Effect of Saline Water Irrigation on Sour Orange and Volkamer Lemon Seedling Rootstocks

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Plant Production Dept. Fac. Env. Agric. Sci., Suez Canal Univ., Egypt

Abstract

This study was carried out during the two consecutive seasons of 2􀀘􀀙2 and 2􀀘􀀙3 in shade house for Plant
Production Dept. Fac. Environ. Agri. Sci. Suez Canal Univ. Egypt. Two citrus six-month-old uniform seedling citrus
rootstocks namely: Sour orange and Volkamer lemon transferred into black plastic tube PVC (􀀙5 cm diameter x 4􀀘 cm
depth) filled with 2kg growth media mixture of sand soil and peat moss (4:􀀙 by volume) and irrigated using the tap
water at 􀀙4 days before run treatments. These seedlings were subjected to three different irrigation saline water levels
(tap water 7􀀘􀀘 "control", 2􀀘􀀘􀀘, and 3􀀘􀀘􀀘 ppm) to determine the effects of water salt level on growth parameters,
chemical compositions, leaf total pigments and proline. The results obtained showed that Volkamer lemon seedlings
had the greatest leaf and root biomass, photosynthetic pigments, proline, leaf k content and area of root vascular bundle
and had the lowest values leaf 􀀵, Cl and 􀀵a content, thickness of root cortex, thickness of mesophyll tissue and leaf
blade, while Sour orange seedlings were on the contrary. 􀀶n the other hand, irrigation with the saline water caused
decrease the all vegetative growth parameters, plant photosynthetic pigments and area of root vascular cylinder, while
increased the leaf 􀀵, Cl and 􀀵a content, leaf proline concentration and thickness of root cortex, thickness of mesophyll
tissue and leaf blade. Finally, vegetative growth parameters, leaf mineral and leaf total pigments analysis and anatomy
features for root and leaf blade indicated that Volkamer lemon rootstock is more tolerant to salinity of irrigation water.

Keywords