Search Results (640)

Tetragonia tetragonioides, or New Zealand spinach, is a widespread halophyte native to eastern Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, and naturalized in some Mediterranean regions. This underutilized vegetable is consumed for its leaves, raw or cooked. For the first time, we investigated the feasibility of using whole baby plants (including stems and leaves) as raw material for ready-to-eat (RTE) vegetable production. Our study assessed Tetragonia’s suitability for hydroponic cultivation over two cycles (autumn–winter and spring). We investigated the impact of increasing nutrient rates (only water, half-strength, and full-strength nutrient solutions) and plant densities (365, 497, and 615 plants m⁻² in the first trial and 615 and 947 plants m⁻² in the second) on baby plant production. We also analyzed the plants’ morphological and biochemical characteristics, and their viability for cold storage (21 days at 4 °C) as a minimally processed product. Tetragonia adapted well to hydroponic cultivation across both growing periods. Nevertheless, climatic conditions, plant density, and nutrient supply significantly influenced plant growth, yield, nutritional quality, and post-harvest storage. The highest plant density combined with the full-strength nutrient solution resulted in the highest yield, especially during spring (1.8 kg m⁻²), and favorable nutritional characteristics (β-carotene, Vitamin C, Fe, Cu, Mn, and Zn). Furthermore, Tetragonia baby plants proved suitable for minimal processing, maintaining good quality retention for a minimum of 14 days, thus resulting in a viable option for the RTE vegetable market. Full article

Climate change intensifies water scarcity and soil salinization, threatening agriculture and livestock systems, especially in arid Mediterranean regions. Halophytes and salt-tolerant plants offer sustainable alternatives to support ruminant health and productivity where traditional crops fail, helping mitigate climate impacts. This work evaluated seasonality effects on the biochemical properties, including proximate composition, minerals, antioxidant properties, and the phenolic composition of the aerial organs of halophytes and salt-tolerant species, aiming at their future exploitation in ruminant production as novel nutraceutical or phytotherapeutic products. Target species included four halophytic species according to the eHaloph database (Calystegia soldanella (L.) R. Br. 1810, Medicago marina L. 1753, Plantago coronopus L. 1753, and Limoniastrum monopetalum (L.) Boiss. 1848) and five salt-tolerant plants (Pistacia lentiscus L. 1753, Cladium mariscus (L.) Pohl 1809, Inula crithmoides L. (syn. Limbarda crithmoides Dumort. 1827), Helichrysum italicum subsp. picardii (Boiss. & Reut.) Franco 1984, and Crucianella maritima L. 1753). H. italicum, M. marina, and C. soldanella appear well-suited for nutraceutical applications, while P. lentiscus, L. monopetalum, and C. mariscus hold promise for the development of, for example, phytotherapeutic products. This research underscores the significance of seasonal and species-specific variations in nutrient and phytochemical composition, displaying a range of opportunities for novel, sustainable, and tailored solutions to ruminant production systems in arid environments. Full article

Members of the Apiaceae family have been recognized since antiquity for their health-promoting properties. The halophytic species Crithmum maritimum L. (commonly known as sea fennel) has been used in traditional medicine since antiquity, largely due to its diverse and bioactive phytochemical composition. The plant’s complex chemical composition includes terpenoids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, tannins, dietary fibers, fatty acids, and essential vitamins. Essential oils (EOs) extracted from C. maritimum L. have demonstrated a wide range of biological activities, including antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer effects. Moreover, recent evidence suggests additional biofunctional roles such as cognitive enhancement and the inhibition of melanin synthesis in the skin. Extracts of the plant exhibit significant bioactivity, having shown antiparasitic, hypoglycemic, vasodilatory, and probiotic effects in preliminary studies. Despite this pharmacological potential, the number of experimental studies (particularly in vivo investigations) remains limited. The present review consolidates existing in vitro and in vivo research on C. maritimum L. with an analysis of 79 scientific studies aimed at elucidating its therapeutic potential and identifying future research directions necessary to support its broader application in biomedical and functional food contexts. Full article

