Abstract
Mangrove plants are groups of trees and shrubs growing along marine shorelines in tropical and subtropical regions. These plants have salt-resistant properties to avoid the inhibitory effect of high salt concentrations on growth. Some mangroves require salt for their normal growth. Morphological adaptations of mangroves to salt-resistance, which include salt glands, propagules and unusual roots such as stilt-, finger-or knee-like roots, are well-documented, but investigation into the salt tolerance of mangroves at the cellular, biochemical and molecular biological level is in its infancy. In the present article, the morphological characteristics of mangroves are summarized briefly and this is followed by a review of the authors' research on metabolism in mangroves and the establishment of mangrove cell culture systems.
