Impact of Salinity on Reproductive Development in Cakile maritima: A Focus on Male Gametophyte Biology

Halophytes have evolved a variety of strategies to tolerate elevated salinity levels. Cakile maritima, a succulent annual halophyte from the Brassicaceae family, is widely distributed across global coastal environments, primarily thriving in foreshores. This species exhibits optimal growth under moderate saline conditions and is capable of completing its life cycle in environments with salt concentrations reaching up to 500 mM NaCl. The response of Cakile maritima to salinity during its vegetative development has been extensively documented, with various mechanisms identified, including anatomical and morphological adaptations, ion transport regulation, osmolyte biosynthesis, and activation of antioxidative mechanisms. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the effects of salt stress on its reproductive development. Preliminary results indicated a pronounced negative impact of salinity on flowering and fruit production in Cakile maritima. To elucidate the detrimental effects of salinity on the plants' reproductive capacity, we conducted a histological analysis of anther anatomy at various developmental stages, along with assessments of pollen viability and germination potential. These analyses were performed on plants irrigated with either freshwater or saline water with increasing concentrations of NaCl. The gametophyte development in halophytes, and particularly in Cakile maritima, remains an underexplored research area. This study aims to provide new insights into the reproductive adaptations of halophytes by examining the impact of salinity on the biology of male gametophytes, thus contributing to our understanding of their survival in extreme environments.