐抑制其生长,特别是对根系生长的抑制作用更大。在同样盐浓度下,盐地碱蓬的生长最快,生物量也最大。在盐分浓度较低时,3种盐生植物的主根长和总根长都有所增加,与对照相比,盐角草增加的幅度较大,但高浓度的盐会抑制根系总长度的增加,其中盐角草较碱蓬和盐地碱蓬抑制的程度轻。盐分对3种植物的根系平均直径没有显著的影响,但有减小的趋势。在水培条件下,碱蓬和盐角草的根系上、中、下部分布的较均匀,而盐地碱蓬的根系中部比上部和下部有显著的增加,盐分对每种植物的根系的分布没有显著的影响。从根系的分布特征可以推断:盐角草比碱蓬和盐地碱蓬具有较强的抗盐性和耐瘠薄能力;碱蓬的耐盐能力较其它两种植物差,盐角草的耐盐性最强。根据3种滨海盐生植物的根系生长和分布特征,证明这3种植物的根系分属于2种功能型,碱蓬是浅根系功能型,盐角草和盐地碱蓬是深根系功能型。根系分布的参数表明3种滨海盐生植物中盐地碱蓬是用来加强土壤稳定性最好的植物。     

黄河三角洲滨海草甸与土壤因子的关系

黄河三角洲滨海草甸群落的分布和变化与土壤因子密切相关。于2010年6月对黄河三角洲的草甸植被进行了样方调查,并对土壤进行了取样分析。在所调查的67个草本样方中,共出现52种植物。利用典范对应分析(CCA)分析了9种土壤因子与草甸群落分布的关系,结果显示,前两轴总共解释了物种-环境关系方差的46.4%,土壤含水率和电导率对群落分布的影响最大。双向指示种分析(TWINSPAN)将67个样方分为7种群落类型,将其标示在CCA排序图上后,沿第一轴分成三大类群:盐地碱蓬群落→芦苇-盐地碱蓬群落→其他草甸群落,这反映了黄河三角洲滨海草甸群落在盐分梯度上的演替规律。相关分析显示,物种多样性指数与土壤电导率、速效钾和速效磷呈极显著负相关(P<0.01),与pH值呈显著正相关(P<0.05)。解释了黄河三角洲滨海草甸群落与土壤因子的关系和变化规律,对黄河三角洲植被保护和恢复有一定的指导意义。     

Incorporating thresholds into understanding salinity tolerance: A study using salt‐tolerant plants in salt marshes

Although salinity in many ecosystems such as salt marshes can be extremely high, an asymmetry in salinity range between experimental studies (relatively narrow) and field conditions (potentially broad) has strongly affected current understanding of plant salinity tolerance. To improve understanding, it is thus important to examine plant tolerances over a broad range of salinities and identify potential tolerance thresholds. We examine tolerances of two widely distributed marsh plants, Suaeda salsa and Salicornia europaea, to salinities ranging from 0 to 100 g/kg, and determine survival, above‐ and belowground biomass after 8 weeks of salinity treatment. Both species, Sa. europaea in particular, have much broader salinity tolerances than other plants previously examined, (2) plant survival, above‐ and belowground biomass have remarkably different responses to salinity, and (3) there is a nonlinear, threshold response of S. salsa to salinity, above which S. salsa survivorship drastically decreases. These results provide multiple important insights. Our study suggests that the potential for using these halophytes to revegetate and restore salt‐affected land may be greater than previously thought, and highlights the importance of studying multiple plant responses. Importantly, our study calls for a better integration of thresholds into understanding plant salinity tolerances and their applications.     

