Variation In Salinity Tolerance Research Articles

Variation in Salinity Tolerance among Larval Anurans: Implications for Community Composition and the Spread of an Invasive, Non-native Species

Amphibians in freshwater coastal wetlands periodically experience acute exposure to salinity from hurricane-related overwash events, as well as chronic exposure associated with rising sea levels. In a comparative experimental approach, we examined whether seven species of anuran amphibians vary in their tolerance to changes in salinity. In a laboratory study, we exposed larval Hyla cinerea (Green Treefrog), H. squirella (Squirrel Treefrog), Lithobates catesbeianus (American Bullfrog), L. sphenocephalus (Southern Leopard Frog), Anaxyrus terrestris (Southern Toad), and Gastrophryne carolinensis (Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad) from an inland population in north central Florida, USA, and Osteopilus septentrionalis (Cuban Treefrog) tadpoles from an inland population in southwest Florida, to acute salinity for 72 h. For each species, we replicated trials in which tadpoles were exposed to salinities of 0.2 (control), 5, 10, 12, 14, and 16 ppt. For all species, tadpoles reared in the control and 5 ppt treatments had 96.7–100% survival. No individuals of G. carolinensis survived at salinities exceeding 5 ppt and no individuals of any species survived in the 14 or 16 ppt treatments. For all other native species, survival at 10 ppt ranged from 46.7 to 80%, but declined to 0% at 12 ppt (except for H. cinerea, of which only 3.3% survived at 12 ppt). In contrast, all individuals of the invasive, non-native O. septentrionalis survived exposure to a salinity of 10 ppt, and survival in this species remained relatively high at 12 ppt. Our results illustrate that the non-native O. septentrionalis has a higher salinity tolerance than the native species tested, which may contribute to its invasion potential. Moreover, species commonly associated with coastal freshwater wetlands differ in their salinity tolerances, suggesting that salt water intrusion due to storm surges and sea level rise may affect the species composition of these ecosystems.

Detection of molecular markers associated with yield and yield components in durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum) under saline conditions

Durum wheat is one of the most important staple food crops, grown mainly in the Mediterranean region where its productivity is drastically affected by salinity. The objective of this study was to identify markers associated with grain yield and its related traits under saline conditions. A population of 114 F8 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) was derived by single-seed descent from a cross between Belikh2 (salinity-tolerant variety) and Omrabi5 (less salinity tolerant) was grown under non-saline and saline conditions in a glasshouse. Phenotypic data of the RILs and parental lines were measured for 15 agronomic traits. Association of 96 simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci covering all 14 chromosomes with 15 agronomic traits was analysed with a mixed linear model. In total, 49 SSR loci were significantly associated with these traits. Under saline conditions, 12 markers were associated with phenological traits and 19 markers were associated with yield and yield components. Marker alleles from Belikh2 were associated with a positive effect for the majority of markers associated with yield and yield components. Under saline condition, five markers (Xwmc182, Xwmc388, Xwmc398, Xbarc61, and Xwmc177) were closely linked with grain yield, located on chromosomes 2A, 3A, 3B, 4B, 5A, 6B, and 7A. These markers could be used for marker-assisted selection in durum wheat breeding under saline conditions.

Salt-sensitive and salt-tolerant barley varieties differ in the extent of potentiation of the ROS-induced K+ efflux by polyamines

Generation of high levels of polyamines and reactive oxygen species (ROS) is common under stress conditions. Our recent study on a salt-sensitive pea species revealed an interaction between natural polyamines and hydroxyl radicals in inducing non-selective conductance and stimulating Ca(2+)-ATPase pumps at the root plasma membrane (I. Zepeda-Jazo, A.M. Velarde-Buendía, R. Enríquez-Figueroa, B. Jayakumar, S. Shabala, J. Muñiz, I. Pottosin, Polyamines interact with hydroxyl radicals in activating Ca2+ and K+ transport across the root epidermal plasma membranes, Plant Phys. 157 (2011) 1-14). In this work, we extended that study to see if interaction between polyamines and ROS may determine the extent of genotypic variation in salinity tolerance. This work was conducted using barley genotypes contrasting in salinity tolerance. Similar to our findings in pea, application of hydroxyl radicals-generating Cu(2+)/ascorbate mixture induced transient Ca(2+) and K(+) fluxes in barley roots. Putrescine and spermine alone induced only transient Ca(2+) efflux and negligible K(+) flux. However, both putrescine and spermine strongly potentiated hydroxyl radicals-induced K(+) efflux and respective non-selective current. This synergistic effect was much more pronounced in a salt-sensitive cultivar Franklin as compared to a salt-tolerant TX9425. As retention of K(+) under salt stress is a key determinant of salinity tolerance in barley, we suggest that the alteration of cytosolic K(+) homeostasis, caused by interaction between polyamines and ROS, may have a substantial contribution to genetic variability in salt sensitivity in this species.

