Abstract Detail

Ecophysiology

An Innovative Perspective on Food Security: Halophyte crops for the future.

Pakistan is an agro-based economy on which relies on its more than 60% of rural population. At the same time the world is experiencing a faster change in climate in the twenty first century than it has in the past. The resulting higher average global temperatures are causing fresh water crisis which is directly related to challenges for cash crop, fisheries and livestock. The problems of cash crop production due to drought and salinity can be overcome by using latest technology and expertise available at the Institute of Sustainable Halophyte Utilization, University of Karachi to convert challenges into opportunities. There are vast surfaces of untapped resources of barren and abandoned marginal lands that are commonly believed useless which on the contrary have been demonstrated to be of high value. The main focus will be the use of modern technology to understand the physiology of salt tolerance in plants, so that the complexities of Halophytes can be unfolded. Water of good quality for agricultural uses is becoming ever more limited in regions where irrigation is necessary due to increasing requirements for domestic and industrial uses. Sea water or saline water may be used to irrigate a variety of plants, including halophytes. Under those extreme conditions of soil or water salinity where no crop of agricultural interest can be grown it is possible to imagine dedicated halophyte plantations for forage production, soil rehabilitation, bio-energy generation, landscaping, carbon sequestering, and a number of other useful purposes at no cost in terms of good quality water and soil. Therefore, it is imperative to study these halophytes and to identify genes and regulatory systems which can improve plant growth in solemnized land. Some of experiences with local halophytes would be shared.

Related Links:
http://www.halophyte.org

1 - University of Karachi, Dr. Muhammad Ajmal Khan Institute of Sustainable Halophyte Utilization, University of Karachi, University Road, B-21, Staff Town, University of Karachi, Karachi-7, Karachi, Sindh, 75270, PK

Keywords:
none specified

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: ECOPH3, Ecophysiology III
Location: Virtual/Virtual
Date: Thursday, July 30th, 2020
Time: 3:45 PM
Number: ECOPH3004
Abstract ID:56
Candidate for Awards:None