Identification, Evaluation, and Domestication of Alternative Crops for Saline Environments

Halophytes as a Potential Resource for Phytodesalination

“…Several crop plants can be evaluated for their salt-tolerant potential, which could make them suitable candidates for saline soil farming and reclamation of degraded soil. Recently, there are several studies on the under-rated and neglected salt-tolerant crops (Ismail et al 2019) which include cereal, vegetable, fruit and fiber crops, fodder species, and medicinal and biofuel crops. Phytodesalination potential of leafy vegetable Spinacia oleracea was evaluated under different levels of salinity and tested for production of 20-hydroxyecdysone (Muchate et al 2018).…”

“…Most of the legumes are salt-tolerant and maintain the soil nitrogen level through the symbiotic fixation process. Recently, the potential applications of legumes such as Glycine max, Glycine soja (wild-type soybean), Vigna unguiculata (cowpea), Vicia sativa L., Melilotus officinalis, and M. sativa for sustainable reclamation of salt-degraded soils have been reviewed (Bruning et al 2015;Abiala et al 2018;Ismail et al 2019). A pastoral legume, Hedysarum carnosum, accumulated Na + in the roots and maintained high symbiotic N 2 fixation efficiency under saline condition (100 mM), suggesting it may be a potential candidate for desalination process (Kouas et al 2010).…”

“…Amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) belongs to the family Amaranthaceae and is considered as one of the oldest foods of Central America (Ismail et al 2019). The genus Amaranthus is a C4 crop, cultivated into various parts of temperate and tropical zone of the world, which comprises about 70 species (Ismail et al 2019).…”

“…belongs to the family Amaranthaceae and is considered as one of the oldest foods of Central America (Ismail et al 2019). The genus Amaranthus is a C4 crop, cultivated into various parts of temperate and tropical zone of the world, which comprises about 70 species (Ismail et al 2019). Moreover, the species can tolerate various adverse conditions, especially heat, drought, and moderate salinity (Omamt et al 2006).…”

“…Moreover, the species can tolerate various adverse conditions, especially heat, drought, and moderate salinity (Omamt et al 2006). Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) originated in North America, and it is used as food and medicine and is a source of dye and oil (Ismail et al 2019). This crop is moderately salt tolerant and cultivated on a wide range of soil.…”