Responses of Cherry Plant Grafted onto CAB-6P, MaxMa 14 and Mazzard Rootstocks to Short Term Salinity

Abstract

Salt stress is a common environmental challenge that adversely affects plant growth. However, little is known about the responses of plants to short term salinity. In the current experiment, we investigated morphological and physiological responses of a cherry cultivar (0900 Ziraat) grafted onto three rootstocks (CAB-6P, MaxMa 14 and Mazzard) to 35 mM NaCl stress. After one month, salt stress decreased plant growth of cherry plants. Rootstock, scion and shoot diameters and shoot length significantly decreased with salinity. The higher decrease in membrane permeability under salt stress was found in 0900/MaxMa 14 by 41%. 0900/Mazzard had the highest decline in LRWC by 15%. The results obtained demonstrate that a higher tolerance to short term salt stress was found in 0900 Ziraat grafted onto Mazzard is associated with: lower depression in plant growth, less decrease in chlorophyll content and more stability in cell membranes determined in membrane permeability measurement. Furthermore, the results showed that in the short term, cherry can be considered salt tolerant.