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<p>Soil salinization poses a significant challenge to sustainable global agriculture. While saline water drip irrigation is a promising solution to freshwater scarcity, its broader implementation is constrained by the salt tolerance of most plants. Halophytes—plants naturally adapted to saline environments—offer valuable insights into mechanisms of salt stress tolerance. This study systematically investigated the root-level molecular responses of three halophytic species, <i>Haloxylon ammodendron </i>(<i>H. ammodendron</i>), <i>Tamarix chinensis</i> (<i>T. chinensis</i>), and <i>Phragmites australis</i> (<i>P. australis</i>), under saline and freshwater drip irrigation using transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses. Both irrigation methods reduced soil salinity in the rhizosphere, but ion dynamics triggered species-specific responses. Under saline irrigation, <i>H. ammodendron</i> activated genes related to ion transport and photosynthesis, with transcription factors (TFs) such as FAR1 and bHLH showing strong co-expression associations with genes involved in isoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis to enhance antioxidative capacity. In <i>T. chinensis</i>, WRKY and MYB TFs were strongly associated with phenylpropanoid-related gene expression patterns and cofactor biosynthesis to bolster secondary metabolism and photosynthetic efficiency. Conversely, <i>P. australis</i> downregulated AP2/ERF and NAC TFs exhibited coordinated expression patterns with linoleic acid metabolism-related genes and cell wall architecture, ultimately enhancing reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging. Freshwater irrigation revealed distinct regulatory strategies: <i>H. ammodendron</i> prioritized molybdenum cofactor metabolism and terpenoid biosynthesis; <i>T. chinensis</i> activated chitin and brassinosteroid pathways; and <i>P. australis</i> enhanced MAPK signaling and hydrogen peroxide metabolism. Overall, <i>H. ammodendron</i> maintained ion homeostasis and photoprotection, <i>T. chinensis</i> emphasized secondary metabolism and redox balance, while <i>P. australis</i> focused on membrane lipid remodeling and structural regulation. These findings highlight precise molecular pathways for improving salt tolerance and provide a basis for leveraging halophytic traits in agricultural innovation and ecological restoration of saline soils.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>

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Adaptive strategies of halophytes to saline and freshwater drip irrigation: a focus on transcription factors and metabolic pathways

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月17日

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  • Haitao Dou,
  • Qiao Xu,
  • Tao Lin,
  • Zewen Tong,
  • Aishajiang Aili,
  • Hailiang Xu

摘要

Soil salinization poses a significant challenge to sustainable global agriculture. While saline water drip irrigation is a promising solution to freshwater scarcity, its broader implementation is constrained by the salt tolerance of most plants. Halophytes—plants naturally adapted to saline environments—offer valuable insights into mechanisms of salt stress tolerance. This study systematically investigated the root-level molecular responses of three halophytic species, Haloxylon ammodendron (H. ammodendron), Tamarix chinensis (T. chinensis), and Phragmites australis (P. australis), under saline and freshwater drip irrigation using transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses. Both irrigation methods reduced soil salinity in the rhizosphere, but ion dynamics triggered species-specific responses. Under saline irrigation, H. ammodendron activated genes related to ion transport and photosynthesis, with transcription factors (TFs) such as FAR1 and bHLH showing strong co-expression associations with genes involved in isoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis to enhance antioxidative capacity. In T. chinensis, WRKY and MYB TFs were strongly associated with phenylpropanoid-related gene expression patterns and cofactor biosynthesis to bolster secondary metabolism and photosynthetic efficiency. Conversely, P. australis downregulated AP2/ERF and NAC TFs exhibited coordinated expression patterns with linoleic acid metabolism-related genes and cell wall architecture, ultimately enhancing reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging. Freshwater irrigation revealed distinct regulatory strategies: H. ammodendron prioritized molybdenum cofactor metabolism and terpenoid biosynthesis; T. chinensis activated chitin and brassinosteroid pathways; and P. australis enhanced MAPK signaling and hydrogen peroxide metabolism. Overall, H. ammodendron maintained ion homeostasis and photoprotection, T. chinensis emphasized secondary metabolism and redox balance, while P. australis focused on membrane lipid remodeling and structural regulation. These findings highlight precise molecular pathways for improving salt tolerance and provide a basis for leveraging halophytic traits in agricultural innovation and ecological restoration of saline soils.

Graphical abstract