EFFECT OF SALINITY ON PHYSIOLOGICAL AND GROWTH PARAMETERS OF PISTACHIO (PISTACIA VERA)

This study was conducted during two years (2007-2008) to assess the effects of saline irrigation water on the behaviour of 5-year-old female trees of Mateur variety grafted onto Pistacia vera rootstocks.
Three water qualities were used in irrigation 1. fresh water (ECw: 1.95 dS/m) 2. Moderately saline water (ECw: 5 dS/m) and 3. saline water (ECw: 12 dS/m). Tree growth was followed by the measurement of shoot length and vegetative bud number.
Physiological behaviour was assessed by the determination of relative water content, cell membrane stability, proline and soluble sugar leaf contents.
Results showed that tree growth was affected by salinity during the period of the study.
For all treatments, the apical and axillary shoot lengths, vegetative bud number and shoot diameter decreased in 2008 in comparison with 2007 values.
The salinity at 5 dS/m stimulated the length and bud numbers of axillary shoots.
At 12 dS/m the growth parameters declined significantly and leaf proline and soluble sugar contents increased significantly.
However, electrolyte leakage in leaf tissues did not show any significant variation.

V International Symposium on Pistachios and Almonds

H. Mehdi, A. Chelli Chaabouni, D. Boujnah, M. Boukhris

Pistacia vera, Pistacia atlantica, growth, proline, soluble sugar, electrolyte leakage

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2011.912.22