Suaeda Maritima Research Articles

Mining the roots of various species of the halophyte Suaeda for halotolerant nitrogen-fixing endophytic bacteria with the potential for promoting plant growth.

Saline area may tend to be a productive land; however, many of salt-affected soils have nitrogen limitation and depend on plant-associated diazotrophs as their source of 'new' nitrogen. Herein, a total of 316 salinity tolerant nitrogen-fixing endophytic bacteria were isolated from roots of the halophyte Suaeda sp. sampled from 22 different areas of Iran to prepare the collection of nitrogen-fixing bacterial endophytes and evaluate the plant growth-promoting effect of effective isolates on growth of the halophyte Suaeda maritima. All of the identified nitrogen-fixing endophytes were classified to Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes phylum while we did not detect common nitrogen-fixing endophyte of glycophytes like Azospirillum. The genera Pseudomonas and Microbacterium were both encountered in high abundance in all samples, indicating that they might play an advanced role in the micro-ecosystem of the halophyte Suaeda. In addition, the results also showed that not only soil salinity can affect halophyte endophytic composition but also other factors such as geographical location, plant species, and other soil properties may be involved. Interestingly, only Zhihengliuella halotolerans and Brachybacterium sp. belonging to Actinobacteria could grow in semi-solid N-free (NFb) medium supplemented with 6% NaCl and highly enhanced growth of S. maritima in vitro. Overall, this study offers useful new resources for nitrogen-fixing endophytic bacteria which may be utilized to improve approaches for providing bio-fertilizer useful in saline-based agriculture.

Growth regulation and proteomic approaches of exogenous abscisic acid induced changes on salt tolerance factors in Suaeda maritima

Salinity is one of the most imperative global problems that affect the crop productivity on a large scale. Salinity impairs plant growth and development by imposing various stresses and it is vital to decode those stress factors and to identify possible solutions to improve agriculture productivity. It is essential to study those plants with known resistance to increased salinity in order to produce commercial crops which can survive on salt stress conditions. There are several plant species that possess exceptional physiological uniqueness which critically influences environmental adaptation. However, the adaptive mechanisms under saline conditions of halophytes have not yet been clearly distinguished. In this backdrop, the present study was undertaken to determine the effects of exogenous application of abscisic acid on salinity tolerance in Suaeda maritima. The observed data from the present study confirms that the abscisic acid pretreatment has enhanced the plant biomass, water relations and ion content. There was also a stimulated increase in the content of chlorophyll pigment and inorganic osmolytes accumulation. Comparative proteomic analysis was performed to investigate the changes in protein profiles of both the treated and untreated plants. Among the expressed proteins, 5.25 PI/48 MW spot exhibited twofold decrease in NaCl treatment and sixfold increases in ABA pretreated plants. The protein spot had a match with a significant score of 94% in the closely related SKP1-like protein 1A (Sesamum indicum). Hence, the present study supports ABA-mediated stress response is co-regulated by SKP1.

Utilization of SDS-PAGE and histochemistry for pharmacognostical studies on selected mangroves and halophytes from the Pichavaram, South India

This study focused on revealing the pharmacognostical marker, viz. histochemical and protein profiles for Avicennia marina (Forssk.) Vierh., Rhizophora mucronata Lam, Excoecaria agallocha L., Suaeda maritima Dumort and Sesuvium portulacastrum L. The proteins of the studied plants were isolated using phosphate buffer and separated using SDS-PAGE. The separated profiles were visualized using silver staining. The results of the histochemical analysis indicated the profuse presence of polyphenols, tannin and lignin in the epidermis and hypodermis of leaves, stem and roots of selected mangroves and halophytes. Lignin, tannin and polyphenols showed their occurrence in large quantities at endodermis, xylem and phloem of leaves, stem and roots. A total of 40 bands with multiple regions of activity with varied MW–Rf values were observed in the SDS-PAGE system of studied mangrove and halophytes.

