What are Halophytes?
- Halophytes are salt-tolerant or salt-resistant plants.
- They can thrive and complete their life cycles in soils or waters containing high salt concentrations.
- They constitute two per cent of terrestrial plant species.
What is significance of halophytes?
Halophytes plants are important in the context of increasing salinization of land especially due sea level rise because of climate change and global warming. In recent times, alarming rise in the sea level has prompted agriculture scientists to call for the cultivation of saline-tolerant crops in light danger of sea intrusion. In future, anticipatory research of these plants could reap rich rewards to mitigate impact of climate change as they can provide food for people, fodder for livestock, bio fuel and also can be used for ornamental purposes.
Why in news?
World’s first salt tolerant plant garden inaugurated in Chennai.