Adaptation Mechanisms of Some Desert Plants Grown in Central Region of Saudi Arabia
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International Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Soil Science (ISSN: 2251-0044) Vol. 1(11) pp. 462-470, December 2011 Special Issue. Available online http://www.interesjournals.org/IRJAS Copyright ©2011 International Research Journals Full Length Research Paper Adaptation mechanisms of some desert plants grown in central region of Saudi Arabia Muneera S. Aba Alkhail 1 and Ansary E. Moftah*2 1College of Sciences and Arts, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia 2*College of Agric, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia Accepted 05 December, 2011 The distribution characteristics of organic and inorganic materials and the osmotic adjustment were investigated in Suaeda fruticosa (halophyte), Artemisia judaica (xerophyte), and Rumex vesicarius (mesophyte) grown in Qassim desert of Saudi Arabia. Percentage of inorganic solutes + was over 90% of total solutes, while the estimated contribution of Na to Ψs was over 50% for S. fruticosa grown under field condition. In the field grown A. judaica , the percentages of inorganic solutes and organic solutes were 66% and 34%, respectively, and the estimated contribution of + Na to Ψs was less than 18%, while the estimated contribution of soluble sugars to Ψs was over 20%. The contribution of proline to Ψs was less than 0.2% for all species both in field and under − salt stress in a greenhouse experiment. The contribution of NO 3 to Ψs was less than 4% for all − species in field condition. In greenhouse experiment, the concentration of NO 3 was higher under various NaCl treatments than that in control condition for S. fruticosa ; the estimated contribution − of NO 3 to Ψs was over 7% in S. fruticosa , and it was higher than that in the other species at various treatments. In conclusion, inorganic ions were more important in osmoregulation for S. fruticosa to adapt to saline and arid environment, while organic solutes, especially soluble sugars played more important role in drought adaptation in the xerophyte, Artemisia judaica . − NO 3 played an important role in osmoregulation in S. fruticosa . Keywords: Halophytes, osmoregulation, xerophytes, mesophytes, proline. INTRODUCTION Saudi Arabia is a vast arid desert covering the major vegetation in some areas in the country (Abdel-Fattah part of the Arabian Peninsula. Accordingly, xerophytic and Ali, 2005). Therefore, this part of the kingdom, has and halophytic vegetations make up the prominent received intense attention regarding its floristic survey features of the plant life in the kingdom (Chaudhary, because of the diverse ecosystems comprised this 2001). The desert in the central region of the country is region and the wide variety of plant species grown in it. characterized by stable sand dunes, stable sand In this concern, Al-Turki (2002) published a check list plateau, salty zones and sand valleys with little on the flora of Qassim region, located in the central part vegetation. The average annual rainfall in these sandy of the country, comprising a total of 450 wild and areas is usually less than 100 mm/day (Chaudhary, cultivated species of flowering plants belonging to 257 2000). genera and 62 families. Several reports have been published on the flora of Plant species found in Qassim were divided into three the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Al-Farhan, 2001; different categories: xerophytes, such as Artemisia spp. Chaudhary, 2000) and illustrated the species dominate Zygophyllum spp. and Atraphaxis spp. etc. Halophytes, in certain parts of the country. Studies on the such as Salsola spp. and Suaeda spp. Ect. and vegetation environment relationship, indicated that soil mesophytes, such as Agriophyllum spp. and Rumex water table and salinity cause discontinuities of spp. etc (Chaudhary, 2001; Al-Farhan, 2001). Studies on the vegetation of Qassim region was also described by Al-Huquial and Al-Turki (2006) and recorded same species. Among these species, Suaeda fructicosa , *Corresponding Author E-mail: [email protected] Artemisia judaica and Rumex vesicarius , are three Alkhail and Moftah 463 species common in the saline and/ or drought sandy MATERIALS AND METHODS deserts in Qassim area, which is characterized by a very low precipitation, a very high evaporation, and a Area of study very dry region. Suaeda fructicosa -Forssk, an evergreen plant, Qassim region is located in the central part of Saudi belongs to family Chenopodiaceae, and is a halophytic Arabia, and almost in the center of the Arabian shrub able to grow in salty and sandy soils. Most Peninsula. It is approximately 400 km northwest of species are confined to saline or alkaline soil habitats, Riyadh the capital of KSA. Qassim is about 600 meters and have thick, succulent leaves, a characteristic seen above sea level and comprises diverse ecosystems that in various plant genera that thrive in salty habitats provide interesting aspects for studying the eco- (halophytes) such as coastal salt-flats