Abstract
The problems associated with the salinization of soils and water bodies and the increasing competition for scarce freshwater resources are increasing. Current attempts to adapt to these conditions through sustainable agriculture involves searching for new highly salt-tolerant crops, and wild species that have potential as saline crops are particularly suitable. The common ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.) is an edible halophyte member of the Aizoaceae family, which switches from C3 photosynthesis to crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) when exposed to salinity or water stress. The aim of this review was to examine the potential of using the ice plant in both the wild and as a crop, and to describe its ecology and morphology, environmental and agronomic requirements, and physiology. The antioxidant properties and mineral composition of the ice plant are also beneficial to human health and have been extensively examined.
Highlights
Climate change, the lack of global water resources, and the increase of saline and dry conditions have negatively affected arable lands
The transition from the juvenile to the adult phase leads to changes in the ice plant’s metabolism: in addition to the development of epidermal bladder cells there is a switch from C3 metabolism to crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM)
When unstressed ice plants enter this phase, CAM metabolism develops slowly [35], and after the induction of environmental stress or mature growth, there is slight decrease in the photosynthetic rate at midday, which gradually intensifies over successive days
Summary
The lack of global water resources, and the increase of saline and dry conditions have negatively affected arable lands. Increased soil use due to the growth in production has led to a loss of fertility and the phenomena of salinization and desertification, which render soils unsuitable for cultivation. Sustainability in terms of water resource preservation, food availability for poor populations, and a reduction in production inputs is a major challenge for researchers. Saline agriculture with halophyte crops could be one solution to the problems of fresh water resource depletion and the increase of salinized soil areas, as they allow for the cultivation of marginal areas and can enable coastal and salt lands to be productive [4]. It can grow in sandy and loamy soils that are well-drained, and even nutritionally poor and saline. The ability to switch to CAM allows CO2 to accumulate during the night-time, which is used for photosynthesis dFuirginFuigrgetuhr2ee.d2Aa. dyAtudimlutlest,tsatthagugeescichnhacarrreaaaccstteienrrigizzeietdsdwbbyaytthethreeuswsseweelleffolilfcoibeflnabcdlydadearndcdeercllacsr.ebllosn. fixing capacity [39,41]
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