Work

Leaf gas exchange, water relations, nutrient content and growth in citrus and olive seedlings under salinity

Year: 2008

Type: article

Abstract: The effects of salinity on growth, leaf nutrient content, water relations, gas exchange parameters and chlorophyll fluorescence were studied in six-month-old seedlings of citrus (Citrus limonia Osbeck) and rooted cuttings of olive (Olea europaea L. cv. Arbequina). Citrus and olive were grown in a greenhouse and watered with half strength Hoagland's solution plus 0 or 50 mM NaCl for citrus, or plus 0 or 100 mM NaCl for olive. Salinity increased Cl- and Na+ content in leaves and roots in both species and reduced total plant dry mass, net photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance. Decreased growth and gas exchange was apparently due to a toxic effect of Cl- and/or Na+ and not due to osmotic stress since both species were able to osmotically adjust to maintain pressure potential higher than in non-salinized leaves. Internal CO2 concentration in the mesophyll was not reduced in either species. Salinity decreased leaf chlorophyll a content only in citrus.

Source: Biologia Plantarum

DOI: 10.1007/s10535-008-0081-9

Authors: J. C. Melgar, J. P. Syvertsen, V. Martínez, F. García-Sánchez

Institutions: University of Córdoba, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura, Universidad de Murcia

Language: English

Topic: Plant Stress Responses and Tolerance

Subfield: Plant Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Zero hunger

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: University of Florida, Comisión Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnología