Alternative Survival Strategy Research Articles

Women’s Homelessness and the Justice System: A Study of Desistance and Social (Re)integration Among Canadian Women Who Used or Did Not Use Criminal Activities to Survive

Women experiencing homelessness (WEH) are a marginalized group who often lack support services, leading them to adopt alternative survival strategies that leave them at risk of being victimized and becoming involved with the justice-system. To better understand this problem, we analyzed the adaptive strategies Canadian WEH use to survive. Comparing the life histories of WEH who turned to criminal activities ( n = 4) with WEH who demonstrated prosocial resilience ( n = 4) makes it possible to identify protective and risk factors for criminal behavior and to propose adaptive strategies that can be used to support these women to adopt a prosocial lifestyle. The results provide a framework for understanding the needs of WEH, filling a gap that results from the focus on men needs in most scientific literature and by many resources, and suggesting that meeting those needs may reduce the likelihood that WEH will become involved with the justice-system.

Abstract 3082: The liver microenvironment promotes glycolysis in metastatic colorectal cancer by activating her3

Abstract Background: Liver metastasis occurs in ~80% of all metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) and the liver has a unique endothelial cell (EC)-rich microenvironment that promotes cancer cell survival. We previously reported that liver ECs secrete soluble factors to promote CRC growth via activating CRC-associated the HER3 signaling pathway. The present study reports that ECs promote mCRC growth by shifting cancer metabolism towards glycolysis and elucidates the involved signaling pathway. Methods: We performed mass spectrometry to profile the metabolic changes in mCRC treated with/without HER3 inhibition in a syngeneic, orthotopic mCRC model. We also performed Seahorse and lactate ELISA assays to determine the effect of liver EC-secreted factors on CRC metabolism. To further determine the role of HER3 in promoting glycolysis and CRC growth in the liver, we used siRNA silencing of HER3 and pharmacological inhibition of HER3 downstream signaling proteins to identify the key mediator(s) of HER3-induced metabolic shift in CRC. Results: We determined that HER3 inhibition leads to increased oxidative phosphorylation metabolites (OXPHOS) and decreased glycolysis metabolites in CRC liver metastases. Conditioned medium containing EC-secreted factors decreased oxygen consumption (determined by Seahorse, a readout of OXPHOS) and increased lactate secretion (determined by ELISA, a readout of glycolysis) in CRC. As HER3 inhibition reversed the metabolic shift and increased OXPHOS as an alternative survival strategy, we found that simultaneous inhibition of HER3 and OXPHOS synergistically blocked CRC cell and tumor growth. Lastly, we found that PFK2 is activated by HER3 signaling, determined by phosphorylation, and determined that the HER3-AKT-PFK2 signaling axis is the key mediator of EC-induced metabolic shifts. Conclusions: We identified that the liver microenvironment activates HER3 and the downstream AKT-PFK2 signaling to promote glycolysis and growth in CRC liver metastases by activating AKT-PFK2-dependent glycolysis. Our findings highlighted the potential of combining HER3 and OXPHOS inhibitions as a potential strategy for treating patients with mCRC. Citation Format: Moeez Ghani Rathore, Kimberly Curry, Christina Boutros, Zhenghe Wang, Jordan Winter, Rui Wang. The liver microenvironment promotes glycolysis in metastatic colorectal cancer by activating her3 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 3082.

CRISPR/Cas9 mediated gene editing in non-model nematode Panagrolaimus sp. PS1159.

The phylum Nematoda harbors a huge diversity of species in a broad range of ecosystems and habitats. Nematodes share a largely conserved Bauplan but major differences have been found in early developmental processes. The development of the nematode model organism Caenorhabditis elegans has been studied in great detail for decades. These efforts have provided the community with a large number of protocols and methods. Unfortunately, many of these tools are not easily applicable in non-Caenorhabditis nematodes. In recent years it has become clear that many crucial genes in the C. elegans developmental toolkit are absent in other nematode species. It is thus necessary to study the developmental program of other nematode species in detail to understand evolutionary conservation and novelty in the phylum. Panagrolaimus sp. PS1159 is a non-parasitic nematode exhibiting parthenogenetic reproduction and we are establishing the species to comparatively study evolution, biodiversity, and alternative reproduction and survival strategies. Here, we demonstrate the first successful application of the CRISPR/Cas9 system for genome editing in Panagrolaimus sp. PS1159 and the closely related hermaphroditic species Propanagrolaimus sp. JU765 applying the non-homologous end joining and the homology-directed repair (HDR) mechanisms. Using microinjections and modifying published protocols from C. elegans and P. pacificus we induced mutations in the orthologue of unc-22. This resulted in a visible uncoordinated twitching phenotype. We also compared the HDR efficiency following the delivery of different single-stranded oligodeoxynucleotides (ssODNs). Our work will expand the applicability for a wide range of non-model nematodes from across the tree and facilitate functional analysis into the evolution of parthenogenesis, changes in the developmental program of Nematoda, and cryptobiosis.

