The elemental composition of halophytes correlates with key morphological adaptations and taxonomic groups

Can samphire be the new salt? Understanding the potential of samphire harvested from the UK coastline

Salicornia species have been explored as a substitute for salt, however the intensity of salty taste elicited remains unexplained by the sodium content alone. To investigate this, a study was conducted to determine the nutrient profile of samphire extract and relate this to its sensory quality in a nachos base. Freeze dried samphire extracts contain minerals, including Na (12-14 g/100 g), K (1-1.5 g/100 g) and Mg (0.3-0.5 g/100 g) and free amino acids such as lysine (28-41 mg/100 g), glutamic acid (20-31 mg/100 g), aspartic acid (20-56 mg/100 g) and arginine (54-109 mg/100 g), which are known to influence salty taste. The sensory panel found that 2.5 % addition of samphire extract produced a significantly saltier taste than the control product (0.7 % NaCl) at an equivalent sodium level. These findings suggest that the minerals and amino acids in samphire extract may collectively contribute to its salty taste, making it a viable option for reducing sodium in food products.

Correlation of elemental hyperaccumulation among the succulent and non-succulent halophytes of Gujarat, India

This paper presents new data on the salt tolerance and avoidance mechanisms among various groups of halophytes in India. The halophytic flora in general has positive effect of high saline environments on growth and physiology. The coastal area of the Kachchh district in Gujarat includes about 350 km of shoreline along the Gulf of Kachchh. This study presents data on the elemental accumulation mechanisms in soil and halophytic flora (succulent and non-succulents). The halophytes were divided into two groups namely succulent with thick and fleshy leaves and stems as well as non-succulents with thin leaves and stem. The succulent halophytes included species such as Salicornia brachiata, Suaeda fruticosa and Suaeda nudiflora. The non-succulent halophytes include Aeluropus lagopoides and Urochondra setulosa. Plant parts namely leaves (Phylloclade for Salicornia), stems and roots were analyzed during the monsoon season. The results of soil and plant mineral ion contents differed widely across the intertidal zones in the same habitat. Likewise, the intra species have varied in all nutrient levels and salt concentration. The accumulation of elemental concentration was high during the monsoon season in the succulent Salicornia brachiata, especially in leaves that showed Na+ reaching high up to 7.6 meq g-1, whereas Cl- was noted to be 4.34 meq g-1. In the non-succulent halophytes, the accumulation of mineral ion concentration was lower when compared to succulent plants.

Nutritional strategy underlying plant specialization to gypsum soils

Gypsum soils are amongst the most widespread extreme substrates of the world, occurring in 112 countries. This type of hypercalcic substrate has a suite of extreme physical and chemical properties that make it stressful for plant establishment and growth. Extreme chemical properties include low plant-available nitrogen and phosphorus and high plant-available sulphur and calcium, which impose strong nutritional imbalances on plants. In spite of these edaphic barriers, gypsum soils harbour rich endemic floras that have evolved independently on five continents, with highly specialized species. Plants that only grow on gypsum are considered soil specialists, and they have a foliar elemental composition similar to the elemental availability of gypsum soils, with high calcium, sulphur and magnesium accumulation. However, the physiological and ecological role of the unique foliar elemental composition of gypsum specialists remains poorly understood, and it is unknown whether it provides an ecological advantage over other generalist species on gypsum soils. This article reviews available literature on the impact of gypsum soil features on plant life and the mechanisms underlying plant adaptation to gypsum environments. We conclude with a hypothesis on the potential role of the nutritional strategy underlying plant specialization to gypsum soils: Gypsum specialists primarily use SO₄^2- as a counter anion to tolerate high Ca²⁺ concentrations in cells and avoid phosphorus depletion, which is one of the most limiting nutrients in gypsum soils.

Response to Hypersalinity of Four Halophytes Growing in Hydroponic Floating Systems: Prospects in the Phytomanagement of High Saline Wastewaters and Extreme Environments

