AUTHOR=Wang Ping , Xu Wenjing , Zhang Zehao , Fu Zhanyong , Li Tian , Sun Jingkuan 

TITLE=Response of the photosynthetic characteristics and antioxidant system of Suaeda salsa to the changes of underground brine depth

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Plant Science

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2024.1471742

DOI=10.3389/fpls.2024.1471742

ISSN=1664-462X

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Introduction</title><p>Water and salt conditions are key factors influencing vegetation growth on shell island in the Yellow River Delta. However, the effects of the depth of underground brine on the photosynthetic characteristics and antioxidant system of halophytes remain unclear.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>The laboratory simulation experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of the changes of underground brine depth on <italic>Suaeda salsa</italic> using four levels of groundwater: 0 cm, 15 cm, 30 cm and 45 cm.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>The results showed that different underground brine depths had significant impacts on the photosynthetic characteristics and antioxidant system of <italic>S. salsa</italic>, and 0-30 cm underground brine depth was suitable for <italic>S. salsa</italic> growth. The net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), stomatal conductance (Gs), light utilization efficiency (LUE) and carboxylation efficiency (CE) of <italic>S. salsa</italic> increased first and then decreased with increasing depth of underground brine. The stomatal limitation value (Ls) and WUE of <italic>S. salsa</italic> reached the peak value at the groundwater depth of 0 cm, and water use efficiency was reduced by 19.4%, 8.0% and 8.6% at 15 cm, 30 cm, and 45 cm, respectively, compared to the 0 cm treatment. With the deepening of underground brine depth, the value of LUE and CE firstly increased and then decreased, and reached the peak value when the depth was 30 cm. The antioxidant enzyme (SOD, POD and CAT) activities of <italic>S. salsa</italic> decreased and then increased with the increase of underground brine depth. The enzyme activities were the lowest when the underground brine depth was 30 cm. As the groundwater depth increased, MDA content decreased and then increased. The highest degree of membrane peroxidation in <italic>S. salsa</italic> leaves was observed at the depth of 45 cm.</p></sec><sec><title>Discussion</title><p>Our study reveals that the antioxidant capacity of <italic>S. salsa</italic> was weakened at the underground brine depth of 45 cm and the growth of <italic>S. salsa</italic> was inhibited.</p></sec>