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The use of Mediterranean euryhaline fish and halophytes in aquaponics presents a sustainable and alternative approach to food production. The present study investigates the effect of compensatory growth on sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and Baltic prawn (Palaemon adspersus) co-cultivated with the halophytic glasswort (Salicornia europaea). Three autonomous systems were established, each containing forty-five sea bass, nine Baltic prawns, and eight glasswort plants, with different feeding regimes for each treatment: (i) daily feeding (treatment A), (ii) three days of feeding per week followed by four days of fasting (treatment B), and (iii) feeding for seven days followed by seven days of fasting (treatment C). The growth performance of the fish was significantly higher in treatment B. Conversely, the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was notably higher in treatment A. As for the prawns, their final body weight and length were similar across all treatments. The glasswort plants also demonstrated significantly improved growth in treatment B. These results indicate that the incorporation of feeding and fasting cycles can be an effective feed management strategy for polyculture aquaponic systems. Additionally, food deprivation had a positive impact on the growth performance of both glasswort and prawns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to explore the potential of biochar produced from poultry manure for sustainable waste utilization, carbon sequestration, and agricultural development, this study examines the impact of biochar on the growth of the halophyte plant Salicornia herbacea L., or glasswort. Because of their properties of morphological and chemical properties, biochar has been gaining interest as a potential solution to addressing both the concerns of climate change and unsustainable agriculture. In this study, the characteristics of biochar were analyzed and its impact on plant growth by stem length was measured over 15 weeks. Poultry-based biochar was created through pyrolysis at the temperatures of 400, 500, and 700 °C. Various amounts of biochar produced from pyrolysis at 500 °C were put to soil. However, the average surface area and average pore size values of poultry manure biochar produced from temperatures 400, 500, and 700 °C were similar enough to be negligible. The biochar sample produced from the pyrolysis temperature of 500 °C had an average pore size of 17.18 nm and a surface area of 18.06 m2/g. From weeks 4 to 15, all groups exhibited increased stem length, with the most significant differences observed between the biochar 0% (control) and biochar 10% groups, with biochar 0% and biochar 10% denoting 0% and 10% weight concentrations of biochar, respectively. While biochar 5% and biochar 7% groups showed minimal differences in stem length, biochar 10% demonstrated a significant increase, suggesting an optimal biochar percentage for enhancing plant growth. Carbon credit estimations have suggested that 1 ton of poultry manure biochar produced from pyrolysis at 500 C° equates to an estimate of 0.5248 ± 0.0580 carbon credits, the highest of all three biochar samples. All three samples (biochar produced from 400, 500, and 700 °C pyrolysis temperatures) had increased heavy metal contents and a wider range of functional groups. The findings indicate that biochar can effectively improve soil health and plant performance overall, with biochar 10% showing the most significant impact on Salicornia growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of starvation and refeeding on the growth and food intake of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) and seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and on the growth and nitrogen uptake of glasswort (Salicornia europaea) in a polyculture aquaponic system under 12 ppt salinity for 75 days. Nine small-scale autonomous aquaponic systems were used, each containing 10 gilthead seabreams (average weight of 6.33 ± 0.73 g and average length of 5.73 ± 0.72 cm) and 10 seabasses (5.82 ± 0.77 g and 6.35 ± 0.45 cm), as well as five glasswort plants. Three fish feeding treatments were performed, a control (A), in which fish were fed daily until satiation, and two fasting treatments for 4 (B) and 7 days (C). Fish growth performance was significantly lower (p < 0.05) in the C treatment for both species compared to treatments A and B. Food consumption (FC) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in treatment C. Glasswort growth performance was significantly higher in treatment C (p < 0.05). The results showed that the 4-day food-deprived fish were similar to the control fish by achieving partial compensatory growth. The more extended fasting period (7 days) resulted in significantly lower growth performance. The lipid and nitrogen retention levels in both species were significantly lower in food-deprived fish than in the control fish both before and during compensatory growth. The results suggest that a feeding schedule involving starvation–refeeding cycles is a promising feed management option for these species in polyculture aquaponic systems. The effect of food deprivation was also significantly beneficial (p < 0.05) for the growth performance of glasswort compared to the control treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of starvation and refeeding on the growth and food intake of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) and seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and on the growth and nitrogen uptake of glasswort (Salicornia europaea) in a polyculture aquaponic system under 12 ppt salinity for 75 days. Nine small-scale autonomous aquaponic systems were used, each containing 10 gilthead seabreams (average weight of 6.33 ± 0.73 g and average length of 5.73 ± 0.72 cm) and 10 seabasses (5.82 ± 0.77 g and 6.35 ± 0.45 cm), as well as five glasswort plants. Three fish feeding treatments were performed, a control (A), in which fish were fed daily until satiation, and two fasting treatments for 4 (B) and 7 days (C). Fish growth performance was significantly lower (p

