A glasswort Salicornia europaea: agriculture, physiological responses to salinity stress and economic value: A Review

Abstract

Samphires or glassworts are succulent true halophytes belong to Amaranthaceae, can grow naturally on the coastal areas. Thus, they can be grown on sea water or brackish water. Globally, climate changes have negatively affected the agricultural land areas which led to a decrease in the productivity of field crops. Hence it has become necessary to look for alternatives to traditional crops to fill the food gap. Due to continues lack in agricultural areas result from bad irrigation or lack of fresh water resources, Salicornia cultivation as one of the best non-conventional crops is recommended to display high biomass where traditional crops can not grow. S. europaea has multiple uses as food (freshly salad, pickle, cocked, its seeds contain high quality of edible oil), pharmaceutical and other uses. Furthermore, Salicornia is highly accumulated to salts so it can be used industrially in salts production. S. europaea can be invested in saline land reclamation of arid and semi-arid areas.