Analyses of Inter-cultivar Variation for Salinity Tolerance in Six Korean Rapeseed Cultivars

Salinity stress is one of the most serious factors limiting the productivity of agricultural crops. The aim of this study was to assess inter-cultivar (intraspecific) variation for salinity tolerance in six Korean rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) cultivars at the seedling stage. The effect of three different salinity stress levels (EC 4, 8, and 16 <TEX>$dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$</TEX>) on seedlings of six cultivars was investigated through leaf size, leaf dry weight, and leaf chlorosis. At the highest salinity level (16 <TEX>$dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$</TEX>), the mean decrease of leaf dry weight in 'Sunmang', 'Tammi', 'Tamla', 'Naehan', 'Youngsan', and 'Halla' was about 56.2, 56.9, 78.4, 79.3, 77.4, and 80.9%, respectively. 'Tammi' and 'Sunmang' showed much less reduction in leaf dry weight than all the other cultivars. In addition, diluted seawater treatments increased the occurrence of leaf chlorosis in six cultivars. At EC 8 and 16 <TEX>$dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$</TEX>, 'Naehan', 'Youngsan', and 'Halla' showed a higher level of leaf chlorosis than 'Tammi' 'Sunmang', and 'Tamla'. On the basis of these results, six cultivars were placed into salinity-tolerant and sensitive groups. 'Tammi' and 'Sunmang' were the salinity-tolerant cultivars, while 'Naehan', 'Halla', 'Youngsan', and 'Tamla' were the salinity-sensitive cultivars. 'Tammi' and 'Naehan' rated as the most tolerant and most sensitive cultivar, respectively. To further analyze protein expression profiles in 'Tammi' and 'Naehan', 2-D proteomic analysis was performed using the plants grown under diluted seawater treatments. We identified eight differentially displayed proteins that participate in photosynthesis, carbon assimilation, starch and sucrose metabolism, amino acid metabolism, cold and oxidative stress, and calcium signaling. The differential protein expressions in 'Tammi' and 'Naehan' are likely to correlate with the differential growth responses of both cultivars to salinity stress. These data suggest that 'Tammi' is better adapted to salinity stressed environments than 'Naehan'.

Sources of high tolerance to salinity in pea (Pisum sativum L.)

This study was aimed at identification of parental germplasm that could be used for improvement of tolerance to sodium chloride (NaCl) in field pea. An initial screening experiment of 780 globally-distributed Pisum L. accessions identified significant variation in response to applied NaCl, based on plant symptoms. Lines with relatively higher tolerance as compared to commercial varieties grown in Australia were most frequently identified within landraces originating from the central, eastern and southern provinces of China. The most tolerant identified accession was an unadapted landrace ‘ATC1836’ originating from Greece. Variation for salinity tolerance was validated using a sub-set of 70 accession lines. Salinity-induced toxicity symptoms were closely associated with reductions of plant growth rate, height, shoot and root dry matter and with increased concentration of Na+ at the plant growing tip. The level of salinity tolerance based on these factors varied substantially and provides an important basis for genetic improvement of field pea for Australia.

