Evaluation of vegetative traits of some populations of Euphrates poplar (Populus euphratica Olive.) under different salinity conditions in the field

Euphrat Poplar (Populus euphratica Olive.) is a native tree of Iran with high adaptation to the ecological conditions of arid and desert areas. In this research, the plant cuttings were collected from main habitats including Masoumiyah, Hamidiyeh, Maranjab and Manjil. Traits such as survival and establishment percentage, diameter and height growth and the rate of disease and pest damage were measured. The results of split plot at the time and place of vegetative indices of seedlings showed significant effects of the studied factors on the diameter and height of seedlings (p≤0.01). In non-saline, Semi-salineand saline experimental farms, the population of Manjil had the highest and Marnjab the lowest survival. The populations of Manjil and Masoumiyah had the highest height in the non-saline farm. Vegetation indices in non-saline farms had higher values than semi-saline and saline farms. In the semi-saline farm, the population of Manjil and Masoumiyah had the largest and Marnjab and Hamidiyeh had the smallest collar diameters. Although in the saline farm, the populations of Masoumiyah and Manjil had the highest seedling height, but they were not significantly different from the other two populations. In the saline farm, in terms of seedling diameter, the populations of Masoumiyah and Manjil were superior to the others. The overall results showed that due to the higher genetic potential in Manjil habitat and suitable conditions of mother trees in terms of soil and especially water availability in Manjil and Masoumiyah habitats, survival and diameter and of height cutting are higher in these populations.