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Can differences in salinity tolerance explain the distribution of four genetically distinct lineages of Phragmites australis in the Mississippi River Delta?

  • PLANTS IN HYDROSYSTEMS
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Abstract

In the Mississippi River Delta, the common wetland grass, Phragmites australis, displays high genetic diversity, as several genetically distinct populations are co-occurring. Differences in salinity tolerance may be an important factor determining these populations’ distribution in the delta. Our study investigated the salt tolerance of four genotypes exposed to 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 ppt salinity. The growth rate, biomass, and the light-saturated photosynthetic rate were stimulated at 10 ppt salinity and inhibited at salinities higher than 20 ppt, compared to controls. Increased concentrations of Cl− and Na+ were found in the roots and older leaves of plants exposed to high salinities. Salt tolerance levels differed between genotypes. High salinity tolerance was mainly achieved by reduced water uptake and vacuole compartmentalization of toxic ions. The most tolerant genotype sustained biomass and photosynthesis even at 40 ppt, whereas the most sensitive genotype did not survive salinities higher than 20 ppt. Our findings show that the observed occurrence of different genotypes in the Mississippi River Delta is correlated to genetically determined differences in salinity tolerance. Further investigations are needed to better understand the role that salinity tolerance plays in the invasion of certain introduced P. australis genotypes.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Carla Lambertini for her essential guidance in choosing the clones and for her valuable comments on phylogeny and genotypic traits. Prof. Irving A. Mendelssohn and Shuwen Li from Louisiana State University, Prof. David A. White, Donald P. Hauber and Craig S. Hood from Loyola University are thanked for introducing us to the GC Delta and for help with the collection of the plant material. This work was funded by The Danish Council for Independent Research, Natural Sciences, via a grant to H.B. Additional travel and salary support was provided by the John P. Laborde Endowed Chair for Sea Grant Research and Technology Transfer Program. The Carlsberg Foundation funded the Li-Cor 6400XT equipment.

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  1. Department of Bioscience, Plant Biology, Aarhus University, Ole Worms Alle 1, 8000, Århus, Denmark

    Luciana Achenbach & Hans Brix

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  1. Luciana Achenbach
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  2. Hans Brix
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Correspondence to Luciana Achenbach.

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Guest editors: M. T. Ferreira, M. O’Hare, K. Szoszkiewicz & S. Hellsten / Plants in Hydrosystems: From Functional Ecology to Weed Research

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Achenbach, L., Brix, H. Can differences in salinity tolerance explain the distribution of four genetically distinct lineages of Phragmites australis in the Mississippi River Delta?. Hydrobiologia 737, 5–23 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-013-1601-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-013-1601-y

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