Distribution of С₄ Plants of the Chenopodiaceae Family According to the Salinization Profile of the Kyzylkum Desert.

Voronin, P. Yu.; Shuyskaya, E. V.; Toderich, K. N.; Rajabov, T. F.; Ronzhina, D. A.; Ivanova, L. A.

The peculiarities of the prevalence of C4 species in the relief of the Kyzylkum Desert were revealed based on botanical and geographical descriptions. In the lowlands (0–50 m above sea level), a predominance of C3 halophytes was found, while halophytes with C4 photosynthesis began to predominate at medium elevations (50–200 m above sea level). Above 200 m above sea level, a sharp decline in the contribution of halophilic flora to the biodiversity of native vegetation was detected. Thus, the penetration of halophytes above 200 m is limited by the presence of C4 photosynthesis as an adaptive characteristic to soil desalinization. A decrease in the succulence of leaf morphology in edificatory perennial plants of the Kyzylkum Desert (tamarix, saxaul, and camel thorn) was noted with a decrease in soil salinization. In the summer dry period, C4 photosynthesis provides a competitive advantage over C3 halophytes for survival on desalinated soils of elevated parts of the terrain desiccated during the summer. It was concluded that the acquisition of C4 photosynthesis by halophilic species is an adaptation of the photosynthesis of halophilic flora to seasonal desalinization and drying of the soil of the elevated parts of the Kyzylkum Desert.

LEAF morphology; PHYTOGEOGRAPHY; CHENOPODIACEAE; SALINIZATION; SOIL salinization; HALOPHYTES

Russian Journal of Plant Physiology, 2019, Vol 66, Issue 3, p375

1021-4437

Academic Journal

10.1134/S1021443719030166