Effects of drought and increased temperature on phytochemical traits of the edible halophyte Crithmum maritimum: : Perspectives for future climatic scenarios

Climate change, characterised by drought events and rising temperatures, exerts a significant threat to crop productivity and global food security. Halophytes, known for their resilience in harsh conditions, offer promising options for sustainable cultivation alternatives. Our study focused on Crith...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Martins Noguerol, Raquel, Rico Jiménez, Diego, Matías Resina, Luis, Pérez Ramos, Ignacio Manuel, Moreira, Xoaquín, Francisco, Marta, Álvarez Morales, Rosario, Gandullo Tovar, Jacinto Manuel, Moreno Pérez, Antonio Javier, Cambrollé Silva, Jesús
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2024
Country:España
Institution:Universidad de Sevilla (US)
Repository:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
OAI Identifier:oai:idus.us.es:11441/162989
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/11441/162989
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2024.105924
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Sea fennel
Climate change
Nutrients
Antioxidants
Geographic diversity
Description
Summary:Climate change, characterised by drought events and rising temperatures, exerts a significant threat to crop productivity and global food security. Halophytes, known for their resilience in harsh conditions, offer promising options for sustainable cultivation alternatives. Our study focused on Crithmum maritimum, commonly known as sea fennel, an edible halophyte with potential in the food and nutraceutical industries, to explore the impacts of drought and increased temperatures on its nutritional and antioxidant profiles. Different C. maritimum populations displayed high nutritional qualities, suitable for consumption despite appearing slight differences among localities. While both drought and increased temperatures affected plant growth and phytochemical profiles, their impact on nutritional value was minor. Surprisingly, drought induced an unexpected decline in phenolic content, challenging the assumption of increased antioxidants in response to water scarcity. Different rates of decrease in leaf production were observed among C. maritimum populations under drought, yet overall, they maintained similar levels, suggesting potential suitability for cultivation in environments with limited water availability. Diverse population-specific responses under climatic treatments revealed different alterations in amino acid and oxidative stress profiles, suggesting diverse adaptive strategies. These findings provide critical insights into C. maritimum adaptability to climate-driven changes, offering valuable information for future agricultural practices.