Halophyte plants, with genes responsive to abiotic stress, are promising candidates to enhance crop stress tolerance, but reliable RT-qPCR analysis requires the precise selection of candidate reference genes (CRGs) due to their inconsistent expression across tissues and stress conditions. In this study eight CRGs of A. littoralis, AlEF1A, AlRPS3, AlGTFC, AlRPS12, AlUBQ2, AlTUB6, AlACT7, and AlGAPDH1, were analyzed to assess their stability for the normalization of RT-qPCR data under polyethylene glycol (PEG, 20% w/v for drought simulation), abscisic acid (ABA, 100 μM), and cold stress (4 °C) treatments. The result of the algorithms suggested different CRGs for different treatments or tissue types. However the comprehensive analysis indicates that AlEF1A is the most stable CRG for PEG-treated leaf tissue, but AlTUB6 is preferable for PEG-treated root tissue, while for PEG-treated leaf and root tissues, AlEF1A can be suggested. For cold-stressed leaf and/or root samples, AlRPS3 was the most stable. For ABA-treated leaf and root tissues, AlGTFC and AlEF1A were the most stable CRGs, respectively, whereas AlTUB6 was suggested for ABA-treated leaf and root tissues. Collectively, for all stresses combined (PEG, ABA, and cold), AlGTFC was the most stable CRG in leaf samples, while AlRPS3 was the most stable in root samples and combined leaf and root samples. The validation analysis indicates a statistically significant difference (p value < 0.05) between normalization with the most and least stable CRGs. This research suggests reliable tissue-specific RGs for A. littoralis under abiotic stresses that can enhances the accuracy of gene expression quantification. Full article

Crithmum maritimum L. is a halophyte with antioxidant and antimicrobial potential for the food industry. Pruning generates a by-product composed of woody stems, old leaves, and flowers. To valorize this underutilized and largely unexplored biomass, food-grade polar extraction (hydroethanolic vs. aqueous) was applied. The extracts were characterized for their bioactive compounds (polyphenols, tocopherols, carotenoids, total phenols (TPC) and total flavonoids (TFC)). Further, the extracts were assessed for their in vitro antioxidant activity (ABTS, DPPH, FRAP, and β-carotene bleaching) and antimicrobial activity against eight target strains ascribed to Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria innocua. The hydroethanolic extract exhibited higher concentration of bioactives compared to the water extract and raw by-product. The β-carotene bleaching test revealed that both extracts are potent inhibitors of lipid peroxidation. The aqueous extract showed no antimicrobial activity, while the ethanolic extract exhibited strain-dependent behavior against S. aureus and L. innocua but not E. coli. The minimum inhibitory concentration and the minimum bactericidal concentration of the ethanolic extract against S. aureus were 2.5 MIC and 10.0 MBC mg/mL, respectively. Ethanolic extracts could potentially be used in food formulations to enhance lipid peroxidation resistance and antimicrobial capacity as food-grade natural preservatives. Full article

Saline–alkali land is a critical factor limiting agricultural production and ecological restoration. Utilizing salt-tolerant plants for bioremediation represents an environmentally friendly and sustainable approach to soil management. This study employed the highly salt-tolerant crop Portulaca oleracea L. cv. “Su Ma Chi Xian 3” as the test material. A plot experiment was established in coastal saline soils with planting P. a- oleracea (P) and no planting (CK) under three blocks with the different salt levels (S1: 2.16 g/kg; S2: 4.08 g/kg; S3: 5.43 g/kg) to systematically evaluate its salt accumulation capacity and effects on soil physicochemical properties. The results demonstrated that P. oleracea exhibited adaptability across all three salinity levels, with aboveground biomass following the trend PS2 > PS3 > PS1. The ash salt contents removed through harvesting were 1.29, 2.03, and 1.74 t/ha, respectively, in PS1, PS2, and PS3. Compared to no planting, a significant reduction in bulk density was observed in the 0–10 and 10–20 cm soil layers (p < 0.05). A significant increase in porosity by 9.72%, 16.29%, and 12.61% was found under PS1, PS2, and PS3, respectively, in the 0–10 cm soil layer. Soil salinity decreased by 34.20%, 50.23%, and 48.26%, in the 0–10 cm soil layer and by 14.43%, 32.30%, and 26.42% in the 10–20 cm soil layer under PS1, PS2, and PS3, respectively. The pH exhibited a significant reduction under the planting treatment in the 0–10 cm layer. A significant increase in organic matter content by 13.70%, 12.44%, and 13.55%, under PS1, PS2, and PS3, respectively, was observed in the 0–10 cm soil layer. The activities of invertase and urease were significantly enhanced in the 0–10 and 10–20 cm soil layers, and the activity of alkaline phosphatase also exhibited a significant increase in the 0–10 cm layer under the planting treatment. This study indicated that cultivating P. oleracea could effectively facilitate the improvement of coastal saline soils by optimizing soil structure, reducing salinity, increasing organic matter, and activating the soil enzyme system, thereby providing theoretical and technical foundations for ecological restoration and sustainable agricultural utilization of saline–alkali lands. Full article

