ISHS Acta Horticulturae 537: III International Symposium on Irrigation of Horticultural Crops
COMBINED EFFECTS OF SALINITY STRESS AND METHANOL APPLICATION ON GROWTH AND PHYSIOLOGY OF MELON PLANTS |
| Authors: | M. Centritto, M.C. Villani, F. Loreto, S. Delfine, A. Alvino |
| Keywords: | Cucumis melo, leaf water potential, photosynthesis, Rubisco activity, salinity stress, stomatal conductance. |
| Abstract:
An experiment was conducted to examine the combined effects of salinity stress and methanol application on the growth and physiology of melon (Cucumis melo L.). Plants grown with optimum nutrition in a glasshouse were irrigated every day with either tap water (well-watered plants) or water containing 1% of NaCl (salt-stressed plants). Half of the well-watered and salt-stressed plants were also sprayed every week with 20% methanol solution. Although salinity stress reduced plant growth and physiological function, methanol application did not affect plant water relations, gas exchange, or growth in either salt-stressed or well-watered plants. Thus, it is concluded that methanol application had no beneficial effect in melon during either salt-stressed or unstressed conditions. | |
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