Long‐term effect of salinity on plant quality, water relations, photosynthetic parameters and ion distribution in Callistemon citrinus. (30th September 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Álvarez, S.; Sánchez‐Blanco, M. J.; Sparks, J.
• Is Part Of: Plant biology. Volume 16:Number 4(2014:Jul.)
• Page Start: 757
• Page End: 764
• Publication Date: 2013-09-30
• Subjects: Botany -- Periodicals; Plants -- genetics -- Periodicals; Plants -- growth & development -- Periodicals; Plant Proteins -- Periodicals; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant -- Periodicals; Botanique -- Périodiques; 580
• DOI: 10.1111/plb.12106
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1435-8603

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="plb12106-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>The effect of saline stress on physiological and morphological parameters in <italic>Callistemon citrinus</italic> plants was studied to evaluate their adaptability to irrigation with saline water. <italic>C. citrinus</italic> plants, grown under greenhouse conditions, were subjected to two irrigation treatments lasting 56 weeks: control (0.8 dS·m<sup>−1</sup>) and saline (4 dS·m<sup>−1</sup>). The use of saline water in <italic>C. citrinus</italic> plants decreased aerial growth, increased the root/shoot ratio and improved the root system (increased root diameter and root density), but flowering and leaf colour were not affected. Salinity caused a decrease in stomatal conductance and evapotranspiration, which may prevent toxic levels being reached in the shoot. Net photosynthesis was reduced in plants subjected to salinity, although this response was evident much later than the decrease in stomatal conductance. Stem water potential was a good indicator of salt stress in <italic>C. citrinus</italic>. The relative salt tolerance of <italic>Callistemon</italic> was related to storage of higher levels of Na<sup>+</sup> and Cl<sup>−</sup> in the roots compared with the leaves, especially in the case of Na<sup>+</sup>, which could have helped to maintain the quality of plants. The results show that saline water (around 4 dS·m<sup>−1</sup>) could be used for growing <italic>C. citrinus</italic> commercially. However, the cumulative effect of irrigating with saline water for 11 months was a decrease in photosynthesis and intrinsic water use efficiency, meaning that the interaction of the salinity level and the time of exposure to the salt stress should be considered important in this species.</p> </abstract>