Differential Shoot Nutrient Stoichiometry in Sulla carnosa Ecotypes Exposed to Salt Stress under Greenhouse Conditions

Rabaa  Hidri; Farah  Bounaouara; Ouissal Metoui-Ben Mahmoud; Walid  Zorrig; Ahmed  Debez; Chedly Abdelly; Rosario  Azcon; Ricardo Aroca

doi:10.56093/aaz.v65i1.173071

Authors

Rabaa Hidri Laboratory of Extremophile Plants (LPE), Centre of Biotechnology of Borj-Cedria (CBBC), P.O. Box 901, Hammam-Lif 2050, Tunisia
Farah Bounaouara Laboratory of Extremophile Plants (LPE), Centre of Biotechnology of Borj-Cedria (CBBC), P.O. Box 901, Hammam-Lif 2050, Tunisia
Ouissal Metoui-Ben Mahmoud Laboratory of Extremophile Plants (LPE), Centre of Biotechnology of Borj-Cedria (CBBC), P.O. Box 901, Hammam-Lif 2050, Tunisia
Walid Zorrig Laboratory of Extremophile Plants (LPE), Centre of Biotechnology of Borj-Cedria (CBBC), P.O. Box 901, Hammam-Lif 2050, Tunisia
Ahmed Debez Laboratory of Extremophile Plants (LPE), Centre of Biotechnology of Borj-Cedria (CBBC), P.O. Box 901, Hammam-Lif 2050, Tunisia
Chedly Abdelly Laboratory of Extremophile Plants (LPE), Centre of Biotechnology of Borj-Cedria (CBBC), P.O. Box 901, Hammam-Lif 2050, Tunisia
Rosario Azcon Departamento de Microbiología del Suelo y la Planta, Estación Experimental del Zaidín (CSIC), C/ Profesor Albareda 1, 18008 Granada, Spain
Ricardo Aroca Departamento de Microbiología del Suelo y la Planta, Estación Experimental del Zaidín (CSIC), C/ Profesor Albareda 1, 18008 Granada, Spain

https://doi.org/10.56093/aaz.v65i1.173071

Keywords:

Salinity, Sulla carnosa, Ecotypes, Stoichiometric variation, Ionic Interactions , halophyte adaptation, ionic homeostasis

Abstract

Soil salinity is a major environmental constraint in arid and semi-arid regions, impairing plant growth by inducing osmotic and ionic stress and disrupting nutrient balance. Understanding how halophytic species regulate nutrient stoichiometry under salinity is crucial for improving both their ecological and agronomic use. This study investigated the effects of salt stress on growth and shoot nutrient stoichiometry in four Tunisian ecotypes of Sulla carnosa, a halophytic forage species of major ecological and economic significance in saline ecosystems. Salinity significantly reduced growth in all ecotypes, although the decrease magnitude was ecotype dependent. Based on the sensitivity index, Kalbia was identified as the most tolerant ecotype, whereas Sidi Khlif was the most sensitive. As hypothesized, salt stress triggered marked changes in nutrient stoichiometry; however, the extent and type of these changes varied among ecotypes: Kalbia maintained relatively stable nutrient ratios and ionic balance under salinity, indicating strong homeostatic regulation. In contrast, Sidi Khlif and Thelja exhibited strong alteration in nutrient relationships, reflecting the occurrence of ionic imbalance concomitant to low salt tolerance. Thus, our findings highlight ecotype-specific strategies of nutrient regulation under salt stress and demonstrate that stoichiometric stability is closely associated with improved growth and salt tolerance. In addition, we provide new insights into the mechanisms of ionic homeostasis in S. carnosa and emphasize the ecological significance of selecting tolerant ecotypes for sustainable management and rehabilitation of saline environments.

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