Ecological Tolerance of Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. Ex. Steud.

The book will shed light on the mechanisms that contributed in Phragmites. australis adaptation to different habitats; salt stress habitat (salt marsh), drought stress habitat (sand dune), flooding stress habitats (fresh and brackish water) and all compared to optimum habitat (mesophytic). Results indicated that:- P. australis could be considered as a model plant, where its ability to adapt to different habitats even those have saline nature.- The optimal growth of P.australis detected in the present study was in the mesophytic habitat that was attributed to the increase in the photosynthetic rate and/or the increased protein level. - P. australis may adapt to various habitats by controlling the photosynthetic rate as well as the photosynthetic machinery according to the need of growth.- Salt and drought stress changed the metabolite profile of P.australis by accumulating compatible solutes that could be used as osmolytes and/or osmoprotectants. - P. australis has an ability to keep its K+/Na+ ratio more than unity especially in the leaves and that could be one of the important features characterizing this plant to tolerate saline environment.