Antibacterial activity of different crude extracts of Suaeda maritima used traditionally for the treatment of hepatitis

Traditionally, plants and their products are used as a folk medicine for the treatment of curable and incurable diseases for a long time in many areas of the world. However, there is a lack of systematic study of the antibacterial activity of Suaeda maritima (S. maritima). The present study is to estimate the antibacterial activity of various extracts of newly discovered species S. maritima plant which is collected from Oman. The methanol extract was prepared by the Soxhlet method and it was fractionation by different solvents to give different crude extracts. The antibacterial activity was assessed by using the agar disc diffusion method in which the extracts at different concentrations were applied to the disc by putting them in sterile filter paper of about 6 mm. The agar discs were incubated for 24 h and measure the inhibition zone of antibacterial activity. The range of the inhibition zone was between 7 and 12 mm. Overall all concentrations of each extract of S. maritima showed inhibition activity against the applied bacterial strains. The results found that the hexane extract at all concentrations was possessed the highest activity against the used two Gram-positive and two Gram-negative bacteria strains. In conclusion, the highest antibacterial activity hexane extract from the S. maritima could be used for the treatment of infectious diseases. In addition, the observed antibacterial activity of the selected plant could be due to the presence of high contents various group bioactive compounds.

Flexural Rigidity and Shoot Reconfiguration Determine Wake Length Behind Saltmarsh Vegetation Patches

AbstractVegetation patches play an important role in controlling sediment deposition in shallow aquatic environments such as coastal saltmarshes and fluvial systems. However, predicting deposition around vegetation patches is difficult due to the complexity of patch morphology and their dynamic interaction with the flow. Here we incorporate a biomechanical model, parameterized using field data, within a 3‐D computational fluid dynamics model which allows prediction of individual shoot reconfiguration within patches due to flow forcing. The model predicts velocity attenuation and bed shear stresses within the wake of the patch which agree spatially with accretion patterns measured in the field using terrestrial lidar. The model is applied to sparse patches of Suaeda maritima, located in saltmarshes of coastal habitats, to explore the role of (I) shoot distribution, (II) patch geometry, (III) shoot flexural rigidity, and (IV) bulk flow velocity in determining the length of the predicted wake region. We demonstrate that for Suaeda maritima, with intermediate rigidity, the vertical shear layer over the vegetation controls the length of the predicted wake region. Consequently, reconfiguration due to flexural rigidity strongly impacts on wake length, confounding the relationship between patch height and wake length. A simplified model for predicting wake length based on shoot reconfiguration is applied to the simulation data and shows good agreement. The results demonstrate that the observed wake characteristics can be well explained by intraspecific variability in flexural rigidity, thus demonstrating the importance of biomechanical traits in determining flow‐vegetation‐sediment interactions.

Amycolatopsis suaedae sp. nov., an endophytic actinomycete isolated from Suaeda maritima roots.

An actinomycete strain, designated 8-3EHSuT, was isolated from surface-sterilised roots of Suaeda maritima, collected from Petchburi province, Thailand. Taxonomic position of strain 8-3EHSuT was studied using a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic determination based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity showed that strain 8-3EHSuT belongs to the genus Amycolatopsis, with the highest sequence similarity to Amycolatopsis jiangsuensis KLBMP 1262T (96.9 %). The colony of strain 8-3EHSuT was yellowish white. Long straight mycelium breaking down into fragments were observed. Growth occurred at temperatures 15-45 °C and at pH 6.0-10.0. The strain contained meso-diaminopimelic acid, arabinose, galactose and mannose in whole-organism hydrolysates. The predominant menaquinone was MK-9(H4). The major fatty acids were C16 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0. Polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, hydroxyphosphatidylethanolamine, two unknown amino lipids and an unknown lipid. The G+C content of genomic DNA was 71.8 mol%. A phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA sequences showed that the strain 8-3EHSuT formed a distinct evolutionary linage within the genus Amycolatopsis. Based on analysis results of physiological, biochemical and chemotaxonomic data, strain 8-3EHSuT represents a novel species of the genus Amycolatopsis, for which the name Amycolatopsis suaedae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 8-3EHSuT (=TBRC 8488T=NBRC 113449T).

