EFFECTS OF SALINITY AND WATER STRESS ON GROWTH AND MACRO NUTRIENTS CONCENTRATION OF POMEGRANATE (PUNICA GRANATUM L.)

In order to study the effects of salinity and water stress on growth and macronutrients concentration of pomegranate plant leaves, a factorial experiment was conducted based on completely randomized design with 0, 30, and 60 mM of salinity levels of sodium chloride and calcium chloride (1: 1) and three irrigation intervals (2, 4, and 6 days) with 3 replications on 'Rabab' and 'Shishegap' cultivars of pomegranate. The results of the shoot and root analysis indicated that the salinity and drought affected the concentration and distribution of sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), chloride (Cl-), calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), and phosphorus (P+) in pomegranate leaves. Mineral concentrations of sodium (Na+), chloride (Cl-), potassium (K+), in shoots and roots were increased with increasing salinity. Drought treatments increased the concentration of Cl-, Na+, and Mg2+ in the shoot. Both cultivars showed significant differences in the concentrations of elements, however the most accumulation of Na+ and Cl- was observed in 'Rabab,' while the 'Shishegap' cultivar had the most absorption of K+. 'Shishegap' cultivar showed higher tolerance to salinity than 'Rabab' through maintaining the vegetative growth and lower chloride transport to the shoot, and improvement of potassium transport to shoot.