Agricultural Research in an Era of Climate Change

Human-induced changes in climate will have both common and differentiated impacts. It is now widely accepted that the average mean temperature will increase by 1 to 2°C during this century. Such an increase in temperature will reduce the duration of crops like wheat and thereby reduce yield in Northern India. In contrast, a rise in mean temperature will increase the crop duration resulting in higher yield in the Northern latitudes. Climate change leading to adverse changes in temperature, precipitation and sea level will disturb the food, water and livelihood security systems in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, regions where already widespread hunger prevails. Pest and disease problems will increase. For example, stem rust of wheat may become important in North India, if the mean temperature goes up. Similarly, the advantage of an aphid-free season for raising disease-free seed potato in the plains of North India will be lost. Recourse will have to be taken to true potato seeds. Anticipatory research to checkmate the adverse impact of unfavourable weather is urgently needed. Crop breeding should shift its emphasis from per crop to per-day productivity. Drought and floods codes will have to be developed and implemented. Climate risk management research and training centres should be established in all agro-climatic zones. Gene Banks containing genetic resources for a warming planet should be set-up. Along coastal areas, mangrove and non-mangrove bioshields should be established. Sea water farming using agri–aqua production systems should be popularised. Genetic Gardens of Halophytes should be established. Salinity tolerant varieties of rice and other crops should be developed using recombinant DNA technology where needed. The poor nations and the poor in all nations wills suffer most from climate change, since they do not have the necessary coping capacity. Agricultural research should therefore be tailored to the need for climate resilient farming systems. Climate literacy should be spread and a cadre of Community Climate Risk Managers should be formed in villages. The calamity of climate change should be converted into an opportunity for developing and spreading climate resilient farming techniques and systems.

Genomic arrangement of salinity tolerance QTLs in salmonids: A comparative analysis of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) with Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

BackgroundQuantitative trait locus (QTL) studies show that variation in salinity tolerance in Arctic charr and rainbow trout has a genetic basis, even though both these species have low to moderate salinity tolerance capacities. QTL were observed to localize to homologous linkage group segments within putative chromosomal regions possessing multiple candidate genes. We compared salinity tolerance QTL in rainbow trout and Arctic charr to those detected in a higher salinity tolerant species, Atlantic salmon. The highly derived karyotype of Atlantic salmon allows for the assessment of whether disparity in salinity tolerance in salmonids is associated with differences in genetic architecture. To facilitate these comparisons, we examined the genomic synteny patterns of key candidate genes in the other model teleost fishes that have experienced three whole-genome duplication (3R) events which preceded a fourth (4R) whole genome duplication event common to all salmonid species.ResultsNine linkage groups contained chromosome-wide significant QTL (AS-2, -4p, -4q, -5, -9, -12p, -12q, -14q -17q, -22, and −23), while a single genome-wide significant QTL was located on AS-4q. Salmonid genomes shared the greatest marker homology with the genome of three-spined stickleback. All linkage group arms in Atlantic salmon were syntenic with at least one stickleback chromosome, while 18 arms had multiple affinities. Arm fusions in Atlantic salmon were often between multiple regions bearing salinity tolerance QTL. Nine linkage groups in Arctic charr and six linkage group arms in rainbow trout currently have no synteny alignments with stickleback chromosomes, while eight rainbow trout linkage group arms were syntenic with multiple stickleback chromosomes. Rearrangements in the stickleback lineage involving fusions of ancestral arm segments could account for the 21 chromosome pairs observed in the stickleback karyotype.ConclusionsSalinity tolerance in salmonids from three genera is to some extent controlled by the same loci. Synteny between QTL in salmonids and candidate genes in stickleback suggests genetic variation at candidate gene loci could affect salinity tolerance in all three salmonids investigated. Candidate genes often occur in pairs on chromosomes, and synteny patterns indicate these pairs are generally conserved in 2R, 3R, and 4R genomes. Synteny maps also suggest that the Atlantic salmon genome contains three larger syntenic combinations of candidate genes that are not evident in any of the other 2R, 3R, or 4R genomes examined. These larger synteny tracts appear to have resulted from ancestral arm fusions that occurred in the Atlantic salmon ancestor. We hypothesize that the superior hypo-osmoregulatory efficiency that is characteristic of Atlantic salmon may be related to these clusters.

Introgression the Salinity Tolerance QTLs &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Saltol&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; into AS996, the Elite Rice Variety of Vietnam

This study focus on developing new salinity tolerance and high yielding rice lines, using markers assisted backrossing (MABC). Total of 500 SSR markers on 12 rice chromosomes were screened for parental polymorphic markers. Of which, 52 primers in the Saltol region were checked with the two parents varieties to identify polymorphic primers for screening the Saltol region of the breeding populations. For each backcross generation of ASS996/FL478, approx. 500 plants were screened with 63 polymorphic markers distributed on 12 chromosomes. The two BC1F1 plants P284 and P307 which had the highest recipient alleles up to 89.06% and 86.36%, were chosen for the next backcrossing. Three BC2F1 plants with the recipient alleles up to 94.03% and 93.18% were used to develop BC3F1 generation. The best BC3F1 plant was P284-112-209 with all the recipient alleles and Saltol region. The four plants P307-305-21, P284-112-195, P284-112-198, P284-112-213 were the second ranking with only one loci heterozygous (applied 63 markers covered on 12 chromosomes). These five plants were chosen as the breeding lines for result of Saltol-AS996 introgression. The breeding line BC4F1 having 100% genetic background of donor variety is ready for develop new salinity tolerant variety ASS996-Saltol to cope with climate change.