Transcription factor WRKY28 curbs WRKY33-mediated resistance to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in Brassica napus.

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum causes substantial damage and loss of yield in oilseed rape (Brassica napus). The molecular mechanisms of oilseed rape defense against Sclerotinia remain elusive. In this study, we found that in the early stages of B. napus infection a conserved mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade mediated by BnaA03.MKK5-BnaA06.MPK3/BnaC03.MPK3 module phosphorylates the substrate BnWRKY33, enhancing its transcriptional activity. The activated BnWRKY33 binds to its own promoter and triggers a transcriptional burst of BnWRKY33, thus helping plants effectively resist the pathogenic fungi by enhancing the expression of phytoalexin synthesis-related genes. The expression of BnWRKY33 is fine-tuned during defense. Ongoing Sclerotinia infection induces BnaA03.WRKY28 and BnaA09.VQ12 expression. BnaA09.VQ12 interacts physically with BnaA03.WRKY28 to form a protein complex, causing BnaA03.WRKY28 to outcompete BnWRKY33 and bind to the BnWRKY33 promoter. BnaA03.WRKY28 induction suppresses BnWRKY33 expression in the later stages of infection but promotes branch formation in the leaf axils by regulating the expression of branching-related genes such as BnBRC1. BnaA03.WRKY28 participates in the trade-off between defense and growth. These findings suggest that oilseed rape plants may modulate defense-response strength and develop alternative reproduction and survival strategies in the face of lethal pathogens.

Women’s Entrepreneurship in the Wake of the Covid-19 Crisis

The subject of this paper is the evaluation of the position of women entrepreneurs in Serbia in the aftermath of COVID-19 outbreak. The research aims to shed light on the main threats and constraints which women entrepreneurs in Serbia are currently facing due to the global pandemic. We hypothesize that women entrepreneurs in Serbia are particularly affected by the negative effects of COVID-19 health crisis. With that regard the standard desk-research method - the analysis and comparison of secondary data was combined with the case study method that included ten in-depth interviews with selected women entrepreneurs in Serbia during the period January - February 2021. The main conclusions are that empowering women entrepreneurs through various support programs as well as financial assistance provided by the state should be in the focus of decision-makers in the years to come. Furthermore, women entrepreneurs in Serbia should consider regional networking as well as entering the new markets as alternative survival strategies.

Additive and non-additive effects of day and night temperatures on thermally plastic traits in a model for adaptive seasonal plasticity.

Developmental plasticity can match organismal phenotypes to ecological conditions, helping populations to deal with the environmental heterogeneity of alternating seasons. In contrast to natural situations, experimental studies of plasticity often use environmental conditions that are held constant during development. To explore potential interactions between day and night temperatures, we tested effects of circadian temperature fluctuations on thermally plastic traits in a seasonally plastic butterfly, Bicyclus anynana. Comparing phenotypes for four treatments corresponding to a full-factorial analysis of cooler and warmer temperatures, we found evidence of significant interaction effects between day and night temperatures. We then focused on comparing phenotypes between individuals reared under two types of temperature fluctuations (warmer days with cooler nights, and cooler days with warmer nights) and individuals reared under a constant temperature of the same daily mean. We found evidence of additive-like effects (for body size), and different types of dominance-like effects, with one particular period of the light cycle (for development time) or one particular extreme temperature (for eyespot size) having a larger impact on phenotype. Differences between thermally plastic traits, which together underlie alternative seasonal strategies for survival and reproduction, revealed their independent responses to temperature. This study underscores the value of studying how organisms integrate complex environmental information toward a complete understanding of natural phenotypic variation and of the impact of environmental change thereon.