Hypersaline environments occur naturally worldwide in arid and semiarid regions or in artificial areas where the discharge of highly saline wastewaters, such as produced water (PW) from oil and gas industrial setups, has concentrated salt (NaCl). Halophytes can tolerate high NaCl concentrations by adopting ion extrusion and inclusion mechanisms at cell, tissue, and organ levels; however, there is still much that is not clear in the response of these plants to salinity and completely unknown issues in hypersaline conditions. Mechanisms of tolerance to saline and hypersaline conditions of four different halophytes (Suaeda fruticosa (L.) Forssk, Halocnemum strobilaceum (Pall.) M. Bieb., Juncus maritimus Lam. and Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steudel) were assessed by analysing growth, chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthetic pigment parameters, nutrients, and sodium (Na) uptake and distribution in different organs. Plants were exposed to high saline (257 mM or 15 g L^-1 NaCl) and extremely high or hypersaline (514, 856, and 1712 mM or 30, 50, and 100 g L^-1 NaCl) salt concentrations in a hydroponic floating culture system for 28 days. The two dicotyledonous S. fruticosa and H. strobilaceum resulted in greater tolerance to hypersaline concentrations than the two monocotyledonous species J. maritimus and P. australis. Plant biomass and major cation (K, Ca, and Mg) distributions among above- and below-ground organs evidenced the osmoprotectant roles of K in the leaves of S. fruticosa, and of Ca and Mg in the leaves and stem of H. strobilaceum. In J. maritimus and P. australis the rhizome modulated the reduced uptake and translocation of nutrients and Na to shoot with increasing salinity levels. S. fruticosa and H. strobilaceum absorbed and accumulated elevated Na amounts in the aerial parts at all the NaCl doses tested, with high bioaccumulation (from 0.5 to 8.3) and translocation (1.7-16.2) factors. In the two monocotyledons, Na increased in the root and rhizome with the increasing concentration of external NaCl, dramatically reducing the growth in J. maritimus at both 50 and 100 g L^-1 NaCl and compromising the survival of P. australis at 30 g L^-1 NaCl and over after two weeks of treatment.

Effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus on Sodium and Chloride Ion Channels of Casuarina glauca under Salt Stress

Casuarina glauca is an important coastal protection forest species, which is exposed to high salt stress all year round. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can promote the growth and salt tolerance of C. glauca under salt stress. However, the effects of AMF on the distribution of Na⁺ and Cl^- and the expression of related genes in C. glauca under salt stress need to be further explored. This study explored the effects of Rhizophagus irregularis on plant biomass, the distribution of Na⁺ and Cl^-, and the expression of related genes in C. glauca under NaCl stress through pot simulation experiments. The results revealed that the mechanisms of Na⁺ and Cl^- transport of C. glauca under NaCl stress were different. C. glauca took a salt accumulation approach to Na⁺, transferring Na⁺ from roots to shoots. Salt accumulation of Na⁺ promoted by AMF was associated with CgNHX7. The transport mechanism of C. glauca to Cl^- might involve salt exclusion rather than salt accumulation, and Cl^- was no longer transferred to shoots in large quantities but started to accumulate in roots. However, AMF alleviated Na⁺ and Cl^- stress by similar mechanisms. AMF could promote salt dilution of C. glauca by increasing biomass and the content of K⁺, compartmentalizing Na⁺ and Cl^- in vacuoles. These processes were associated with the expression of CgNHX1, CgNHX2-1, CgCLCD, CgCLCF, and CgCLCG. Our study will provide a theoretical basis for the application of AMF to improve salt tolerance in plants.

ROS scavenging and ion homeostasis is required for the adaptation of halophyte Karelinia caspia to high salinity

The halophyte Karelinia caspia has not only fodder and medical value but also can remediate saline-alkali soils. Our previous study showed that salt-secreting by salt glands is one of main adaptive strategies of K. caspia under high salinity. However, ROS scavenging, ion homeostasis, and photosynthetic characteristics responses to high salinity remain unclear in K. caspia. Here, physio-biochemical responses and gene expression associated with ROS scavenging and ions transport were tested in K. caspia subjected to 100-400 mM NaCl for 7 days. Results showed that both antioxidant enzymes (SOD, APX) activities and non-enzymatic antioxidants (chlorogenic acid, α-tocopherol, flavonoids, polyamines) contents were significantly enhanced, accompanied by up-regulating the related enzyme and non-enzymatic antioxidant synthesis gene (KcCu/Zn-SOD, KcAPX6, KcHCT, KcHPT1, Kcγ-TMT, KcF3H, KcSAMS and KcSMS) expression with increasing concentrations of NaCl. These responses are beneficial for removing excess ROS to maintain a stable level of H2O2 and O2 - without lipid peroxidation in the K. caspia response to high salt. Meanwhile, up-regulating expression of KcSOS1/2/3, KcNHX1, and KcAVP was linked to Na+ compartmentalization into vacuoles or excretion through salt glands in K. caspia. Notably, salt can improve the function of PSII that facilitate net photosynthetic rates, which is helpful to growing normally in high saline. Overall, the findings suggested that ROS scavenging systems and Na+/K+ transport synergistically contributed to redox equilibrium, ion homeostasis, and the enhancement of PSII function, thereby conferring high salt tolerance.