Effect of salinity on growth, ion accumulation and the roles of ions in osmotic adjustment of two populations of Suaeda salsa

The effect of salinity on growth, ion accumulation and the roles of ions in osmotic adjustment of two populations of Suaeda salsa were investigated. Seeds were collected from an intertidal zone or a saline inland zone in the Yellow River Delta in Shandong province, China. Seedlings were exposed to 10, 100, 200, 400 or 600 mM NaCl for 18 days in a greenhouse. NO₃ ^? concentration in the soil where S. salsa grows in an intertidal zone was much lower than that for the second population, but leaf NO₃ ^? concentration was the same in the two populations under field conditions. When plants were cultured in a greenhouse under natural light conditions, S. salsa from the intertidal zone showed fewer main stem branches and lower relative shoot growth compared to S. salsa from saline inland. Leaf Cl^? concentration of saline inland S. salsa was significantly higher than that of S. salsa from the intertidal zone, while the opposite was true for the concentration of NO₃ ^? in leaves of plants. For S. salsa from the intertidal zone NO₃ ^? contributed more than Cl^? to the osmotic potential, whereas S. salsa from the saline inland exhibited a reverse relationship under saline conditions, indicating that NO₃ ^? plays an important osmotic role in S. salsa from the intertidal zone in high salinity. In conclusion, S. salsa from the intertidal zone may employ superior control of ion uptake and content than S. salsa from the saline inland zone. The two populations of Suaeda salsa presented different ability in chloride exclusion and nitrate accumulation. These characteristics may affect the distributions of S. salsa in natural highly saline environments.     

Effect of salinity on germination,seedling emergence,seedling growth and ion accumulation of a euhalophyte Suaeda salsa in an intertidal zone and on saline inland

The effect of salinity on germination, seedling emergence, seedling growth and ion accumulation of a euhalophyte Suaeda salsa L. in an intertidal zone and on saline inland were investigated. Brown seeds of S. salsa were heavier and better developed than black seeds in both the intertidal zone and on saline inland. The brown seeds/black seeds ratio for S. salsa in the intertidal zone was much higher than that for S. salsa on saline inland. More germinated seeds grew as seedlings under high salinity for S. salsa from the intertidal zone than S. salsa on saline inland; high salinity decreased the shoot length more severely for S. salsa from saline inland than for S. salsa from the intertidal zone; the seedling growth at a range of NaCl, measured either as shoot length or shoot dry weight, for S. salsa from the intertidal zone was lower than that of S. salsa from saline inland. In conclusion, for S. salsa from the intertidal zone there appears to be selection for slower growth and producing more brown seeds. The establishment of populations of S. salsa in different saline environments depends on the responses of seed germination, seedling emergence and seedling growth to salinity. These characteristics may determine the natural distributions of S. salsa populations in different saline environments.     

Root morphology is related to the phenotypic variation in waterlogging tolerance of two populations of Suaeda salsa under salinity

The effects of waterlogging and salinity on seedling emergence, seedling growth and ion accumulation in a euhalophyte Suaeda salsa in an intertidal zone and on saline inland soil were investigated. Seedlings of S. salsa from the intertidal zone emerged more rapidly than those of the inland population under both waterlogged and drained conditions. Waterlogging and salinity had no adverse effects on seedling emergence of S. salsa from the intertidal zone, but markedly inhibited this parameter in the inland population. Waterlogging did not affect the seedling survival, shoot dry mass, and shoot height in high salinity in S. salsa from the intertidal zone, while the opposite trend was shown in the inland population. The root dry mass was higher in S. salsa from the intertidal zone as compared to the inland population, in waterlogged treatments by 1.9, 1.3, and 1.5 times in 1, 200, and 600 mM NaCl, respectively, and in drained treatments by 1.8, 2.3, and 3.0 times in 1, 200, and 600 mM NaCl, respectively. Waterlogging increased Na⁺ and K⁺ concentrations in high salinity, but waterlogging had no effect on Cl^- concentration in shoots of S. salsa from the intertidal zone. In all NaCl treatments, waterlogging had no effect on concentrations of these ions in shoots of S. salsa from the saline inland site. In a field investigation, the fresh mass of shoots and roots were lower, whereas the root/shoot ratio was 1.5 times higher in S. salsa from the intertidal zone, compared with the inland population. These findings indicate that S. salsa population from the intertidal zone is more waterlogging tolerant than the inland population. S. salsa from the intertidal zone produced relatively more root biomass and this might help anchor plants against tidal action in the intertidal zone. The physiological and morphological characteristics may determine the natural distributions of the two S. salsa populations in their different saline environments.     