Differences in Salinity Tolerance and Gene Expression Between Two Populations of Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua) in Response to Salinity Stress

Populations of marine fish, even from contrasting habitats, generally show low genetic differentiation at neutral genetic markers. Nevertheless, there is increasing evidence for differences in gene expression among populations that may be ascribed to adaptive divergence. Studying variation in salinity tolerance and gene expression among Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) from two populations distributed across a steep salinity gradient, we observed high mortality (45% North Sea cod and 80% Baltic Sea cod) in a reciprocal common garden setup. Quantitative RT-PCR assays for expression of hsp70 and Na/K-ATPase α genes demonstrated significant differences in gene regulation within and between populations and treatment groups despite low sample sizes. Most interesting are the significant differences observed in expression of the Na/K-ATPase α gene in gill tissue between North Sea and Baltic cod. The findings strongly suggest that Atlantic cod are adapted to local saline conditions, despite relatively low levels of neutral genetic divergence between populations.

Identification of salt-tolerant QTLs with strong genetic background effect using two sets of reciprocal introgression lines in rice

Effect of genetic background on detection of quantitative trait locus (QTL) governing salinity tolerance (ST) was studied using two sets of reciprocal introgression lines (ILs) derived from a cross between a moderately salinity tolerant japonica variety, Xiushui09 from China, and a drought tolerant but salinity susceptible indica breeding line, IR2061-520-6-9 from the Philippines. Salt toxicity symptoms (SST) on leaves, days to seedling survival (DSS), and sodium and potassium uptake by shoots were measured under salinity stress of 140mmol/L of NaCl. A total of 47 QTLs, including 26 main-effect QTLs (M-QTLs) and 21 epistatic QTLs (E-QTLs), were identified from the two sets of reciprocal ILs. Among the 26M-QTLs, only four (15.4%) were shared in the reciprocal backgrounds while no shared E-QTLs were detected, indicating that ST QTLs, especially E-QTLs, were very specific to the genetic background. Further, 78.6% of the M-QTLs for SST and DSS identified in the reciprocal ILs were also detected in the recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from the same cross, which clearly brings out the background effect on ST QTL detection and its utilization in ST breeding. The detection of ILs with various levels of pyramiding of nonallelic M-QTL alleles for ST from Xiushui09 into IR2061-520-6-9 allowed us to further improve the ST in rice.

Salinity tolerance and site of K + accumulation in four maize varieties grown in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa region of Pakistan

Crops face different types of biotic and abiotic stresses. Among abiotic stresses, salinity is very harmful and adversely affects the yield and production of crops. In Pakistan, maize is the third most important cereal crop after wheat and rice. In this research work, salt stress was applied to four maize varieties. The experiment was conducted in glass house. The effect of salinity on some physiological parameters that is, fresh and dry biomass of whole plant, above ground part and root of maize (Zea mays L.) was observed and the site of plant which accumulates K+ was determined. Five salinity levels of 30, 60, 110, 160 and 240 mmol each for NaCl and KCl were checked. The results showed that NaCl had significant effect on fresh and dry whole plant biomass, above ground biomass and root biomass. KCl had significant effect on whole plant fresh biomass and above ground dry biomass while its effect on above ground, root fresh biomass, whole plant and root dry biomass was insignificant. The combined effect of NaCl and KCl was also insignificant on fresh as well as dry biomass. With increasing salinity however, the cultivar Azam followed by Pop-2006 were the most tolerant to salinity. Contrarily, Pahari and Sarhad white were the least salinity tolerant varieties. Flam photometric analysis indicate that K+ accumulates in roots and above ground biomass (shoot), accumulation is more in the shoot than in the root. Azam and Pahari cultivars accumulated less K+ than Pop-2006 and Sarhad white. Key words: Maize, salinity, stress, Pakistan, biomass.

