Articles
Converting marginal lands of the Mediterranean basin into productive and sustainable agro-ecosystems using neglected and underutilized species: the VENUS Project
Article number
1460_4
Pages
33 – 40
Language
English
Abstract
The Mediterranean basin faces increasing pressures from climate change, land degradation and declining freshwater resources, calling for innovative strategies to convert marginal lands into productive and sustainable agro-ecosystems.
Within the framework of the VENUS project, this study evaluates Salicornia species as model halophytes for such environments.
The biological cycles of S. europaea (annual) and S. fruticosa (perennial) were monitored in two natural saline habitats near Thessaloniki, Greece, where electrical conductivity ranged seasonally from 17 to 61 mS cm‑1. Germination of S. europaea occurred mainly after winter rains when salinity declined, while S. fruticosa broke dormancy earlier in spring and flowered in late summer.
Sexual and asexual propagation experiments showed that light intensity significantly enhanced seed germination, whereas high salinity inhibited it; cuttings rooted readily, with indole- and potassium-indole-butyric acid (IBA, K-IBA) improving root number and length.
Greenhouse trials demonstrated that S. fruticosa produced high fresh and dry biomass at both 15 and 30 mS cm‑1 salinity, matching the conditions of its natural habitat.
Preliminary nutritional analyses of fresh shoots revealed high concentrations of essential minerals (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe), vitamins (C, E, β-carotene), polyunsaturated fatty acids (linoleic and α-linolenic), betalains and diverse polyphenols, supporting its classification as a functional sea vegetable. Although the naturally high sodium content warrants caution for sodium-restricted diets, the combined ecological resilience and nutritional value of Salicornia spp. highlight their potential for sustainable cultivation and for the development of novel food products on saline or degraded Mediterranean lands.
Within the framework of the VENUS project, this study evaluates Salicornia species as model halophytes for such environments.
The biological cycles of S. europaea (annual) and S. fruticosa (perennial) were monitored in two natural saline habitats near Thessaloniki, Greece, where electrical conductivity ranged seasonally from 17 to 61 mS cm‑1. Germination of S. europaea occurred mainly after winter rains when salinity declined, while S. fruticosa broke dormancy earlier in spring and flowered in late summer.
Sexual and asexual propagation experiments showed that light intensity significantly enhanced seed germination, whereas high salinity inhibited it; cuttings rooted readily, with indole- and potassium-indole-butyric acid (IBA, K-IBA) improving root number and length.
Greenhouse trials demonstrated that S. fruticosa produced high fresh and dry biomass at both 15 and 30 mS cm‑1 salinity, matching the conditions of its natural habitat.
Preliminary nutritional analyses of fresh shoots revealed high concentrations of essential minerals (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe), vitamins (C, E, β-carotene), polyunsaturated fatty acids (linoleic and α-linolenic), betalains and diverse polyphenols, supporting its classification as a functional sea vegetable. Although the naturally high sodium content warrants caution for sodium-restricted diets, the combined ecological resilience and nutritional value of Salicornia spp. highlight their potential for sustainable cultivation and for the development of novel food products on saline or degraded Mediterranean lands.
Authors
K. Grigoriadou, K. Koularmanis, E. Maloupa, K. Papanastasi, C. Charapampidou, E. Sarrou, V. Aschonitis
Keywords
halophytes, nature-based solutions, Salicornia europaea, saline soils
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