Soil salinity and anaerobiosis often occur together. This led us to investigate the fermentative metabolism in roots of species from the halophytic genus Limonium (Plumbaginaceae). Root segments from hypoxically induced plants were incubated for 8 h under strict anoxia in the presence of [U-14C]glucose. In three species (Limonium latifolium, L. nashii, and L. humile), the pattern of 14C-labeled end products was typical of higher plants, with a 14C flux to ethanol higher than that to lactate. However, in four species (L. ramosissimum, L. gougetianum, L perezii, and L. sinuatum), the rate of lactate fermentation was exceptionally high, and in the latter two species the 14C flux to lactate exceeded that to ethanol. These two species secreted most of the lactate produced into the medium. Calculations indicated that the cytoplasm would have been lethally acidified had this secretion not occurred. The effects of factors that might control lactate fermentation or secretion (O2 partial pressure, pH, salt concentration) were studied in two contrasting species: L. sinuatum and L. latifolium. In both species, the lactate:ethanol ratio was higher under hypoxia (0.1-3 kPa O2 partial pressure) than under strict anoxia. In L. sinuatum, this ratio was slightly increased by increasing the pH of the medium from 5.5 to 7.5, but salinity treatment had no effect. The potential contribution of lactate fermentation to the overall carbon and energy metabolism of halophytes is discussed.