Salinity Tolerance and Ion Accumulation of Coastal and Inland Accessions of Clonal Climbing Plant Species Calystegia sepium in Comparison with a Coastal-Specific Clonal Species Calystegia soldanella

Plant species adapted to saline habitats represent an important resource in the assessment of salinity tolerance mechanisms. The aim of the present study was to analyze salinity tolerance and ion accumulation characteristics for various accessions of Calystegia sepium from different habitats in comparison to these of Calystegia soldanella in controlled conditions. Plants were introduced in culture using stem explants with leaf and were cultivated in controlled conditions under six different substrate salinities. Salinity tolerance of both C. sepium and C. soldanella plants was relatively high, but the tolerance of particular accessions did not depend on the substrate salinity level in their natural habitats. C. sepium accession from a mesophytic non-saline habitat was only slightly negatively affected by increasing substrate salinity. However, coastal accession of C. sepium and coastal-specific species C. soldanella had some similarities in ion accumulation characteristics, both accumulating a high concentration of soluble ions in aboveground parts and excluding them from underground parts. All C. sepium accessions from different habitats represented varied physiotypes, possibly associated with their genetic differences. C. sepium accessions from different habitats can be suggested as models for further studies aiming at dissecting possible genetic, epigenetic and physiological mechanisms of adaptation to heterogeneous environmental conditions.

Recent and ancient evolutionary events shaped plant elemental composition of edaphic endemics: a phylogeny-wide analysis of Iberian gypsum plants

The analysis of plant elemental composition and the underlying factors affecting its variation are a current hot topic in ecology. Ecological adaptation to atypical soils may shift plant elemental composition. However, no previous studies have evaluated its relevance against other factors such as phylogeny, climate or individual soil conditions. We evaluated the effect of the phylogeny, environment (climate, soil), and affinity to gypsum soils on the elemental composition of 83 taxa typical of Iberian gypsum ecosystems. We used a new statistical procedure (multiple phylogenetic variance decomposition, MPVD) to decompose total explained variance by different factors across all nodes in the phylogenetic tree of target species (covering 120 million years of Angiosperm evolution). Our results highlight the relevance of phylogeny on the elemental composition of plants both at early (with the development of key preadaptive traits) and recent divergence times (diversification of the Iberian gypsum flora concurrent with Iberian gypsum deposit accumulation). Despite the predominant phylogenetic effect, plant adaptation to gypsum soils had a strong impact on the elemental composition of plants, particularly on sulphur concentrations, while climate and soil effects were smaller. Accordingly, we detected a convergent evolution of gypsum specialists from different lineages on increased sulphur and magnesium foliar concentrations.

Halophytes play important role in phytoremediation of salt-affected soils in the bed of Urmia Lake, Iran

Soil salinity is a major threat in agriculture even in semi-arid regions of the world which can accelerate land degradation and desertification and decrease agricultural productivity and consequently jeopardize environmental and food security. Halophytes play important role in phytoremediation. This study is assessed the potential of Halocnemum strobilaceous, Atriplex verruciferae, Salsola crassae, and Salicornia europaeae in phytoremediation of saline soils occurred after water level desiccation of Urmia Lake. Three distances from the water body (500, 1000, and 1500 m) was selected for evaluating. Soils and plants were analyzed using standard methods. The mean values of salinity indices of the saline-sodic soil samples were identified as pH 8.6 and electrical conductivity (EC_e) 65.34 dS m⁻¹, also sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) were higher than 13 and 15%, respectively. The maximum soil exchangeable Na⁺, K⁺, and Ca²⁺ concentrations (7200, 1900, and 1400 mg kg⁻¹, respectively), also the concentrations of Mn²⁺ (12.5 mg kg⁻¹), Fe²⁺ (5.5 mg kg⁻¹), and Cu²⁺ (1.5 mg kg⁻¹), were significantly different at various distances. However, the highest amounts were obtained at 500 m. In addition the concentration of Fe²⁺ (511.85 mg kg⁻¹), Zn²⁺ (99.97 mg kg⁻¹), and Na⁺ (25.65 mg kg⁻¹) was the highest, especially in shoots. Furthermore, Salicornia and Halocnemum were more effective in salinity-remediation in comparison to other halophytes. The maximum dry matter (38%), protein (16%), and oil percentage (3.5%) were found in Salicornia, followed by Halocnemum. The findings indicated that salt-accumulating halophytes could be considered as the suggestions for phytoremediation saline soils and desalinating soil in arid and semi-arid regions.

