Halophytes are plants, which are adapted to extremely saline environments. In order to survive in these environments they had to develop some special mechanisms and structures. These are known as osmotic mechanisms, ionic mechanisms and tissue tolerance. The latter includes salt glands. These are glands in which salt is sequestered in vacuoles or exported out of salt glands as crystallized salt. Four different types of salt glands are known. They differ in the number of cells, cuticle thickness and gland functioning. Some salt glands are unicellular while the others may consist of more than ten cells. Nevertheless they all have aim to transport as much salt as possible out of the plant through leaves or other organs. By doing so they enable the plant to grow normally and reproduce efficiently. Many scientists are have studied the evolution of salt glands. This enables them to understand the diversity between salt glands types. With better knowlage about salt glands functioning, evolution progress and other adaptation mechanisms, they may enhanced crossbreeding techniques in agricultural plants.
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