The Evaluation of Inter-Specific Hybrid of P. atlantica × P. vera cv. ‘Badami Zarand’ as a Pistachio Rootstock to Salinity Stress

In order to evaluate the inter-specific hybrid of P. atlantica × P. vera cv. ‘Badami Zarand’ to salinity stress, an experiment was conducted as a factorial based in a completely randomized design with 0, 60, 120 mM salinity levels of NaCl2, CaCl2 and MgCl2 (3:2:1) on two rootstocks ‘Qhazvini’ and ‘Badami Zarand’ and an inter- specific hybrid of P. atlantica × P. vera cv. ‘Badami Zarand’. Mineral concentrations of sodium (Na), chloride (Cl), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca),  copper (Cu) and iron (Fe) in shoot increased at 120 mM salinity level; however, the phosphorus (P) concentration in root decreased. Rootstocks had significant differences in the concentrations of elements of shoot. The highest concentrations of Naand Clwere observed in ‘Badami Zarand’ and ‘Qhazvini‘rootstocks, and the lowest was observed in hybrid rootstock. The highest concentration of Mg was observed in hybrid rootstock, and the lowest was observed in ‘Badami Zarand’.  Due to restriction in the absorption and transport of chloride and sodium to the shoot, hybrid rootstock could tolerate more salinity than ‘Badami Zarand’ and ‘Qhazvini’ rootstocks.