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Background and aims: The Shaker AKT1-like channels are considered to be involved in both high- and low-affinity K super(+) uptake and correlated with salt tolerance in glycophytes. Suaeda salsa (Suaeda maritima subsp. salsa), as a typical salt-accumulating halophyte, is able to absorb K super(+) efficiently while growing under saline conditions and taking in a large amount of Na super(+), thus maintaining the K super(+) concentration in its cells. In this study, the possible functions of the inward-rectifying K super(+) channel SsAKT1 in K super(+) uptake and salt tolerance in the halophyte S. salsa were investigated. Methods: SsAKT1 from S. salsa was isolated by RT-PCR and characterized using yeast complementation; the responses of SsAKT1 to various KCl and NaCl treatments were investigated by real-time quantitative PCR. Results: SsAKT1 consisted of 879 amino acid residues and shared high homology (60-67 %) with the identified inward-rectifying K super(+) channels AKT1 from other plants. The expression of SsAKT1 rescued the K super(+)-uptake-defective phenotype of yeast strain CY162, and also suppressed the salt-sensitive phenotype of yeast strain G19, suggesting SsAKT1 functioned as an inward-rectifying K super(+) channel. SsAKT1 was predominantly expressed in roots, and was induced significantly by K super(+) starvation; transcript levels increased further on resupply of K super(+) (0.1-10 mM for 6 h) by 62 % in 0.1 mM K super(+) and 144-174 % in higher K super(+) concentrations (1-10 mM). Interestingly, the expression level of SsAKT1 in roots was also induced significantly by short-term treatment (6 h) with NaCl concentrations (25-250 mM). Conclusions: These results demonstrate that the inward-rectifying K super(+) channel SsAKT1 might mediate both high- and low-affinity K super(+) uptake in S. salsa, but play a greater role in the low-affinity system. Furthermore, SsAKT1 might also be involved in salt tolerance by participating in the maintenance of K super(+) nutrition in S. salsa under salinity.

Background and aims: Salinity is an increasing problem for agricultural production worldwide. Understanding how Na super(+) enters plants is important if reducing Na super(+) influx, a key component of the regulation of Na super(+) accumulation in plants and improving salt tolerance of crop plants, is to be achieved. Our previous work indicated that two distinct low-affinity Na super(+) uptake pathways exist in the halophyte Suaeda maritima. Here, we report the external NaCl concentration at which uptake switches from pathway 1 to pathway 2 and the kinetics of the interaction between external K super(+) concentration and Na super(+) uptake and accumulation in S. maritima in order to determine the roles of K super(+) transporters or channels in low-affinity Na super(+) uptake. Methods: Na super(+) influx, Na super(+) and K super(+) accumulations in S. maritima exposed to various concentrations of NaCl (0-200 mM) were analyzed in the absence and presence of the inhibitors TEA and Ba super(+) (5 mM TEA or 3 mM Ba super(2+)) or KCl (0, 10 or 50 mM). Results: Our earlier proposal was confirmed and extended that there are two distinct low-affinity Na super(+) uptake pathways in S. maritima: pathway 1 might be mediated by a HKT-type transporter under low salinity conditions and pathway 2 by an AKT1-type channel or a KUP/HAK/KT type transporter under high salinity conditions. The external NaCl concentration at which two distinct low-affinity Na super(+) uptake switches from pathway 1 to pathway 2, the 'turning point', is between 90 and 95 mM. Over a short period (12 h) of Na super(+) and K super(+) treatments, a low concentration of K super(+) (10 mM) facilitated Na super(+) uptake by S. maritima under high salinity (100-200 mM NaCl), whether or not the plants had been subjected to a longer (3 d) period of K super(+) starvation. The kinetics suggests that low concentration of K super(+) (10 mM) might activate AKT1-type channels or KUP/HAK/KT-type transporters under high salinity (100-200 mM NaCl). Conclusions: The turning-point of external NaCl concentrations for the two low-affinity Na super(+) uptake pathways in Suaeda maritima is between 90 and 95 mM. A low concentration of K super(+) (10 mM) might activate AKT1 or KUP/HAK/KT and facilitate Na super(+) uptake under high salinity (100-200 mM NaCl). The kinetics of K super(+) on Na super(+) uptake and accumulation in S maritima are also consistent with there being two low-affinity Na super(+) uptake pathways.

