ISHS Acta Horticulturae 586: IV International Symposium on Olive Growing
THE CONCENTRATION OF MINERAL ELEMENTS IN THE LEAVES, STEMS AND ROOTS OF SIX OLIVE CULTIVARS UNDER SALINE AND NORMAL IRRIGATION REGIMES |
| Authors: | M.H. Loupassaki, K.S. Chartzoulakis, N.B. Digalaki, I.I. Androulakis |
| Keywords: | Olea europaea.plant composition, salt tolerance |
| Abstract:
The effect of NaCl salinity on the mineral composition of the leaves, stems and roots of the Koroneiki, Mastoides, Kalamon, Amphissis, Kothreiki and Megaritiki olive cultivars was studied using potted one-year-old self-rooted trees. The treatments applied comprised the application of 0, 25, 50, 100 and 200 mM NaCl in half strength Hoagland nutrient solution. The treatments were applied for 5 months starting in May 1999. After the end of the experiment, destructive samples were collected and analysed for nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, manganese, zinc, and iron. In the no-NaCl treatment (controls) the higher concentration of mineral nutrients was found in the roots and the lower one in stems, with the only exception of N where, for nearly all cvs, the values in the roots were lower than in leaves but still higher than those of stems. Within each of the cultivars the concentration of K, Ca, Zn and Mn showed the higher degree of variation between the examined plant parts. The content of these elements in the root was two to three times higher than in the leaves and/or stems. Between cultivars (in the no-NaCl controls), the differences in the concentration of the mineral elements were higher in the stems and to a lesser degree in the roots. Similar type of concentration differences were found in the saline treatments as well. In this last case (NaCl treatments), however, a high decrease of the root K and to a lesser degree of root N and Fe concentrations occurred with the increase of the NaCl salinity. At the top NaCl levels root K% dropped to values even lower than those of the leaves. In general, salinity decreased the concentration of mineral nutrients in the tissues. Of all the elements determined K% showed the largest variation between cvs. In the shoots of the cultivars Mastoides, Kalamon, Amhissis, Kothreiki and Megaritiki (no-NaCl treatment), the concentration of this element was higher by 33, 47, 58, 105 and 48% of its concentration in Koroneiki. Kalamon was the cv less affected, showing no symptoms of toxicity and the changes of root Ca, Mg and Mn under increased salinity were minimal. | |
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