Among halophyte plants, Salicornia species (also known as glasswort or sea asparagus) are increasingly grown in open fields and greenhouses for edible or non-edible purposes. Their salinity tolerance makes it possible to irrigate Salicornia plants with saline waters and even seawater, which cannot be used by other crop species. In this work, S. europaea (L.) was cultivated in pots under the typical climatic conditions of the fall season in the Mediterranean region and irrigated with non-saline standard nutrient solution (SNS) or saline wastewater discharged from a greenhouse semi-closed hydroponic (substrate) culture of tomato or a saltwater recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) with Gilthead sea bream (Spaurus aurata L., which was used as such or after dilution (50:50) with SNS. Plant growth was not significantly affected by the composition of irrigation water, while higher antioxidant capacity (measured using the DPPH assay) and concentration of photosynthetic pigments, phenols, flavonoids, and ascorbic acid were found in the shoots of SNS plants than in those of plants irrigated with wastewater. The level of lipid peroxidation and H2O2 production significantly increased in the SNS plants, which also showed higher activity of superoxide dismutase and lower activity of catalase. These results suggest that S. europaea can be cultivated using wastewater with moderate to high salinity discharged from greenhouse hydroponic crops or RASs, and that salt is not strictly required for the growth of this species. Using non-saline nutrient solution can result in moderate oxidative stress that improves the shoot quality of S. europaea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of Mediterranean euryhaline fish and halophytes in aquaponics presents a sustainable and alternative approach to food production. The present study investigates the effect of compensatory growth on sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and Baltic prawn (Palaemon adspersus) co-cultivated with the halophytic glasswort (Salicornia europaea). Three autonomous systems were established, each containing forty-five sea bass, nine Baltic prawns, and eight glasswort plants, with different feeding regimes for each treatment: (i) daily feeding (treatment A), (ii) three days of feeding per week followed by four days of fasting (treatment B), and (iii) feeding for seven days followed by seven days of fasting (treatment C). The growth performance of the fish was significantly higher in treatment B. Conversely, the feed conversion ratio (FCR) was notably higher in treatment A. As for the prawns, their final body weight and length were similar across all treatments. The glasswort plants also demonstrated significantly improved growth in treatment B. These results indicate that the incorporation of feeding and fasting cycles can be an effective feed management strategy for polyculture aquaponic systems. Additionally, food deprivation had a positive impact on the growth performance of both glasswort and prawns.

In order to explore the potential of biochar produced from poultry manure for sustainable waste utilization, carbon sequestration, and agricultural development, this study examines the impact of biochar on the growth of the halophyte plant Salicornia herbacea L., or glasswort. Because of their properties of morphological and chemical properties, biochar has been gaining interest as a potential solution to addressing both the concerns of climate change and unsustainable agriculture. In this study, the characteristics of biochar were analyzed and its impact on plant growth by stem length was measured over 15 weeks. Poultry-based biochar was created through pyrolysis at the temperatures of 400, 500, and 700 °C. Various amounts of biochar produced from pyrolysis at 500 °C were put to soil. However, the average surface area and average pore size values of poultry manure biochar produced from temperatures 400, 500, and 700 °C were similar enough to be negligible. The biochar sample produced from the pyrolysis temperature of 500 °C had an average pore size of 17.18 nm and a surface area of 18.06 m2/g. From weeks 4 to 15, all groups exhibited increased stem length, with the most significant differences observed between the biochar 0% (control) and biochar 10% groups, with biochar 0% and biochar 10% denoting 0% and 10% weight concentrations of biochar, respectively. While biochar 5% and biochar 7% groups showed minimal differences in stem length, biochar 10% demonstrated a significant increase, suggesting an optimal biochar percentage for enhancing plant growth. Carbon credit estimations have suggested that 1 ton of poultry manure biochar produced from pyrolysis at 500 C° equates to an estimate of 0.5248 ± 0.0580 carbon credits, the highest of all three biochar samples. All three samples (biochar produced from 400, 500, and 700 °C pyrolysis temperatures) had increased heavy metal contents and a wider range of functional groups. The findings indicate that biochar can effectively improve soil health and plant performance overall, with biochar 10% showing the most significant impact on Salicornia growth.