Responses of saltcedar (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tamarix chinensis</Emphasis>) to water table depth and soil salinity in the Yellow River Delta,China

Significant studies about Tamarix chinensis as an introduced invasive plant species have been implemented in North America. However, the response of native T. chinensis to its environment is not well known in China. T. chinensis is a useful species in preventing sea water intrusion in coastal areas of northern China. It is necessary to fully understand the relationships between environmental conditions and ecological characteristics of this species to better preserve its habitats. The Yellow River Delta Natural Reserve, one of the major distribution regions of T. chinensis, was then selected as a case study area to investigate the response of this species to water table depth and soil salinity (Na⁺, Cl⁻, Mg²⁺). It was found that sites with shallow water table depths (less than 1.5 m) and low soil salinity (less than 30 psu), provided the best habitat conditions for T. chinensis. The results also showed that plant height, stem diameter, and crown width were all positively correlated to plant age, while they had negative correlations with water table depth. Negative correlations between plant height and soil salinity, plant stem diameter and soil salinity were also concluded. However, no obvious relationship between the crown breadth of T. chinensis and soil salinity was observed. Four types of T. chinensis habitats were obtained based on the ecological characteristics of T. chinensis individuals associated with soil salinity and water table depth, i.e., (1) Low water table with high soil salinity; (2) Deep water table with high soil salinity; (3) Deep water table with low soil salinity; (4) Inundation with low salinity. These results provide a sound basis for wetland management in the Yellow River Delta.     

Effects of Salinity on Metabolic Profiles, Gene Expressions, and Antioxidant Enzymes in Halophyte Suaeda salsa

Halophyte Suaeda salsa is native to the saline soil in the Yellow River Delta. Soil salinity can reduce plant productivity and therefore is the most important factor for the degradation of wetlands in the Yellow River Delta. In this work we characterized the salinity-induced effects in S. salsa in terms of metabolic profiling, antioxidant enzyme activities, and gene expression quantification. Our results showed that salinity inhibited plant growth of S. salsa and upregulated gene expression levels of myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase (INPS), choline monooxygenase (CMO), betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH), and catalase (CAT), and elevated the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), CAT, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). The significant metabolic responses included the depleted amino acids malate, fumarate, choline, phosphocholine, and elevated betaine and allantoin in the aboveground part of S. salsa seedlings as well as depleted glucose and fructose and elevated proline, citrate, and sucrose in root tissues. Based on these significant biological markers, salinity treatments induced clear osmotic stress (for example, INPS, CMO, BADH, betaine, proline) and oxidative stress (for example, SOD, POD, CAT, GPx activities), disturbed protein biosynthesis/degradation (amino acids and total protein) and energy metabolism (for example, glucose, sucrose, citrate) in S. salsa.     

Contents of volume 137 1991

The halophyte, Suaeda salsa, was grown in saline soil in pots and watered with a NaCl solution containing 0.2 g L^-1 Na-ions. S. salsa accumulated Na during a 120-day growing period and caused a net reduction in the Na content of the soil. S. salsa also decreased the Na content of saline soil in a field experiment. The Na content of the soil at depth 20–30 cm was reduced by 4.5% with S. salsa at a density of 15 plants m^-2 and by 6.7% with a density of 30 plants m^-2. In contrast, the Na content was decreased by only 1% with Medicago sativa at 15 plant m^-2 and increased by 3.8% with bare soil. The results confirm that S. salsa is an effective salt absorber in saline soils.     

Differential salt tolerance and similar responses to nitrogen availability in plants grown from dimorphic seeds of Suaeda salsa

Suaeda salsa is an annual halophyte which produces two morphologically distinct types of seeds on the same plant. The main purpose of this study was to investigate growth responses of S. salsa plants to different levels of NaCl and nitrate nitrogen, and its significance from the viewpoint of photosynthetic physiology. In a pot experiment, we sowed seeds belonging to the two morphs into a substrate with three salinity and three nutrient levels. Plants derived from brown seeds grew well at moderate salinity (300 mmol L⁻¹ NaCl). Shoot weight of plants from black seeds gradually decreased with the increase of salinity. Plants derived from both seed morphs had the same growth rates under similar nitrogen levels. Plant growth status was generally related to chlorophyll content and photosynthetic rates. Our study shows that plants grown from the two different seed morphs of S. salsa exhibit different salt tolerance, but have similar responses to nitrate nitrogen. This is the first report on different responses to salinity and nitrogen availability in plants with heteromorphic seeds.     