Surviving in semi-arid environments: functional coordination and trade-offs in shrubs from Argentina

Abstract Human action has led to an increase in aridification, making water a progressively scarcer resource. In angiosperms, different species resolve this challenge in diverse ways, mainly through modifications of the xylem network, which is responsible for water efficiency and safety. Xerophytes generally show similar characteristics, but exceptions are rather frequent. One possible explanation for this lack of similarity among cohabiting species is that trade-offs and/or functional coordination between their organs occur and shape alternative survival strategies. Studying species that inhabit a common area can help to identify key traits that determine those diverse strategies and to predict which species might tolerate further environmental change. We here examined the morpho-anatomical wood and bark traits of a group of species that live in a seasonally dry environment in Argentina. In a previous study, we described the leaf traits of these species and we thus aim to complement our findings and outline their strategies to manage water deficits. Our results show that there are different degrees of xeromorphism within this group. Clear xeromorphic traits, such as high vessel frequency and small diameter, were found in most species. However, some presented traits that were appropriate for mesic environments. An overview of leaf and wood traits indicates that the absence of a typical xeric characteristic in the wood might be compensated by the presence of a xeric leaf trait, and vice versa. Collectively, these trait combinations allow these species to survive in dry conditions and could influence their tolerance to increasing aridity.

No way to run or hide: Children’s perceptions of their responses during intrafamilial child sexual abuse

BackgroundChild maltreatment (CM) has received much research attention in recent years, leading to substantial development of relevant child services worldwide. The literature on posttraumatic stress accentuates the long-term mental and physical ramifications of peritraumatic responses. However, although CM is considered a traumatic experience, examinations of child responses to CM have rarely been attempted. ObjectiveThe current study spotlights children’s responses during intrafamilial child sexual abuse (IFCSA), as conveyed by them during forensic interviews. Participants and settingThe sample is comprised of 40 transcripts of forensic interviews with children aged 4–14, who have been sexually abused by their fathers. MethodsThe exploration of the children’s responses to the abuse was guided by the grounded theory approach and their narratives were thematically analyzed. ResultsIndicate that when children contend with ongoing and severe IFCSA, they tend to develop alternative survival strategies, understanding that fight, flight, or disclosure are not relevant options for them. ConclusionThe discussion stresses the multifaceted nature of the way children respond during IFCSA, which should be understood through holistic observation of the children and various aspects of their lives. The children’s responses profoundly shape their abuse experiences and require further exploration so as to promote both intervention and prevention efforts.

Reactive oxygen species and uspA overexpession: an alternative bacterial response toward selection and maintenance of multidrug resistance in clinical isolates of uropathogenic E. coli

Emergence of multidrug resistance (MDR) in uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) demands alternative therapeutic interventions. Bactericidal antibiotics at their sub-inhibitory concentration stimulate production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that results in oxidative stress, generates mutations, and alters transcription of different genes. Sub-inhibitory concentration of antibiotics facilitates selection of highly resistant population. Universal stress protein A (uspA) overexpression in MDR-UPEC at sub-inhibitory bactericidal antibiotics concentration was investigated to explore alternative survival strategy against them. Fifty clinical UPEC isolates were screened. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against three different bactericidal antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, CIP; ceftazidime, CAZ; gentamycin, GEN) was determined by broth dilution method; ROS production by DCFDA and overexpression of uspA by real-time PCR were determined at the sub-inhibitory concentration of antibiotics. DNA ladder formation and SEM studies were performed with drug untreated and treated samples. Statistical analysis was done by Student's t test and Pearson's correlation analysis; 25 out of 50 UPEC exhibited high MIC against CIP (> 200μg/ml), CAZ (> 500μg/ml), GEN (> 500μg/ml), with varied ROS production (p ≤ 0.001) in treated than untreated controls. DNA ladder formation confirmed ROS production in drug-treated samples. SEM analysis revealed unaltered cell morphology in both untreated and drug-treated bacteria. uspA was universally overexpressed in all 25 UPEC. A significant correlation (p ≤ 0.001) between ROS production and uspA overexpression was observed in 19 out of 25 MDR isolates at sub-inhibitory doses of the bactericidal antibiotics. Therefore, this study highlights an alternative strategy that the MDR isolates may acquire when exposed to sub-inhibitory drug concentration for their survival.