Glasswort (Salicornia herbacea L.) is a halophyte plant known to contain high contents of minerals and phytochemicals. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of fermented glasswort on gut health in D-galactose (D-gal)-induced aging rats. Forty rats were randomly divided into five groups: control (CON), D-gal alone (CD), D-gal plus fructooligosaccharide as a positive control (FOS, 400 mg/kg), D-gal plus low dose fermented glasswort (LGW, 10 mg/kg), and D-gal plus high-dose fermented glasswort (HGW, 20 mg/kg). Each treatment was orally administered to rats of each group for eight weeks. All groups except for the CON group (treated with saline) were intraperitoneally injected with D-gal (150 mg/kg). Our results showed that butyric acid among short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), goblet cells of colon, and thickness of mucus layer in colon were increased in fermented glasswort groups. In addition, fermented glasswort reduced levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS, a related oxidative stress marker) and expression levels of inflammation-related proteins such as IL-1β. These results suggest that fermented glasswort can improve age-related gut health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The phenology of S. tegetaria was driven by environmental conditions. • The reproduction of S. tegetaria was driven by local conditions. • S. tegetaria presented an earlier reproductive phenology in Langebaan. • Drier conditions may reduce the ability of the species to adapt to change. The drivers of plant phenology are vital to the ecological functioning of habitats. Salicornia tegetaria is an ecologically important species found in South African estuaries. The aim of this study was to determine and quantify the phenological patterns and output of this species in the Langebaan Lagoon. We investigated plant growth, reproductive phenology and seed production in relation to local environmental conditions over one year of development. Salt marsh vegetation was dense, increased significantly during the winter rainfall period and peaked in spring. Flowering phase was from November to June, and peaked in summer in December with a monthly mean (± SE) of 77.24 ± 28.16 inflorescences per m2. Seed production was from December to June, and peaked in summer in February with a monthly mean of 2 952.51 ± 599.84 seeds per m2. During a drought period, S. tegetaria presented an earlier reproductive phenology and longer vegetative season than previously reported, driven by temperature, rainfall and porewater characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant extracts including secondary metabolites have anti-inflammatory and anti-obesity activities. This study was conducted to investigate the anti-obesity properties of fermented Artemisia annua (AW) and Salicornia herbacea (GW) in vitro and in mice. The metabolite profiling of AW and GW extracts was performed using UHPLC−LTQ−Orbitrap–MS/MS, and gene expression was analyzed using real-time PCR for adipocyte difference factors. The anti-obesity effects in mice were measured using serum AST, ALT, glucose, TG, and cholesterol levels. Metabolites of the plant extracts after fermentation showed distinct differences with increasing anti-obesity active substances. The efficacy of inhibitory differentiation adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 adipocytes was better for GW than AW in a concentration-dependent manner. RT-PCR showed that the GW extract significantly reduced the expression of genes involved in adipocyte differentiation and fat accumulation (C/EBPα, PPARγ, and Fas). In C57BL/6 mice fed the HFD, the group supplemented with AW and GW showed reduced liver weight, NAS value, and fatty liver by suppressing liver fat accumulation. The GW group significantly reduced ALT, blood glucose, TG, total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol. This study displayed significant metabolite changes through biotransformation in vitro and the increasing anti-obesity effects of GW and AW in mice. GW may be applicable as functional additives for the prevention and treatment of obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among halophyte plants, Salicornia species (also known as glasswort or sea asparagus) are increasingly grown in open fields and greenhouses for edible or non-edible purposes. Their salinity tolerance makes it possible to irrigate Salicornia plants with saline waters and even seawater, which cannot be used by other crop species. In this work, S. europaea (L.) was cultivated in pots under the typical climatic conditions of the fall season in the Mediterranean region and irrigated with non-saline standard nutrient solution (SNS) or saline wastewater discharged from a greenhouse semi-closed hydroponic (substrate) culture of tomato or a saltwater recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) with Gilthead sea bream (Spaurus aurata L., which was used as such or after dilution (50:50) with SNS. Plant growth was not significantly affected by the composition of irrigation water, while higher antioxidant capacity (measured using the DPPH assay) and concentration of photosynthetic pigments, phenols, flavonoids, and ascorbic acid were found in the shoots of SNS plants than in those of plants irrigated with wastewater. The level of lipid peroxidation and H2O2 production significantly increased in the SNS plants, which also showed higher activity of superoxide dismutase and lower activity of catalase. These results suggest that S. europaea can be cultivated using wastewater with moderate to high salinity discharged from greenhouse hydroponic crops or RASs, and that salt is not strictly required for the growth of this species. Using non-saline nutrient solution can result in moderate oxidative stress that improves the shoot quality of S. europaea.

In pursuit of new biobased materials for a sustainable world, glasswort (Salicornia europaea) was utilized in this study as a natural fiber to develop a biocomposite material. Glasswort (GW) reinforced high-density polyethylene (HDPE) composites at different GW percentages were prepared with a high-speed thermo-kinetic mixer. The effect of GW on HDPE composites was thoroughly investigated with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, tensile and flexural tests, dynamic mechanical analysis, water contact angle measurements, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A new method was also developed by seawater immersion of samples to conduct microbiological analysis. The method included bacteria population count with respect to time. Biointegration was reported to increase as 25% for 20 wt% GW-filled HDPE. The tensile modulus of HDPE increased up to 20% with GW inclusion. The unique properties of this novel composite material proved that GW can be a promising natural fiber for polymer composites.

