Effect of Saline Soils on the Functional State of Species of the Genus Artemisia

Abstract

The effect of saline soils on the functional state of glycohalophytes of the genus Artemisia (A. santonica, A. pauciflora, and A. lerchiana) in the basin of Lake Elton (Prieltonye) is studied. It is established that the higher levels of water and Na⁺ content in A. santonica leaves are correlated with a high content of pigments, carbohydrates, and phenolic compounds against the background of more intensive oxidative processes. It is noted that the accumulation of a significant amount of free amino acids is characteristic of the species A. pauciflora and A. lerchiana. At the level of structural components of membranes in A. pauciflora and A. lerchiana leaves, a high level of digalactosyldiacylglycerol and linolenic acid was recorded in the composition of the lipids of thylakoid membranes and an elevated concentration of phosphatidylcholine was found in nonplastid membranes.