Ultrastructural Characteristics of Three Chenopod Halophytes Lacking Salt Excretion Structures

Abstract

Plants maintained in high soil salinity generally develop particular structures to either tolerate or survive such adverse environments. Excretion of excess ions by special salt glands or other similar structures is a well-known phenomenon for regulating the mineral content of many halophytes. However, the three chenopod halophytes of Suaeda inhabit high saline soils, yet they exhibit no signs of salt excretion structures. The current study has been undertaken to assess the structural attributes of these halophytes to reveal their cellular characteristics during growth in salt tolerance. Transmission and scanning electron microscopy, as well as ion chromatography, have been employed for the study. One of the most noticeable features uncovered was the epidermal cutinization shown to be heavy on the outer epidermis and characterized externally by thick wax plates. Numerous vesicles and membranous invagination in the vacuoles were common features within the mesophyll cytoplasm. Invaginations of the vacuolar and/or plasma membrane frequently formed secondary vacuoles which later became distinct, membrane-bound compartments. Significant accumulation of solid sodium chloride salts was well demonstrated in the vacuoles of air-dried epidermis. Finally, salt tolerance mechanisms in these Suaeda have been discussed with respect to other halophyte modifications that improve salt tolerance in various ways.