Cancer remains a major global public health concern, driving the need for innovative therapeutic agents with intensified efficacy and safety. Growth factor receptors (GFRs), often overexpressed in cancer cells and critical in regulating cell proliferation, survival, and tumor progression, represent key targets for cancer therapy. Halophytic plants like Salicornia spp. are known for their diverse bioactive compounds with notable pharmacological properties. This study comprehensively evaluated the anti-cancer potentials of phytochemicals derived from Salicornia herbacea and Salicornia brachiata using molecular docking and ADME-Tox (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) profiling. A total of 37 bioactive compounds from Salicornia spp. were screened against HER1, HER2, and HER4 receptors. Among them, 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid, myricetin, quercetin, stigmasterol, kaempferol, isorhamnetin, rhamnetin, and hesperitin featured strong predicted binding affinities to the HER1, HER2, and HER4 growth factor receptors, comparable to those of standard anti-cancer drugs such as gefitinib and dovitinib. Further pharmacokinetic assessments, including bioavailability and toxicity analyses, identified compounds with favorable drug-likeness properties and minimal toxicity risks, except for myricetin and quercetin. These findings underscore the potential of Salicornia-derived phytochemicals as promising candidates for the development of safe, novel, and effective anti-cancer agents targeting GFRs, contributing to the advances in precision oncology, pending further validation through in vitro and/or in vivo experiments. Full article

The increasing discharge of nutrient and metal-laden effluents into saline environments demands sustainable remediation strategies. This study evaluated the phytoremediation potential of Salicornia brachiata, a halophytic plant, under hydroponic conditions using varying concentrations of three macronutrients—nitrate (NO₃⁻), phosphate (PO₄³⁻), and calcium (Ca²⁺)—and three heavy metals—lead (Pb²⁺), chromium (Cr⁶⁺), and copper (Cu²⁺). The plant exhibited high removal efficiencies across all treatments, with Pb²⁺ and Cr⁶⁺ reaching nearly 99% removal within two days, while macronutrient removal showed a steady, time-dependent increase over the 14-day period. Several biochemical parameters, including proline content and antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase), were significantly affected by treatments, with most showing dose-dependent responses to heavy metal exposure, indicating strong biochemical resilience. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed pollutant-specific structural shifts and identified –OH, –NH, and –COO⁻ groups as key binding sites. The study quantifies the removal efficiency of S. brachiata for both nutrients and metals and provides mechanistic insight into its ionic stress response and binding pathways. These findings establish S. brachiata as a viable candidate for integrated phytoremediation in saline, contaminated water systems. Full article

Kimchi, a traditional fermented product made primarily with Chinese cabbage, develops its characteristic flavor through microbial activity and a variety of ingredients. This study explores the incorporation of sea fennel (Crithmum maritimum L.), a halophytic plant rich in bioactive compounds and known for its distinctive aroma, into kimchi. Two fermentation methods were compared: spontaneous fermentation and fermentation using a defined starter culture of four lactic acid bacteria strains. Fermentation was conducted at 4 °C for 26 days, with samples monitored for up to 150 days. Parameters analyzed included pH, titratable acidity, microbial counts, organic acid concentrations, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and sensory attributes. In the early stages, notable differences in acidity, microbial populations, and VOCs were observed between the two methods, but these differences diminished over time. Sensory analysis indicated similar overall characteristics for both prototypes, although the sea fennel’s aroma and fibrous texture remained perceptible at day 150. VOCs analysis revealed that the fermentation time significantly affected the composition of key aroma compounds, contributing to the final sensory profile. Sea fennel played a key role in shaping the VOC profile and imparting a distinctive aromatic quality. Both fermentation methods led to similar enhancements in flavor and product quality. These findings support the use of sea fennel as an aromatic ingredient in fermented vegetables and highlight the importance of fermentation optimization. Full article

