Evaluation of growth characteristics and nutrient concentration in four almond (Prunus dulcis) genotypes budded on GF677 rootstock under salinity stress

Scion-rootstock combination and level of salinity affect growth characteristics and concentration of nutrition elements of almond leaves and roots. In this research, effects of salinity stress were investigated on growth characteristics and nutrient concentration of almond leaves and roots by completely Randomized Design (CRD), with two factors, genotype and water salinity with three replications. Studied Genotypes were ‘Non Pareil’, ‘A200’, ‘Mamayi’, ‘1-25’ which budded on GF677 and ‘GF677’ (non budded as control) and water salinity consisted of 0, 1.2, 2.4, 3.6 and 4.8 g/l of natural salt. Results showed that with increasing of salinity levels, scion height, scion diameter, number of produced leaves and percentage of green leaves had been reduced, but percentage of necrotic leaves and percentage of downfall leaves were increased. Also, in all studied genotypes, the highest percentage of Na+, Cl-, Na+to K+ ratio, Na+ to Ca++ ratio, Na+ to Mg++ ratio, Na+ to P ratio and the lowest percentage of Ca++, Mg++, P and concentration of Cu++ in leaves and roots and the lowest concentrations of Fe++ in roots were observed in treatment irrigated with 9.8 ds/m of NaCl. In all levels of salinity, genotype ‘1-25’ had the lowest percentage of Na+, Cl-, Na+ to K+ ratio, Na+ to Ca++ ratio, Na+ to Mg++ ratio and Na+ to P ratio. In comparison to other genotypes, this genotype could tolerate the harmful effects of Na+ in salinity of 7.3 ds/m by increasing the percentage of K+ (1.19%), concentration of Cu++ (9.56 ppm), Fe++ (27.48 ppm) and Zn++ (66.80 ppm). Overall, ‘1-25’ and ‘Mamayi’ were recognized as the most tolerant and sensitive cultivars to salinity stress, respectively.