Responses of a coastal halophyte to combined salinity and hypoxia

Suaeda maritima is a halophyte commonly found on coastal wet lands in the intertidal zone. Due to its habitat, S. maritima has evolved tolerance to high salt concentrations and low oxygen conditions (hypoxia) in the soil caused by periodic flooding.

Behr et al. analyse the metabolic and physiological adjustment of S. maritima to combined salinity and hypoxia. The results show that the combination of high salinity and oxygen depletion cause an ionic imbalance and an increase of metabolites associated with osmotic stress. Alanine fermentation and a partial flux of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle contribute to control the anaerobic energy metabolism during hypoxic conditions in the root.