Search Results (27)

The physicochemical properties and applicability of cow manure biochar (CMB) as a soil conditioner and horticultural substrate amendment for halophyte growing on deteriorated coastal soils were assessed in this study. A typical commercial substrate (50% coco peat, 25% peat moss, 12% perlite, 7% vermiculite, and 6% zeolite) was used to compare elemental composition, thermal stability (TGA/DTG), surface morphology, pore structures (BET, FESEM), and functional groups (FT-IR) of CMB. In addition, 10% (w/w) CMB was added to coastal soils in the Saemangeum and Sinan-gun regions in order to assess changes in the physicochemical soil quality. In comparison to the commercial substrate, the analytical results showed that CMB had higher concentrations of essential mineral elements (such as K, Ca, P, Zn, and Na), a higher proportion of carbon (25.69%), and more accessible phosphorus (3490.97 mg/kg). Additionally, compared to the commercial substrate, CMB showed a nearly 19-fold larger specific surface area (77.53 m²/g) and increased micropore volume, suggesting better potential for soil aeration and water retention. Cultivating halophytes (Salicornia herbacea L. (glasswort) and Suaeda japonica Makino (seepweed)) in a 9:1 (v/v) substrate-to-CMB mixture for five weeks resulted in successful early germination and robust seedling establishment. Incorporating 10% CMB into coastal soils also substantially increased available phosphorus, total organic carbon (TOC), and organic matter (OM), demonstrating CMB’s effectiveness in enhancing nutrient availability and supporting soil carbon sequestration. All things considered, this study offers a practical framework for using biochar made from livestock manure as a sustainable substrate supplement to reclaim degraded coastal environments and advance biosaline agriculture. Full article

TEOSINTE BRANCHED1/CYCLOIDEA/PROLIFERATING CELL FACTOR (TCP) are plant-specific regulators involved in growth, development, and responses to abiotic stresses, yet their roles in halophytes remain largely unexplored. In this study, we performed a genome-wide identification of TCP family members in the extreme halophyte Salicornia europaea, uncovering 15 non-redundant genes (SeurTCPs) classified into PCF, CIN, and CYC/TB1 subfamilies. Gene structure and conserved motif analyses revealed that SeurTCPs are largely intronless and maintain the canonical TCP domain, while showing subfamily-specific variations in motif composition and secondary/tertiary structures. Promoter analysis identified abundant stress and hormone-responsive cis-elements, particularly ABRE and STRE, suggesting potential involvement in salt stress signaling. Protein–protein interaction network prediction highlighted CIN and PCF members as hub nodes, indicating central roles in growth and stress response regulation. Quantitative Real-Time Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis showed that most SeurTCP genes were responsive to salinity treatment, although the extent of transcriptional variation differed among subfamilies. Collectively, our results indicate that SeurTCPs balance conserved structural functions with subfamily-specific regulatory roles, contributing to S. europaea adaptation to extreme saline environments. This study provides valuable candidate genes for elucidating plant salt tolerance mechanisms and for potential crop improvement. Full article

In the scenario of ongoing climate changes, the selection of plant genotypes with high salt tolerance is emerging as the most sustainable strategy to safeguard crop yield and quality and make productive use of salinized soils. Glassworts are annual and perennial halophytes found in inner and coastal wastelands, indistinctly consumed as high-nutritional green vegetables. Traditional taxonomic classification based on morphological traits can be very challenging in glasswort, due to phenotypic plasticity, reduced plant morphology, and inbreeding. In this work, we used DNA-based molecular tools to overcome such constraints and assess inter-generic and inter-specific genetic diversity in a collection of ecotypes from different Apulian areas. A fast and reliable Allele-Specific PCR assay was optimized to enable molecular detection of annual and perennial genera. Species-level classification was obtained through a similarity- and phylogeny-based approach relying on matK and rbcL DNA barcoding. Combined DNA tools identified perennial samples as Sarcocornia fruticosa and Arthrocaulon macrostachyum, along with annual Salicornia europaea, and phylogenetic trees unveiled genetic distances between glassworts, which clustered according to life cycle. The relationship between genotypes and nutritional profiles was finally investigated, suggesting that environmental factors may play a predominant role over taxonomic relatedness in shaping interspecific differences in nutrient composition of the analyzed samples. Full article

