Effects of NaCl salinity on some leaf nutrient concentrations, non-photochemical quenching and the efficiency of the PSII photochemistry of two Iranian pomegranate varieties under greenhouse and field conditions: Preliminary results

ABSTRACT

The present research was conducted to study the responses of ‘Malas–e–Saveh’ (M) and ‘Shishe–Kab’ (Sh) Iranian pomegranates to sodium chloride (NaCl) stress under greenhouse and field conditions. Treatments included waters electrical conductivity (EC = 1.5, 3, 6, 9 and 12 dS m⁻¹ for greenhouse) and (EC = 1.05 as control, 4.61 and 7.46 dS m⁻¹ for field studies). Interactive effects of salinity × variety indicated the highest chlorophyll and leaf potassium concentration, and the lowest leaf chloride and sodium in control under greenhouse study. Non-photochemical quenching, effective quantum yield of photochemical energy conversion in PSII reduced under the highest salinity level in field, however, basal quantum yield of non-photochemical processes in PSII increased in the highest salinity. Sodium and chloride increased with increased in salinity. Calcium, magnesium and iron significantly decreased with increased in salinity. It seems that there are differences between pomegranate cultivars and Malas-e-Saveh is more tolerant compared with Shishe Kab.

KEYWORDS:

• Chloride
• chlorophyll fluorescence
• nutrient uptake
• NPQ
• qP
• pomegranate
• salinity
• sodium
• shoot growth

Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge Dr. Farid Moradinezhad, Alireza Samadzadeh, Yasin Helalbeigi and Masoud Khazaee for their capable technical assistance.