Biomechanical properties of marsh vegetation in space and time: effects of salinity, inundation and seasonality.

Over the last decade, the importance of plant biomechanical properties in shaping wave dissipation efficiency of marsh vegetation has gained growing attention. Here we provide the first analyses of how biomechanical stem properties vary with seasons and along environmental gradients in coastal and estuarine marshes, which is essential to enable accurate assessments of flood defence value of marsh vegetation. We quantified both spatial and seasonal variation in stem flexibility and breakability for a variety of common marsh vegetation (Spartina anglica, Scirpus maritimus, Phragmites australis, Elymus athericus, Suaeda maritima, Aster tripolium, Saliconia procumbens) distributed along both salinity and inundation gradients. Increasing salinity tends to induce a shift from species with tall shoots, high flexural stiffness (stem resistance to bending; N mm2) towards species with shorter and more flexible stems. The same trend was found with increasing inundation stress (i.e. decreasing elevation) from the higher part of the low marsh towards the pioneer zone. Stem breakability (the force required to break or fold a stem, N) followed the same pattern of stem stiffness due to the positive relationship between flexural strength (material resistance to flexure, N mm-2) and Young's bending modulus (material resistance to bending; N mm-2). Shifts in stem stiffness and breakability at the community level were found to relate positively to the variation in canopy height between species, highlighting the concurrence of changes in morphological and biomechanical traits under environmental changes. Compared to the differences between species, within-species variability between sampling locations and between seasons is generally minor. Our findings imply that environmental changes may significantly modify wave attenuation capacity of coastal vegetation by inducing species shifts. This emphasizes the need to understand the response of community composition to climate change and human disturbances, when using nature-based flood protection by coastal vegetation as an adaptive response to global change.

Root structural changes of two remediator plants as the first defective barrier against industrial pollution, and their hyperaccumulation ability.

In the present day, plants are increasingly being utilized to safeguard the environment. In this study, we used Salsola crassa M. B. and Suaeda maritima L. Dumort for phytoremediation of water contaminated with heavy metals and simultaneous examination of the effect of industrial pollution on their root structures. After irrigation of a treatment group with wastewater and a control group with fresh water for 3months, we fixed the root parts in the FAA fixator for developmental study, and measured the concentrations of Co, Ni, Zn, As, Cu, and Pb in the roots, shoots, soil, and irrigating water. The plants irrigated with wastewater showed significant accumulation of heavy metals in the roots and some translocation of heavy metals from the roots to the shoots. We also performed an experiment with two 0.3m3 pools to more closely study the feasibility of these plants for filtering water of contaminants, including mineral compounds, and altering its chemical characteristics. In our anatomical studies, the cells of the treatment roots showed irregularities and abnormal appearances in all tissue layers. The diameter and area of the xylem and the size of the cortical parenchyma have increased in the treatment plants of both species, confirmed by Stereolite software. Phytoremediation studies indicated that S. crassa accumulated As, Cu, Zn, Pb, Co, and Ni, and S. maritima accumulated As, Co, Zn, and Cu. S. crassa accumulated more heavy metals in its roots, whereas S. maritima accumulated more in its shoots. The biological oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand were also significantly reduced in the wastewater passed through pools with S. crassa. Our results indicate that both genera are hyperaccumulators of heavy metals and therefore hold promise for industrial wastewater treatment, especially the absorption of As.

Biochemical tolerance of Suaeda maritima L. (Dumort) as a potential species for phytoextracting heavy metal and salt in paper mill effluent contaminated soil.

