EFFECTS OF SALINITY ON SOME CITRUS ROOTSTOCKS

Citrus is a major horticultural crop worldwide and known as relatively susceptible to salinity. Salt damages are usually displayed as leaf burn and defoliation and are associated with accumulation of toxic levels of Na⁺ and/or Cl^- in leaf cells. Reactions against these toxicities depends on the rootstock used. In this study we have evaluated Tuzcu 891 sour orange, Swingle citrumelo, Volkameriana, Rubidoux trifoliate and Citremon in terms of salinity. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse. The treatments were control [nutrient solution with electrical conductivity [EC(w) of 0.41 dS m] and salinity [nutrient solution with EC(w) 6.0 dS m^(-1)] in a randomized block design with thirty replicants during 90 days period. Shoot and root dry weights, leaf and root potassium (K) concentrations, leaf and root calsium (Ca) concentrations, leaf and root chloride (Cl) concentrations, leaf and root sodium (Na) concentrations and symptoms in leaves were observed. Although root dry weight did not differ among those rootstocks, significant differences were determined in K, Ca, Cl, Na concentrations and shoot dry weights.