This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A University of Newcastle-led global study has produced the most complete genetic picture yet of a salt-loving plant with the potential to help grow food in some of the world's harshest environments. Published in Nature Communications, the study sequenced the genomes of six species of Salicornia, an edible salt-tolerant plant often compared to asparagus for its flavor and texture.
Sometimes called sea asparagus or samphire, Salicornia is already eaten in parts of Europe, Asia and North America. The findings provide a foundation for future breeding efforts aimed at developing crops that can thrive where conventional agriculture struggles. As freshwater supplies come under increasing pressure from climate change and population growth, researchers say salt-tolerant crops could play an important role in strengthening food security.
University of Newcastle plant scientist and study lead Dr. Vanessa Melino said freshwater was becoming one of agriculture's biggest challenges. "Salicornia offers a different path.
It can grow in seawater and salty soils where most crops cannot." "This research gives us the blueprint to start developing salt-tolerant crops for the future." The five-year project brought together 24 researchers from eight countries, united by a shared goal of understanding the genetics behind one of the world's most promising salt-tolerant food crops. The research began at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia. Together, the team sequenced the complete genetic blueprints of six Salicornia species and analyzed DNA from 318 plants collected around the world.
The study identified genes linked to salt tolerance, clarified how different species evolved and are related, and created breeding-ready seed collections to support future crop development. The findings arrive at a critical time. Salt-induced land degradation costs the global economy billions of dollars every year in lost agricultural production, while increasing pressure on freshwater resources is forcing researchers and farmers to explore new ways to produce food.
The research builds on an earlier study co-authored by Melino, which identified a key mechanism that allows Salicornia to survive extreme salinity by safely storing salt within its cells. "In our previous work, we focused on a single biological mechanism," Melino said. "Now, with advanced genomic technologies, we can scan the entire genome to understand the full range of genes involved in salt tolerance." "What we found is that salt tolerance is far more complex than a single gene.
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