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Suaeda aralocaspica and Bienertia sinuspersici (Chenopodiaceae), which have unusual mechanisms Of C-4 photosynthesis by dimorphic chloroplasts within individual chlorenchyma cells, grow in saline semi-arid desert regions in Central Asia and around the Persian Gulf. Their response to salinity was studied, along with those of the related C-3 Suaeda heterophylla and Kranz (dual cell) type C-4 Suaeda eltonica in subfamily Suaedoideae. Light response curves for CO2 fixation with salt treatment (200 mM NaCl) indicated these species have high tolerance to salinity. All accumulated glycine betaine (GB) which is known to protect against abiotic stress. Western blots showed that the protein levels of choline monooxygenase (CMO) and betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH), enzymes catalyzing synthesis of GB from choline, increased under salt stress in both single-cell type C-4 species. Their cDNAs for CMO and BADH were isolated, sequenced and phylogenetic analyses showed that CMO for both species, and BADH for B. sinuspersici, are in a clade in subfamily Suaedoideae. Results of in situ immunolocalization experiments with BADH antibody show that both chloroplast types in the single-cell C-4 species and in the Kranz type C-4 S. eltonica function in GB synthesis. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray microanalysis showed B. sinuspersici has very prominent salt glands, which accumulate sodium chloride under salt stress, while S. aralocaspica lacks salt glands. The bases for salt tolerance in these species are discussed considering anatomical and biochemical features. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.