Salt tolerance, in the biological process context, refers to the integrated physiological, cellular, and molecular mechanisms that enable organisms, particularly plants and some microbes, to maintain growth and viability under elevated external salinity. It encompasses ion homeostasis (e.g., selective uptake, compartmentalization of Na⁺ and Cl⁻, and maintenance of K⁺/Na⁺ ratios), osmotic adjustment via synthesis or accumulation of compatible solutes, regulation of water status, and activation of stress-responsive signaling pathways and transcriptional networks. These processes mitigate ion toxicity, oxidative stress, and metabolic disruption, thereby preserving membrane integrity, enzyme function, and overall cellular homeostasis in saline environments.
Rising sea levels along coastlines not only threaten populations, but also pose a danger to agricultural crops, which may be damaged by surging amounts of saltwater. Researchers have, in response, sought to improve salt-tolerance ...
Cell & Microbiology
Dec 8, 2025
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Soil salinity is a key abiotic stress factor. Salt stress substantially impairs plant growth, development, and productivity, significantly reducing crop yields worldwide. It induces various kinds of stress in plant organs, ...
Molecular & Computational biology
Dec 8, 2025
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Every year, abiotic stress factors such as drought, heat, salinity or high light intensity—combined with unfavorable soil conditions caused by human activity (herbicides, pH changes, or various contaminants such as microplastics)—and ...
Plants & Animals
Oct 30, 2025
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22
Plants exchange adaptive information, helping them to adjust to environmental challenges. Salt stress in plants, caused by soil salinity, often results in water loss. Plants often cope with this situation by closing the stomatal ...
Molecular & Computational biology
Oct 28, 2025
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Salt intrusion is a growing concern worldwide. Eleonora Saccon, who completed a master's degree in climate change ecology in her native Italy, studied the effects of salty surface water at the NIOZ branch in Zeeland.
Earth Sciences
Sep 25, 2025
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26
Seeds are vital for plant reproduction and agriculture. Seed size, a crucial trait for plant adaptation and crop yield, is intricately controlled by genetic signals and environmental factors. The plant hormone jasmonate (JA) ...
Molecular & Computational biology
Aug 28, 2025
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22
Scientists have discovered how a small protein in plants that acts like a molecular form of Velcro helps stick to other target proteins, creating new connections that enable plants to respond better to environmental stresses ...
Molecular & Computational biology
Aug 28, 2025
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41
Extreme weather and pollution have increased the salt content in some soil, making growing conditions harsh for salt-sensitive crops like rice. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Nano detail a possible solution that doesn't ...
Bio & Medicine
Dec 5, 2024
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34
Soil salt concentrations above the optimal threshold for plant growth can threaten global food security by compromising agricultural productivity and crop quality. An analysis published in Physiologia Plantarum has examined ...
Bio & Medicine
Aug 7, 2024
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