Using euhalophytes to understand salt tolerance and to develop saline agriculture: Suaeda salsa as a promising model

Background As important components in saline agriculture, halophytes can help to provide food for a growing world population. In addition to being potential crops in their own right, halophytes are also potential sources of salt-resistance genes that might help plant breeders and molecular biologists increase the salt tolerance of conventional crop plants. One especially promising halophyte is Suaeda salsa, a euhalophytic herb that occurs both on inland saline soils and in the intertidal zone. The species produces dimorphic seeds: black seeds are sensitive to salinity and remain dormant in light under high salt concentrations, while brown seeds can germinate under high salinity (e.g. 600 mm NaCl) regardless of light. Consequently, the species is useful for studying the mechanisms by which dimorphic seeds are adapted to saline environments. S. salsa has succulent leaves and is highly salt tolerant (e.g. its optimal NaCl concentration for growth is 200 mm). A series of S. salsa genes related to salt tolerance have been cloned and their functions tested: these include SsNHX1, SsHKT1, SsAPX, SsCAT1, SsP5CS and SsBADH. The species is economically important because its fresh branches have high value as a vegetable, and its seed oil is edible and rich in unsaturated fatty acids. Because it can remove salts and heavy metals from saline soils, S. salsa can also be used in the restoration of salinized or contaminated saline land.Scope Because of its economic and ecological value in saline agriculture, S. salsa is one of the most important halophytes in China. In this review, the value of S. salsa as a source of food, medicine and forage is discussed. Its uses in the restoration of salinized or contaminated land and as a source of salt-resistance genes are also considered.     

Increase in unsaturated fatty acids in membrane lipids of Suaeda salsa L. enhances protection of photosystem II under high salinity

In order to examine the possible role of unsaturated fatty acids in photosynthesis of halophytes under high salinity, the effect of salinity on plant growth, chlorophyll (Chl) content, photochemical efficiency of PSII, membrane lipid content and fatty acids composition of a C₃ euhalophyte Suaeda salsa L. was investigated. Salt stress induced a slight increase of the maximal photochemical efficiency of PSII (F_v/F_m), actual PSII efficiency (Φ_PSII), Chl a content and Chl a/b ratio. The unsaturated fatty acid content also increased under salt stress. The proportion of MGDG, DGDG, SQDG, and PC decreased, while the proportion of PG increased from 10.9% to 26.9% under salt stress. These results suggest that S. salsa displays high resistance to photoinhibition under salt stress and that increased concentration of unsaturated fatty acids in membrane lipids of S. salsa enhances the tolerance of photosystem II to salt stress.     

Salinity-Induced Effects in the Halophyte Suaeda salsa Using NMR-based Metabolomics

Suaeda salsa is a native halophyte in saline soils. Salinity is the most important environmental constraint for plant productivity in the Yellow River Delta. In this work, we investigated the salt-induced effects in root of S. salsa exposed to two environmentally relevant salinities for 1?week and 1?month using nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabolomics. Our results indicated that salt stress inhibited the growth of S. salsa and induced significant metabolic responses including decreased amino acids, lactate, 4-aminobutyrate, malate, choline, phosphocholine, and increased betaine, sucrose, and allantoin in root tissues of S. salsa. In addition, salinity exposures upregulated the activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione S-transferases, peroxidase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase in the aboveground part of seedlings of S. salsa after exposures. Overall, these results demonstrated the osmotic and oxidative stresses, disturbances in protein biosynthesis/degradation, and energy metabolism in S. salsa exposed to salinities.     