Brackish aquaponics is expected to be a promising approach to sustainable food production, integrating saline water resources with simultaneous co-cultivation of fish and halophytes. The present study investigated the effects of three feeding ratios (FR1.5: 1.5%, FR3: 3%, and FR6: 6% b.w/d) on the growth performance of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and glasswort (Salicornia europaea) co-cultured in three autonomous one-loop recirculation aquaponic systems (180 L each) at 20 ppt salinity over 78 days. Each system comprised three fish-rearing tanks connected to a two-stage sump filter and a nutrient film technique (NFT) hydroponic subsystem. Sea bass fed at FR3 achieved significantly higher weight gain, specific growth rate, and feed conversion efficiency than FR1.5. At FR6, feed consumption nearly doubled compared to FR3 (3.79 vs. 1.91 g), yet the feed conversion ratio increased from 0.79 to 1.65, and protein efficiency ratio declined from 3.80 to 1.91, indicating overfeeding effects. Regarding glasswort, FR6 produced significantly higher chlorophyll a content and plant biomass, whereas FR1.5 showed superior ammonia removal efficiency. Overall, FR3 provided the best balance between fish growth, plant yield, and water quality maintenance. These findings highlight the critical role of feeding management in brackish aquaponics in order to optimize nutrient coupling between fish and halophyte production. Full article

Halophytes are increasingly recognized as sustainable crops that offer a wide range of nutrients. This study provides a nutritional characterization of annual (Salicornia europaea) and perennial (Sarcocornia fruticosa, Arthrocaulon macrostachyum) species of glasswort, collected from different coastal habitats in southern Italy. S. europaea was also cultivated under non-saline conditions. Results showed differences in mineral content, and bioactive compounds among genotypes, but they were modulated by environmental conditions, leading to significant site-specific variation. S. europaea, regardless of the collecting sites, exhibited the highest concentration of minerals (K, Ca, and Mg), chlorophylls, carotenoids, and phenolic compounds as well as antioxidant activity. A. macrostachyum stood out for its high flavonoid and sterol content, exhibiting other nutritional traits comparable to S. europaea when collected in a more arid site. A. macrostachyum and S. fruticosa displayed similar compositional features, showing the highest anthocyanin and iodine (187.8 µg 100 g⁻¹ FW, on average) content. Sodium and potassium—critical for hypertension management—varied, exceeding the recommended Na/K ratio (1) for human consumption, especially in A. macrostachyum grown close to the sea. The most promising result was observed in non-saline S. europaea and in an A. macrostachyum sample (1.7, on average). Overall findings confirm the potential of both annual and perennial glassworts as nutritionally rich, sustainable crops for marginal environments. Full article

The Mediterranean region is experiencing severe droughts and unprecedented high temperatures. In terms of salinity, about 18 million ha of land, or 25% of the total irrigated area in the Mediterranean, is salt affected. The use of halophytes as intercropping species to mitigate the effects of salt stress is attractive. Halophytes have a great capacity to maintain their productivity in this extreme environment, thus supporting climate-appropriate agriculture. The aim of this study was to evaluate the productivity of Salicornia europaea L. subsp. ramosissima (glasswort) under field conditions and high soil salinity, grown as a sole crop (monocropping) and as a companion crop (intercropping) with Beta vulgaris L. subsp. cicla (Swiss chard) in a 1:1 cropping pattern. The field trials were conducted in the coastal wetland “King’s Lagoon”, a private nature reserve in the Apulia/Puglia region (southern Italy), during two consecutive spring–summer seasons in 2023 and 2024 and under different management conditions of irrigation and fertilization. These were performed to test for possible interaction effects. The results showed that both glasswort and chard can be grown sustainably under slightly saline conditions (ECe range 4–8 dS m⁻¹). In contrast, strongly saline conditions (ECe > 16 dS m⁻¹) were prohibitive for chard, both as a sole crop and as an intercrop, but were largely beneficial for glasswort. Swiss chard can benefit from intercropping with glasswort when soil salinity is still tolerable (6.9 dS m⁻¹), showing an LER (Land Equivalent Ratio) ≥ 1.19. Meanwhile, glasswort did not significantly improve the growth of the companion crop (Swiss chard) when the soil was considerably saline (16.6 dS m⁻¹). Higher LER values were observed when the contribution of chard to the intercrop performance was significantly greater than that of glasswort, i.e., under slightly saline conditions. This means that glasswort can have a significant positive effect on chard growth and productivity as long as soil is still moderately saline. Glasswort can therefore be considered a valuable model crop in extreme environments. The integration of glasswort (possibly together with other local halophytes) into diversified cropping systems on saline marginal soils is a promising sustainable agricultural practice in environmentally fragile areas such as wetlands, swamps, brackish areas, and marshes. Full article