However, for the first time in literature, we have fabricated a biocomposite from glasswort (GW) as a natural fiber in high-density polyethylene (HDPE) matrix and investigated the interaction of GW with a commodity plastic by examining the mechanical and surface properties of composites. SEM micrographs of (a) GW fiber powder at 100x, (b) GW fiber powder at 500x, (c) 15 wt% GW filled HDPE at 100x, (d) 15 wt% GW filled HDPE at 250x magnifications As observed in Figure 9a and 9b, some of the splinter structures which have a radius that can pass through the filter neck, but larger than the longitudinal filter neck which can reach about 980 µm length but have 200 µm radius, were present. Gained mass percentages according to weeks HT

Sodium chloride (NaCl) is a key ingredient in the processing of traditional dry-cured meat products by improving microbial safety, sensory attributes and technological properties. However, increasing concern about the consumption of sodium and health has been supporting the development of low-sodium meat products. Several strategies to reduce sodium in dry-cured meat product have been tested, although the followed approaches sometimes result in undesirable characteristics concerning flavor, texture and mouthfeel. The use of halophytic plants such as glasswort (Salicornia herbacea) in food matrices has been suggested as a novel strategy to reduce sodium content, due its salty flavor. The main aim of the present study is to produce traditional dry-cured pork bellies from the Bísaro breed using glasswort as a NaCl partial replacer, and compare it with dry-cured bellies salted either with NaCl or a mix of NaCl + KCl. Control bellies (BC) were salted with 100% of NaCl, the second formulation (BK) had 50% of NaCl and 50% of KCl, and the third formulation (BG) had 90% of NaCl and 10% of glasswort powder (GP). After production, the bellies were evaluated for aw, pH, CIELab coordinates, weight loss, proximal composition, TBARS, collagen and chloride contents, fatty acid profile and sensory attributes. The use of BG in dry-cured pork bellies did not affect processing indicators such as weight loss, aw and pH. Concerning CIELab, only the coordinates L* and hue angle from the external surface color of BG were statistically different from BC and BK. As expected, ash and NaCl contents differed from BG to the other two formulations. SFA and indexes AI and TI were lower, whereas the MUFA and h/H ratio were higher in BG than other treatments, leading to a product with a healthier lipid profile. The sensory evaluation revealed differences in appearance, taste and flavor among treatments, but did not indicate any negative effects of BG in the product attributes. This study reinforces the potential of BG as a natural sodium reducer for the production of traditional dry-cured pork bellies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saltwater aquaponics is a sustainable alternative system for food production. The success of this system largely depends on the selection of both fish and plant species, for which several features and criteria must be considered. This paper aims to identify the most suitable plant species for saltwater aquaponics by using a multi-criteria decision-making method also based on current literature. One simple model that contained one root criterion, four aggregated criteria, and four sub-criteria was created using DEXi software. The same model was evaluated considering two different salinity levels in the recirculating water: 10 (brackish water) and 35 (sea water) g L−1. The relevance of the model structure was evaluated by the sensitivity analysis, through the 'plus/minus-1′ analysis. Our results suggest that Salicornia europaea L. and Portulaca oleracea L. were suitable species for saltwater aquaponics at 35 g L−1. Moreover, at 10 g L−1, the suitable candidates were: Salicornia bigelovii Torr, S. europaea L., Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima (L.) Arcang, Atriplex hortensis L., and P. oleracea L. The DEXi analysis resulted in being an easy and effective tool to select proper species in similar contexts. DEXi can help to identify the hotspots of production processes, according to our results. Since the selected species are wild edible species or minor crops, the availability of their seeds is one of the main constraints of their cultivation in saltwater aquaponics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salicornia is a genus of species with high salt-tolerance (i.e. halophytes), and the most prominent edible plants for Saline Agriculture, Marine Aquaculture and both combined (IAAS – Integrated Agri-Aquaculture systems). They can be part of the coastal vegetation (e.g. salt marsh and mangroves), and as they are distributed in the interface between water and land, being a novel range of products to be included in Marine Aquaculture. In some places, their presence in nature can be in danger for diverse reasons. One of the bottlenecks for Salicornia production is the nursery stage, which was never fully explained as other sectors of Marine Aquaculture. In New England, there are three species of Salicornia (Salicornia ambigua , Salicornia bigelovii and Salicornia depressa) recorded more than a century ago. Since then, little progress has been made to establish protocols to propagate these species that are important for ecological and commercial purposes. Our aim was to synthesize all the nursery steps for controlled production of three Salicornia species, and it can also be adapted to other species. • Salicornia species distributed in New England. • How to process Salicornia seeds after sampling. • Salicornia propagation under laboratory conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glasswort (Salicornia herbacea L.) is a halophyte plant known to contain high contents of minerals and phytochemicals. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of fermented glasswort on gut health in D-galactose (D-gal)-induced aging rats. Forty rats were randomly divided into five groups: control (CON), D-gal alone (CD), D-gal plus fructooligosaccharide as a positive control (FOS, 400 mg/kg), D-gal plus low dose fermented glasswort (LGW, 10 mg/kg), and D-gal plus high-dose fermented glasswort (HGW, 20 mg/kg). Each treatment was orally administered to rats of each group for eight weeks. All groups except for the CON group (treated with saline) were intraperitoneally injected with D-gal (150 mg/kg). Our results showed that butyric acid among short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), goblet cells of colon, and thickness of mucus layer in colon were increased in fermented glasswort groups. In addition, fermented glasswort reduced levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS, a related oxidative stress marker) and expression levels of inflammation-related proteins such as IL-1β. These results suggest that fermented glasswort can improve age-related gut health.

Two field experiments were conducted to evaluate six Salicornia species (Salicornia bigelovii Torr., S. europaea L., S. persica Gorgan ecotype, S. persica Urmia ecotype, S. sinus persica Bushehr ecotype, and S. persica Central Plateau ecotype) at different planting dates and densities under irrigation with Persian Gulf water. Evaluated planting dates were 14 November and 18 December 2016 and 16 January, 8 February, 8 March, and 28 March 2017. Examined planting densities included 13, 20, and 40 plant m−2. Only S. bigelovii and S. europaea produced measurable yield in all planting dates. The highest dry weight (651.1 gm−2) was obtained in S. sinus persica (Bu) planted on 8 February. Dry weight of S. bigelovii, S. europaea, S. sinus persica Bushehr, S. persica Central Plateau, S. persica Gorgan, and S. persica Urmia planted on 8 March were 174.2, 220.7, 542.5, 240.9, 158.0, and 147.5 g m−2, respectively. The ash contents of S. bigelovii, S. europaea, S. sinus persica Bushehr, S. persica Central Plateau, S. persica Gorgan, and S. persica Urmia were 46.3%, 45.0%, 49.6%, 49.6%, 50.0%, and 53.1%, respectively. Sodium and chloride contents of different Salicornia species varied from 13–15% and 16–17%, respectively. The oilseed content of S. bigelovii and S. sinus persica Bushehr was about 24.0% for both species. The highest and lowest dry weight, from the second experiment, were for S. sinus persica Bushehr and S. persica Central Plateau, respectively, in all planting density. The highest dry weight equal to 1336.2 gm−2 was obtained for S. sinus persica Bushehr in 40 plant m−2 density. Under such conditions, forage production potential of Salicornia is more achievable rather than seed production. Nevertheless, high ash content is a serious constraint to direct consumption by livestock; therefore, determining the nutritional value of Salicornia fodder requires further evaluations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium chloride (NaCl) is a key ingredient in the processing of traditional dry-cured meat products by improving microbial safety, sensory attributes and technological properties. However, increasing concern about the consumption of sodium and health has been supporting the development of low-sodium meat products. Several strategies to reduce sodium in dry-cured meat product have been tested, although the followed approaches sometimes result in undesirable characteristics concerning flavor, texture and mouthfeel. The use of halophytic plants such as glasswort (Salicornia herbacea) in food matrices has been suggested as a novel strategy to reduce sodium content, due its salty flavor. The main aim of the present study is to produce traditional dry-cured pork bellies from the Bísaro breed using glasswort as a NaCl partial replacer, and compare it with dry-cured bellies salted either with NaCl or a mix of NaCl + KCl. Control bellies (BC) were salted with 100% of NaCl, the second formulation (BK) had 50% of NaCl and 50% of KCl, and the third formulation (BG) had 90% of NaCl and 10% of glasswort powder (GP). After production, the bellies were evaluated for aw, pH, CIELab coordinates, weight loss, proximal composition, TBARS, collagen and chloride contents, fatty acid profile and sensory attributes. The use of BG in dry-cured pork bellies did not affect processing indicators such as weight loss, aw and pH. Concerning CIELab, only the coordinates L* and hue angle from the external surface color of BG were statistically different from BC and BK. As expected, ash and NaCl contents differed from BG to the other two formulations. SFA and indexes AI and TI were lower, whereas the MUFA and h/H ratio were higher in BG than other treatments, leading to a product with a healthier lipid profile. The sensory evaluation revealed differences in appearance, taste and flavor among treatments, but did not indicate any negative effects of BG in the product attributes. This study reinforces the potential of BG as a natural sodium reducer for the production of traditional dry-cured pork bellies.

Abstract Background Salicornia europaea, a succulent obligatory halophyte is the most salt-tolerant plant species in the world. It survives salt concentrations of more than 1 M. Therefore, it is a suitable model plant to identify genes involved in salt tolerance mechanisms that can be used for the improvement of crops. The changes in a plant’s gene expression in response to abiotic stresses may depend on factors like soil conditions at the site, seasonality, etc. To date, experiments were performed to study the gene expression of S. europaea only under controlled conditions. Conversely, the present study investigates the transcriptome and physicochemical parameters of S. europaea shoots and roots from two different types of saline ecosystems growing under natural conditions. Results The level of soil salinity was higher at the naturally saline site than at the anthropogenic saline site. The parameters such as ECe, Na+, Cl−, Ca+, SO4 2− and HCO3 − of the soils and plant organs significantly varied according to sites and seasons. We found that Na+ mainly accumulated in shoots, whereas K+ and Ca2+ levels were higher in roots throughout the growing period. Moreover, changes in S. europaea gene expression were more prominent in seasons, than sites and plant organs. The 30 differentially expressed genes included enzymes for synthesis of S-adenosyl methionine, CP47 of light-harvesting complex II, photosystem I proteins, Hsp70 gene, ATP-dependent Clp proteases, ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco), phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), cytochrome c oxidase (COX) and ATP synthase. Conclusion The comparisons made based on two seasons, plant organs and two different sites suggest the importance of seasonal variations in gene expression of S. europaea. We identify the genes that may play an important role in acclimation to season-dependent changes of salinity. The genes were involved in processes such as osmotic adjustment, energy metabolism and photosynthesis.