Background and aims - Suaeda maritima is a halophyte commonly found on coastal wetlands in the intertidal zone. Due to its habitat S. maritima has evolved tolerance to high salt concentrations and hypoxic conditions in the soil caused by periodic flooding. In the present work, the adaptive mechanisms of S. maritima to salinity combined with hypoxia were investigated on a physiological and metabolic level. Methods - To compare the adaptive mechanisms to deficient, optimal and stressful salt concentrations, S. maritima plants were grown in a hydroponic culture under low, medium and high salt concentrations. Additionally, hypoxic conditions were applied to investigate the impact of hypoxia combined with different salt concentrations. A non-targeted metabolic approach was used to clarify the biochemical pathways underlying the metabolic and physiological adaptation mechanisms of S. maritima . Key results - Roots exposed to hypoxic conditions showed an increased level of tricarboxylic acid (TCA)-cycle intermediates such as succinate, malate and citrate. During hypoxia, the concentration of free amino acids increased in shoots and roots. Osmoprotectants such as proline and glycine betaine increased in concentrations as the external salinity was increased under hypoxic conditions. Conclusions - The combination of high salinity and hypoxia caused an ionic imbalance and an increase of metabolites associated with osmotic stress and photorespiration, indicating a severe physiological and metabolic response under these conditions. Disturbed proline degradation in the roots induced an enhanced proline accumulation under hypoxia. The enhanced alanine fermentation combined with a partial flux of the TCA cycle might contribute to the tolerance of S. maritima to hypoxic conditions.

Background The aim of this work was to synthesize copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) utilizing heartwood aqueous extract of Suaeda maritima (L.) Dumort. The synthesis of CuO NPs using green methodology with small size and high stability paved the way to protect the environment by not involving toxic chemicals and environment-friendly methodology for pharmacological and photocatalytic applications. The aqueous areal parts extract of S. maritima (L.) Dumort was used for synthesis, characterization of CuO NPs was studied, and further its antioxidant, antibacterial, and photocatalytic activity for the removal of methylene blue was studied. Results The synthesized CuO NPs shows characteristic UV-visible absorption maximum at 282 nm. The FT-IR spectra shows peak at 3640 cm.sup.-1 attributed to hydrogen bonded O-H group of poly phenols, alcohols, and N-H of amide. Strong peak at 1122 cm.sup.-1 corresponds to C-OH stretch in phenols and alcohols. Peaks at 1467 cm.sup.-1 and 1585 cm.sup.-1 corresponds to C=C in aromatic compounds. Strong peak at 1749 cm.sup.-1 represents the C=O in aldehydes or in keto compounds. Several strong bonds identified in the range of 1088 to 1225 cm.sup.-1 representing C-O-C stretch vibrations. The synthesized particles were circular in shape with rough surface morphology and dispersed as clusters with size of 37 nm with metallic content of 73.8%. The synthesized CuO NPs were proved as potent antibacterial and antioxidant activities. The photocatalytic for the removal of methylene blue in aqueous solution was studied and results proved that the CuO NPs were effectively remove the dye up to 86.91% within less time of 75 min. Hence, the CuO NPs synthesized are high efficiency with less particle size and can be used as antioxidant, antibacterial agent, and also applicable for the removal of hazardous methylene blue dye from effluents and can contribute indirectly to clean up the environment. Conclusions The investigation reports the eco-friendly, cost-effective method for synthesizing copper oxide nanoparticles from S. maritima extract with biomedical applications.

