Regulation of photosynthesis under salt stress and associated tolerance mechanisms

• Published in: Plant physiology and biochemistry Vol. 178; pp. 55 - 69
• Main Authors: Zahra, Noreen, Al Hinai, Marwa Sulaiman, Hafeez, Muhammad Bilal, Rehman, Abdul, Wahid, Abdul, Siddique, Kadambot H.M., Farooq, Muhammad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: France Elsevier Masson SAS 01.05.2022
• Subjects: agricultural productivity; Beneficial microbes; biochemical compounds; carbon; Chloroplast ultrastructure; chloroplasts; Chloroplasts - ultrastructure; electron transfer; Genetic approaches; germplasm; leaf anatomy; Photosynthesis; Salinity; Salinity stress; Salt Stress; salt tolerance; Salt Tolerance - physiology; stomatal conductance; stress tolerance; ultrastructure; Salinity stress; Genetic approaches; Chloroplast ultrastructure; Photosynthesis; Beneficial microbes
• ISSN: 0981-9428; 1873-2690; 1873-2690
• DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2022.03.003

Photosynthesis is crucial for the survival of all living biota, playing a key role in plant productivity by generating the carbon skeleton that is the primary component of all biomolecules. Salinity stress is a major threat to agricultural productivity and sustainability as it can cause irreversible damage to photosynthetic apparatus at any developmental stage. However, the capacity of plants to become photosynthetically active under adverse saline conditions remains largely untapped. This study addresses this discrepancy by exploring the current knowledge on the impact of salinity on chloroplast operation, metabolism, chloroplast ultrastructure, and leaf anatomy, and highlights the dire consequences for photosynthetic machinery and stomatal conductance. We also discuss enhancing photosynthetic capacity by modifying and redistributing electron transport between photosystems and improving photosystem stability using genetic approaches, beneficial microbial inoculations, and root architecture changes to improve salt stress tolerance under field conditions. Understanding chloroplast operations and molecular engineering of photosynthetic genes under salinity stress will pave the way for developing salt-tolerant germplasm to ensure future sustainability by rehabilitating saline areas. •Plant capacity to become photosynthetically active under salinity remains largely untapped.•Modifying electron transport and photosystem stability improve photosynthesis under salinity.•Using beneficial microbial and root architecture changes enhance salt tolerance.•Engineering of photosynthetic genes may help developing salt-tolerant plant genotypes.