Fate of rubber bush (Calotropis procera (Aiton) W. T. Aiton) in adversary environment modulated by microstructural and functional attributes

Calotropis procera (Aiton) W. T. Aiton, belonging to the family Apocynaceae, is C3 evergreen plant species in arid and semi-arid areas of Punjab Province, Pakistan. It grows a variety habitats like salt affected waterlogged area, desert/semi-desert, roadside, wasteland, graveyard, forest, crop field, coastline, river/canal bank. A total 12 populations growing different ecological regions were sampled evaluate their growth, physio-biochemical, anatomical responses specific environmental condition. Population adapted desert/semi-desert showed vigorous growth (plant height, shoot length, number leaves), enhanced photosynthetic level (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoids, chlorophyll), apparent modifications such as increased stem radius, cuticle thickness, storage parenchyma tissues (cortex pith), vascular bundles stems, while maximum midrib lamina epidermal cells, cortical proportion, abaxial stomatal density, its area leaves. There was high plasticity structural functional features these populations, which enable them survive tolerate under hot dry desert environment. saline exhibited very critical sustain prone At physiological level, it possesses amount organic osmolytes (glycine betaine proline) antioxidants (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD)), at intensive sclerification, large phloem region (inner outer), pith metaxylem vessels stems The population mountains distinctive features, ionic contents (K+ Ca2+), collenchyma sclerenchyma thickness trichomes size, numerous small stomata on surface concluded that no definite or precise single character can be taken yardstick for adjudging biomass production this rubber bush weed population.