Salinity is an increasing problem for agricultural production worldwide. The result of low-affinity Na super(+) uptake is toxic to the cytoplasm of most crop plants. Nevertheless, the pathways for this low-affinity Na super(+) uptake are still uncertain. In this work we used super(22)Na super(+) isotope tracing technology to investigate factors associated with determination of root super(22)Na super(+) influx in the salt accumulation halophyte Suaeda maritima. We found that a 2min of exposure to the super(22)Na super(+) labeled uptake solution was optimal for determining super(22)Na super(+) influx into excised roots of S. maritima and that 7 min of blotting is suitable in super(22)Na super(+) influx experiments. super(22)Na super(+) influx did not increase linearly with the increasing external Na super(+) concentration, in the range tested, of 2 to 300mM NaCl. But root super(22)Na super(+) influx and root Na super(+) concentration were well correlated. super(22)Na super(+) influx into excised roots of S. maritima was not, however, well correlated with the plant size. All the above results indicated further that this super(22)Na super(+) isotope influx procedure is a good method for quantify Na super(+) uptake rate by the roots of the salt accumulation halophyte.

1. Many characteristics of the salt marsh environment covary with elevation. It has therefore proved difficult to determine which environmental characteristics limit the distributions of particular species in the field. Oxygen supply to the rhizosphere may be particularly important, as it is determined by the duration and frequency of flooding. 2. The re‐activation of a salt marsh by managed coastal realignment provided an opportunity to investigate the large‐scale manipulation of environmental effects on halophyte distribution in a situation where the usual relationships between environmental characteristics, elevation and succession had been partially uncoupled. 3. Most locations sampled lay between mean neap and mean spring tidal levels. As expected, anoxic conditions occurred at lower elevation, redox potential increased generally with elevation and sediments were oxic on the upper parts. However, sediment oxygenation at any given elevation was variable, particularly at intermediate levels in the tidal range. This imperfect correlation between elevation and sediment redox allowed quantification of their independent effects on species distributions using the statistical technique of Hierarchical Partitioning. 4. Effects of elevation and sediment redox potential were distinguishable from each other. Salicornia europaea occurred predominantly at lower elevation but was not influenced by redox potential. Puccinellia maritima favoured low redox potentials independently of elevation. In contrast, Suaeda maritima tolerated a wide range of elevations but was absent from areas with low redox potential. Atriplex portulacoides was apparently more averse to low redox potential than to low elevation. Elytrigia atherica was restricted to both high redox potential and high elevation. Smaller independent effects of sediment depth, salinity, water content, nitrate concentration, shear strength and loss on ignition were apparent for some species. 5. Synthesis. Although much of the elevational zonation of species on salt marshes is mediated by differential tolerance of the consequences of co‐linearly varying variables, particularly sediment anoxia and elevation, these variables have independent effects that are quantifiable in the field. Hierarchical Partitioning provides a valuable tool for distinguishing the mechanisms underlying species zonations on environmental gradients, especially where large‐scale environmental manipulations have partially decoupled the usual co‐linear variation.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The Shaker AKT1-like channels are considered to be involved in both high- and low-affinity K⁺ uptake and correlated with salt tolerance in glycophytes. Suaeda salsa (Suaeda maritima subsp. salsa), as a typical salt-accumulating halophyte, is able to absorb K⁺ efficiently while growing under saline conditions and taking in a large amount of Na⁺, thus maintaining the K⁺ concentration in its cells. In this study, the possible functions of the inward-rectifying K⁺ channel SsAKT1 in K⁺ uptake and salt tolerance in the halophyte S. salsa were investigated. METHODS: SsAKT1 from S. salsa was isolated by RT-PCR and characterized using yeast complementation; the responses of SsAKT1 to various KCl and NaCl treatments were investigated by real-time quantitative PCR. RESULTS: SsAKT1 consisted of 879 amino acid residues and shared high homology (60–67 %) with the identified inward-rectifying K⁺ channels AKT1 from other plants. The expression of SsAKT1 rescued the K⁺-uptake-defective phenotype of yeast strain CY162, and also suppressed the salt-sensitive phenotype of yeast strain G19, suggesting SsAKT1 functioned as an inward-rectifying K⁺ channel. SsAKT1 was predominantly expressed in roots, and was induced significantly by K⁺ starvation; transcript levels increased further on resupply of K⁺ (0.1–10 mM for 6 h) by 62 % in 0.1 mM K⁺ and 144–174 % in higher K⁺ concentrations (1–10 mM). Interestingly, the expression level of SsAKT1 in roots was also induced significantly by short-term treatment (6 h) with NaCl concentrations (25–250 mM). CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that the inward-rectifying K⁺ channel SsAKT1 might mediate both high- and low-affinity K⁺ uptake in S. salsa, but play a greater role in the low-affinity system. Furthermore, SsAKT1 might also be involved in salt tolerance by participating in the maintenance of K⁺ nutrition in S. salsa under salinity.

