Short communication, Note

https://doi.org/10.2478/botcro-2018-0012

Physiological and growth responses of sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) plants subjected to short-term salinity stress

Ioannis E. Papadakis orcid.org/0000-0002-9428-6382 ; Laboratory of Pomology, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 118 55 Athens, Greece
Georgia Veneti ; Laboratory of Pomology, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Christos Chatzissavvidis ; Laboratory of Pomology, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Ioannis Therios ; Laboratory of Pomology, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece

Abstract

The gradual response of CAB-6P sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) plants to NaCl-induced salinity stress (60 mM NaCl) was investigated in a short-term hydroponic experiment, based on parameters relating to the growth, water relations, chlorophyll and mineral nutrition. The results showed that CAB-6P plants are very sensitive to salinity stress because their growth and leaf chlorophyll concentration were both affected negatively from the 3rd and 5th day, respectively, after incurring salinity stress. Since root growth was suppressed more severely than shoot growth, the shoot to root ratio was significantly increased under saline conditions. The concentrations of Na in leaves and stem of NaCl-treated plants were much lower than those measured in roots, suggesting Na exclusion mechanism from the shoot. The opposite trend was observed for Cl, indicating Cl inclusion mechanism to leaves. As regards the concentrations of Ca, Mg, P, K, Na, Fe, Zn and Mn, they were not changed in higher salinity conditions, apart from K, concentrations of which in leaves and roots were significantly increased and decreased, respectively (K translocation to leaves). Salinity further reduced K/Na ratio in root and stem as well as leaf water and osmotic potentials, whereas leaves of control and NaCl-treated plants presented similar turgor potential and K/Na ratio. These data add very important information to our knowledge about the physiological events occurring in sour cherry plants after even short-term exposure to salinity.

Keywords

chlorophyll; CAB-6P rootstock; Cl inclusion; ion concentrations; Na exclusion; osmotic adjustment; water relations

Hrčak ID:

206261

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/206261

Publication date:

1.10.2018.

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