Saltwater aquaponics is a sustainable alternative system for food production. The success of this system largely depends on the selection of both fish and plant species, for which several features and criteria must be considered. This paper aims to identify the most suitable plant species for saltwater aquaponics by using a multi-criteria decision-making method also based on current literature. One simple model that contained one root criterion, four aggregated criteria, and four sub-criteria was created using DEXi software. The same model was evaluated considering two different salinity levels in the recirculating water: 10 (brackish water) and 35 (sea water) g L−1. The relevance of the model structure was evaluated by the sensitivity analysis, through the ‘plus/minus-1′ analysis. Our results suggest that Salicornia europaea L. and Portulaca oleracea L. were suitable species for saltwater aquaponics at 35 g L−1. Moreover, at 10 g L−1, the suitable candidates were: Salicornia bigelovii Torr, S. europaea L., Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima (L.) Arcang, Atriplex hortensis L., and P. oleracea L. The DEXi analysis resulted in being an easy and effective tool to select proper species in similar contexts. DEXi can help to identify the hotspots of production processes, according to our results. Since the selected species are wild edible species or minor crops, the availability of their seeds is one of the main constraints of their cultivation in saltwater aquaponics.

This study aims to determine the chemical and physical composition and antibacterial activity of glasswort. Soxhlet extraction of S. europaea was performed using Hexane and analyzed by Gas chromatographymass spectrometry. Alpha-tocopherol content was analysed by using Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. The elemental analysis was investigated by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The crystallographic texture and composition of powder samples were determined by X-ray diffraction. The Minimum Inhibition Concentrations and inhibition zones extracts of S. europaea were performed by spectrophotometric broth microdilution and disc diffusion methods, respectively, against 4 bacteria (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus) and 2 fungi (Candida albicans, C. parapsilosis). Alpha-tocopherol quantity and oil content of S. europaea were found to be 2.1±0.3mg/100 g and 15.15 %, respectively. The detected minerals were also found as Na 447, Mg 51.98, K 45.86, Ca 14.27 ppm. The highest minimum inhibition concentration was 0.9 mg/mL against E. coli in methanol extract (p<0.05). The highest mean inhibition zones diameter was 3.8 mm for methanol extracts against B. subtilis (p<0.05). As a result, the extract and oil of S. europaea can be used as potential bioactive and antimicrobial agents for pharmaceutical and cosmetics applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate Oiji (traditional Korean cucumber pickles) with reduced sodium content based on the use of saline foods as a salt substitute, Oiji was prepared using glasswort powder (Salicornia herbacea L.), and its physicochemical properties and sensory evaluation were examined. The moisture content of Oiji was shown to be higher in those to which glasswort powder had been added compared to the control without addition of glasswort powder, and Oiji with 40% glasswort powder substitute showed the highest pH and lowest acidity, resulting in slow progression of fermentation. The salinity of Oiji among those containing glasswort powder substitute was significantly higher with increasing level of glasswort powder. The sodium content of Oiji was significantly reduced as addition of glasswort powder increased. The L value of Oiji decreased with increased addition of glasswort powder, whereas the a value was highest in the control. The hardness of Oiji was higher in the control than in Oiji containing glasswort powder. Taste acceptance was highest for Oiji with 20% glasswort powder substitute, whereas acceptance of appearance was higher for Oiji with 10% glasswort powder substitute. Flavor and texture acceptance was higher for the control. In the attribute difference test, significant differences were found in brownness, off-flavor, salty taste, and sourness. Based on the findings, 10-20% substitution of salt with glasswort powder did not significantly lower overall acceptance compared to the control while salinity of Oiji was maintained. Therefore, the potential production of low-sodium Oiji has been verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assesses the genetic structure and gene flow of the salt marsh species Salicornia tegetaria between estuaries and tests three hypotheses: (1) that the relocation of estuaries on a shallow continental shelf during the last glacial maximum created a historical biogeographic barrier, the exact location of which we attempt to pin-point, (2) that there is connectivity and thus gene flow at present between estuaries, and (3) that some estuaries have higher genetic diversity and are therefore of higher conservation priority. DNA samples were collected from 17 estuaries and used to create haplotype networks. Analyses of molecular variance, isolation by distance, selective neutrality and genetic distance between estuaries were also conducted. Eleven ITS ribotypes, one found exclusively between Olifants and Breede Estuaries, and eight rpS16 haplotypes were recovered with a dominant haplotype occurring in most estuaries. The remaining ribotypes and haplotypes from ITS and rpS16 sequences were unique, predominantly on the South and East Coast. A high amount of gene flow and an increase in genetic differentiation from west to east was found. The topography of the continental shelf and diverging ocean currents did provide a historical geographic barrier during the last glacial maximum approximately 18,000 years ago. A high degree of connectivity between estuaries allows for the exchange of genetic material in the direction of the ocean current, but long distance dispersal is also suggested. Repeated habitat fragmentation, most likely due to fluctuating sea levels, contributed to a higher amount of rare haplotypes on the South and East Coast. This study provides baseline information on a salt marsh species for which there is a paucity of data that is widely distributed in an ecosystem that is likely to be heavily impacted by climate change. • One ITS ribotype was found exclusively between Olifants and Breede Estuaries. • A dominant rpS16 haplotype occurred in all estuaries. • The remaining haplotypes were unique, predominantly on the south and east coast. • There was a high amount of gene flow between estuaries. • An increase in genetic differentiation from west to east. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glasswort(Salicornia europaea L.) as an important halophyte plant is capable to accumulate NaCl in aboveground part (fully edible) in considerable quantity. To evaluate the effect of irrigation levels and nitrogen fertilizer on the yield of seed and oil, and also harvest index of Glasswort, a split plot experiment was conducted based on randomized complete block design with three replications at the Lake Urmia marginal in 2012. Treatments were irrigation regimes (irrigation after 20, 40, 80 and 120 mm of evaporation from a Class A pan) as main plot and amount of nitrogen spraying (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 percent of Urea (V/V) as sub plot. Results indicated the significant interaction effect between irrigation and nitrogen on the yield of seed and oil, biological yield and harvest index of seed and oil. In well irrigated plants (irrigation after 20 mm evaporation), higher concentration of nitrogen spraying up to 10% caused to raise the yield of seed and oil, and biological yield. These yields were raised up by application of 15% nitrogen and then they were decreased. A significant increasing of yield (seed and oil) was observed at 15% of nitrogen spraying for the mild and mid (irrigation after 40 and 80 mm evaporation, respectively) water deficit stress. In conclusion, we found the foliar application of nitrogen (low environmental contamination) benefit for Glasswortproduction, but in different optimum amount for each irrigation interval.

The implementation of aquaponics systems has significantly increased in the last two decades, and several studies have reported on the technical, socioeconomic, and environmental ramifications in order to achieve sustainability in food production. The present study, however, aimed to perform a commercial-scale economic evaluation, using a model marine aquaponics production system with the halophyte Sarcocornia ambigua and the shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei cultivated in nutrient film technology (NFT) and biofloc technology (BFT) systems, respectively. To calculate phytotechnical and zootechnical indexes, we used recent studies available in the literature. Indicators of operational costs (total cost of production—TCP) and financial viability were calculated based on a cash flow horizon of 10 years. The proposed study estimated an initial investment of US$ 474,253.07, with annual TCPs around US$ 192,220.50, US$ 247,740.52, and US$ 223,482.65 years 1, 2 to 9, and 10, the different periods studied. Within these respective periods, the annual production of halophyte was 17,017, 23,286, and 18,808 kg, while marine shrimp production was 10,659, 14,586, and 11,781 kg. Based on these annual production numbers, the TCPs were US$ 4.75, US$ 4.03, and US$ 4.67 kg−1 for halophyte and US$ 10.45, US$ 14.43, and US$ 11.52 kg−1 for shrimp. Three sales prices were estimated per kilogram of halophyte produced and one fixed price per kilogram of shrimp produced. Only the highest selling price showed favorable indexes after testing sensitivities. Based on the above parameters, halophyte TCP was below sales value, i.e., reference price, with the possibility of increasing the price to “premium” level, indicating that this marine aquaponics production system was feasible for implementation in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The zonation of different Salicornia species within saltmarshes has been described controversially in prior publications. The aim of this study is to detect substantial relations between pedological conditions and the distribution of different Salicornia species (Salicornia strictaDumort. 1868, Salicornia europaea L. 1753, and Salicornia procumbensSm1813). 37 sites were investigated regarding vegetation pattern, soil morphology and physicochemical and chemical soil properties. A multivariate approach indicate a clear differentiation of the sites dominated by different Salicornia species in respect to sand content, redox potential and water content. However, results of a detailed statistical assessment indicate that redox potential and salinity are the most relevant parameters. Salicornia stricta sites are characterized by a variety of grain sizes, reduced conditions in the rhizosphere, highest water contents (median: 71.5 Vol-%) and lowest Eh values (median: −19.0 mV), indicating the best adaptation to anaerobic soil conditions. Salicornia procumbens occurs on aerated soils (median Eh: 455.6 mV) with high sand contents independent to position relative to mean high tide level. Exhibiting the lowest (11.5‰) and highest soil salinities (41.7‰), even developing in salt pans (136‰), Salicornia europaea feature a great ecological amplitude regarding temporal variations of salinity. These findings underline the ecotypic and phenotypic plasticity of Salicornia species and offer a promising approach for further experimental settings focussing on phenotypic adaptions and ecological amplitudes of Salicornia taxa and ecotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anatomical and Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis of two typical populations of Salicornia europaea from Montenegro and Greece (Lesvos), one typical population of S. ramosissima from Spain and one population that belongs to the Salicornia genus from Serbia, was undertaken to develop a new strategy for identifying Salicornia plants. Anatomical variability and differentiation were examined using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Multivariate Discriminant Function Analysis (MDA). On the basis of the anatomical measurements, the four populations were classified into three groups: one joining the plants from Serbia and Spain, one comprising the Montenegrin group and one comprising the Lesvos group. RAPD analysis indicated that populations from Spain and Serbia were closely related to each other and the Lesvos group was quite different from all the other investigated populations. These results opened up the possibility that the specimens from Serbia belonged to S. ramosissima and not to S. europaea, as reported previously.

