Optimizing light intensity and salinity on the establishment growth and quality of Salicornia spp. and Crithmum maritimum L. under controlled environment agriculture

Halophytes are a group of plant species capable of withstanding extreme salinity and thriving in degraded soils.
As the nutritional value of many of these species is high, they can serve as an alternative crop for degraded soils.
The effect of salinity and light intensity on Greek native edible halophyte plants, C. maritimum L. and S. fruticosa. was investigated.
For both halophytes, two light intensity levels (low and high) were selected.
As for both C. maritimum L. and S. fruticosa. two salinity treatments were included (no added NaCl and added NaCl). The experiments were set in a growth chamber with constant temperature and photoperiod.
The effect of salinity was evident, only, in S. fruticosa showing an increase in fresh weight at high light intensity (p<0.05) and height within NaCl treatment.
In contrast, concerning C. maritimum L., high light intensity factor reduced dry matter content (from 100 to 97.07%). Additionally, the height of high light intensity treated plants increased, compared to low light intensity (p<0.05). Therefore, regulation in light intensity will lead to an upgrade in growth and quality of selected halophyte species.

IX International Symposium on Seed, Transplant and Stand Establishment of Horticultural Crops and III International Symposium on Vegetable Grafting

K. Koularmanis, K. Grigoriadou, K. Papanastasi, E. Maloupa, A. Koukounaras, V. Aschonitis

alternative crop, dry matter, halophytes, height, underutilized species

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2026.1453.16