Gypsum endemics accumulate excess nutrients in leaves as a potential constitutive strategy to grow in grazed extreme soils

Extreme soils often have mineral nutrient imbalances compared to plant nutritional requirements and co-occur in open areas where grazers thrive. Thus, plants must respond to both constraints, which can affect nutrient concentrations in all plant organs. Gypsum soil provides an excellent model system to study adaptations to extreme soils under current grazing practices as it harbours two groups of plant species that differ in their tolerance to gypsum soils and foliar composition. However, nutrient concentrations in organs other than leaves, and their individual responses to simulated herbivory, are still unknown in gypsum plants. We studied plant biomass, root mass ratio and nutrient partitioning among different organs (leaves, stems, coarse roots, fine roots) in five gypsum endemics and five generalists cultivated in gypsum and calcareous soils and subjected to different levels of simulated browsing. Gypsum endemics tended to have higher elemental concentration in leaves, stems and coarse roots than generalist species in both soil types, whereas both groups tended to show similar high concentrations in fine roots. This behaviour was especially clear with sulphur (S), which is found in excess in gypsum soils, and which endemics accumulated in leaves as sulphate (>50% of S). Moreover, plants subjected to clipping, regardless of their affinity to gypsum, were unable to compensate for biomass losses and showed similar elemental composition to unclipped plants. The accumulation of excess mineral nutrients by endemic species in aboveground organs may be a constitutive nutritional strategy in extreme soils and is potentially playing an anti-herbivore role in grazed gypsum outcrops.

Study on the Effects of Salt Tolerance Type, Soil Salinity and Soil Characteristics on the Element Composition of Chenopodiaceae Halophytes

With the continuous increase in saline–alkali land, sustainable development of the global environment and ecology have been seriously affected. This study compared the absorption and accumulation patterns of 11 elements in different parts (roots, stems and leaves) of different leaf Na regulation strategies of the pioneer plant Chenopodiaceae in saline–alkali land and evaluated the effects of soil nutrient status and soil salinity on the distribution of plant elements. The results showed that the changes in the content of Ca, Mg and Na in plants are affected by the salt-tolerant type and on different parts. Soil salinity had no significant effect on element concentrations in different parts of plants. The Pearson correlation coefficient showed that the correlation between plants and soil elements was different, and different parts of plants had the characteristics of selective absorption of soil elements. The salt tolerance type and soil mineral element concentrations explained most of the variation observed in element concentrations in Chenopodiaceae plants; the soil salinity property played only a minor role. It was concluded that the genetic factors are the prerequisite in the composition pattern of leaf elements in Chenopodiaceae, and soil factors are the key to determining element accumulation. These conclusions provide an effective reference for evaluating plant breeding and its response to environmental change in saline–alkali arid areas in Hulunbuir grassland and other parts of the world.

Physiological Adaptation of Three Wild Halophytic Suaeda Species: Salt Tolerance Strategies and Metal Accumulation Capacity

Understanding salt tolerance mechanisms in halophytes is critical for improving the world's agriculture under climate change scenarios. Herein, the physiological and metabolic responses of Suaeda monoica, Suaeda vermiculata, and Suaeda schimperi against abiotic stress in their natural saline environment on the east coast of the Red Sea were investigated. The tested species are exposed to different levels of salinity along with elemental disorders, including deficiency in essential nutrients (N&P in particular) and/or elevated levels of potentially toxic elements. The tested species employed common and species-specific tolerance mechanisms that are driven by the level of salinity and the genetic constitution of Suaeda species. These mechanisms include: (i) utilization of inorganic elements as cheap osmotica (Na+ in particular), (ii) lowering C/N ratio (S. monoica and S. schimperi) that benefits growth priority, (iii) efficient utilization of low soil N (S. vermiculata) that ensures survival priority, (v) biosynthesis of betacyanin (S. schimperi and S. vermiculata) and (vi) downregulation of overall metabolism (S. vermiculata) to avoid oxidative stress. Based on their cellular metal accumulation, S. monoica is an efficient phytoextractor of Cr, Co, Cu, Ni, and Zn, whereas S. vermiculata is a hyper-accumulator of Hg and Pb. S. schimperi is an effective phytoextractor of Fe, Hg, and Cr. These results highlight the significance of Suaeda species as a promising model halophyte and as phytoremediators of their hostile environments.