Seablite ( Suaeda Maritima ) can be used as raw material for functional salt. This study aims to determine the effect of blanching time on the nutritional composition of seablite: moisture, ash, protein, fat, carbohydrate, salinity, and vitamin A. The research design used a wholly randomized non-factorial design with variations in blanching time (0, 3, 6, and 9 minutes). Making saeblite flour begins with cleaning the Seablite, blanching according to the time specified in the research design, draining, and flouring to make it into Seablite flour. Based on the results of blanching time analysis on the nutritional composition of seablite, there was an interaction between the length of blanching time on the moisture content, ash content, carbohydrate content, vitamin A, and salinity of seablite plant flour. Still, there was no reaction between the length of blanching time on the protein and fat content of seablite plant flour.

The current study was designed to assess the phytoremediation potential of Suaeda maritima has been assessed for cleanup of contaminated sediments with Cd, Ni and Pb. In so doing, totally, 20 sampling sites were selected in the Khorkhoran International Wetland. The contents of elements in sediments, plant organs and water samples were determined using ICP-OES. The mean contents of Cd, Ni and Pb (mg/kg) in the sediment samples were found to be 0.096, 38.1 and 1.78, respectively. Moreover, the mean levels of Cd, Ni and Pb (mg/kg) in root samples of S. maritime were 0.160, 2.72 and 1.22 respectively; whereas, in leaf samples they were found to be 0.157, 3.34 and 2.23 mg/kg, respectively. Furthermore, the mean contents of Cd, Ni and Pb (µg/L) in water samples were 243, 1440 and 3010, respectively. The values of BCF for Cd, BAF for Cd and Pb, and TF for Ni and Pb were higher than 1, which would indicate that S. maritima could possibly be a suitable candidate for the phytostabilization of Cd and the phytoextraction of Ni and Pb.

Suaeda maritima root is acknowledged in Thai traditional medicine as prevention of hair loss and maintaining of hair colour. Nevertheless, there is a lack of scientific finding that has elucidating its possible applications in the realms of hair treatment. Our objectives of this study were to screen the active components contained in root extract; to assess its in vitro biological properties for prevention of hair loss and hair care. Total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), total tannin content (TTC) and total saponins (TSC) contained in Suaeda maritima root extract (SMRE) were 13.26±0.21 mg GAE/g, 67.41±0.27 mg QE/g, 92.34±2.56 mg TE/g and 364.67±2.97 mg TS/g, respectively. SMRE was strongly inhibited the albumin degradation (IC50 = 0.81±0.03 mg/ml) and the NO releasing from LPS-induced macrophage at 0.1 mg/ml (20.5±2.8%). However, SMRE was lack of anti-fungal activity against C. albicans and M. furfur when used of Kirby-Bauer method. SMRE (100 g/ml) and dutasteride (10 g/ml) were inhibited 19.71±0.48 and 51.91±3.35% of DNA intensity of 5α-reductase, respectively and implied less cytotoxicity. In conclusion, the use of S. maritima root as ingredient of hair cleansing and hair care products was considered by high content of saponins, antioxidant content and activity, and hair growth promotion.