Shading Treatments Improved Plant Growth and Physiological Responses of Sweet Cherry Plants Subjected to Salt Stress

Abstract

The responses of sweet cherry plant to salt stress and shading treatments were investigated in the study. The study was performed in a greenhouse with 1-year-old 0900 Ziraat sweet cherry cultivar grafted onto MaxMa 14 grown in 10 L pots. About 2 months after planting, salinity and shading treatments were initiated. Three levels of shading (40, 60 and 80%) were employed. 35 mM NaCl (sodium chloride) was used to expose plants to moderate salt stress. The plants were stressed during four months. Many morphological and physiological responses were assessed. Salt stress remarkably decreased plant growth and chlorophyll, anthocyanin contents and stomatal conductance. Shading treatments protected cell membranes, leaf water status and photosynthetic pigments and leaded increment in gas exchange under salinity conditions. Cell death of leaves was observed by Evans blue staining. Necrotic lesion was not observed in the leaves of control, shading with 60 and 80% plants.The results of the study showed that shading with 80% had higher protective effect on salt stress in sweet cherry.

Physiological responses of the beet crop under agricultural environment and saline stress

“…Furthermore, Fan et al (2019) described that shading plants contain more chlorophyll for efficient light capture. Similar results to the present study were observed by Aras et al (2021) in the sweet cherry tomato crop grown in a protected environment and under salt stress.…”

“…Nojosa Lessa et al (2022), state that plants exposed to sunlight under salt stress show higher rates of uptake and translocation of potentially toxic ions when compared to shaded plants. In a study evaluating the responses of sweet cherry to salt stress under different shading, Aras et al (2021), found that the stomatal conductance of the plants reduced when grown under salt stress in a non-shaded environment.…”

“…Cultivation in a protected environment mitigates seasonal variations in production, reduces the adverse effects of excess rainfall, high incidence of radiation, and extremes of air temperature (Reis et al, 2012). The shading, partial or total, emerges as an alternative to minimize the damaging effects caused by salts on plants, due to the maintenance of photosynthetic mechanisms, CO2 assimilation and increased chlorophyll content (Aras et al, 2021;Gálvez et al 2020). Similarly, Nojosa Lessa et al (2022 on passion fruit and Pinho et al (2022) in the culture of Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell.)…”