Treatment wetlands and phyto-technologies for remediation of winery effluent: Challenges and opportunities

The composition and concentration of contaminants present in winery wastewater fluctuate through space and time, presenting a challenge for traditional remediation methods. Bio-hydrogeochemical engineered systems, such as treatment wetlands, have been demonstrated to effectively reduce contaminant loads prior to disposal or reuse of the effluent. This review identifies and details the status quo and challenges associated with (i) the characteristics of winery wastewater, and the (ii) functional components, (iii) operational parameters, and (iv) performance of treatment wetlands for remediation of winery effluent. Potential solutions to challenges associated with these aspects are presented, based on the latest literature. A particular emphasis has been placed on the phytoremediation of winery wastewater, and the rationale for selection of plant species for niche bioremediatory roles. This is attributed to previously reported low-to-negative removal percentages of persistent contaminants, such as salts and heavy metals that may be present in winery wastewater. A case for the inclusion of selected terrestrial halophytes in treatment wetlands and in areas irrigated using winery effluent is discussed. These are plant species that have an elevated ability to accumulate, cross-tolerate and potentially remove a range of persistent contaminants from winery effluent via various phytotechnologies (e.g., phytodesalination).

Functional structure of plant communities along salinity gradients in Iranian salt marshes

Salt marshes are unique habitats between sea or saline lakes and land that need to be conserved from the effects of global change. Understanding the variation in functional structure of plant community along environmental gradients is critical to predict the response of plant communities to ongoing environmental changes. We evaluated the changes in the functional structure of halophytic communities along soil gradients including salinity, in Iranian salt marshes; Lake Urmia, Lake Meyghan, Musa estuary, and Nayband Bay (Iran). We established 48 plots from 16 sites in four salt marshes and sampled 10 leaves per species to measure leaf functional traits. Five soil samples were sampled from each plot and 30 variables were analyzed. We examined the changes in the functional structure of plant communities (i.e., functional diversity [FD] and community weighted mean [CWM]) along local soil gradients using linear mixed effect models. Our results showed that FD and CWM of leaf thickness tended to increase with salinity, while those indices related to leaf shape decreased following soil potassium content. Our results suggest that the variations in functional structure of plant communities along local soil gradients reveal the effect of different ecological processes (e.g., niche differentiation related to the habitat heterogeneity) that drive the assembly of halophytic plant communities in SW Asian salt marshes.

Assessment of coastal salt marsh plants on the Arabian Gulf region

Salt marshes form along coastlines and are very interesting ecosystems due to their function and services. In the future, salt marsh plants might provide food and medicine as crops irrigated via seawater in hyper-arid regions. In the Arabian Gulf, little is known about salt marsh vegetation. Therefore, a targeted search on scientific literature was performed to provide a comprehensive assessment. Hence, current knowledge of the extent and status of salt marsh in the Arabian Gulf region was reviewed, based on literature-based analysis. Then, historic trends of salt marsh publications were carefully inspected. This study provides a list of salt marsh families and their genera and species, with a total of 51 family 179 genera 316 species in the Arabian Gulf. The largest family was Chenopodiaceae followed by Poaceae, Asteraceae. Moreover, this study identified some of the gaps that could help future directions for scientific research, and help making decisions of conservation, management policies and procedures.

Chemical Profile, Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, and Anticancer Activities of the Water-Ethanol Extract of Pulicaria undulata Growing in the Oasis of Central Saudi Arabian Desert

