Morphophysiological and Anatomical Responses of Culantro (Eryngium foetidum) to In Vitro Salinity

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Abstract
Soil salinity is an increasing constraint to crop production, yet little is known about the responses of culantro (Eryngium foetidum), a medicinal and culinary species of high economic value, to saline conditions. This study evaluated the effects of NaCl-induced salinity (0, 40, and 80 mM) on the growth, photosynthetic performance, pigment content, and vascular anatomy of E. foetidum cultivated in vitro. After 45 days, salinity significantly reduced shoot and root length, leaf number, chlorophyll fluorescence, net CO2 assimilation, stomatal conductance, transpiration, carboxylation efficiency, and the contents of chlorophylls a and b, and carotenoids, with the strongest effects observed at 80 mM NaCl. In contrast, leaf area, biomass accumulation, specific leaf area, and intrinsic water-use efficiency were not significantly affected. Qualitative anatomical observations indicated apparent modifications in vascular organization under saline conditions, including narrower xylem vessels and phloem disorganization. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that salinity primarily impairs photosynthetic performance and vegetative growth while inducing morphological, physiological, and apparent anatomical responses in E. foetidum cultivated in vitro. This study provides the first integrated characterization of the responses of E. foetidum to in vitro salt stress, establishing a foundation for future investigations into the physiological mechanisms underlying salinity responses in this species.
Funding Information
  • Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (Brazil—Finance Code 001)
  • Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (305522/2025-6)
  • Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (312653/2025-5)
  • Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (306442/2025-6)
  • Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (307349/2023-3)
  • Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (316852/2025-2)
  • Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa e ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico do Maranhão (APP-09335/22)
  • Universidade Estadual do Maranhão

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