Fig. 7

Heatmaps showing relationship among structural and functional traits in Sporobolus ioclados from the Cholistan Desert grown hydroponically under different levels of salt. (a) Relationship between growth, leaf sheath anatomy and excretory ions, b. Relationship between growth, leaf anatomy and excretory ions, c. Relationship between growth, physiology and excretory ions, d. Relationship between growth, leaf water relations and excretory ions. Ecotypes: DF-Derawar Fort (LSE), BD-Bailahwala Dahar (MSE), LS-Ladam Sir (HSE). Morphological characteristics: MLN − Number of leaves (plant⁻¹). MLA − Total leaf area (cm²), MSF − Stem fresh weight (g plant⁻¹). Leaf sheath anatomy: HTh − Leaf sheath thickness (µm), HDE − Adaxial epidermal cell area (µm²), HBE − Abaxial epidermal cell area (µm²), HCC − Parenchymatous cell area (µm²), HST − Sclerenchyma thickness (µm), HVB − Vascular bundle area (µm²), HMX − Metaxylem area (µm²), HPA − Phloem area (µm²). Leaf blade anatomy: LTh − Leaf thickness (µm), LST − Sclerenchymatous thickness (µm), LDE − Adaxial epidermal cell area (µm²), LBE − Abaxial epidermal cell area (µm²), LBC − Bulliform cell area (µm²), LVB − Vascular bundle area (µm²), LMX − Metaxylem area (µm²), LPA − Phloem area (µm²). Epidermal appendages: LDM − Adaxial microhair density, LBM − Abaxial microhair density, LTD − Trichome density, LTL − Trichome length (µm), LDS − Adaxial stomatal density, LBS − Abaxial stomatal density, LDA − Adaxial stomatal area (µm²), LBA − Abaxial stomatal area (µm²). Leaf water relations: OsP − Osmotic potential (− MPa), WtP − Water potential (− MPa), TuP − Turgor potential (MPa). Organic osmolytes: TFA − Total free amino acids (µg g⁻¹), TSP − Total soluble proteins (µg g⁻¹), TSS − Total soluble sugars (mg g⁻¹), TPr − Total proline (µg g⁻¹). Gas exchange parameters: NAR − Net assimilation rate (µmol m⁻² s⁻¹), TrR − Transpiration rate (mmol m⁻² s⁻¹), StC − Stomatal conductance (mmol m⁻² s⁻¹), SCC − Substomatal CO₂ concentration (µmol mol⁻¹), WUE − Water use efficiency. Photosynthetic pigments: Cha − Chlorophyll a (mg g⁻¹), Chb − Chlorophyll b (mg g⁻¹), Car − Carotenoids (mg g⁻¹). Root ionic content: RtN − Root Na⁺ (mg g⁻¹), RtK − Root K + (mg g⁻¹), RtC − Root Ca²⁺ (mg g⁻¹), RtL − Root Cl⁻ (mg g⁻¹). Stem ionic content: StN − Stem Na⁺ (mg g⁻¹), StK − Stem K⁺ (mg g⁻¹), StV − Stem Ca²⁺ (mg g⁻¹), StL − Stem Cl⁻ (mg g⁻¹). Leaf ionic content: LfN − Leaf Na⁺ (mg g⁻¹), LfK − Leaf K⁺ (mg g⁻¹), LfC − Leaf Ca²⁺ (mg g⁻¹), LfL − Leaf Cl⁻ (mg g⁻¹). Excreted ions: ExN − Na⁺ (mg L⁻¹), ExK − K⁺ (mg L⁻¹), ExC − Ca²⁺ (mg L⁻¹), ExL − Cl⁻ (mg L⁻¹).