Response of Ornamental Plants to Salinity: Impact on Species-Specific Growth, Visual Quality, Photosynthetic parameters, and Ion Uptake

Zirui Wang^1,2Shital Poudyal²Kelly Kopp²Yunhua Zhang^1*

• ¹Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
• ²Utah State University, Logan, Utah, United States

Ornamental horticulture provides substantial economic and environmental benefits, contributinggenerating billions in annual sales while also enhancing and contributing to urban landscapesgreening. However, the increasing scarcity of freshwater resources necessitates the use of alternative irrigation sources, including saline water. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the impact of salt stress on ornamental species to develop effective management and irrigation strategies. This review synthesizes research on the responses of ornamental plants to varying levels of saline irrigation, focusing on aesthetic quality, growth performance, leaf greenness, photosynthetic activity, and leaf ion balance. Under saline stress, visual appeal declines due to foliage discoloration and overall plant performance, ultimately affecting marketability. Growth parameters such as biomass accumulation, reclaimed water. Reclaimed water typically contains elevated salt levels that can induce salt stress. Salt stress adversely affects multiple plant traits. Aesthetic quality declines, manifesting as leaf tip burns, discoloration, and necrosis, reducing landscape value and commercial appeal. Growth performance, including biomass production, plant height, and leaf expansion are significantly reduced due to, is limited by osmotic stress, ion toxicity, and nutrient imbalances. In addition, salinity disrupts Salinity also reduces chlorophyll synthesis and accelerates degradationcontent, leading to reducedlower leaf greenness in many species. Photosyntheticand photosynthetic efficiency declines as salt stress impairsthrough impaired stomatal conductance and transpiration rates. Furthermore. In addition, saline irrigation alterswater disrupts ion uptake, often increasing Na + and Cl -accumulation whileand disrupting the balance of essential ions such asnutrients like K + and Ca 2+ , which are critical for plant stability. However, all these + . These physiological and visual responses are species --specific as different species have different salinity thresholds. By consolidating current knowledge on salt responses in ornamental plants, . Therefore, this review provides insights into their potential forsynthesizes current findings on the impact of salinity stress on ornamental plants, with a focus on aesthetic value, growth performance, photosynthetic traits, and ion homeostasis. It aims to inform sustainable irrigation practices and species selection for nursery production and landscape applications using alternative water sources. with salinity concerns.