Relationship between Salt Concentration in the Irrigation Water and Leaf Area and Leaf Chlorophyll Content in Four Antiphylloxeric Rootstocks of Grapevine

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the effects of irrigation with saline water on leaf area (LA) and leaf chlorophyll content (LCC) in four American antiphylloxeric rootstocks of grapevine (1103P, 140RU, SO4, and Kober5BB). The study was conducted during two consecutive years 2015-2016, at the Experimental Base of the Agricultural University of Tirana. Cuttings of the four rootstocks were planted for rooting in 9.5 litres pots. Rootstock’s cuttings were irrigated using normal tap water during 132 days, and, after that, they were irrigated using six different NaCl concentrations solutions (control - normal tap water, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 mg/l NaCl) for 45 days. Five pots (with 2 rooted cuttings each) for treatment for each rootstock were used. Observed results showed that with the increase of the salinity level on the irrigation water, the LA and the LCC were significantly decreased for all rootstocks, but the decreasing level was different. The highest levels of LA and LCC reductions were observed for SO4, followed by Kober5BB, 140Ru, and, the last, 1103P. Results showed that there exists a negative correlation between the irrigation water salinity and LA and LCC (r = - 0.99514261 and r = - 0.983986129, respectively). 1103P showed the lowest reduction of LA and LCC which means that 1103P was the rootstock most resistant to salinity on the irrigation water, while SO4 was the least resistant. Relationship between salinity, rootstock and LA and LCC was significant and statistically confirmed by ANOVA (p ≤ 0.05).