Question

what adaptive features has sundari taken to deal with the strong salinity of soil and water​

Answer 1

Answer:

Here are some adaptations taken by the Sundari plant to combat with the strong salinity of the marshy soil it grows in:-

Explanation:

1. SALT GLAND:- The presence of salt gland in the Sundari plant helps it to isolate water from salt and to have fresh water from the soil without any salt or impurities.

2. BREATHING ROOTS:- The Sundari plant has some antigeotropic roots that grow towards the air (away from the ground). They mainly function as organs that help in inhaling air for photosynthesis and respiration. This is because, there is difficulty in extracting oxygen from the soil which contains so much salt.

Answer 2

Answer:

Heritiera fomes (commonly known as Sundari in India and Bangladesh) is gradually getting extinct from high saline pockets of lower Gangetic plain. Hydroponically grown seedlings of the species were analyzed for Chl a, Chl b, total chlorophyll, Chl a:b ratio and carotenoid at five different salinity levels (2, 5, 10, 15 and 20 psu). The concentrations of chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments exhibited significant negative correlations with salinity (p < 0.01). The total chlorophyll expressed, on unit fresh wt. basis decreased by 63.39% to 73.33% and in case of carotenoid the decrease was from 27.78% to 36.84% with the increase of salinity from 2 to 20 psu. The Chl a:b ratio in the plant remained almost constant through out the period of investigation. The results show that Heritiera fomes of Indian Sundarbans region can be sustained and propagated under low saline environment. At 15 psu, the plants become acclimated in one to two weeks, but at 20 psu the seedlings could not survive. The study is important as rising salinity is experienced in central Indian Sundarbans of lower Gangetic plain due to sea level rise and obstruction of freshwater flow from Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly channel as a result of heavy siltation.