Salt stress impacts the photosynthetic activity of Amaranthus cruentus: an -omic and physiological analysis

Amaranthus sp. (amaranths) is a genus of plants in Amaranthaceae family. Several species, like A. cruentus, are minor crops cultivated for either seed production or for their edible leaves. They are renowned for their tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress and their excellent nutritional quality, making them promising crops in challenging environmental conditions. Soil salinity is one of the main abiotic stress constraining crop growth, mostly in (semi-)arid regions. Most of the crops used today are glycophyte (i.e. salt sensitive); finding salt-tolerant cultivars or new species is therefore a priority for sustainable agriculture. Photosynthetic activity of Amaranthus cruentus (red amaranth, a plant with C4-type photosynthesis) was studied in response to a moderate saline stress (75 mM) in controlled conditions. Analysis of photosynthesis parameters, recorded with an infrared gas analyzer coupled with a fluorimeter (IRGA), showed a deleterious effect of salt stress on the light-independent reactions of photosynthesis (net carbon assimilation), but not on the light-dependent reactions (electron transport rate and quantum yield of photosystem II). Transpiration and stomatal conductance were also affected by salt. Transcriptomic and proteomic analysis were also performed on leaves. Differentially expressed genes and differentially accumulated proteins involved in metabolic pathways related to photosynthesis were used to explain photosynthetic activity data. Finally, chlorophylls and carotenoids content in leaves were compared to IRGA and -omics data.

Affiliations

UCLouvainSST/ELI/ELIA - Agronomy

Citations

APA
Chicago
FWB

Lutts, S., Luyckx, A., Quinet, M., & et al. (2025). Salt stress impacts the photosynthetic activity of Amaranthus cruentus: an -omic and physiological analysis. SEB Annual Conference, Antwerpen. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/260522