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<p>Desert plants persist by coordinating structural and metabolic responses to water scarcity and salinity. However, the specific trait combinations that enable the halophytic grass <i>Sporobolus ioclados</i> to dominate heterogeneous habitats of the Cholistan desert remain insufficiently resolved. We investigated habitat-linked anatomical and biochemical adjustments that explain performance across sand dunes, sandy plains, and saline flats. Mature plants were sampled from replicated sites, ions, photosynthetic pigments, osmolytes, and antioxidant metabolites were quantified using standard spectrophotometric and colorimetric protocols, and root and stem tissues were examined microscopically to assess epidermal, cortical, sclerenchymatous, vascular, and pith traits. Root area, cortex thickness, and vascular bundle diameter increased by 35–60% under saline conditions compared with dune populations, while stem area declined by nearly 28%. Sodium, potassium, calcium, and chloride concentrations rose markedly in saline-site plants (Na⁺ 145.3 ± 6.2&#xa0;mg g⁻¹ DW; K⁺ 92.6 ± 4.5&#xa0;mg g⁻¹; Ca²⁺ 68.4 ± 3.1&#xa0;mg g⁻¹; Cl⁻ 110.2 ± 5.4&#xa0;mg g⁻¹), exceeding dune values by two- to threefold. Chlorophyll a and b declined by 41% and 37%, respectively, while carotenoids remained relatively stable (2.8 ± 0.3&#xa0;mg g⁻¹ FW). Osmoprotectants and energy reserves increased significantly under saline stress, with proline (3.9 ± 0.2 µmol g⁻¹ FW), total free amino acids (24.7 ± 1.5 µmol g⁻¹ FW), soluble proteins (7.2 ± 0.4&#xa0;mg g⁻¹ FW), and soluble sugars (15.6 ± 0.9&#xa0;mg g⁻¹ FW) showing 1.5–2.5-fold elevation compared with dune populations. Phenolics (4.1 ± 0.3&#xa0;mg g⁻¹ FW), flavonoids (3.6 ± 0.2&#xa0;mg g⁻¹ FW), and hydrogen peroxide (2.9 ± 0.1 µmol g⁻¹ FW) also rose sharply, reflecting enhanced antioxidant activity. These integrated anatomical and biochemical adjustments enable <i>S. ioclados</i> to persist under extreme saline arid conditions and highlight its ecological significance and potential for the restoration of degraded rangelands.</p>

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Adaptive morphological and physiological strategies of Sporobolus ioclados in desert ecosystem

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月15日

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  • Muhammad Akram,
  • Nargis Naz,
  • Ummar Iqbal,
  • Syeda Refat Sultana,
  • Fahim Arshad,
  • Muhammad Waheed,
  • Muhammad Adeel Ghafar,
  • Hafiz Muhammad Mohsin Hassan,
  • Arslan Asghar,
  • Abeer Hashem,
  • Dalal Saad Alharbi,
  • Graciela Dolores Avila-Quezada,
  • Khalid F. Almutairi,
  • Elsayed Fathi Abd-Allah

摘要

Desert plants persist by coordinating structural and metabolic responses to water scarcity and salinity. However, the specific trait combinations that enable the halophytic grass Sporobolus ioclados to dominate heterogeneous habitats of the Cholistan desert remain insufficiently resolved. We investigated habitat-linked anatomical and biochemical adjustments that explain performance across sand dunes, sandy plains, and saline flats. Mature plants were sampled from replicated sites, ions, photosynthetic pigments, osmolytes, and antioxidant metabolites were quantified using standard spectrophotometric and colorimetric protocols, and root and stem tissues were examined microscopically to assess epidermal, cortical, sclerenchymatous, vascular, and pith traits. Root area, cortex thickness, and vascular bundle diameter increased by 35–60% under saline conditions compared with dune populations, while stem area declined by nearly 28%. Sodium, potassium, calcium, and chloride concentrations rose markedly in saline-site plants (Na⁺ 145.3 ± 6.2 mg g⁻¹ DW; K⁺ 92.6 ± 4.5 mg g⁻¹; Ca²⁺ 68.4 ± 3.1 mg g⁻¹; Cl⁻ 110.2 ± 5.4 mg g⁻¹), exceeding dune values by two- to threefold. Chlorophyll a and b declined by 41% and 37%, respectively, while carotenoids remained relatively stable (2.8 ± 0.3 mg g⁻¹ FW). Osmoprotectants and energy reserves increased significantly under saline stress, with proline (3.9 ± 0.2 µmol g⁻¹ FW), total free amino acids (24.7 ± 1.5 µmol g⁻¹ FW), soluble proteins (7.2 ± 0.4 mg g⁻¹ FW), and soluble sugars (15.6 ± 0.9 mg g⁻¹ FW) showing 1.5–2.5-fold elevation compared with dune populations. Phenolics (4.1 ± 0.3 mg g⁻¹ FW), flavonoids (3.6 ± 0.2 mg g⁻¹ FW), and hydrogen peroxide (2.9 ± 0.1 µmol g⁻¹ FW) also rose sharply, reflecting enhanced antioxidant activity. These integrated anatomical and biochemical adjustments enable S. ioclados to persist under extreme saline arid conditions and highlight its ecological significance and potential for the restoration of degraded rangelands.