Mangrove, which is found in Bhitarkanika and some other parts ofOdisha, besides Sundarbans in West Bengal and marshy intertidal estuaryne regions of the country, can survive a high degree of salinity.
Amazed by this adaptive mechanism, scientists have conducted a thorough study on a mangrove species and found that its genes can help in developing drought and salinity-tolerant crops in future.
This species grows optimally in 75% seawater and tolerates more than 250% seawater. It is capable of a rare phenomenon of excreting 40% of the salt through the salt glands in the leaves.
Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture productivity is affected globally owing to limited water availability and salinisation of and water.
Salinity is prevalent in roughly 900 million hectares globally (with an estimated 6.73 million ha in India). It causes an annual loss of 27 billion US dollars.