Halophytes as a Source of Nutrients: Chemical Composition and Biominerals

Dear Colleagues,

Plants that grow in saline environments are highly specialized to withstand the conditions that characterize these extreme biotopes. These environments occupy large territories of the earth's surface in several climates, from cold to warm, arid to humid. Saline areas can be found in littoral environments, in continental areas, such as, saltpans, or even in salinized soils as a result of extensive crops. Throughout evolution, halophyte plants have developed several adaptation mechanisms to these conditions that can be observed in their morphology, anatomy and physiology. Therefore, saline ecosystems constitute the natural habitat of halophytes and, therefore, a wealth of biodiversity.

The physiological adaptation of some halophytes includes ion accumulation in their tissues (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, etc.) that can lead to the formation of inorganic and organic salts; the biosynthesis of several organic osmolytes, such as sugars, alcohols, phenols, flavonoids, fatty acids, and other chemical compounds of potential interest. Thus, they can be considered a source of minerals and of nutrients. Taking this into consideration, and also the high extension of salinized agricultural soils, the use of halophytes as potential new crops and food sources is essential in the effort to feed the existing population on earth.

For this Special Issue, we are inviting original research papers, communications and review articles covering the organic and inorganic chemical composition of halophytes; macro- and micropatterns of elemental distribution in organs and tissues; biomineral identification and biomineralization processes; halophytes’ physiology and salt tolerance mechanisms related to halophytes’ chemical composition.

Prof. Dr. Vicenta de la Fuente García
Prof. Dr. Lourdes Rufo Nieto
Guest Editors

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