Pre-conditioning ornamental plants to drought by means of saline water irrigation as related to salinity tolerance |
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Authors: | Fernando Fornes Rosa María Belda Carolina Carrión Vicente Noguera Pilar García-Agustín Manuel Abad |
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Institution: | 1. Instituto Agroforestal Mediterráneo, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, P.O. Box 22012, E46071 Valencia, Spain;2. Departamento de Ciencias Experimentales, Universitat Jaume I, Campus de Riu Sec, E12071 Castellón, Spain |
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Abstract: | This study examines the feasibility of using saline irrigation water for commercial pot cultivation of three ornamentals: Calceolaria hybrida, Calendula officinalis and Petunia hybrida. Two saline treatments were assayed: irrigation with low saline tap water (electrical conductivity = 1.16 dS m−1), and irrigation with a high saline solution of NaCl 100 mM + CaSO4 10 mM + MgSO4 2.5 mM (electrical conductivity = 12.5 dS m−1). When the control plants reached marketable size the watering was stopped and the plant response to drought was studied. Petunia and Calceolaria were tolerant to salinity. Petunia saline-treated plants reduced their growth slightly and increased N and chlorophyll contents in the leaves. Calceolaria experienced a strong reduction in growth and a delay in flowering but no toxicity symptoms or mortality was recorded. These species were moderate NaCl accumulators. Calendula was sensitive to salinity: 16% of the plants died and the surviving ones experienced a heavy reduction of growth, a decrease in chlorophyll and a large accumulation of NaCl in the leaves. Saline pre-conditioned plants of Calceolaria and Petunia were tolerant to drought. In these plants, leaf water content and, specifically, leaf relative water content were sustained longer than in non-pre-conditioned plants throughout the drought period. In Calendula, leaf relative water content decreased at the same rate in pre-conditioned and non-pre-conditioned plants. Consequently, salinization did not confer drought resistance upon this species. Possible factors determining the tolerance to drought in saline pre-conditioned plants are discussed. |
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Keywords: | Ornamentals Salinity tolerance Drought tolerance Water stress Soilless growing media Mediterranean climate |
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