Salinity Tolerance (in crops)

Salinity tolerance in crops refers to the ability of plants to grow and produce yield in soils with high salt levels. Excess salt in soil can create osmotic stress, making it difficult for plants to absorb water, and can also cause toxic build-up of minerals inside plant tissues. Crops with high salinity tolerance have adaptations—such as specialized root systems or salt-excluding mechanisms—that help them cope with challenging conditions, allowing them to thrive and produce harvests even in salty environments. This trait is crucial for agriculture in regions with saline soils or where irrigation increases soil salinity.