Nitrate modulates the physiological tolerance responses of the halophytic species Sarcocornia fruticosa to copper excess.

Coexistence impact of pollutants of different nature on halophytes tolerance to metal excess has not been thoroughly examined, and plant functional responses described so far do not follow a clear pattern. Using the Cu-tolerant halophyte Sarcocornia fruticosa as a model species, we conducted a greenhouse experiment to evaluate the impact of two concentration of copper (0 and 12 mM CuSO) in combination with three nitrate levels (2, 14 and 50 mM KNO) on plant growth, photosynthetic apparatus performance and ROS-scavenging enzymes system. The results revealed that S.

Disentangling elevation, annual flooding regime and salinity as hydrochemical determinants of halophyte distribution in non-tidal saltmarsh.

Background And Aims: Hydrological disconnection, especially in a Mediterranean climate, creates coastal saltmarshes with an annual cycle of flooding that are unlike tidally inundated systems. Winter rainfall produces long, continuous hydroperiods, alternating with continuous exposure caused by evaporation in warm, rain-free summers. We aimed to distinguish the effects of elevation, hydroperiod and salinity on annual and perennial halophytes in such a system.

Salinity alleviates zinc toxicity in the saltmarsh zinc-accumulator Juncus acutus.

The potential importance of Juncus acutus for remediation of Zn-contaminated lands has been recognized, because of its Zn tolerance and capacity to accumulate Zn. Since it is also a halophyte, the extent to which salinity influences its Zn tolerance requires investigation. A factorial greenhouse experiment was designed to assess the effect of NaCl supply (0 and 85 mM NaCl) on the growth, photosynthetic physiology and tissue ions concentrations of plants exposed to 0, 30 and 100 mM Zn.

Radionuclides transfer into halophytes growing in tidal salt marshes from the Southwest of Spain.

Estuaries are sinks of materials and substances which are released directly into them or transported from rivers that drain the basin. It is usual to find high organic matter loads and fine particles in the sediments. We analyzed radionuclide concentrations ((210)Po, (230)Th, (232)Th, (234)U, (238)U, (226)Ra, (228)Th, (228)Ra, (40)K) in sediments and three different organs (roots, stems and leaves) of three species of halophytes plants (Spartina maritima, Spartina densiflora and Sarcocornia perennis).

Growth and photosynthetic responses to salinity of the salt-marsh shrub Atriplex portulacoides.

Background And Aims: Atriplex (Halimione) portulacoides is a halophytic, C(3) shrub. It is virtually confined to coastal salt marshes, where it often dominates the vegetation. The aim of this study was to investigate its growth responses to salinity and the extent to which these could be explained by photosynthetic physiology.