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In an attempt to boost the potential ecological viability of wetlands, this study aimed to discover the relationship between soil salinity and vegetation composition in a quasi-pristine saline pond, "El Hito Lagoon". This wetland is situated in the largest continuous natural semi-arid steppe land of western Europe (specifically in Castilla La Mancha, Central Spain). Several soil profiles and a series of surface samples (0–10 cm) extracted from a systematic network throughout the saline pond were described, sampled, and analyzed. The most significant results included the detection of elevated levels of soil salinity, with distinctive sub-areas of extreme elevated surface salinity where the pH reading peaked at 9.89 and the electrical conductivity was higher than 40 (dS/m). The very high content of total available P displayed quite an irregular scatter within the soil profile. Specifically, the range oscillated between 8.57 mg/kg and 388.1 mg/kg, several samples having values greater than 100 mg/kg. An aspect that the abundant presence of Salsola soda, a plant frequently found growing in nutrient-rich wetlands, was able to confirm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seldom found in saltmarshes, Linum maritimum is a halophyte of great conservation interest in the eastern Iberian Peninsula. Although the species has been reported in different plant communities, there is no information on its range of salinity tolerance or mechanisms of response to environmental stress factors. In this study, L. maritimum plants were subjected to increasing salt concentrations in controlled conditions in a greenhouse. After six months of watering with salt solutions, only plants from the control, 50 mM and 100 mM NaCl treatment groups survived, but seeds were produced only in the first two. Significant differences were found between the plants from the various treatment groups in terms of their growth parameters, such as plant height, fresh weight, and the quantity of flowers and fruits. The main mechanism of salt tolerance is probably related to the species' ability to activate K+ uptake and transport to shoots to partly counteract the accumulation of toxic Na+ ions. A biochemical analysis showed significant increases in glycine betaine, flavonoids and total phenolic compounds, highlighting the importance of osmotic regulation and antioxidant compounds in the salt tolerance of Linum maritimum. These findings have implications for the conservation of the species, especially under changing climatic conditions that may lead to increased soil salinity in its Mediterranean distribution area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]