The effects of NaCl pre-treatments on salt tolerance of melons grown under long-term salinity
Date
2005-11-01
Authors
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Publisher
Elsevier
Abstract
The response of melon (Cucumis melo) plants to long-term salinity was investigated to determine the availability of the NaCl pre-treatments (seed priming + seedling conditioning) as an interesting strategy for increasing the salt tolerance. Seeds of melon cultivars "Hasanbey" and "Kirkagac" were primed with 18 dS m(-1) NaCl solution for 3 days at 20 degrees C. During emergence and seedling growth, non-primed seeds were irrigated with local irrigation water (EC: 0.3 dS m(-1)) whereas primed groups were treated with 9.0 dS m(-1) saline solution for 35 days. Seedlings derived from pre-treated (P) and non-pre-treated (NP) groups were transplanted to 8 1 pots. After transplanting, salinity treatments were started with the first irrigation. The salinity treatments consisted of five levels (control, 4.5, 9.0, 13.5 and 18.0 dS m(-1)) of irrigation solution for a period of 90 days. NaCl pre-treatments diminished the inhibiting effect of salinity on growth of melon plants. However, competence for salt adaptation varied with cultivar and the level of salinity. The physiological response of the P plants was also maintained in the long-term. Stomatal conductance and relative chlorophyll content of P plants tended to be higher than those of the NP ones. In addition, NaCl pre-treatments enhanced K and Ca concentrations of leaves and stems, and prevented toxic effects of salinity because less Na accumulated in stems. These results suggest that the use of NaCl pre-treatments could be a useful strategy to increase the salt tolerance of melon plants in the long-term and also to permit the establishment of melon crop by direct sowing in a saline medium.
Description
Keywords
Cucumis melo, Chlorophyll, NaCl pre-treatments, Salt tolerance, Stomatal behaviour, Ion content, Fruit-quality, Cultivars, Plants, Yield, Tomato, Water relations, Muskmelon, Agriculture
Citation
Sivritepe, H. Ö. vd. (2005). "The effects of NaCl pre-treatments on salt tolerance of melons grown under long-term salinity". Scientia Horticulturae, 106(4), 568-581.