Suaeda maritima is a halophyte that has been evolutionary adapted to cope with saline and heavy metal conditions. The aim of the present study was to examine the biochemical response of Suaeda maritima against phytoextracting heavy metals and salts from paper mill effluent. Suaeda maritima seedlings have been grown for 120 days with an irrigation solution of 250 ml of 75% raw paper mill effluent after four drenching. Analysis of biochemical parameters revealed that maximum synthesis of chlorophyll, protein, phenol, proline and glycinebetaine may be involved in their ability to cope with heavy metal and salt stress. The present study confirms that the accumulation and increase of biochemical constituents can be considered as an efficient ROS scavenger and also maintain cellular homeostasis and metabolic functions in photosynthetically active leaves in Suaeda maritima, during phytoextraction studies.
 Keywords: phytoextraction, paper mill effluent, Suaeda maritima, biochemical, heavy metal and salts

Rare plant species of salt marshes of the Croatian coast

Abstract Between 2011 and 2016 we surveyed 42 sites of coastal salt marshes of Croatia. We confirmed the occurrence of several rare and endangered plant species. Ten of them are included in the Red List of Croatia; critically endangered (CR) Eleocharis uniglumis, Triglochin barrelieri and T. maritima, endangered (EN) Carex divisa and C. extensa, vulnerable (VU) Parapholis incurva, Salsola soda and Suaeda maritima and category data deficient (DD) Limonium virgatum and Puccinellia festuciformis. We also report localities of other rare taxa of salt marshes like Allium telmatum, Tripolium pannonicum subsp. tripolium, Juncus gerardii, Parapholis filiformis, Plantago cornuti, Samolus valerandi and Scorzonera parviflora. Several plant species are endangered. Their habitats, salt marshes were converted into fields or destructed by construction for developing tourist infrastructure. Today only a part of the remained areas are under protection.

Seed germination niche of the halophyte Suaeda maritima to combined salinity and temperature is characterised by a halothermal time model

Sensitivity to salinity during seed germination potentially serves as a niche specifier for halophytes. Quantification of germination niche with respect to salinity, and any interaction with temperature, is therefore important to understand, particularly regarding the impacts of sea level rise in response to climate change. Population-based germination models quantify the response to temperature and water potential. However, there is limited applicability to salinity. Here, we develop a new approach considering thermal time (for temperature), halo time (for salinity) and halothermal time (for combined temperature and salinity), to quantify the germination of Suaeda maritima, a model halophyte with a worldwide distribution. We find salt concentration has a profound effect on the estimated base temperature for germination, Tb, being c. −4 °C in 600 mM NaCl compared with c. 1 °C in water. The predicted maximum concentration of NaCl for 50% germination to occur (NaClmax50) is 1280 mM at 5 °C and decreases (lower concentration) as the temperature increases. Overall, germination becomes slower as the concentration of salt increases (i.e., longer halo time) or the temperature decreases (i.e., longer thermal time). Combining all parameters into a halothermal time model is most successful at 5 and 10 °C. However, Na+ accumulation in the seed which coincides with maintained seed moisture content, regardless of salt concentration, influences the model fit. The models reveal two different germination niches: at cold temperatures, germination is slow but temperature and salinity are not necessarily limiting; and at warmer temperatures, germination is fastest but constrained by NaClmax50.

First report of Bulaea lividula bocandei Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) from India with notes on its diagnosis, host plants and distribution

Bulaea lividula bocandei Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), hitherto known from North Africa, the Middle East, and Pakistan, is recorded for the first time from India (Tamil Nadu). Suaeda maritima (L.) Dumort. (Chenopodiaceae), a common halophytic plant in mangroves, is recorded as a new host plant of B. lividula bocandei . A brief diagnostic account of the species with illustrations is given along with details on its host plants and distribution.

Comparison of Biological Activities of Korean Halophytes

Halophytes are expected to possess abundant secondary metabolites and various biological activities because of habitat in extreme environments. In this study, we collected 14 halophytes (Asparagus oligoclonos, Calystegia soldanella, Carex pumila, Chenopodium glaucum, Elymus mollis, Glehnia littoralis, Limonium tetragonum, Messerschmidia sibirica, Rosa rugosa, Salsola komarovii, Spergularia marina, Suaeda glauca, Suaeda maritima, and Vitex rotundifolia) native to Korea and compared their total polyphenol contents, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The total polyphenol contents of R. rugosa (27.28%) and L. tetragonum (13.17%) were significantly higher than those of the other 12 halophytes and L. tetragonum, R. rugosa, and M. sibirica showed significantly greater antioxidant activities than the other 11 halophytes, as determined by DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl). A. oligoclonos, E. mollis, and C. pumila showed significantly greater anti-inflammatory activities than the other 11, as determined by NO (Nitric oxide) and PGE2 (Prostaglandin E2) levels. In contrast, these three extracts had normal and low total polyphenol contents among the 14 halophytes. Consequently, the total polyphenol content in the 14 studied halophytes appeared to be related to antioxidant, but not anti-inflammatory activity levels.