Pulicaria undulata (L.) C. A. Mey has multiple uses as part of the traditional medicament, and several biological activities of the plant have been corroborated in the scientific literature. The current work evaluates the phytochemical constituents and biological properties of the water-ethanol extract of the P. undulata growing in Qassim, the central arid regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Qualitative UPLC-ESIQ-TOF analysis identified 27 compounds belonging to the phenolics, flavonoids, triterpenes, coumarins, and of fatty acids chemical classes. The quantitative analysis exhibited 33.3 mg/g GAE (Gallic Acid Equivalents), and 10.8 mg/g QE (Quercetin Equivalents) of the phenolics and flavonoids in the plant’s concentrated (to dryness) water-ethanol extract. The trace elements analysis of the plant’s dry powder established the presence of copper (20.13 µg/kg), and zinc (68.2 µg/kg) in the higher levels of occurrences. In terms of the antioxidant potential of the plant’s extract, the ferric-reducing, and free-radicals scavenging activities were recorded at 47.11 mg/g, and 19.13 mg/g equivalents of the concentrated to dryness water-ethanol extract of the plant. The water-ethanol extract of P. undulata also exhibited antimicrobial activity against the tested Gram-positive bacteria, while no activity was observed against the tested Gram-negative bacteria, or the fungi. The MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) values were in the range of 49 to 1563 µg/mL, whereas the MBC (minimum bactericidal concentration) values ranged from 49 to 3125 µg/mL, against the tested Gram-positive bacteria. The P. undulata water-ethanol extract also exhibited potent cytotoxic effects with the IC₅₀ value at 519.2 µg/mL against the MCF-7 breast cancer cell-lines, followed by the anticancer activity of erythroleukemic cell-lines, K562 at 1212 µg/mL, and pancreatic cell-lines, PANC-1, at 1535 µg/mL, as compared to the normal fibroblast cells (4048 µg/mL). The Annexin-V assay demonstrated that, as the P. undulata extract’s dose increased from IC₅₀ to twice of the IC₅₀, the percentage of the necrosis was found to be increased in the late apoptosis stage of the cancer cells. These data confirmed the P. undulata extract’s ability to inhibit several human cancer cell lines’ growth in comparison to other local halophytes. The antimicrobial activity of the plant was also confirmed.

The Roles of CCCH Zinc-Finger Proteins in Plant Abiotic Stress Tolerance

Zinc-finger proteins, a superfamily of proteins with a typical structural domain that coordinates a zinc ion and binds nucleic acids, participate in the regulation of growth, development, and stress adaptation in plants. Most zinc fingers are C2H2-type or CCCC-type, named after the configuration of cysteine (C) and histidine (H); the less-common CCCH zinc-finger proteins are important in the regulation of plant stress responses. In this review, we introduce the domain structures, classification, and subcellular localization of CCCH zinc-finger proteins in plants and discuss their functions in transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation via interactions with DNA, RNA, and other proteins. We describe the functions of CCCH zinc-finger proteins in plant development and tolerance to abiotic stresses such as salt, drought, flooding, cold temperatures and oxidative stress. Finally, we summarize the signal transduction pathways and regulatory networks of CCCH zinc-finger proteins in their responses to abiotic stress. CCCH zinc-finger proteins regulate the adaptation of plants to abiotic stress in various ways, but the specific molecular mechanisms need to be further explored, along with other mechanisms such as cytoplasm-to-nucleus shuttling and post-transcriptional regulation. Unraveling the molecular mechanisms by which CCCH zinc-finger proteins improve stress tolerance will facilitate the breeding and genetic engineering of crops with improved traits.

NaCl Improves Suaeda salsa Aniline Tolerance in Wastewater

Halophytes have been studied as a model for morphological traits of adaptation to saline environments. However, little information has been given on plant growth, chlorophyll fluorescence responses, and change of ion content in halophytes grown in an aniline–salinity coexistent environment. This study hypothesized that aniline could induce alterations in plant growth, chlorophyll fluorescence, and ion content in Suaeda salsa, but salinity could promote the tolerance of halophytes to aniline. A 6 (aniline) × 3 (NaCl) factorial experiment (for a total of 18 treatments) was conducted to test the above hypothesis. After 30 d of cultivation, roots and shoots were harvested separately to analyze the effects of salinity on the seedling growth under aniline stress. Biomass accumulation was inhibited by aniline treatment, and the inhibition was significantly alleviated by 200 mM NaCl. The change in chlorophyll fluorescence in leaves with aniline stress was moderated by the addition of NaCl. The removal efficiency of aniline was significantly enhanced by moderate salinity. Aniline stress decreased the accumulation of Mg2+, but various concentrations of NaCl increased the accumulation of Mg2+, especially with 200 mM NaCl in both roots and shoots. Both aniline and salinity decreased the content of Ca2+. There was a negative correlation between the K+ and NaCl concentrations and between the Cl− and aniline concentrations. Our results indicated that Suaeda salsa may be suitable for the remediation of salinity and aniline-enriched wastewater.