Tolerance mechanisms of three potted ornamental plants grown under moderate salinity

Abstract

The scarcity of water in the Mediterranean area has frequently led to the use of saline water in order to irrigate ornamental plants in many nurseries. However, before the large-scale use of such waters, the ways in which the plants deal with the salinity need to be evaluated. Plants of Aloe vera L. Burm, Kalanchoe blossfeldiana Poelln and Gazania splendens Lem sp. were grown in pots with a mixture of sphagnum peatmoss and Perlite. In order to evaluate the effects of different levels of salinity, three treatments using different NaCl concentrations (Electrical conductivity = 2.0 (control), 4.5 and 7.5 dS m −1) were applied over a period of 60 days. At the end of the experiment, the growth, physiological parameters and mineral content of the roots and leaves were assessed for each salinity treatment. After 60 days of exposure to salinity, the total biomass of all species decreased similarly. The mineral composition of roots and leaves was clearly affected. Osmolytes, such as proline, played an important role in the osmotic adjustment in all species increasing in the roots and leaves at the higher EC i. Different mechanisms of the salt tolerance were triggered in each species. A vera plants showed Na + accumulation at the root level and a decrease in succulence index of leaves. K. blossfeldiana plants shed leaves to release Na + and G. splendens plants accumulated Cl − and Na + at the root level, secreted salt from leaves, lost salt by shedding of old leaves and increased the succulence index of remaining leaves. We concluded that the use of saline waters is feasible for growing these ornamental plants, and G. splendens seems to be particularly well adapted to salinity, a consideration that is particularly relevant in arid saline areas.

Cascade Cropping System with Horticultural and Ornamental Plants under Greenhouse Conditions

“…The reduction of the water volume recorded in these closed systems is a great advantage, particularly in areas with scarcity of water such as in the Mediterranean area [29]. Significant removal of NO 3 − in applied water treatments can be related to the more intensive growth of these crops which resulted in a higher uptake of N as reported also by Vymazal [30].…”

“…The reduction of the water volume recorded in these closed systems is a great advantage, particularly in areas with scarcity of water such as in the Mediterranean area [29]. Significant removal of NO3 − in applied …”

Crop and Irrigation Management Systems under Greenhouse Conditions

“…The reduction of the water volume accomplished in these closed systems is a great advantage, particularly in areas with scarcity of water such as the Mediterranean area [27], and at the same time the absence of drainage indicates a higher sustainability, which is important for the environment. At the level of anion loads, higher removal of NO 3 − and H 2 PO 4 − in these closed systems than in the open system may be due to the fact that the more intensive growth of these crops resulted in a higher uptake of N [28] and P [29].…”

Quantitative and qualitative responses of Catharanthus roseus to salinity and biofertilizer

“…Hence, it becomes necessary to sort and identify ornamental plants tolerant or moderately tolerant to water salinity, which can allow the expansion in the use of saline water for garden irrigation and seedling production (Niu et al, 2012;Wu et al, 2016;García-Caparrós et al, 2016). In Brazil, however, ornamental plants are irrigated with good-quality water and information on their tolerance to salinity, and particularly 'Boa noite' (Catharanthus roseus), is limited and sporadic.…”