Morphological response in different citrus species used as rootstocks, subjected to saline and water stress under greenhouse conditions

Abstract

Due to the current climate change conditions and the high susceptibility to abiotic stress, citrus fruits require the correct use of rootstocks that allows optimal production with tolerances to changing environmental conditions. For this reason, the behavior of three citrus rootstocks, undergone to saline and water stress due to deficit and excess, under greenhouse conditions was studied. Twelve treatments were established, resulting from three types of stress (salinity, water deficit and water excess) plus a control (optimal conditions) and three rootstocks (cleopatra mandarin, mandarin lemon and sour orange tree). For salinity, the substrate was maintained at 6 dS/m (electrical conductivity) and field capacity, in water deficit 40 % of the field capacity was applied, in excess 150 % of the field capacity was used, and under optimal conditions work was done at <1dS / m and field capacity. Vegetative and growth variables were measured (height, stem diameter, number of leaves, stomatal density, among others). Mandarin lemon obtained a significantly higher value in most variables (height, number of leaves, stem diameter, among others), whilst cleopatra mandarin was the one that exhibited the least development.