Variation in salinity tolerance of four lowland genotypes of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) as assessed by growth, physiological traits, and sodium transporter gene expression

Chenopodium quinoa (Willd.) is an Andean plant showing a remarkable tolerance to abiotic stresses. In Chile, quinoa populations display a high degree of genetic distancing, and variable tolerance to salinity. To investigate which tolerance mechanisms might account for these differences, four genotypes from coastal central and southern regions were compared for their growth, physiological, and molecular responses to NaCl at seedling stage. Seeds were sown on agar plates supplemented with 0, 150 or 300mM NaCl. Germination was significantly reduced by NaCl only in accession BO78. Shoot length was reduced by 150mM NaCl in three out of four genotypes, and by over 60% at 300mM (except BO78 which remained more similar to controls). Root length was hardly affected or even enhanced at 150mM in all four genotypes, but inhibited, especially in BO78, by 300mM NaCl. Thus, the root/shoot ratio was differentially affected by salt, with the highest values in PRJ, and the lowest in BO78. Biomass was also less affected in PRJ than in the other accessions, the genotype with the highest increment in proline concentration upon salt treatment. Free putrescine declined dramatically in all genotypes under 300mM NaCl; however (spermidine+spermine)/putrescine ratios were higher in PRJ than BO78. Quantitative RT-PCR analyses of two sodium transporter genes, CqSOS1 and CqNHX, revealed that their expression was differentially induced at the shoot and root level, and between genotypes, by 300mM NaCl. Expression data are discussed in relation to the degree of salt tolerance in the different accessions.

Mapping salinity tolerance during Arabidopsis thaliana germination and seedling growth.

To characterize and dissect genetic variation for salinity tolerance, we assessed variation in salinity tolerance during germination and seedling growth for a worldwide sample of Arabidopsis thaliana accessions. By combining QTL mapping, association mapping and expression data, we identified genomic regions involved in salinity response. Among the worldwide sample, we found germination ability within a moderately saline environment (150 mM NaCl) varied considerable, from >90% among the most tolerant lines to complete inability to germinate among the most susceptible. Our results also demonstrated wide variation in salinity tolerance within A. thaliana RIL populations and identified multiple genomic regions that contribute to this variation. These regions contain known candidate genes, but at least four of the regions contain loci not yet associated with salinity tolerance response phenotypes. Our observations suggest A. thaliana natural variation may be an underutilized resource for investigating salinity stress response.

Variations in salinity tolerance of malaria vectors of the Anopheles subpictus complex in Sri Lanka and the implications for malaria transmission

BackgroundAnopheles subpictus sensu lato, a widespread vector of malaria in Asia, is reportedly composed of four sibling species A-D based on distinct cytogenetic and morphological characteristics. However An. subpictus species B specimens in Sri Lanka are termed An. subpictus B/ An. sundaicus because of recent genetic data. Differences in salinity tolerance and coastal/inland prevalence of An. subpictus sibling species that were not previously established in Sri Lanka are presented here.ResultsSpecimens with morphological characteristics of all four Indian An. subpictus sibling species were found in Sri Lanka. Sibling species A, C and D tended to be predominant in inland, and An. subpictus species B/An. sundaicus, in coastal localities. Sibling species C was predominant in both adult and larval inland collections. Larvae of An. subpictus B/An. sundaicus were found in inland and coastal sites, including a lagoon, with salinity varying from 0 to 30 ppt. An. subpictus sibling species A, C and D larvae were present in water of salinity between 0 to 4 ppt. An. subpictus C, D and An. subpictus B/An. sundaicus larvae showed compatible differential salinity tolerance in laboratory tests. The first instar larvae of An. subpictus B/An. sundaicus showed 100% survival up to 15 ppt in comparison to species C and D where the corresponding values were 3 ppt and 6 ppt respectively. However all third instar larvae of An. subpictus B/An. sundaicus survived up to 30 ppt salinity whereas An. subpictus C and D tolerated up to 4 ppt and 8 ppt salinity respectively.ConclusionsThe results suggest that An. subpictus species B/An. sundaicus breed in fresh, brackish and nearly saline water while An. subpictus species C and D do so in fresh and less brackish waters in Sri Lanka, as in India. Because of the established role of An. sundaicus s.l. and An. subpictus s.l. as malaria vectors, the findings indicate a need for greater monitoring of brackish water breeding habitats in Asia. Tolerance to 15 ppt salinity may also constitute a simple method for differentiating An. subpictus B/An. sundaicus larvae from those of An. subpictus species C and D in field studies.

