Influence of Salinity on Vegetative Growth of Six Native Mediterranean Species

摘要

High salinity can reduce plant growth and leaf area, which is detrimental to quality, especially in ornamental crops. The study of the behavior of ornamental plants that are tolerant to saline waters can be an advantage in areas with poor-quality irrigation water. The aim of this work was to study the influence of the fertigation water salinity on the vegetative growth of six Mediterranean crops. The species studied were Asteriscus maritimus, Crithmum maritimum, Sarcocornia fruticosa, Halimione portulacoides, Lavandula multiflda and Limonium cossonianum. Plants were cultivated during 60 days in pots with a mixture of peat:perlite 80:20 (v/v) in a polyethylene greenhouse. Three nutrient solutions with different salt concentrations were applied: Tl (100 mM), T2 (200 mM) and T3 (300 mM), obtained with the application of different amounts of sodium chloride (NaCI) to the fertigation water. Crithmum maritimum, Sarcoconia fructicosa and Halimione portulacoides had a positive response when salinity levelrise. Nevertheless, a significant reduction in leaf and total fresh and dry weight were detected due to the salinity concentration increase in Asteriscus maritimus and Lavandula multiflda. The 200 and 300 mM NaCl treatments resulted in a growth reductionof more than 20 and 29% in Asteriscus maritimus and 31 and 52% in Lavandula multiflda, respectively. Moreover, foliar injuries have been observed in Lavandula multiflda and Limonium cossonianum in the treatments with the highest salt concentration.