EFFECTS OF ROOTSTOCK ON THE PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE OF PEAR CULTIVAR ABBÉ FÉTEL TREES TO INCREASING LEVELS OF SALINITY OF THE IRRIGATION WATER

Salinity is one of the main soil constraints for the cultivation of horticultural crops.
The salt tolerance of many woody species seems to be associated with the exclusion of Na and Cl.
One-year-old trees of ‘Abbé Fétel’ own-rooted or grafted on three rootstocks: the quinces ‘MC’ and ‘Sydo’ and one clonal pear OHxF 40, were grown for one vegetative season with four salinity levels obtained by addition of sodium chloride in the water daily supplied by drip irrigation (control; 1.5 dS/m; 3.0 dS/m; 5.0 dS/m). Regardless of the genotype, the lower level of salinity (1.5 dS/m) stimulated growth, while higher levels (5.0 dS/m) reduced shoot elongation and dry weight.
Net leaf photosynthesis was slightly affected by salinity levels that reduced stomatal conductance and transpiration.
The accumulation of sodium in leaves was rapid and depended upon the genotype and salinity level.
Trees grafted on quinces (both ‘Sydo’ and ‘MC’) strongly increased leaf Na concentrations when irrigated with salt water, while own-rooted trees and trees on pear OHF 40 did not.

VIII International Symposium on Pear

S. Musacchi, M. Quartieri, M. Ciambellini, A. Masia, L. Corelli Grappadelli, M. Tagliavini

salinity, pear, quince, seedling, gas exchange

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2002.596.118