Salinity Tolerance and Leaf Water Use Efficiency in Citrus

Abstract

In three separate experiments, the growth and water use of salinized citrus rootstock seedlings and grafted trees were modified using different growth substrates, elevated CO2, or 50% shade screen under field conditions. By reanalyzing previously published data, we tested the hypothesis that salinity tolerance in citrus can be characterized as the ability to maintain low levels of leaf Cl− accumulation through high plant growth and high water use efficiency (WUE) under saline conditions. Well-irrigated salinized seedlings of the relatively salt-sensitive Carrizo citrange [Carr (Citrus sinensis × Poncirus trifoliata)] were grown in sand, clay, or a peat-based soilless media. Salinity stress reduced plant growth and water use. Leaf Cl− concentration was negatively related to plant growth, but leaf Cl− increased with transpiration rate in low-saline treatments. In a second experiment using salinized seedlings of the relatively salt-tolerant Cleopatra mandarin [Cleo (Citrus reticulata)] grown along with Carr seedlings with or without elevated CO2, leaf Cl− was negatively related to growth and to shoot/root dry weight ratio, but was positively related to water use such that leaf Cl− was negatively related to leaf WUE. In a third experiment using salinized 2-year-old ‘Valencia’ orange (C. sinensis) trees grafted on Cleo or Carr rootstocks and grown with or without shadecloth, leaf Cl− was positively related to leaf transpiration as both were higher in the spring than in the fall, regardless of rootstock or shade treatment. Overall, leaf Cl− was positively related to water use and was negatively related to leaf WUE. High growth, low water use, and consequently, high WUE of salinized citrus were related to low leaf Cl−. Such relationships can be used as indicators of salinity tolerance.