Glycogen synthase kinase 3 promotes multicellular development over unicellular encystation in encysting Dictyostelia

BackgroundGlycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) regulates many cell fate decisions in animal development. In multicellular structures of the group 4 dictyostelid Dictyostelium discoideum, GSK3 promotes spore over stalk-like differentiation. We investigated whether, similar to other sporulation-inducing genes such as cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), this role of GSK3 is derived from an ancestral role in encystation of unicellular amoebas.ResultsWe deleted GSK3 in Polysphondylium pallidum, a group 2 dictyostelid which has retained encystation as an alternative survival strategy. Loss of GSK3 inhibited cytokinesis of cells in suspension, as also occurs in D. discoideum, but did not affect spore or stalk differentiation in P. pallidum. However, gsk3− amoebas entered into encystation under conditions that in wild type favour aggregation and fruiting body formation. The gsk3− cells were hypersensitive to osmolytes, which are known to promote encystation, and to cyst-inducing factors that are secreted during starvation. GSK3 was not itself regulated by these factors, but inhibited their effects.ConclusionsOur data show that GSK3 has a deeply conserved role in controlling cytokinesis, but not spore differentiation in Dictyostelia. Instead, in P. pallidum, one of many Dictyostelia that like their solitary ancestors can still encyst to survive starvation, GSK3 promotes multicellular development into fruiting bodies over unicellular encystment.

Genetic and molecular basis of the immune system in the brachiopod Lingula anatina

The extension of comparative immunology to non-model systems, such as mollusks and annelids, has revealed an unexpected diversity in the complement of immune receptors and effectors among evolutionary lineages. However, several lophotrochozoan phyla remain unexplored mainly due to the lack of genomic resources. The increasing accessibility of high-throughput sequencing technologies offers unique opportunities for extending genome-wide studies to non-model systems. As a result, the genome-based study of the immune system in brachiopods allows a better understanding of the alternative survival strategies developed by these immunologically neglected phyla. Here we present a detailed overview of the molecular components of the immune system identified in the genome of the brachiopod Lingula anatina. Our findings reveal conserved intracellular signaling pathways as well as unique strategies for pathogen detection and killing in brachiopods.

TASK-SHIFTING - AN ALTERNATIVE SURVIVAL STRATEGY FOR HEALTH - CARE ORGANIZATIONS

TASK-SHIFTING - AN ALTERNATIVE SURVIVAL STRATEGY FOR HEALTH - CARE ORGANIZATIONS

Resource capture and competitive ability of non-pathogenic Pseudogymnoascus spp. and P. destructans, the cause of white-nose syndrome in bats

White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a devastating fungal disease that has been causing the mass mortality of hibernating bats in North America since 2006 and is caused by the psychrophilic dermatophyte Pseudogymnoascus destructans. Infected bats shed conidia into hibernaculum sediments and surfaces, but it is unknown if P. destructans can form stable, reproductive populations outside its bat hosts. Previous studies have found non-pathogenic Pseudogymnoascus in bat hibernacula, and these fungi may provide insight into the natural history of P. destructans. We compared the relatedness, resource capture, and competitive ability of non-pathogenic Pseudogymnoascus isolates with P. destructans to determine if they have similar adaptations for survival in hibernacula sediment. All non-pathogenic Pseudogymnoascus isolates grew faster, utilized a broader range of substrates with higher efficiency, and were generally more resistant to antifungals compared to P. destructans. All isolates also showed the ability to displace P. destructans in co-culture assays, but only some produced extractible antifungal metabolites. These results suggest that P. destructans would perform poorly in the same environmental niche as non-pathogenic Pseudogymnoascus, and must have an alternative saprophytic survival strategy if it establishes active populations in hibernaculum sediment and non-host surfaces.

Diacylglycerolpyrophosphate and Phosphatidic Acid Related Much?