盐和重金属复合胁迫对翅碱蓬萌发与生长的影响及调控措施

为探究Zn、Cu与盐复合胁迫对翅碱蓬(Suaeda salsa)萌发生长的影响机理及其调控措施,以翅碱蓬为研究对象,采用水培试验方法,测定Zn、Cu和盐复合胁迫条件下翅碱蓬种子发芽率、萌发速率和幼苗渗透调节物质含量等指标,分析1.5 mg/L吲哚乙酸(IAA)、100 mg/L赤霉素(GA)和0.3%硝酸钾(KNO₃)处理对Zn、Cu与盐复合胁迫条件下翅碱蓬萌发与生长的影响。结果表明：(1) Zn、Cu与高盐复合胁迫极显著降低翅碱蓬种子的发芽率,中高浓度的Zn、Cu与盐复合胁迫极显著降低翅碱蓬种子的萌发速率,Zn、Cu和盐复合胁迫对翅碱蓬种子的萌发生长影响表现为低促高抑效应,影响因子间存在明显的协同效应;(2)Zn、Cu和盐复合胁迫条件下,随着盐浓度的升高,翅碱蓬幼苗体内过氧化氢酶(CAT)、过氧化物酶(POD)和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)3种抗氧化酶活性呈先升高后降低的变化趋势,Zn、Cu和高盐复合胁迫使翅碱蓬幼苗体内丙二醛(MDA)含量增加近2.5倍;(3)1.5 mg/L IAA溶液浸种12 h可显著提高Zn、Cu与高盐复合胁迫条件下翅碱蓬种子的发芽率和萌发速...     

Seasonal Dynamics of Trace Elements in Tidal Salt Marsh Soils as Affected by the Flow-Sediment Regulation Regime

Soil profiles were collected in three salt marshes with different plant species (i.e. Phragmites australis, Tamarix chinensis and Suaeda salsa) in the Yellow River Delta (YRD) of China during three seasons (summer and fall of 2007 and the following spring of 2008) after the flow-sediment regulation regime. Total elemental contents of As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn were determined using inductively coupled plasma atomic absorption spectrometry to investigate temporal variations in trace elements in soil profiles of the three salt marshes, assess the enrichment levels and ecological risks of these trace elements in three sampling seasons and identify their influencing factors. Trace elements did not change significantly along soil profiles at each site in each sampling season. The highest value for each sampling site was observed in summer and the lowest one in fall. Soils in both P. australis and S. salsa wetlands tended to have higher trace element levels than those in T. chinensis wetland. Compared to other elements, both Cd and As had higher enrichment factors exceeding moderate enrichment levels. However, the toxic unit (TU) values of these trace elements did not exceed probable effect levels. Correlation analysis showed that these trace elements were closely linked to soil properties such as moisture, sulfur, salinity, soil organic matter, soil texture and pH values. Principal component analysis showed that the sampling season affected by the flow-sediment regulation regime was the dominant factor influencing the distribution patterns of these trace elements in soils, and plant community type was another important factor. The findings of this study could contribute to wetland conservation and management in coastal regions affected by the hydrological engineering.     

Plants interactions between <Emphasis Type="Italic">Suaeda salsa</Emphasis> individuals are mediated by salinity stress

To test how plants interactions change with environmental stress, neighbors removal experiments in Suaeda salsa communities of beach were conducted in Hangzhou bay Zhejiang Province, China. Results showed that there is a significant shift from positive interaction in high salinity stress to negative interaction in low salinity stress. Removal experiments also clarified the role of phenotype response in linking plants interactions and environmental stress. Under low salinity stress, biomass, stem length, root length, leaf area, and photosynthesis rate, water-use efficiency of neighbors removal plants were higher than those of control plants, while leaf water content of neighbors removal plants were lower than those of control plants. Under high salinity stress, biomass, stem length, root length, leaf area, and photosynthesis rate, leaf water content of neighbors removal plants were lower than those of control plants, while water-use efficiency of neighbors removal plants were higher than those of control plants. It can be concluded that S. salsa interactions were mediated by salinity stress through morphological and physiological plasticity.