The use of Mediterranean euryhaline fish and halophytes in aquaponics presents a sustainable and alternative approach to food production. The present study investigates the effect of compensatory growth on sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and Baltic prawn (Palaemon adspersus) co-cultivated with the halophytic glasswort (Salicornia europaea). Three autonomous systems were established, each containing forty-five sea bass, nine Baltic prawns, and eight glasswort plants, with different feeding regimes for each treatment: (i) daily feeding (treatment A), (ii) three days of feeding per week followed by four days of fasting (treatment B), and (iii) feeding for seven days followed by seven days of fasting (treatment C). The growth performance of the fish was significantly higher in treatment B. Conversely, the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was notably higher in treatment A. As for the prawns, their final body weight and length were similar across all treatments. The glasswort plants also demonstrated significantly improved growth in treatment B. These results indicate that the incorporation of feeding and fasting cycles can be an effective feed management strategy for polyculture aquaponic systems. Additionally, food deprivation had a positive impact on the growth performance of both glasswort and prawns. Full article

Halophytes, such as Salicornia species, are promising new foods and are consumed for their pleasant salty taste and nutritional value. Since Salicornia is perishable, modified atmospheric packaging (MAP) can be a useful tool, in combination with proper temperature, to halt further quality degradation in this type of product. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of MAP, with or without refrigeration, to extend the shelf life of glasswort (Salicornia europaea L.) grown hydroponically (floating raft system) in a greenhouse with a nutrient solution containing 0 g/L (C) or 12.5 g/L of NaCl (T). The dry matter content, weight loss, respiration rate, biochemical composition, color, antioxidant capacity, and sensorial attributes were determined in shoots after harvest and during storage in plastic bags filled with technical air or with MAP at 4 or 20 °C for 120 h. At harvest, plants supplied with salt-enriched solution (T) showed a significant improvement in nutritional value and sensory profile. Storage in air at room temperature (20 °C) accelerated weight loss and diminished color stability, particularly in non-salinity samples (C), while MAP extended the shelf life of all the samples regardless of the storage temperature adopted. Optimal storage conditions were observed when MAP was combined with refrigeration, which allowed to effectively preserve shoots sensory acceptability for a period of about seven days. Future research could further explore the long-term effects on the nutritional value and sensory quality of S. europaea under various combinations of MAP and different storage temperatures ranging between 4 °C and 20 °C. Full article

In order to explore the potential of biochar produced from poultry manure for sustainable waste utilization, carbon sequestration, and agricultural development, this study examines the impact of biochar on the growth of the halophyte plant Salicornia herbacea L., or glasswort. Because of their properties of morphological and chemical properties, biochar has been gaining interest as a potential solution to addressing both the concerns of climate change and unsustainable agriculture. In this study, the characteristics of biochar were analyzed and its impact on plant growth by stem length was measured over 15 weeks. Poultry-based biochar was created through pyrolysis at the temperatures of 400, 500, and 700 °C. Various amounts of biochar produced from pyrolysis at 500 °C were put to soil. However, the average surface area and average pore size values of poultry manure biochar produced from temperatures 400, 500, and 700 °C were similar enough to be negligible. The biochar sample produced from the pyrolysis temperature of 500 °C had an average pore size of 17.18 nm and a surface area of 18.06 m²/g. From weeks 4 to 15, all groups exhibited increased stem length, with the most significant differences observed between the biochar 0% (control) and biochar 10% groups, with biochar 0% and biochar 10% denoting 0% and 10% weight concentrations of biochar, respectively. While biochar 5% and biochar 7% groups showed minimal differences in stem length, biochar 10% demonstrated a significant increase, suggesting an optimal biochar percentage for enhancing plant growth. Carbon credit estimations have suggested that 1 ton of poultry manure biochar produced from pyrolysis at 500 C° equates to an estimate of 0.5248 ± 0.0580 carbon credits, the highest of all three biochar samples. All three samples (biochar produced from 400, 500, and 700 °C pyrolysis temperatures) had increased heavy metal contents and a wider range of functional groups. The findings indicate that biochar can effectively improve soil health and plant performance overall, with biochar 10% showing the most significant impact on Salicornia growth. Full article

