Biotechnology Bulletin ›› 2021, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (5): 128-140.doi: 10.13560/j.cnki.biotech.bull.1985.2020-1040

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Research Progress in the Stress Tolerance Mechanisms of Desert Plant Tamarix spp.

LI Cai-xia(), LAN Hai-yan()   

  1. College of Life Science and Technology,Xinjiang University,Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering,Urumqi 830046
  • Received:2020-08-17 Online:2021-05-26 Published:2021-06-11
  • Contact: LAN Hai-yan E-mail:licaixia0102@163.com;Lanhaiyan@xju.edu.cn

Abstract:

Tamarix is an extremely drought and salt tolerant perennial shrub widely distributed in desert regions. In the long-term evolution,Tamarix has developed various adaptive characteristics at different levels,including morphology,physiology,biochemistry,and molecular biology,which help Tamarix adapt to extreme environments. The special mechanism at germination stage allows population to reproduce successfully;the leaves degenerate as scales,large amounts of salt glands are distributed on the surface of leaf and stem,and flourishing root system is developed,and the corresponding adaptive changes in the morphological structure occunred;in addition,it is based on different physiological responses,e.g. osmoregulation,antioxidation,higher photosynthetic efficiency,and molecular signaling pathways combining with related gene expression regulation to cope with environmental stresses. Based on the current progress in Tamarix research work in this paper,we discussed the mechanisms of Tamarix in adaptation to stresses,and prospected from seed characteristics,plant morphological structure,physiological regulation and molecular biology of stress resistance in Tamarix,by which we expect to provide evidence for further exploitation of Tamarix adaptive strategy.

Key words: Tamarix, drought tolerance, salt tolerance, salt gland, seed characteristics