The influence of rootstock on growth and ion concentrations in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) under saline conditions

Abstract

SUMMARYA study was conducted to evaluate the influence of rootstock on the growth and ion concentrations in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) plants under salt stress. Pepper plants (‘Ibleor’) were grafted onto three different rootstocks (‘Atlante’, ‘Galaxy’, and ‘Robusto’). Non-grafted ‘Ibleor’ plants were also studied as controls. Treatments consisted of a non-saline nutrient solution or two iso-osmotic saline plus nutrient treatments (30 mM NaCl and 20.5 mM Na2SO4).Grafting did not enhance the growth of pepper plants under non-saline conditions, whereas reductions in growth due to salinity were attenuated in grafted plants compared to non-grafted plants. The different levels of tolerance of the three rootstocks to salinity did not appear to be related to the capacity of each genotype to maintain leaf turgor by osmotic adjustments, but did appear to be associated primarily with a reduced uptake of toxic ions and, therefore, to a lower concentration of these ions in the grafted plants. The nutritional status of plants exposed to either saline treatment was influenced only slightly by grafting.