Species identification and pollination biology of an economically important true halophyte, Salicornia brachiata Roxb.
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Date
2024
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Aquatic Botany
Abstract
Members of the genus Salicornia have gained a global attraction due to their ability to thrive under high saline
conditions and as potential candidates in saline agriculture. However, it has been a taxonomically challenging
genus for decades since the members show plastic responses to extreme environmental conditions and due to
incongruences between morphological and molecular identification methods. While only a handful of
commercially grown Salicornia species are fully described, most of the species including S. brachiata, a native
species in the Indian sub-continent, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka are poorly described. With the potentials in
adapting S. brachiata in saline agriculture, the aim of this study was to establish a morphology and DNA barcodebased
species delineation system and to study pollination biology for future crop improvement projects.
Tentatively identified S. brachiata plant samples were collected from two populations in Sri Lanka and
completely described. GenBank lacked authenticated barcode data for S. brachiata except for one chloroplast
genome to which the matK sequence obtained in the present study matched with 100 % identity. For the first
time, well defined sequences of three barcode regions, ITS, ETS and matK, of S. brachiata were made available for
accurate species identification. Reproductive dynamics in different parts of the inflorescence was studied. A
facultative xenogamous mating system was recorded for the first time in the genus and while the lower florets in
the cladode showed a preference towards outcrossing, the upper florets displayed adaptations for selfing. Data
could be effectively utilized in future Salicornia breeding programs.
Description
Keywords
Molecular identification, Mating system, Pollination syndrome, Reproductive biology, Salicornia
Citation
Siridewa, K., De Silva, W., Ratnayake, R. M. C. S., Wijesundara, S., Perera, D., & Attanayake, R. (2025). Species identification and pollination biology of an economically important true halophyte, Salicornia brachiata ROXB. Aquatic Botany, 196, 103827. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103827