Variation of salinity tolerance in bean genotypes

Bean is among the very sensitive plant species to soil salinity. This study was carried out using the 55 bean genotypes collected from GevaAŸ-Van region in Turkey to determine their salinity tolerance. This study aimed to investigate the salt tolerance capacity of this local bean population. 50 mM NaCl was applied to the bean seedlings, and the measurements and observations were done 20 days after the salt application, when the differences among the genotypes appeared. Number of leaves, seedling heights, and root and shoot weights and some nutrients (phosphorous, potassium, iron, calcium, manganese, magnesium, copper, zinc, and sodium) of the seedlings were determined. The wide variation at salt stress tolerance was observed in this population. The overall performances of local genotypes were better than the tried commercial cultivars. Key words: Bean, nutrients, salinity, seedling, tolerance.

The genetic basis of salinity tolerance traits in Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus)

BackgroundThe capacity to maintain internal ion homeostasis amidst changing conditions is particularly important for teleost fishes whose reproductive cycle is dependent upon movement from freshwater to seawater. Although the physiology of seawater osmoregulation in mitochondria-rich cells of fish gill epithelium is well understood, less is known about the underlying causes of inter- and intraspecific variation in salinity tolerance. We used a genome-scan approach in Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) correlated with variation in four salinity tolerance performance traits and six body size traits. Comparative genomics approaches allowed us to infer whether allelic variation at candidate gene loci (e.g., ATP1α1b, NKCC1, CFTR, and cldn10e) could have underlain observed variation.ResultsCombined parental analyses yielded genome-wide significant QTL on linkage groups 8, 14 and 20 for salinity tolerance performance traits, and on 1, 19, 20 and 28 for body size traits. Several QTL exhibited chromosome-wide significance. Among the salinity tolerance performance QTL, trait co-localizations occurred on chromosomes 1, 4, 7, 18 and 20, while the greatest experimental variation was explained by QTL on chromosomes 20 (19.9%), 19 (14.2%), 4 (14.1%) and 12 (13.1%). Several QTL localized to linkage groups exhibiting homeologous affinities, and multiple QTL mapped to regions homologous with the positions of candidate gene loci in other teleosts. There was no gene × environment interaction among body size QTL and ambient salinity.ConclusionsVariation in salinity tolerance capacity can be mapped to a subset of Arctic charr genomic regions that significantly influence performance in a seawater environment. The detection of QTL on linkage group 12 was consistent with the hypothesis that variation in salinity tolerance may be affected by allelic variation at the ATP1α1b locus. IGF2 may also affect salinity tolerance capacity as suggested by a genome-wide QTL on linkage group 19. The detection of salinity tolerance QTL in homeologous regions suggests that candidate loci duplicated from the salmonid-specific whole-genome duplication may have retained their function on both sets of homeologous chromosomes. Homologous affinities suggest that loci affecting salinity tolerance in Arctic charr may coincide with QTL for smoltification and salinity tolerance traits in rainbow trout. The effects of body size QTL appear to be independent of changes in ambient salinity.

Improving Salinity Tolerance in Tilapias: Past Experience and Future Prospects

With increasing scarcity of fresh water available for aquaculture, especially in arid regions, development of tilapias that tolerate high salinity would increase fish (and hence, animal protein) production. We review culture practices, nutrition, physiology, and genetics, and propose approaches to improving salinity tolerance in tilapias. Physiological studies of biochemical pathways underlying phenotypic differences in salt tolerance can lead to genetic studies of intra and interspecific variation. Molecular technology can lead to studies on osmoregulation-related biochemical pathways, for which the euryhaline tilapia is an attractive model. Functional genomics and proteomics are powerful tools for studying the molecular bases of environmental adaptation and metabolic connections to osmoregulatory physiology. Both provide avenues for discovering novel pathways related to osmoregulation with relevance to aquaculture. Dietary supplementation with NaCl and optimized acclimation protocols are immediate and practical ways to improve salt tolerance. Inter-specific variation in salinity tolerance may be used to select salt-tolerant species and develop salt-tolerant hybrids. In the long term, quantitative trait loci associated with, or genes involved in, saltwater tolerance may facilitate marker-assisted or gene-assisted selection for this trait in tilapia.

