Boron toxicity, tolerance, and accumulation potential in halophyte and salt-tolerant species

Comparative evidence across halophyte species reveals distinct B tolerance and accumulation strategies, supporting their targeted selection for phytoremediation and advancing the understanding of salinity-associated B resilience. High boron (B) stress has become a critical environmental concern, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. It poses a crucial threat to agricultural productivity. The remediation of B-contaminated soils is an urgent scientific challenge that necessitates innovative solutions. Halophytes, plants uniquely adapted to thrive in saline environments, have emerged as promising candidates for mitigating the effects of B pollution in these soils. Despite their potential, the specific mechanisms of B tolerance and accumulation in many halophyte species remain undiscovered. Most existing research has predominantly concentrated on traditional crops, leaving a knowledge gap regarding the resilience of halophytes to B stress. Understanding the way in which halophytes tolerate B toxicity is crucial for their effective utilization in the remediation of B-contaminated soils. Generally, a plant's ability to tolerate and/or accumulate elevated levels of B is positively related to its capacity to tolerate and/or accumulate high concentrations of salt. This review synthesizes current findings on B-toxicity tolerance and accumulation capacity in halophytes, with particular emphasis on their responses under saline conditions. This review aims to explore the relationship between salt tolerance and B accumulation, which could pave the way for improving soils affected by salinity-B stress.