Response of pomegranate cv. wonderful plants tο salinity

Three salts (NaCl; KCl; Na2SO4) were supplied to pomegranate cv. Wonderful plants, in order to investigate their effects on growth, nutrient status, chlorophyll, total carbohydrate content and antioxidant defense system. In general, high salt supply led to a significant decline in total N and K content of plants. Also, all salt treatments decreased Ca and Mg concentration of leaves. Both NaCl and KCl treatments increased leaf Cl concentration by up to 418%. Salt excess resulted in a significant decline of chlorophyll and carbohydrate concentration of leaves and/or roots. Finally, concerning antioxidants, diamine oxidase activity increased in the treatment of 120 mM Na2SO4. In conclusion, salinity impaired mineral nutrition of pomegranate cv. Wonderful. On the other hand, that cultivar presented mechanisms that alleviated the detrimental effects of salinity. Therefore, the studied plants, even under high saline treatments, managed to maintain water content, chlorophyll fluorescence and enzyme activity in normal levels. These results suggest that ,Wonderful, may be cultivated under saline conditions provided that a suitable fertilization program is used.