Salt-tolerance screening in Limonium sinuatum varieties with different flower colors

Xiaojing Xu,Baoshan Wang,Fang Yuan,Ping Mi,Yingli Zhou

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-93974-3

Abstract

Limonium sinuatum, a member of Plumbaginaceae commonly known as sea lavender, is widely used as dried flower. Five L. sinuatum varieties with different flower colors (White, Blue, Pink, Yellow, and Purple) are found in saline regions and are widely cultivated in gardens. In the current study, we evaluated the salt tolerance of these varieties under 250 mmol/L NaCl (salt-tolerance threshold) treatment to identify the optimal variety suitable for planting in saline lands. After the measurement of the fresh weight (FW), dry weight (DW), contents of Na+, K+, Ca2+, Cl−, malondialdehyde (MDA), proline, soluble sugars, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), relative water content, chlorophyll contents, net photosynthetic rate, and osmotic potential of whole plants, the salt-tolerance ability from strongest to weakest is identified as Pink, Yellow, Purple, White, and Blue. Photosynthetic rate was the most reliable and positive indicator of salt tolerance. The density of salt glands showed the greatest increase in Pink under NaCl treatment, indicating that Pink adapts to high-salt levels by enhancing salt gland formation. These results provide a theoretical basis for the large-scale planting of L. sinuatum in saline soils in the future.

Highlights

IntroductionA member of Plumbaginaceae commonly known as sea lavender, is widely used as dried flower
Limonium sinuatum, a member of Plumbaginaceae commonly known as sea lavender, is widely used as dried flower
Salt stress alters the contents of soluble sugars, ions, and proline in p lants[12], and it affects the synthesis of plant soluble substances[13], leading to changes in salt tolerance[14]

Summary

Introduction

A member of Plumbaginaceae commonly known as sea lavender, is widely used as dried flower. Five L. sinuatum varieties with different flower colors (White, Blue, Pink, Yellow, and Purple) are found in saline regions and are widely cultivated in gardens. The density of salt glands showed the greatest increase in Pink under NaCl treatment, indicating that Pink adapts to high-salt levels by enhancing salt gland formation. These results provide a theoretical basis for the large-scale planting of L. sinuatum in saline soils in the future. L. sinuatum belongs to Limonium, few studies of the salt resistance in different varieties of this plant have been reported.

Methods

Results

Conclusion