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Alipour H, Razavi Nasab A. Investigation of Element Concentrations and Morphological Characteristics of Seed Populations of Pistachio Hybrids (Pistacia vera L.) under Sodium Chloride Stress Conditions. Journal of Crop Production and Processing 2026; 16 (1) :1-18
URL: http://jcpp.iut.ac.ir/article-1-3384-en.html
URL: http://jcpp.iut.ac.ir/article-1-3384-en.html
Soil and Water Research Department. Agricultural Research and Education Center and Natural Resources of Yazd Province. Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization. Yazd. Iran. , azamrazavinasab@yahoo.com
Abstract: (61 Views)
Extended Abstract
Introduction: Pistachio has a special place in agricultural production and constitutes a major part of non-oil exports of Iran. On the other hand, salinity as an abiotic stress is one of the main challenges in agriculture in arid and semi-arid regions, which limits plant growth through disruption in water and nutrient absorption, ionic toxicity (such as sodium and chlorine), and osmotic imbalance. The gradual salinization of water and soil in pistachio growing areas is an aggravating problem, necessitating the serach for salt-resistant rootstocks. By identifying salt-resistant rootstocks, the possibility of developing pistachio cultivation in areas that face water and soil salinity is provided.
Materials and Methods: In 2019, four relatively salt-tolerant female cultivars (Ebrahimi, Badami Zarand, Seif al-Dini, Sarakhs), four salt-sensitive female cultivars (Koleh Ghochi, Rezai Zodars, Mumtaz, Fandoghi), from 30-year-old female cultivars in the collection of the National Pistachio Research Institute in Rafsanjan city, two relatively salt-resistant male genotypes (m15, m16) and two salt-sensitive male genotypes (m2, m3) from 40-year-old male cultivars in saline orchards in Anar city were considered. Crosses between female cultivars and male genotypes were carried out by artificial pollination in March 2019, and 16 hybrids were obtained from these crosses. After the end of the pollination stages, the controlled pollination samples were monitored until physiological maturity and harvest. At the time of pistachio harvest in September 2019, the desired pistachio samples were transferred to the laboratory for the second phase of the experiment. In the spring of 2011, hybrid pistachios were cultivated in 144 pots from the 16 hybrids obtained from the first phase of the experiment in a split-plot design with a randomized complete block design in three replications and three seedlings per replication with three salinity levels (0, 7, and 14 dS/m). Different salinity levels were allocated to the main factor and the 16 hybrids were considered as the secondary factor. After the end of the experiment, the seedlings were harvested in early July 2011, and morphological characteristics and element concentrations in the stem, root, and leaf were measured and the data were statistically analyzed.
Results: The results showed that with increasing salinity, stem fresh weight (55%), stem dry weight (46.15%), root fresh weight (36.17%), root dry weight (53.84%), seedling length (24.77%), and percentage of live seedlings (39%) decreased, and the length of drying from the stem tip (64.28%) and percentage of semi-dry seedlings (92%) increased. The difference between the two treatments of 7 and 14 dS/m in terms of stem dry weight, root fresh and dry weight, and seedling length was not statistically significant, which indicates that increasing salinity to 7 dS/m has no significant effect on seedling growth characteristics compared to the control treatment. Also, with increasing salinity, stem sodium (250%), root sodium (128%), and leaf sodium (250%) increased, and stem calcium (38.88%), root calcium (28%) increased, but stem potassium (8.3%), root potassium (19.35%), leaf potassium (50%), and leaf calcium (40.54%) decreased. The effect of salinity on stem, root, and leaf magnesium was not significant. In general, the results show that increasing sodium chloride
Received: Aug.. 12, 2025; Revised: Dec. 10 2025; Accepted: Dec. 14, 2025; Published Online: Apr. 08, 2026.
* Corresponding Author: a.razavinasab@areeo.ac.ir
reduces potassium absorption and increases root and stem calcium concentrations. The highest stem fresh weight, root fresh weight, and root dry weight belonged to the hybrid (Sif al-Dini * m15), the highest seedling length to (Fandoghi * m2), the highest petiole length to (Rezaei * m3) and (Kale Ghochi * m3), and the highest petiole diameter to (Sif al-Dini * m15) and (Momtaz * m2). The highest sodium and potassium concentrations of the stem were observed in the hybrid (fern* m16), the highest calcium concentration of the stem in the hybrid (fern* m15) and the highest magnesium concentration of the stem in the hybrid (Ebrahimi* m15). The highest potassium concentration of the root was observed in the hybrid (Ebrahimi* m15) and the highest magnesium concentration of the root was observed in the hybrid (Rezaei* m3). The highest potassium concentration of the leaf belonged to the hybrid (Keleh Ghochi* m2) and the highest magnesium concentration of the leaf was similar to the root in the hybrid (Rezaei* m3). Excess sodium in saline conditions causes osmotic imbalance, cell membrane destruction, growth reduction, and cell division and enlargement inhibition, while potassium is effective in maintaining osmotic balance, opening and closing stomata, and activating a number of enzymes. At different salinity levels, some rootstocks can prevent excess sodium from entering their tissues. Reduced potassium and calcium absorption and accumulation, followed by increased sodium, are among the important factors limiting plant growth in treatments under salt stress. Rootstocks that have a greater ability to absorb essential elements under saline conditions show better tolerance to salt stress. Resistant hybrids help maintain osmotic balance by reducing sodium absorption, increasing potassium absorption, and accumulating adaptive metabolites. Hybrid (Sayf al-Dini * m15) had the highest vegetative traits and hybrid (Sarkhs * m15) was the most sensitive hybrid to salinity. Hybrid (Kale Ghochi * m2) was the most sensitive hybrid to salinity with the highest amounts of sodium and potassium in the stem and root, and the most resistant hybrid to salinity (Rezaei * m2) was identified with the lowest amount of sodium and magnesium in the stem and the highest potassium and calcium in the root.
