Salt tolerance of mango rootstocks (Magnifera indica L. cv. Osteen)

Abstract

The aim of this work was to establish the criteria to determine the relative tolerance of mango rootstocks (Mangiferaindica L.) to high Cl- and Na+ concentrations present in irrigation water. Two rootstocks, Gomera-1 and Gomera-3 grafted with the cultivar Osteen, were subjected to study. Grafted plants were exposed to salinized irrigation watersmeasured by electrical conductivity (1.02, 1.50, 2.00 and 2.50 dS m-1). Results indicated differences in retainingtoxic elements in different organs (roots, stem, or leaves) of both rootstocks. Gomera-3 was more sensitive as took uphigher amounts of Cl- and Na+ than Gomera-1. Gomera-1 was more tolerant, being the tolerance possibly associatedwith the capacity of this rootstock to restrict the uptake and transport of Cl- and Na+ ions from the root system to theaboveground parts. The Cl- ions were more toxic in rootstock and cultivar leaves, while the Na+ ions were more toxicin the roots. Therefore, the present study reveals that Gomera-1 proved to be the most adaptable rootstock to salineconditions, making it feasible for use in areas with low water quality.