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Responses of the Salt Marsh Succulent Bassia diffusa (Thunb.) Kuntze to Salinity and Inundation

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Abstract

Bassia diffusa is a dominant species in the upper intertidal ranges of many salt marshes in South Africa, yet little information exists on its ecophysiology. This is important, as increased flooding or drought has been predicted for different salt marshes. The responses of this species to simulated climate conditions were studied. Plants were grown for 3 months under tidal-, submerged- and drought conditions each with five salinity levels from 0 to 46.4 g l−1. Under submergence, plants died within 1 month, irrespective of the salinity. Optimum growth occurred in tidal-treated plants at 18.5 g l−1, and decreased with increased salinity and drought conditions. Succulence of drought-treated plants decreased relative to that of tidal-treated ones; plants possibly used up water reserves under increasing drought stress. Reduced leaf mass was indicative of drought hardiness in the species. These adaptations would permit the species to survive season-long drought and salinity conditions. Anthocyanin concentration in leaves and stems was not sufficiently high to be osmotically important, suggesting alternative functions for anthocyanin accumulated in response to drought, and alternative mechanisms for osmoregulation. These remain the subject of further research. Results are significant for better salt marsh management under predicted conditions.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Bayworld Museum and Oceanarium of Port Elizabeth for providing facilities for this research. Research funds were provided by the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University and the South African National Research Foundation (NRF) SEAChange programme. Dylan Bailey of the Bayworld Museum and Oceanarium of Port Elizabeth is thanked for technical assistance and Mrs Cynthia Tobias of the Botany Department for analytical assistance. Professor G.C. Bate and two anonymous reviewers are thanked for feedback on the initial draft of the manuscript.

Declaration

This research has not been published elsewhere, is not under consideration for publication and the content is approved by all authors and the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. If accepted, it will not be published elsewhere including electronically in the same form, in English or in any other language, without the written consent of the copyright-holder.

Declaration of Funding Source

Funding for the research was provided by the South African National Research Foundation and the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. The sponsors did not participate in the research or writing of this manuscript.

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  1. Botany Department, Summerstrand South Campus, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, PO Box 77000, Port Elizabeth, 6031, South Africa

    P. T. Tabot & J. B. Adams

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  1. P. T. Tabot
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Correspondence to P. T. Tabot.

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Tabot, P.T., Adams, J.B. Responses of the Salt Marsh Succulent Bassia diffusa (Thunb.) Kuntze to Salinity and Inundation. Wetlands 33, 787–797 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-013-0436-7

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