and tidal physiological characteristics of some species grown in wetlands (Ajmal and Ungar, 1998). It is in leaf all year in the region. flower from July to October, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated Topography and geomorphology by Wind. The plant is self-fertile. The plant is rich in potassium and is often burnt as a source of potash for Qassim region is characterized by its variation in making soap and glass, and the leaves are used as a topography and geomorphology. According to poultice in the treatment of ophthalmia (Chopra , 1986) Chapman (1978), the area belongs to the Arabian Artemisia judaica , family Asteraceae, a xerophytic shield and the great Nafud, a very large depression shrub grow in sandy deserts and drought habitats. filled up with masses of sand and covers a very large Extracts of herbs are used in traditional medicine area. One striking aspect of this great body of sand is because it has anti-diabetic effects. Certain fractions of the lack of oases and rivers. The mountain chains found the extract were found to be insulinomemetic while in the region are rocks formation and hills characterized others have glucagon antagonistic properties and have by limestone sand. optimum clinical effect (Saleh et al ., 1987). Rumex vesicarius is an annual herb which belongs to the family Polygonaceae (Sayed, 1998). It spreads Climate throughout desert and semi-desert areas of North Africa, Asia and Australia (Rechinger, 1984). In Saudi The climate of the region under study is generally hot Arabia, R. vesicarius is widely used as food, as a and dry. The weather system in Qassim region is medicinal herb and as an antidote to scorpion stings generally arid to extra arid. According to the records of (Al-Yahya, et al ., 1990). Despite its importance, only Qassim metrological station for the last 10 years, the few studies have been conducted on R. vesicarius . study area is characterized by a mean minimum In addition to their medicinal benefits, these species temperature of 10 °C in January and a mean maximum are crucial plants in protecting desert lands against temperature of 45.5 °C in August with an annual mean erosion (Tobe et al ., 2000) and in feeding wild and temperature of about 26.8 °C. The rainfall in the region domestic animals. However, few studies have dealt with is erratic and irregular (Chaudhary, 2000); it is mainly adaptation of these species to the harsh conditions winter fall, the high precipitation occurs in November under which they grow and live, and little information is and the average annual rainfall is about 112 mm, available about the ecophysiological characteristics in however, in summer months no rain has been detected. the three species. The relative humidity is extremely low in summer as it Some studies indicated that desert plants may reached less than 13.0% in July and relatively high in overcome stress conditions through accumulation of January (about 43.5%). The average annual wind organic solutes such as sugars and amino acids or velocity in the study area is 24 km/h. The ratio of inorganic solutes such as K+ and Na+ (Taiz and Zeiger, precipitation to evaporation was 42 mm to 3680 mm. 2002). However, there is a very little information on the From these facts of weather conditions, it seems that distribution of these substances within these species. the weather in the area of study is rarely in balance Furthermore, the functions of these substances in the allover the year. adaptation of drought and salt resistant plants to the desert environments are not clear. Therefore, it was of interest to use S. fruticosa (halophyte), A. judaica Field condition (xerophyte) and R. vesicarius (glycophyte) common in Qassim region, as representative species for different S. fruticosa , A. judaica and R. vesicarius plants, grown ecosystems, to investigate the distribution and in saline and dry sandy deserts, were selected from ecological roles of organic and inorganic solutes in natural habitats at the region. Four plants of each these distinct desert adaptive categories, in a trial to species were collected randomly. After measuring understand the adaptation mechanisms and the growth and vegetative parameters, leaves, roots and ecological distribution, of desert species. young branches of each plant were divided into three 464 Int. Res. J. Agric. Sci. Soil Sci. sub-replicates and were frozen with liquid nitrogen, and concentration was determined by the colorimetric deposited in a refrigerator at −15 °C. method (Cataldo et al ., 1975) and c) Cl − concentration was determined by 0.03 mM AgNO 3 titration method, with 5% K 2CrO 4 as indicator. While, total soluble sugars Greenhouse (TSS) was determined in the 80% ethanol extracts of the dry material by the sulphuric acid-phenol S. fruticosa , A. judaica and R. vesicarius seedlings, in colorimetric method [Dubois, 1956]. The frozen plant plastic pots filled with sand, were cultured in the tissues were also ground in 10% and 5% acetic acid, greenhouse at the Agricultural Experimental Station of and the ninhydrin colorimetric methods were used for Qassim University.