There is still a need to investigate the relationships between glycophytes and halophytes and the many biotic and abiotic factors in their natural environments. Therefore, we study the effects of the type of environment on the ecophysiological responses and condition of the glycophyte Elder Sambucus nigra L., the macrophyte Common Reed Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud., the facultative halophyte Weeping Alkaligrass Puccinellia distans (Jacq.) Parl, and the obligate halophyte Common Glasswort Salicornia europaea L. in a saline-disturbed anthropogenic region of central Poland. We analyzed the effects of salinity, acidity, and soil organic matter on shoot length, lipoperoxidation, and proline in roots and green parts, and evaluated plant responses to environmental disturbance, which allowed for the comparison of adaptation strategies. The studies were carried out in (1) “sodium production” (near sodium factories), (2) “anthropogenic environments” (waste dumps, agroecosystems, calcium deposits, post-production tanks), (3) “wetland environments” (near river channels and riparian areas), and (4) “control” (natural, unpolluted environments). Green parts of plants are better suited to indicate environmental stress than roots. Their higher structural MDA membrane damage is related to the transport of toxic ions to the shoots by a rapid transpiration stream in the xylem. We found high salinity to be the main factor inducing growth and found it to be correlated with the high pH effect on proline increase in glycophytes (Elder, Reed) and Weeping Alkaligrass, in contrast to Common Glasswort. We suggest that proline accumulation allows osmotic adjustment in the green parts of reeds and alkaligrasses, but may have another function (in Elder). Common Glasswort accumulates large amounts of Na⁺, which is energetically more effective than proline accumulation for osmotic adjustment. Organic matter affects plant growth and proline levels, but soil salinity and pH alter nutrient availability. Plant distribution along the salinity gradient indicates that Elder is the most salt-sensitive species compared to Reed, Alkaligrass, and Glasswort. Salinity and the lack of control of thick reeds, which compete with other plant groups, affect the distribution of halophytes in saline environments. Full article

This study investigated the potential of biochar as a sustainable material for waste utilization and carbon sequestration in soil. Biochar was prepared from cow manure (CM) and applied to the soil. Biochar was processed by subjecting CM to various temperature ranges (400 [CMB400], 550 [CMB550], and 700 °C [CMB700]) under nitrogen gas (allowed to flow to restrict oxygen), with residence time set to 3 h. The characteristics of the biochar produced at each temperature were analyzed. The experiment was conducted for approximately 15 weeks with the laboratory temperature maintained between 24 and 26 °C. The growth rate of plants was obtained by measuring their length weekly, starting 4 weeks after crop establishment. CMB550 exhibited the highest specific surface area (117.57 m² g⁻¹) and well-distributed pore size; therefore, it was mixed with the soil at a specific ratio and put in pots for the planting of Salicornia herbacea L. (glasswort) in the laboratory. The results demonstrated that adding biochar to soil increased plant growth and that the biochar could store organic carbon. In addition, an investigation of heavy metals demonstrated that samples with biochar had lower heavy metal concentrations in glasswort than those without because of the potential of biochar to adsorb heavy metals. By interacting with heavy metal ions in soil solution, the reactive sites and functional groups on the surface of biochar immobilize them and lessen their potentially detrimental effects on plant growth. Overall, biochar has the potential to be a valuable resource for waste management and environmental improvement. Full article

