Cross talk between ROS homeostasis and antioxidative machinery contributes to salt tolerance of the xero-halophyte Haloxylon salicornicum

Salinity is a foremost environmental threat that challenges agriculture and food security worldwide. In the present work, physiological, biochemical and anatomical strategies adopted by the xero-halophyte Haloxylon salicornicum in response to salinity was investigated. H. salicornicum plant withstands a prolong treatment of salinity, even under high dose of NaCl (400 mM). Our results showed that both fresh and dry biomass of shoot, plant height, and shoot area increased under low salinity (100–200 mM NaCl), whereas these parameters remained unaffected under high salinity (300–400 mM NaCl). In H. salicornicum, shoot water content (SWC%) was maintained at all levels of salinity. Salt tolerance index of H. salicornicum did not decline with increasing doses of salinity indicating salt tolerance capability of the plant. Although, salinity caused an increase in Na⁺ content of shoot, but K⁺ content of shoot remained steady at all levels of salinity. The rate of photosynthesis (PN), stomatal conductance (gₛ), rate of transpiration (E), water use efficiency (WUE), quantum yield of PSII (ΦPSII), photochemical quenching (qP), and electron transport rate (ETR) remained at par to the control level under low salinity (100–200 mM NaCl) and then reduced significantly under high salinity (300–400 mM NaCl). Salinity had no significant impacts on maximum quantum efficiency of PSII (Fᵥ/Fₘ) and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) which implies that PS II remained unaffected by sanity-induced oxidative damage. The levels of H₂O₂ and NO increased significantly under salinity, whereas the level of O₂•⁻ remained unaffected under various levels of salinity. Higher level of H₂O₂ and NO indicates the signaling role of these molecules. Lipid peroxidation level remained unchanged under low salinity (0–300 mM NaCl), but increased significantly under extreme salinity (400 mM NaCl). Ratio of AsA/DHA (indicator of cellular redox potential) elevated under high salinity (300–400 mM NaCl). The activities of various enzymatic antioxidants like SOD, APX, POX, GR and CAT showed differential responses under salinity. The results propose that coordination between enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidative components regulates ROS levels in H. salicornicum and contribute in salt tolerance by maintaining water status, ion homeostasis, redox status of the cells, and efficient protection of PSII form salinity induced oxidative damage. Higher tolerance index, optimal growth and competent antioxidative system make this xero-halophyte a suitable candidate for reclamation of salt degraded agricultural lands and can be a potent genetic resource for the development of salinity tolerant crops.