Response of Six Grape Cultivars to the Combined Effects of High Salinity and Rootzone Waterlogging

Abstract

Abstract The effect of rootzone salinity (0 to 90 mM NaCl) on shoot growth of 6 grape cultivars [‘Sultana’ (syn. ‘Thompson Seedless’), ‘Carbernet Sauvignon’, ‘Crouchen’, ‘Shiraz’, ‘Doradillo’ and ‘Palomino’] grown as rooted cuttings was determined in sand cultures. Relative shoot growth values over 23 days with salt were ‘Palomino’ 100, ‘Sultana’ 94, ‘Shiraz’ 87, ‘Crouchen’ 83, ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ 63, and ‘Doradillo’ 59. Application of concurrent waterlogging (anaerobiosis) stress on the root system depressed shoot growth more than salt stress alone and changed the ranking for shoot growth. Waterlogging increased total uptake of Na and Cl, increased the amount of Na and Cl transported into the shoots, and resulted in visible leaf damage within 5 days of the onset of the waterlogging.