Among halophyte plants, Salicornia species (also known as glasswort or sea asparagus) are increasingly grown in open fields and greenhouses for edible or non-edible purposes. Their salinity tolerance makes it possible to irrigate Salicornia plants with saline waters and even seawater, which cannot be used by other crop species. In this work, S. europaea (L.) was cultivated in pots under the typical climatic conditions of the fall season in the Mediterranean region and irrigated with non-saline standard nutrient solution (SNS) or saline wastewater discharged from a greenhouse semi-closed hydroponic (substrate) culture of tomato or a saltwater recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) with Gilthead sea bream (Spaurus aurata L., which was used as such or after dilution (50:50) with SNS. Plant growth was not significantly affected by the composition of irrigation water, while higher antioxidant capacity (measured using the DPPH assay) and concentration of photosynthetic pigments, phenols, flavonoids, and ascorbic acid were found in the shoots of SNS plants than in those of plants irrigated with wastewater. The level of lipid peroxidation and H₂O₂ production significantly increased in the SNS plants, which also showed higher activity of superoxide dismutase and lower activity of catalase. These results suggest that S. europaea can be cultivated using wastewater with moderate to high salinity discharged from greenhouse hydroponic crops or RASs, and that salt is not strictly required for the growth of this species. Using non-saline nutrient solution can result in moderate oxidative stress that improves the shoot quality of S. europaea. Full article

Salicornia ramosissima, commonly known as glasswort or sea asparagus, is a halophyte plant cultivated for human consumption that is often referred to as a sea vegetable rich in health-promoting n-3 fatty acids (FAs). Yet, the effect of abiotic conditions, such as salinity and temperature, on the FA profile of S. ramosissima remains largely unknown. These factors can potentially shape its nutritional composition and yield unique fatty acid signatures that can reveal its geographical origin. In this context, samples of S. ramosissima were collected from four different locations along the coastline of mainland Portugal and their FAs were profiled through gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The lipid extracts displayed a high content of essential FAs, such as 18:2n-6 and 18:3n-3. In addition to an epoxide fatty acid exclusively identified in samples from the Mondego estuary, the relative abundance of FAs varied between origin sites, revealing that FA profiles can be used as site-specific lipid fingerprints. This study highlights the role of abiotic conditions on the nutritional profile of S. ramosissima and establishes FA profiling as a potential avenue to trace the geographic origin of this halophyte plant. Overall, the present approach can make origin certification possible, safeguard quality, and enhance consumers’ trust in novel foods. Full article

Glasswort (Salicornia herbacea L.) is a halophyte plant known to contain high contents of minerals and phytochemicals. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of fermented glasswort on gut health in D-galactose (D-gal)-induced aging rats. Forty rats were randomly divided into five groups: control (CON), D-gal alone (CD), D-gal plus fructooligosaccharide as a positive control (FOS, 400 mg/kg), D-gal plus low dose fermented glasswort (LGW, 10 mg/kg), and D-gal plus high-dose fermented glasswort (HGW, 20 mg/kg). Each treatment was orally administered to rats of each group for eight weeks. All groups except for the CON group (treated with saline) were intraperitoneally injected with D-gal (150 mg/kg). Our results showed that butyric acid among short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), goblet cells of colon, and thickness of mucus layer in colon were increased in fermented glasswort groups. In addition, fermented glasswort reduced levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS, a related oxidative stress marker) and expression levels of inflammation-related proteins such as IL-1β. These results suggest that fermented glasswort can improve age-related gut health. Full article

Halophytes have evolved to tolerate high salinity environments. The halophyte glasswort (Salicornia and Sarcocornia species) grows by the sea or in salty soils and can be consumed with pleasure. In this study, the cultivation of glasswort was studied by testing the effects of different electrical conductivity (EC) levels (10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 mS cm⁻¹) of a nutrient solution. Salicornia perennis Mill. was grown on floating systems in unheated greenhouse conditions. To adjust the different EC levels, sodium chloride was added to the Hoagland nutrient solution (EC: 2 mS cm⁻¹). Plant growth and yield parameters, shoot color, evapotranspiration, and shoot nutrient content were determined. Among the tested EC levels, the highest plant height (33.56 cm), shoot (172.75 g) and root fresh weights (41.74 g), stem diameter (7.85 mm), and fresh biomass (2864.06 g m⁻²) were obtained from an EC level of 25 mS cm⁻¹. There were no significant differences in shoot color excluding b* and chroma values. It was concluded that glasswort could be grown in hydroponic systems as a new crop and that an EC value of 25 mS cm⁻¹ is the most appropriate for the cultivation of Salicornia perennis Mill. on floating systems. Full article