Abstract
Salinisation of arable land by the progressive accumulation of toxic
ions in the soil is an increasing problem, affecting the most productive
agricultural zones in the world, those cultivated under
irrigation in arid or semi-arid regions. Our present crops are saltsensitive,
and classical breeding has not succeeded in improving
their resistance to salinity. Similarly, despite intensive research in
the last years, genetic engineering approaches have not yet delivered
commercial salt-tolerant biotech (GM) crops. Yet a small
percentage (ca. 0.25%) of angiosperm specieshalophytesare
adapted to saline soils in their natural habitats, andmanyare able to
complete their life cycle at salinity levels similar to, or even higher
than seawater. Halophytes could be cultivated in salinised land
already lost for agriculture, and also in naturally saline, marginal
soils, using brackish or sea water for irrigationand therefore
without competing for resources with standard cultivated species.
Several new halophytic crops have been developed or can be
developed in the near future, to be used, for example: first, as
human food or for animal feed; second, for the production of
secondary metabolites with medical, nutraceutical, cosmetic or
other industrial applications; third, as new ornamental plants, for
gardening and landscape architecture; fourth, for production of
biofuels: biomass generation for bioethanol, and biodiesel obtained
from oleaginous seeds. Examples of these applications will be presented
and discussed.