Diacylglycerolpyrophosphate (DGPP) is phosphorylated phosphatidic acid (PA). In plants under stress-free conditions it is present in untraceable amounts. Whereas under stress, induced by either biotic or abiotic factors, plants respond via several signaling cascades ultimately leading to the development of alternative survival strategies. Invariably these signaling cascades involve regulating lipid metabolism. DGPP is one such lipid that is rapidly and transiently elevated under stress conditions, following a stress-induced rise in PA levels. We can speculate that the role of DGPP may be to attenuate PA levels, but this is largely untested. We have previously investigated the physical chemistry of DGPP and showed that the charge of the phosphomonoester is higher than PA. In addition, the spontaneous curvature is zero whereas PA has a negative curvature. Here we examined the lipid-protein interactions between DGPP and proteins that bind to PA to answer the question: is there a co-relation between PA and DGPP based on the proteins that these two lipids bind? The new information on the preference of PA-binding proteins to bind DGPP may begin to answer the question of why PA levels are attenuated with a simultaneous transient increase in DGPP levels. For this study, proteins were chosen from the literature based on stress-stimulated proteins known to bind PA. Liposome binding assays were used to study the affinity of protein binding to PA and DGPP in complex lipid membranes. Support or Funding InformationNSF grant 1412920 and Department of Biological Science, Kent State University, PO Box 5109, Kent, Ohio 44242 USA Liposome Binding Assay

Bacillus subtilis utilizes the DNA damage response to manage multicellular development

Bacteria switch between free-living and a multicellular state, known as biofilms, in response to cellular and environmental cues. It is important to understand how these cues influence biofilm development as biofilms are not only ubiquitous in nature but are also causative agents of infectious diseases. It is often believed that any stress triggers biofilm formation as a means of bacterial protection. In this study, we propose a new mechanism for how cellular and environmental DNA damage may influence biofilm formation. We demonstrate that Bacillus subtilis prevents biofilm formation and cell differentiation when stressed by oxidative DNA damage. We show that during B. subtilis biofilm development, a subpopulation of cells accumulates reactive oxygen species, which triggers the DNA damage response. Surprisingly, DNA damage response induction shuts off matrix genes whose products permit individual cells to stick together within a biofilm. We further revealed that DDRON cells and matrix producers are mutually exclusive and spatially separated within the biofilm, and that a developmental checkpoint protein, Sda, mediates the exclusiveness. We believe this represents an alternative survival strategy, ultimately allowing cells to escape the multicellular community when in danger.

The Roles of System and Organizational Leadership in System-Wide Evidence-Based Intervention Sustainment: A Mixed-Method Study.

If evidence-based interventions (EBIs) are not sustained, investments are wasted and public health impact is limited. Leadership has been suggested as a key determinant of implementation and sustainment; however, little empirical work has examined this factor. This mixed-methods study framed using the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment (EPIS)conceptual framework examines leadership in both the outer service system context and inner organizational context in eleven system-wide implementations of the same EBI across two U.S. states and 87 counties. Quantitative data at the outer context (i.e., system) and inner context (i.e., team) levels demonstrated that leadership predicted future sustainment and differentiated between sites with full, partial, or no sustainment. In the outer context positive sustainment leadership was characterized as establishing a project's mission and vision, early and continued planning for sustainment, realistic project plans, and having alternative strategies for project survival. Inner context frontline transformational leadership predicted sustainment while passive-avoidant leadership predicted non-sustainment. Qualitative results found that sustainment was associated with outer context leadership characterized by engagement in ongoing supportive EBI championing, marketing to stakeholders; persevering in these activities; taking action to institutionalize the EBI with funding, contracting, and system improvement plans; and fostering ongoing collaboration between stakeholders at state and county, and community stakeholder levels. For frontline leadership the most important activities included championing the EBI and providing practical support for service providers. There was both convergence and expansion that identified unique contributions of the quantitative and qualitative methods. Greater attention to leadership in both the outer system and inner organizational contexts is warranted to enhance EBI implementation and sustainment.

Functional definition of BirA suggests a biotin utilization pathway in the zoonotic pathogen Streptococcus suis.

Biotin protein ligase is universal in three domains of life. The paradigm version of BPL is the Escherichia coli BirA that is also a repressor for the biotin biosynthesis pathway. Streptococcus suis, a leading bacterial agent for swine diseases, seems to be an increasingly-important opportunistic human pathogen. Unlike the scenario in E. coli, S. suis lacks the de novo biotin biosynthesis pathway. In contrast, it retains a bioY, a biotin transporter-encoding gene, indicating an alternative survival strategy for S. suis to scavenge biotin from its inhabiting niche. Here we report functional definition of S. suis birA homologue. The in vivo functions of the birA paralogue with only 23.6% identity to the counterpart of E. coli, was judged by its ability to complement the conditional lethal mutants of E. coli birA. The recombinant BirA protein of S. suis was overexpressed in E. coli, purified to homogeneity and verified with MS. Both cellulose TLC and MALDI-TOFF-MS assays demonstrated that the S. suis BirA protein catalyzed the biotinylation reaction of its acceptor biotin carboxyl carrier protein. EMSA assays confirmed binding of the bioY gene to the S. suis BirA. The data defined the first example of the bifunctional BirA ligase/repressor in Streptococcus.

