Responses of '0900 Ziraat' Sweet Cherry Variety Grafted on Different Rootstocks to Salt Stress

This study was conducted to determine the responses of '0900 Ziraat' sweet cherry cultivar grafted on mazzard (Prunus avium L.) and mahaleb (P. mahaleb L.) rootstocks, to different irrigation water salinity levels. One year old sweet cherry trees were planted in 50-liter pots at Egirdir Fruit Research Station (Isparta, Turkey). Four different irrigation water salinity levels (S-1=0.3 dS m(-1) S-2=2.0 dS m(-1), S-3=4.0 dS m(-1) and S-4=6 dS m(-1)) were used for both variety/rootstock combinations. The results showed that sweet cherry trees grafted on mahaleb rootstocks extracted more water under saline conditions than the ones grafted on mazzard. Water salinity levels caused more damage on 0900/mazzard than on 0900/mahaleb. Towards the end of the growing period, plant deaths were detected in S-3 and S-4 treatments. While midday leaf water potential (LWP) ranged from -1.54 to -3.33 MPa, stomatal conductance ranged from 26.8 to 199.5 mmol m(-2) s(-1). It was determined that both parameters decreased towards the end of the growing period for all treatments. Sodium (Na) uptake was excluded by 0900/mahaleb rootstocks, but chloride (Cl-) uptake was excluded only for higher saline conditions. As a result, mahaleb (P. mabaleb L.) rootstock could be recommended to be used as rootstock for sweet cherry culture under saline conditions