Phytochemical, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Screening of Suaeda maritima L (Dumort) against Human Pathogens and Multiple Drug Resistant Bacteria

In this study, antimicrobial property of Suaeda maritima, a mangrove associate species collected from lower Gangetic delta complex was evaluated. The antibacterial activity of the extract against a wide spectrum of Gram-negative and Gram-positive isolates and multiple antibiotic resistant strains suggested that it may be a potential antibacterial agent to control antibiotic resistant infections. Among the different solvent fractions examined, n-hexane extract of the shoot of S. maritima L (Dumort) was found to possess highest antibacterial activity against four Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis) and six Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Citrobacter sp., Klebsiella pneumoniae, KPC producing K. Pneumonia, Pseudomonas sp. and Stenotrophomonas maltophila) bacteria. Fungicidal activity was noted against Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration values were determined in disc diffusion and macrodilution assays. The inhibition zones ranged between 13-20 mm. GC-MS analysis of the n-hexane fraction showed the presence of various fatty acid esters and essential oils. In addition, scytalone known for its antioxidant property, campesterol and ethanone were detected. Antioxidant activity was found having an IC50 value of 52.53 mg/ml.

Morphological, biochemical and antioxidant enzyme adaptation of Suaeda maritima growing in textile dye effluent irrigated soil

The present work deals with the morphological, biochemical and antioxidant enzyme adaptations of Suaeda maritima treated with textile dye effluent using in pot experiments. Plant samples are harvested for experimental purpose at intervals of 30, 60, 90 and 120 days. The results showed that plant shoot length, number of leaves, fresh weight and dry weight and some anatomical characters were significantly increased treated with textile dye effluent when compared to control. Furthermore, osmolyte component (chlorophyll, protein, proline, phenol and glycine betaine) and enzymatic activities (Catalyse, Peroxides, Polyphenolixidase, Superoxide dismutase and Glutathione) were increased treated with textile dye effluent when compared to control.

Efficient regulation of arsenic translocation to shoot tissue and modulation of phytochelatin levels and antioxidative defense system confers salinity and arsenic tolerance in the Halophyte Suaeda maritima

Salinity and heavy metal contaminations of the soil are the major environmental factors deleteriously affecting the agricultural yield. Suaeda maritima (L.) Dumort is a halophytic species that grows proficiently in high saline coastal areas. In the present study, individual effects of various levels of salinity (0, 200 and 600mM NaCl) and arsenic (0, 200 and 400μM As), as well as combined effects of As and salinity (200μM As+200mM NaCl and 400μM As+200mM NaCl) on growth, water status, mineral ion homeostasis, photosynthetic pigments, lipid peroxidation, phytochelatin levels and antioxidative components were investigated in the halophyte S. maritima to get an insight into salinity and arsenic tolerance mechanisms. The seedlings of S. maritima survived under prolonged exposure to high dosage of As (400μM As). The oxidative stress indicators such as H2O2, O2− and MDA remained at a low level in both NaCl and As treated seedlings. The levels of GSSG, GSH, total glutathione and TAST increased in seedlings treated with As alone whereas it declined under combined treatments of As with NaCl. The antioxidative response showed a decreased activity of SOD and increased activity of CAT both in NaCl and As treated seedlings as compared to control. In contrasts, the activities of other antioxidative enzymes such as APX, POX, and GR consistently decreased in NaCl-treated seedlings and increased in As-treated seedlings. The ratios of AsA/DHA and GSH/GSSG (indicators of cellular redox potential) were either elevated or remained unchanged in S. maritima seedlings subjected to salinity and As treatments. Our results suggest that the halophyte, S. maritima can withstand high salinity and As by regulating antioxidative enzymes and maintaining cellular redox level. Moreover, the salinity and arsenic tolerance index (Ti) of S. maritima was at par to the control or more than the control value in all the treatments. The arsenic bio-concentration factor (BCF) and translocation factor (Tf) values of S. maritima were all greater than 1.0 which clearly indicates that this plant has the basic characteristics of As-hyperaccumulator. Taken together, our results suggest that S. maritima plants can be utilized for phytoremediation/phytostabilization of saline soils contaminated with high arsenic.

