Effect of Salinity Stress on Chloride, Sodium, Potassium, Chlorophyll and Soluble Sugars Content in Citrus Genotypes

To determine salinity-tolerant genotypes among the citrus germplasm present in Kotra collection, a greenhouse experiment was carried out as factorial, completely randomized design with three replications, at four levels of NaCl (0, 2, 4 and 6 dS/m) and 10 unknown genotypes, for 16 weeks. Cleopatra mandarin and Swingle Citromelo, as tolerant (control) and sensitive cultivars, respectively, were used. After 6 months of seedlings growth in pots containing equal amounts of perlite, sand and garden soil, the irrigation water, containing different concentrations of sodium chloride was applied every 5 days (considering climatic conditions and plant requirements). At the end of the experiment, concentration of chloride and sodium in leaf and root, chlorophyll a and b and total chlorophyll content and concentration of soluble sugars in leaves were measured. Results showed that salinity increased chloride and sodium concentration in root and leaf. The lowest level of accumulation of chloride in leaf was related to genotype g9 and Cleopatra mandarin. Potassium concentration and chlorophyll a and b content decreased with salinity, while the interaction of genotype and salinity did not show significant difference in these characteristics. Genotypes were different in content of soluble sugars, in response to salinity. Based on the results, genotype g9, because of the lowest increase in leaf chloride content and also the lower decrease in total chlorophyll content, in comparison with most of the studied genotypes, can be considered as a tolerant genotype to salinity stress, and could be utilized in breeding programs of rootstocks.