GROWTH AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF PISTACHIO ROOTSTOCKS IN RESPONSE TO GROWTH REGULATORS UNDER SALINE CONDITIONS

Authors:	M. Rahemi, M. Heidari
Keywords:	Pistachio rootstock, salinity, growth regulators.
Abstract: The growth response of pistachio rootstocks to growth regulators under salinity was studied. Seedlings of ‘Qazvini’, ‘Sarakhs’ (Pistacia vera L.) and ‘Beneh’ (P. mutica F. & M.) were used in this study. They were grown in 6-kg plastic bags with soil (35% sand, 35% silt and 30% clay) and irrigated with solutions varying in NaCl concentration (0, 2000, 4000 mg l^-1). Seedlings growing under saline conditions were sprayed with gibberellic acid (GA₃), benzyladenine (BA), and Cycocel (0, 250, 500 mg l^-1). Responses to plant growth regulators (PGR) were different. In all rootstocks growth increased in response to GA₃ application. Dry weight in ‘Beneh’ was also increased by GA₃ treatment. Benzyladenine increased the dry weight of shoots in all three rootstocks. Although cycocel had no apparent effect on vegetative growth, the effects on seedling chemical composition were the same as those observed with GA₃ and BA application under salt stress. The results showed that application of plant growth regulators caused changes in growth and chemical composition in all three rootstocks under saline conditions. The extent of such changes depended on both PGR concentration and salinity levels.
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