Responses of Creeping Bentgrass to Salt Stress during In Vitro Germination

Many golf courses and turfgrass managers use recycled water, which contains high salts, as part or a sole irrigation source to lower costs and comply with governmental restrictions on water use. High salinity negatively affects turfgrass performance. Using salt-tolerant species or cultivars is one the most effective methods to address salinity problems. Twenty-six commercially available creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) cultivars were evaluated for salt tolerance during in vitro germination on 1% agar media supplemented with NaCl at 0, 5, 10, 15, or 20 g·L−1 at 25/15 °C (day/night) under fluorescent light (36 μmol·s−1·m−2) with an 8- to16-h photoperiod. Significant variations in salinity tolerance were observed among the cultivars. Final germination rate (FGR, %) and daily germination rate (DGR, %/d) decreased linearly or quadratically as salinity levels increased. ‘Declaration’, ‘Seaside II’, ‘T-1’, and ‘Bengal’ were the most salt-tolerant, requiring salt levels at or greater than 16.0 and 10.0 g·L−1, respectively, to reduce FGR and DGR by 50%. In contrast, ‘Tyee’, ‘Kingpin’, and ‘SR1150’ required average salinity levels of 11.6 and 6.5 g·L−1 to cause 50% reduction in FGR and DGR, respectively, showing that they were the least salt-tolerant cultivars. The largest difference between FGR (1.9%) and DGR (26.2%) reduction under saline conditions was observed at 5 g·L−1, indicating that DGR was more sensitive to salinity changes than FGR. Therefore, DGR might be a more reliable method to be used for salt selection.

Genetic variability of salinity tolerance in spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Salinity is one of the most damaging agro-environmental problems limiting plant growth and development in most parts of the world. The problem of salinity existed long before human beings and the start of agricultural practice and today it has become a very serious problem for crop production, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions, which constitute about one third of the world's land surface. The magnitude of genetic variation for salinity tolerance in spring wheat and broad-sense heritabilities has been estimated at different salinity levels. The 68 genotypes responded with different behaviors to increasing salinity levels in the growing medium. Responses of different genotypes to increased salinity levels in reduced growth were found, with those originating from Australia exhibiting a significant increase in salinity tolerance compared with others, originating from Pakistan. Plant vigor and salinity tolerance were found to have no significant correlation as measured by relative growth rates in saline environments. The relative growth rate of various accessions grouped on the basis of different geographic origin and different genes of various stresses also were not different significantly from each other, which suggests that different genes may be controlling the characteristic, from a single major dominant or from recessive genes. Estimated broad-sense heritability indicated that phenotypic variance exceeded that of genotypic by nearly two orders of magnitude. This study was to determine genetic and phenotypic relationships between plant performance in the presence of NaCl at three developmental stages in wheat. These results suggest that improvement in salinity tolerance in spring wheat is possible through selection and breeding.

Variation in salinity tolerance and shoot sodium accumulation in Arabidopsis ecotypes linked to differences in the natural expression levels of transporters involved in sodium transport

Salinity tolerance can be attributed to three different mechanisms: Na+ exclusion from the shoot, Na+ tissue tolerance and osmotic tolerance. Although several key ion channels and transporters involved in these processes are known, the variation in expression profiles and the effects of these proteins on Na+ transport in different accessions of the same species are unknown. Here, expression profiles of the genes AtHKT1;1, AtSOS1, AtNHX1 and AtAVP1 are determined in four ecotypes of Arabidopsis thaliana. Not only are these genes differentially regulated between ecotypes, the expression levels of the genes can be linked to the concentration of Na+ in the plant. An inverse relationship was found between AtSOS1 expression in the root and total plant Na+ accumulation, supporting a role for AtSOS1 in Na+ efflux from the plant. Similarly, ecotypes with high expression levels of AtHKT1;1 in the root had lower shoot Na+ concentrations, due to the hypothesized role of AtHKT1;1 in retrieval of Na+ from the transpiration stream. The inverse relationship between shoot Na+ concentration and salinity tolerance typical of most cereal crop plants was not demonstrated, but a positive relationship was found between salt tolerance and levels of AtAVP1 expression, which may be related to tissue tolerance.