Ecophysiology of Chenopodiaceae Members around the Tuz Lake (Turkey)

Abstract

Salinity is one of the major environmental constraints on plant growth and productivity. Halophytes, plants capable of growing and reproducing in saline conditions, as a group have several physiological adaptations that facilitate their survival in saline environments. In this study, 12 euhalophyte taxa belonging to the Chenopodiaceae family were studied at Tuz Lake, the third largest natural lake in Turkey. Within the scope of this study, the inorganic ions (Na+, Cl-, K+, Ca+2, and Mg+2), and the glycinebetaine content of the plants and the relationship between the soil properties [% soluble water content, pH, EC, and soluble anions (HCO3-2, and Cl-, SO4-2) and cations (Na+, K+, Ca+2, Mg+2)] were studied at three stations. Correlations between taxa and soil properties show that the Na+ and Cl- amounts and EC value had a strong positive relationship. For taxa, the glycinebetaine, Na+, and Cl- amounts were very high and that the Na+/K+ ratio was higher than 1 value. Additionally, the glycinebetaine amount of the taxa and the Na+ amount of the soil had a strong positive relationship (p<0.05). Our results recommended that the strong resistance of Chenopodiaceae to natural salt stress might be depended on their key physiological characters such as the Na+, Cl- and glycinebetaine accumulation in the aboveground parts of the plants. The accumulation of salt in the rhizosphere soil positively correlates with the salt tolerance of the plants. Thus, the distribution of plants was effected by the soil salinity and competition.