Bioaccumulation and Translocation of Heavy Metals from Coastal Soil by Wild Halophytes

In the present study, six native halophytes were collected from soil of northern Nile Delta to evaluate their phytoremediation potential of heavy metals. For this purpose, soil, the aboveground parts and roots of the samples were analyzed for total concentrations of Fe, Pb, Ni, Co and Cd using atomic absorption spectrometer. The concentrations of different heavy metals in soils have the sequence of Fe>Ni>Pb>Co>Cd. The pollution quantification for each metal in the study area indicated that, the extremely high enrichment value for Cd; very high enrichment values for Pb and Co and low enrichment values for Ni and Fe; The contamination factor has very high for Cd; moderate for Pb and Co and low for Ni and Fe, while the contamination degree (CD) indicates that the study area is considered to be coast with low to moderate contamination degree (2.74 and 10.29). In the study area, the concentrations of heavy metals in plant species have the order of Fe>Pb> Ni>Cd >Co. Most plant species had a TF1, while the BAF values for Fe, Pb, Ni, Co and Cd were A. halimus, L. pruinosum and S. pruinosa were >1. The highest BAF shoot and root values was observed in Atriplex halimus, while the lowest was for Suaeda maritima. Similarly, the highest TF values were observed for Z. aegyptium, S. pruinosa and L. monopetalum, while the lowest was for S. pruinosa. Results suggest that these plants could be suitable for use in the phytoremediation of contaminated soil sites.

Proteomic analysis of long term salt responsive proteins in the halophyte Suaeda maritima

Proteomic analysis of long term salt responsive proteins in the halophyte Suaeda maritima

In vivo analgesic potential in swiss albino mice and in vitro thrombolytic and membrane stabilizing activity of methanolic extract from suaeda maritima whole plant

In vivo analgesic potential in swiss albino mice and in vitro thrombolytic and membrane stabilizing activity of methanolic extract from suaeda maritima whole plant

Metabolic and physiological adjustment of Suaeda maritima to combined salinity and hypoxia.

Suaeda maritima is a halophyte commonly found on coastal wetlands in the intertidal zone. Due to its habitat S. maritima has evolved tolerance to high salt concentrations and hypoxic conditions in the soil caused by periodic flooding. In the present work, the adaptive mechanisms of S. maritima to salinity combined with hypoxia were investigated on a physiological and metabolic level. To compare the adaptive mechanisms to deficient, optimal and stressful salt concentrations, S. maritima plants were grown in a hydroponic culture under low, medium and high salt concentrations. Additionally, hypoxic conditions were applied to investigate the impact of hypoxia combined with different salt concentrations. A non-targeted metabolic approach was used to clarify the biochemical pathways underlying the metabolic and physiological adaptation mechanisms of S. maritima . Roots exposed to hypoxic conditions showed an increased level of tricarboxylic acid (TCA)-cycle intermediates such as succinate, malate and citrate. During hypoxia, the concentration of free amino acids increased in shoots and roots. Osmoprotectants such as proline and glycine betaine increased in concentrations as the external salinity was increased under hypoxic conditions. The combination of high salinity and hypoxia caused an ionic imbalance and an increase of metabolites associated with osmotic stress and photorespiration, indicating a severe physiological and metabolic response under these conditions. Disturbed proline degradation in the roots induced an enhanced proline accumulation under hypoxia. The enhanced alanine fermentation combined with a partial flux of the TCA cycle might contribute to the tolerance of S. maritima to hypoxic conditions.