Growth, ion accumulation, and lipid composition of two olive genotypes under salinity¹

Research supported by the National Research Council of Italy, Special Project RAISA, Subproject No. 2, Paper No. 2093.

Abstract

Olive (Olea europaea L cv. Leccino and cv. Frantoio) plants grown in aeroponic cultivation system were supplied with Hoagland solutions containing 0 and 150 mM NaCl for 4 weeks. Sodium (Na⁺), chloride (Cl^‐), and potassium (K⁺) concentration was measued on 15‐day‐old leaves and K⁺/Na⁺ selectivity ratio was calculated. Plant water relations were estimated on the same leaves by measuring leaf bulk water and osmotic potentials, and by calculating leaf turgor pressure. Root and leaf tissues were also analysed for lipid composition, estimating free sterol (FS), glycolipid (GL) and phospholipd (PL) content. The salt‐sensitive Leccino accumulated more Na⁺ and Cl^‐ in the leaves and showed a lower K⁺/Na⁺ selectivity ratio than the salt‐tolerant Frantoio. The FS/PL ratio and the content of GL (namely mono‐galactosyldiglyceride, MGDG) in the roots were related to the salt accumulation in the shoot. Salinity‐induced changes on root lipids were more important in Frantoio than in Leccino, indicating the specific role of the roots in salt exclusion mechanisms. Conversely the effect of salinity on leaf lipid composition was more important in the leaves of the salt‐sensitive Leccino.

Notes

Research supported by the National Research Council of Italy, Special Project RAISA, Subproject No. 2, Paper No. 2093.

Istituto sulla Propagazione delle Specie Legnose, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Ponte di Formicola 76,1–50018, Scandicci, Italia.

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Notes on contributors

M. Tattini

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