Salicornia species are halophytic plants that thrive in environments with moderate to high salinity. Owing to its high nutritional value and diverse bioactive constituents, Salicornia holds promise for applications in the food, feed, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and bioenergy sectors. Understanding its salt tolerance mechanisms is important for developing crops suited to saline soils and water. Recent studies have revealed that Salicornia adapts to salinity through diverse physiological, biochemical, and molecular strategies. Despite these advances, a comprehensive synthesis of existing knowledge remains absent, hindering its effective application in crop improvement. In this review, recent advances in the understanding of Salicornia’s salinity tolerance are synthesized, with emphasis placed on key mechanisms: cell wall nano-mechanics, ion regulation and compartmentation, antioxidant defense, osmotic balance, phytohormonal control, signal transduction, transcriptional regulation, and the expression of salt-responsive proteins. The interactions among these mechanisms are also examined, along with their roles in conferring tolerance to additional abiotic stresses such as drought, submergence, and extreme temperatures. Finally, the potential applications of these findings in genetic engineering for improving salt tolerance in crops are discussed, along with proposed directions for future research to promote the use of halophytes in sustainable agriculture. Full article

Salicornia brachiata Roxb., an economically and ecologically significant halophytic species native to Sri Lanka, produces dimorphic seeds. Despite their importance for commercial cultivation and conservation, germination studies of these dimorphic seeds remain limited. This study investigated the effects of temperature (25 °C, 30 °C, 35 °C), gibberellic acid (GA₃) treatment, geographic location of seed source (Jaffna vs. Puttalam coastal regions), seed type (central vs. lateral), and perianth presence/absence on germination under controlled conditions. Our results show that temperature, GA₃, and geographic location of the seed source significantly influenced seed germination. This study presents the first documented evidence of physiological dormancy (PD) in S. brachiata seeds, with successful dormancy breaking achieved using GA₃ treatment at 25 °C. Although perianth and seed type alone had no significant direct effects on germination, they were involved in multiple significant interactions—two-, three-, and four-way—with other factors. These findings highlight the multifactorial regulation of S. brachiata seed germination, suggesting that tailored propagation strategies, incorporating environmental and physiological variables, can optimize germination. These findings offer practical solutions for enhancing germination in saline agriculture and habitat restoration efforts of S. brachiata. Full article

Abiotic stress poses a serious challenge in agriculture. Salinity inhibits crop growth and yields by disrupting ionic homeostasis and osmotic balance. One critical mechanism of salt tolerance is the activation of the Salt Overly Sensitive (SOS) signaling pathway. Investigating this pathway in halophytic plants offers valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying salt stress tolerance. This study explores the structure and function of SOS3/CBL4 from the gray mangrove, Avicennia marina (AmSOS3). Sequence analysis revealed that AmSOS3 shares significant similarities with orthologs of SOS3/CBL4, including Arabidopsis thaliana (AtSOS3). All essential functional domains of SOS3, including the four EF-hands, as well as the N-myristoylation and S-acylation motif, were conserved in AmSOS3. Structural modeling, using Modeller, predicted that AmSOS3 forms a homodimer stabilized by a hydrogen bond at the serine 140 position. Functional characterization further demonstrated that AmSOS3 complements the sos3-1 mutation in A. thaliana, thus confirming that AmSOS3 is an ortholog of AtSOS3. Overexpression of AmSOS3 in wild-type A. thaliana enhanced tolerance under salinity stress. The transgenic lines displayed reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and increased ROS-scavenging enzyme activity. These findings indicate that AmSOS3 plays a critical role in improving salt stress tolerance and maintaining cellular homeostasis. Full article

