12944

10.30848/PJB2024-6(9)

Modifications in anatomical traits of tall flat sedge Cyperus exaltatus Retz. colonizing differently salt-affected wetlands

Muhammad Imran, Iftikhar Ahmad, Aamir Ali, Sana Basharat, Mansoor Hameed, Muhammad Sajid Aqeel Ahmad and Ahmed Muneeb

Salinity stress is one of the major abiotic stresses that affect plant growth and development worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the anatomical attributes of widely distributed halophytic halophytes which are economically important due to their numerous bioactive compounds of high nutritive value. The members of the family Cyperaceae are of high importance among halophytes due to their ability to grow in a diverse range of environments. The study of anatomical attributes of C. exaltatus Retz. in varying salt-affected habitats is a novel approach and has not been reported earlier. For this purpose, different populations of C. exaltatus were collected from a diverse range of saline habitats and analyzed for variation in their morpho-anatomical attributes in response to varying degree of salinity. The results showed that C. exaltatus can grow under higher salinity levels, but excessive salts of growth medium caused a reduction in overall plant growth. The anatomical modifications along salinity gradient observed in C. exaltatus included an increase in the size of vascular bundles, formation of lysigenous aerenchyma cavities, and high intensity of sclerification. These modifications enabled C. exaltatus to survive in a saline environment and provide a useful resource for the revegetation of coastal areas and hypersaline -degraded rangelands in Pakistan. Overall, this study provides insight into the anatomical attributes of C. exaltatus and its ability to survive in hypersaline environments. The findings of this study may have practical applications for the cultivation of halophytes in saline soils for the purpose of food and feed production, as well as for the restoration of degraded ecosystems

Published

2024 56 6

2089

2096