Photosynthetica 2014, 52(4):589-596 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-014-0068-z

Effects of supplementary potassium nitrate on growth and gas-exchange characteristics of salt-stressed citrus seedlings

D. Khoshbakht1,*, A. Ghorbani2, B. Baninasab1, L. A. Naseri3, M. Mirzaei4
1 Department of Horticultural Science, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran
2 Department of Horticultural Science, College of Agriculture, Azad University, Makoo, Iran
3 Department of Horticultural Science, College of Agriculture, University of Urmia, West Azarbaijan, Iran
4 Department of Horticultural Science, College of Agriculture, Azad University, Garmsar, Iran

We investigated the effects of supplementary KNO3 and NaCl on one-year-old, potted Valencia orange (Citrus sinensis) scions grafted on Iranian mandarin Bakraii [Citrus reticulate × Citrus limetta] (Valencia/Bakraii) and Carrizo citrange [C. sinensis × Poncirus trifoliata] (Valencia/Carrizo) rootstocks. After watering plants for 60 days with 50 mM NaCl, the lowest reduction in dry mass, stomatal conductance, and chlorophyll (Chl) content was found in Valencia/Bakraii. Bakraii accumulated more Cl- and Na+ in roots and transferred less to Valencia leaves compared with Carrizo rootstock. Moreover, higher net photosynthetic rate was found in Valencia/Bakraii than those on Carrizo rootstock. NaCl caused a decrease in the maximal efficiency of PSII photochemistry (Fv/Fm) and effective quantum yield (ΦPSII) but elevated coefficient of nonphotochemical quenching. Salinity reduced Ca2+, Mg2+, and total N contents, and increased Na+/K+ ratio in leaves and roots of both grafting combinations. Salinity increased K+ and proline content in leaves and decreased K+ concentrations in roots of both grafting combinations. In salinized plants, nitrate supplementation (10 mM KNO3) reduced leaf abscission, Cl-, Na+, Na+/K+, and Ca2+ concentrations in leaves and roots of both combinations. K+ and N concentrations and proline increased in leaves of the nitrate-supplemented salinized plants. Supplementary nitrate increased leaf number and area, stem elongation, Chl content, Fv/Fm, and ΦPSII and stimulated photosynthetic activity. Thus, nitrate ameliorated the deleterious effects of NaCl stress and stimulated the plant metabolism and growth. It can be used as a vital treatment under such condition.

Additional key words: chlorophyll fluorescence; mineral nutrition; net gas exchange; nitrogen; rootstocks; salinity

Received: September 19, 2013; Accepted: April 18, 2014; Published: December 1, 2014  Show citation

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Khoshbakht, D., Ghorbani, A., Baninasab, B., Naseri, L.A., & Mirzaei, M. (2014). Effects of supplementary potassium nitrate on growth and gas-exchange characteristics of salt-stressed citrus seedlings. Photosynthetica, 52(4), 589-596. doi: 10.1007/s11099-014-0068-z
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