In this study, the vegetation of the natural area of the Göksu Delta Special Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), one of Turkey’s most important wetlands, is researched. The importance of this study in terms of contributing to environmental protection and land use planning studies reveals that this natural area, where rare ecosystems are found, has started to degrade and disappear under human influence. This study was conducted because the area is not only a designated RAMSAR wetland (a wetland site designated of international importance especially for the Waterfowl Habitat under the Ramsar Convention) but also includes nearby residential developments. With this study, the vegetation of the area was studied to determine the syntaxonomic units across different habitats. The natural area of Göksu Delta is divided into three main habitat groups: aquatic, sand dune, and halophytic. In the research, the Braun-Blanquet method was used. During the research in the Göksu Delta, 279 sample areas were surveyed. The data were analysed according to the fuzzy means cluster method. During the investigation, 29 associations were identified, and 16 of them are considered a new finding for science. These 29 associations can be classified as follows: aquatic vegetation is represented with four associations (three of them belong to Phragmito-Magnocaricetea and one of them belongs to Potametea classes), sand dune vegetation is represented with 12 associations (belonging to Ammophiletea Br.-Bl. & Tüxen ex Westhoff, Dijk, & Passchier 1946 class), and halophytic vegetation is represented with 13 associations (six of them belong to Salicornietea fruticosae Br.-Bl. & Tüxen ex A. & O. Bolòs 1950, six of them belong to Juncetea maritimi Br.-Bl. in Br.-Bl., Roussine & Nègre 1952, and one of them belong to Molinio-Juncetea Br.-Bl. (1931) 1947 classes). Three (Onopordum boissieri, Ambrosia maritima, and Chlamydophora tridentata) of the endemics and rare plants that were explored during the study were recorded as new alliance characteristics. Full article

Modified biochar can effectively improve the quality and environment of coastal saline–alkali soil, but its effects on the growth and development of halophytes and its mechanism are still unclear. This study systematically evaluated the growth-promoting effects and preliminary mechanisms of H₃PO₄-modified biochar (HBC) and H₃PO₄–kaolinite–biochar composite (HBCK) on the economically important halophyte Kosteletzkya virginica. The results demonstrated that the application of HBC/HBCK significantly enhanced plant growth, resulting in increases of over 55% in plant height and greater than 100% in biomass relative to the control. Multidimensional mechanistic analysis revealed the following: (1) accumulation of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) increased by at least 40%, significantly enhancing nutrient uptake; (2) increases in the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) by over 100% and 70%, respectively, markedly boosting antioxidant capacity and effectively alleviating oxidative stress; (3) molecular regulation via the activation of transcription factor networks (HSP, MYB, TCP, AP2/ERF, bZIP, and NLP) and modulation of key genes in ABA, BR, and JA signaling pathways (CYP707A, CYP90, and OPR2), establishing a multi-layered stress adaptation and growth promotion system. Beyond assessing the growth-promoting effects of modified biochars, this study provides novel insights into the regulatory transcription factor networks and phytohormone signaling pathways, offering theoretical foundations for the molecular design of biochars for saline–alkali soil remediation. Full article

While rhizosphere microbiome functions in saline soils are well documented, complementary microbial strategies between pioneer and late-successional halophytes remain unexplored. Here, we used 16S rRNA sequencing and FAPROTAX functional prediction to compare the rhizosphere bacterial communities of two key halophytes—Suaeda glauca and Phragmites communis—in a reclaimed coastal wetland. The results demonstrate that both plants significantly restructured microbial communities through convergent enrichment of stress-tolerant taxa (Firmicutes, Pseudomonas, Bacillus, and Planococcus) while suppressing sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (Sulfurovum and Thiobacillus). However, they exhibited distinct microbial specialization: S. glauca uniquely enriched organic-matter-degrading taxa (Promicromonospora and Zhihengliuella) and upregulated aromatic compound degradation (2.29%) and ureolysis (0.86%) according to FAPROTAX analysis, facilitating carbon mobilization in early successional stages. Notably, P. communis selectively recruited nitrogen-cycling Serratia, with increased nitrate respiration (3.51% in P. communis vs. 0.91% in S. glauca) function, reflecting its higher nitrogen demand. Environmental factors also diverged: S. glauca’s microbiome correlated with potassium and sodium, whereas P. communis responded to phosphorus and chloride. These findings uncover distinct microbial recruitment strategies by halophytes to combat saline stress—S. glauca–P. communis synergy through microbial carbon-nitrogen coupling—offering a template for consortia design in saline soil restoration. Full article