ISHS Acta Horticulturae 726: IV International Symposium on Pistachios and Almonds
RESPONSES OF CULTIVATED AND WILD ALMONDS TO SALINITY |
| Authors: | A. Rahmani, H. Sardabi, H.A. Daneshvar |
| Keywords: | Amygdalus scoparia, ecotype, genotype, Prunus dulcis var. amara, root, shoot |
| Abstract:
The aim of the study was to investigate the almonds most tolerant to salinity levels. For this reason, two species of wild almond (Amygdalus scoparia and A. lycioides) and two genotypes of cultivated almond (Prunus dulcis) were tested at five levels of salinity (control, 500, 1200, 2000 and 3000 mg L-1) under Factorial statistical method based on a randomized complete blocks design with three replicates. Equal amounts of NaCl and CaCl2 was used to provide the salinity treatments at different levels. Washed sand material was implemented for seed bed. The salt treatments were applied when the seedling height reached 15 cm. The seedling performances data were collected every 15 days. The results showed that the salinity treatments affected the almonds’ performance significantly. The seedlings height, diameter and dry weight (leaf and stem) decreased when the salinity levels increased. The leaves of the influenced seedlings burned at their margins then the effect was extended to whole leaves and in the end, they wilted and fell down. Salt level beyond 1200 mg L-1 decreased almonds growth dramatically at their first stage of life, damaged, and finally killed them. At low levels of salinity, the cultivated almond achieved greater growth than the wild almonds, whereas at level of 1200 mg L-1 A. lycioides grew greater than the cultivated almond. | |
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