Ecophysiological and genomic analysis of salt tolerance of Cakile maritima

Arabidopsis thaliana L. (Brassicaceae) and its close relative Thellungiella salsuginea (Pallas) O.E. Schulz have been widely used as genetic models by researchers in their quest of understanding salt tolerance mechanisms in plants. Despite the fact that significant knowledge has been gained, both of these plants present some limitations mainly in relation to their response to salinity. Indeed, Arabidopsis is a glycophyte, whereas Thellungiella is a facultative halophyte. Among the Brassicaceae, Cakile maritima Scop. is an annual succulent obligate halophyte with a small size genome (1C = 719 Mb) and short life cycle. With these attributes, C. maritima presents a potential as a genetic model system to address salt stress adaptations at the molecular level in the quest to identify salt stress tolerance mechanisms. Beside their potential as promising model species, halophytes might also be valued for their potential as cash crops themselves. The present paper aims to highlight the main results gained on C. maritima using multidisciplinary approaches in complement to those obtained on plant model species of the Brassicaceae family.

► The annual halophyte Cakile maritima has both economical and environmental interests.
► It could be also a suitable model for investigating salt stress responses.
► This review emphasises this aspect.
► The relatives Arabidopsis thaliana and Thellunigella salsuginea were considered.