Marks & Spencer and the Decline of the British Textile Industry, 1950–2000

From the end of World War II, British clothing retailers—most notably, Marks & Spencer (M&S)—increasingly dominated the domestic textile industry, to some extent arresting its decline. This article uses financial and archival evidence to examine the distribution of costs and benefits in the M&S vertical network. It shows that these benefits became less tangible for textile firms from around 1985, in the context of lower-cost overseas competition. We chart the visible and invisible evolution of network management, demonstrating that retailer-producer collaboration evolved from a bilateral vertical partnership model to a hybrid version that retained partnerships with leading suppliers and an emphasis on domestic sourcing, but also facilitated offshore production. Since 1945, staple domestic industries in Western economies have been replaced with global production networks. In the United Kingdom, the cotton textile industry, and then the textile industry in general, declined in the face of increasing overseas competition. Survival strategies were based on restructuring and concentration. During a period of rapid transformation after 1960, cotton was absorbed into vertically structured textile conglomerates. Still, the decline continued, and as protection was phased out, fabric and apparel manufacturing faced similar threats, although rates of decline and strategic response depended on relative position in the vertical production chain. An alternative survival strategy based on vertical partnerships was led by retailers, particularly the dominant clothing retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S).

Reprint of: Seasonal changes in the composition of storage and membrane lipids in overwintering larvae of the codling moth, Cydia pomonella

The codling moth (Cydia pomonella) is a major insect pest of apples worldwide. It overwinters as a diapausing fifth instar larva. The overwintering is often a critical part of the insect life-cycle in temperate zone. This study brings detailed analysis of seasonal changes in lipid composition and fluidity in overwintering larvae sampled in the field. Fatty acid composition of triacylglycerol (TG) depots in the fat body and relative proportions of phospholipid (PL) molecular species in biological membranes were analyzed. In addition, temperature of melting (Tm) in TG depots was assessed by using differential scanning calorimetry and the conformational order (fluidity) of PL membranes was analyzed by measuring the anisotropy of fluorescence polarization of diphenylhexatriene probe in membrane vesicles. We observed a significant increase of relative proportion of linoleic acid (C18:2n6) at the expense of palmitic acid (C16:0) in TG depots during the larval transition to diapause accompanied with decreasing melting temperature of total lipids, which might increase the accessibility of depot fats for enzymatic breakdown during overwintering. The fluidity of membranes was maintained very high irrespective of developmental mode or seasonally changing acclimation status of larvae. The seasonal changes in PL composition were relatively small. We discuss these results in light of alternative survival strategies of codling moth larvae (supercooling vs. freezing), variability and low predictability of environmental conditions, and other cold tolerance mechanisms such as extending the supercooling capacity and massive accumulation of cryoprotective metabolites.

Effects of salinity on the growth, physiology and relevant gene expression of an annual halophyte grown from heteromorphic seeds.

Seed heteromorphism provides plants with alternative strategies for survival in unfavourable environments. However, the response of descendants from heteromorphic seeds to stress has not been well documented. Suaeda aralocaspica is a typical annual halophyte, which produces heteromorphic seeds with disparate forms and different germination characteristics. To gain an understanding of the salt tolerance of descendants and the impact of seed heteromorphism on progeny of this species, we performed a series of experiments to investigate the plant growth and physiological parameters (e.g. osmolytes, oxidative/antioxidative agents and enzymes), as well as expression patterns of corresponding genes. Results showed that osmolytes (proline and glycinebetaine) were significantly increased and that excess reactive oxygen species ([Formula: see text] H2O2) produced under high salinity were scavenged by increased levels of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione reductase) and corresponding antioxidants (ascorbic acid and glutathione). Moreover, enhancement of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity at high salt intensity had a positive effect on photosynthesis. The descendants from heteromorphic seeds presented no significant difference in performance with or without salinity. In conclusion, we found that high salinity induced the same active physiological responses in plants from heteromorphic seeds of S. aralocaspica, there was no carry-over of seed heteromorphism to plants: all the descendants required salinity for optimal growth and adaptation to their natural habitat.