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<p>Salinity is a key environmental factor affecting the physiology and metabolism of marine macrophytes. Natural processes like evaporation, precipitation, river discharge, and ice dynamics lead to salinity variability, while climate change intensifies these fluctuations through increased evaporation, accelerated glacier melt, and altered oceanic current patterns. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the responses of marine macrophytes, particularly macroalgae, to salinity changes and explores the nutritional potential of seaweeds under controlled salinity conditions. Macrophytes exhibit diverse osmoacclimation strategies to both hyposalinity and hypersalinity, involving coordinated physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms. However, hyposalinity-related research remains scarce, especially regarding cellular effects and thresholds of response in macroalgae. In contrast, studies on hypersalinity have largely focused on seagrasses under anthropogenic salinity alterations mainly from a physiological perspective. Although macroalgal responses have been widely investigated, they have been primarily addressed from a physiological perspective, and their integration with metabolic and nutritional responses remains limited. Recent research has adopted a more integrative metabolic approach, highlighting key processes such as ion and osmolyte accumulation, antioxidant activation, photosynthetic adjustment, and the involvement of salinity-responsive genes and signaling pathways. These mechanisms support the ability of macrophytes to cope with salinity changes through immediate physiological and metabolic adjustments. Notably, growing evidence indicates that salinity fluctuations can enhance the synthesis of bioactive and nutritionally valuable compounds, including sulfated polysaccharides, and antioxidants, in various algae species. These compounds not only play protective physiological roles but also offer promising applications in the development of functional foods, nutraceuticals, and health-promoting products. Understanding the link between salinity—induced physiological responses and metabolic enhancement in macrophytes may unlock new opportunities for sustainable biomass exploitation and contribute to the valorization of these species in biotechnology and aquaculture.</p>

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Metabolic responses of macrophytes to salinity changes and a perspective on their nutritional alteration: a review

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月23日

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  • Pamela T. Muñoz,
  • Paola G. Ojeda

摘要

Salinity is a key environmental factor affecting the physiology and metabolism of marine macrophytes. Natural processes like evaporation, precipitation, river discharge, and ice dynamics lead to salinity variability, while climate change intensifies these fluctuations through increased evaporation, accelerated glacier melt, and altered oceanic current patterns. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the responses of marine macrophytes, particularly macroalgae, to salinity changes and explores the nutritional potential of seaweeds under controlled salinity conditions. Macrophytes exhibit diverse osmoacclimation strategies to both hyposalinity and hypersalinity, involving coordinated physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms. However, hyposalinity-related research remains scarce, especially regarding cellular effects and thresholds of response in macroalgae. In contrast, studies on hypersalinity have largely focused on seagrasses under anthropogenic salinity alterations mainly from a physiological perspective. Although macroalgal responses have been widely investigated, they have been primarily addressed from a physiological perspective, and their integration with metabolic and nutritional responses remains limited. Recent research has adopted a more integrative metabolic approach, highlighting key processes such as ion and osmolyte accumulation, antioxidant activation, photosynthetic adjustment, and the involvement of salinity-responsive genes and signaling pathways. These mechanisms support the ability of macrophytes to cope with salinity changes through immediate physiological and metabolic adjustments. Notably, growing evidence indicates that salinity fluctuations can enhance the synthesis of bioactive and nutritionally valuable compounds, including sulfated polysaccharides, and antioxidants, in various algae species. These compounds not only play protective physiological roles but also offer promising applications in the development of functional foods, nutraceuticals, and health-promoting products. Understanding the link between salinity—induced physiological responses and metabolic enhancement in macrophytes may unlock new opportunities for sustainable biomass exploitation and contribute to the valorization of these species in biotechnology and aquaculture.