Phenotypic and Molecular Diversity of Salicornia bigelovii and Its Potential for Salinity-Resilient Industrial Oilseed Production

Salicornia bigelovii is a promising oilseed crop known for its high yield potential and exceptional salt tolerance, ranking among the most salt-resistant vascular plants. Although previous studies have investigated individual phenotypic and genetic characteristics of S. bigelovii, integrated assessments combining agronomic performance, seed morphometric variation, and genetic relationships among geographically distinct accessions remain limited. This study evaluated six S. bigelovii accessions from the Texas Gulf coastline, focusing on phenotypic and morphometric traits, geographic origins, and genomic distances. Significant variability was observed among accessions in key traits, such as plant height, spike number, root length, and seed yield. Notably, the South Padre and Boca Chica accessions demonstrated superior growth and higher seed productivity compared with Corpus Christi Bridge and Galveston accessions, indicating substantial phenotypic diversity and potential for selecting high-performing accessions for breeding. Morphological analysis revealed minor but distinct differences among the six seed accessions. The southern accessions, SPN and SP, exhibited advantageous traits, including a high surface area, circularity values close to 1, and increased seed volume, suggesting favorable dispersal and flow characteristics. Multivariate analyses and hierarchal clustering showed significant relationships among accessions, providing insights for breeding programs. Phylogenetic analysis indicated the divergence of CCB and G accessions from BC, BCW, SP, and SPN. This morphological and genetic assessment establishes a foundation for accelerated molecular breeding and genomic-assisted improvement of S. bigelovii as an industrial crop.