In Japan, there are two taxa of the genus Salicorniaplants; S. europaeaL. distributed in Hokkaido and S. herbaceaL. distributed on the coast of Inland Sea of Seto. To estimate the polymorphism of the Salicorniaplants, we statistically analyzed the morphological features and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) of five groups from three populations found at Lake Tofutsu and Lake Notori in Hokkaido and Okayama Prefecture on the coast of Inland Sea of Seto. The morphological features, such as plant length, segment number, length and number of branches, and incidence of the secondary branches showed variations among locations. The morphological plasticity of Salicorniaplants was also observed at different plant densities. Thereby these features were difficult to use for identifying the populations. On the other hand, the genotype based on the RAPD markers implied five groups : two groups from the Notori population, two groups from the Tofutsu population and one group from the Okayama population. Additionally the Notori and Tofutsu populations were identified as genotypically related, and different from the Okayama population. The RAPD method, which is one of the simplest and fastest molecular techniques, was found useful for identifying the type of Salicorniaplant.

Glasswort ( Salicornia herbacea L.) is a halophyte that grows normally in salt marshes and has been used as a seasoned vegetable. Physico-chemical properties, antioxidant, cytotoxic, and anti-inflammatory activities of water extracts from freshwater-cultivated (FWE) and naturally-grown (SWE) glasswort were investigated. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents of FWE were higher than for SWE. The salinity was higher in SWE. Radical scavenging activities and inhibitory effects against lipid peroxidation of FWE were more potent than for SWE. FWE also showed more potent cytotoxic effects with higher potency against cancer cells. FWE was effective for inhibition of protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Constituents in FWE were more active than in SWE, and freshwater-cultivated glasswort can be a useful dietary source with health benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saltmarsh plants have several defense mechanisms against threatening abiotic conditions, such as salinity, inundation, or exposure to intense radiation, less is known regarding response to insect pests attack. Salicornia europaea L. plant stands are produced as cash crops in Portuguese coastal areas. In 2017, these crops suffered significant attacks from a gall midge fly (Baldratia salicorniae Kieffer), reducing its economic value. To understand how this attack influenced S. europaea chemical composition, infested and non-infested branches were collected, and their extracts were analysed by GS-MS and UHPLC-MS. Results revealed that different degrees of infestations displayed different chemical composition. Several compounds were for the first time identified in S. europaea , such as, arachidic acid, alpha-tocopherol, henicos-1-ene, and squalene. Most evident results were the reduced amount of alkanes in the infested conditions, which seems to be a direct consequence of insect infestation. Several compounds identified in the infested branches are known to have negative effects on insect larvae by reducing larval growth (linoleic acid) or increasing insect mortality (oleic acid). Halophyte plants production is increasing and it is accompanied by the urge to develop early control strategies against potential pests. These strategies may include ecological friendly solutions such as endogenous production of specialized metabolites to retrieve plant self-defences. Further, our results showed that B. salicorniae herbivory also induced the production of higher number of specialized metabolites with important known biological activities. In years in which high infestations reduce organoleptic qualities for fresh consumption plants can be used in biorefinery industries for metabolite extraction. [Display omitted] • Gall midges induces Salicornia europaea L. to produce a higher number of specialized metabolites. • Several produced compounds have known biological activities including insecticidal activity. • Infestation reduces the amount of alkanes in the infested conditions. • Different degrees of infestations displayed different chemical composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glassworts are succulent, annual "halophytes", or plants that thrive in saline environments, such as seacoasts and salt marshes. Glassworts have high mineral content and can be consumed as salad either fresh or boiled. The consumption time is a few months starting from May. In this study, our objective is to increase the storage stability and consumption time of glasswort by canning in glass jars. In canning process, two different sterilization temperatures (115 and 120 °C) were used. Target F0=8.0 value was chosen for microbiological stability. The pH value of glasswort was found 5.9±0.1. Chemical, physical, sensory and microbiological analyses were applied on glasswort after canning, sterilization and 6 month storage in order to investigate the quality changes. The results showed that canning at 120°C was better in terms of protecting the quality of the canned product as compared to the 115°C sterilization temperature. On the other hand, the 115 °C sterilized products were preferred due to the sensory evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study was aimed at evaluation of the effect of glasswort levels (0, 0.5, 1, and 1.5%) on the textural properties of frankfurters formulated with 0.75% NaCl. The addition of glasswort improved protein solubility (P <0.05) and apparent viscosity of frankfurters formulated with 0.75% NaCl, resulting in increased cooking yield and emulsion stability. This phenomenon might be mainly related to salts and dietary fiber within glasswort. In addition, the textural properties of frankfurter prepared with 0.75% NaCl and 1.5% glasswort showed similar properties (P >0.05) compared to those of control (1.5% NaCl). Our result suggests that the use of glasswort can be an effective approach to manufacture reduced-salt meat products. Moreover, the addition of 1.5% glasswort in frankfurters formulated with 0.75% NaCl is the optimum level without adverse effect on the texture. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]