Conclusions: Among the 16 pistachio hybrids evaluated, some particularly Sif al-Dini * m15 showed higher salt tolerance by reducing sodium uptake and maintaining potassium and calcium absorption, which supported better osmotic balance and growth under saline conditions. In contrast, sensitive hybrids such as Sarakhs * m15 and Kale Ghochi * m2 accumulated more sodium and had reduced uptake of essential elements, leading to poorer growth. These results suggest that using salt-tolerant rootstocks, along with tailored nutrient management, can enable pistachio cultivation in salinity-affected areas.
Introduction: Pistachio has a special place in agricultural production and constitutes a major part of non-oil exports of Iran. On the other hand, salinity as an abiotic stress is one of the main challenges in agriculture in arid and semi-arid regions, which limits plant growth through disruption in water and nutrient absorption, ionic toxicity (such as sodium and chlorine), and osmotic imbalance. The gradual salinization of water and soil in pistachio growing areas is an aggravating problem, necessitating the serach for salt-resistant rootstocks. By identifying salt-resistant rootstocks, the possibility of developing pistachio cultivation in areas that face water and soil salinity is provided.
Materials and Methods: In 2019, four relatively salt-tolerant female cultivars (Ebrahimi, Badami Zarand, Seif al-Dini, Sarakhs), four salt-sensitive female cultivars (Koleh Ghochi, Rezai Zodars, Mumtaz, Fandoghi), from 30-year-old female cultivars in the collection of the National Pistachio Research Institute in Rafsanjan city, two relatively salt-resistant male genotypes (m15, m16) and two salt-sensitive male genotypes (m2, m3) from 40-year-old male cultivars in saline orchards in Anar city were considered. Crosses between female cultivars and male genotypes were carried out by artificial pollination in March 2019, and 16 hybrids were obtained from these crosses. After the end of the pollination stages, the controlled pollination samples were monitored until physiological maturity and harvest. At the time of pistachio harvest in September 2019, the desired pistachio samples were transferred to the laboratory for the second phase of the experiment. In the spring of 2011, hybrid pistachios were cultivated in 144 pots from the 16 hybrids obtained from the first phase of the experiment in a split-plot design with a randomized complete block design in three replications and three seedlings per replication with three salinity levels (0, 7, and 14 dS/m). Different salinity levels were allocated to the main factor and the 16 hybrids were considered as the secondary factor. After the end of the experiment, the seedlings were harvested in early July 2011, and morphological characteristics and element concentrations in the stem, root, and leaf were measured and the data were statistically analyzed.
Results: The results showed that with increasing salinity, stem fresh weight (55%), stem dry weight (46.15%), root fresh weight (36.17%), root dry weight (53.84%), seedling length (24.77%), and percentage of live seedlings (39%) decreased, and the length of drying from the stem tip (64.28%) and percentage of semi-dry seedlings (92%) increased. The difference between the two treatments of 7 and 14 dS/m in terms of stem dry weight, root fresh and dry weight, and seedling length was not statistically significant, which indicates that increasing salinity to 7 dS/m has no significant effect on seedling growth characteristics compared to the control treatment. Also, with increasing salinity, stem sodium (250%), root sodium (128%), and leaf sodium (250%) increased, and stem calcium (38.88%), root calcium (28%) increased, but stem potassium (8.3%), root potassium (19.35%), leaf potassium (50%), and leaf calcium (40.54%) decreased. The effect of salinity on stem, root, and leaf magnesium was not significant. In general, the results show that increasing sodium chloride
Received: Aug.. 12, 2025; Revised: Dec. 10 2025; Accepted: Dec. 14, 2025; Published Online: Apr. 08, 2026.
* Corresponding Author: a.razavinasab@areeo.ac.ir
reduces potassium absorption and increases root and stem calcium concentrations. The highest stem fresh weight, root fresh weight, and root dry weight belonged to the hybrid (Sif al-Dini * m15), the highest seedling length to (Fandoghi * m2), the highest petiole length to (Rezaei * m3) and (Kale Ghochi * m3), and the highest petiole diameter to (Sif al-Dini * m15) and (Momtaz * m2). The highest sodium and potassium concentrations of the stem were observed in the hybrid (fern* m16), the highest calcium concentration of the stem in the hybrid (fern* m15) and the highest magnesium concentration of the stem in the hybrid (Ebrahimi* m15). The highest potassium concentration of the root was observed in the hybrid (Ebrahimi* m15) and the highest magnesium concentration of the root was observed in the hybrid (Rezaei* m3). The highest potassium concentration of the leaf belonged to the hybrid (Keleh Ghochi* m2) and the highest magnesium concentration of the leaf was similar to the root in the hybrid (Rezaei* m3). Excess sodium in saline conditions causes osmotic imbalance, cell membrane destruction, growth reduction, and cell division and enlargement inhibition, while potassium is effective in maintaining osmotic balance, opening and closing stomata, and activating a number of enzymes. At different salinity levels, some rootstocks can prevent excess sodium from entering their tissues. Reduced potassium and calcium absorption and accumulation, followed by increased sodium, are among the important factors limiting plant growth in treatments under salt stress. Rootstocks that have a greater ability to absorb essential elements under saline conditions show better tolerance to salt stress. Resistant hybrids help maintain osmotic balance by reducing sodium absorption, increasing potassium absorption, and accumulating adaptive metabolites. Hybrid (Sayf al-Dini * m15) had the highest vegetative traits and hybrid (Sarkhs * m15) was the most sensitive hybrid to salinity. Hybrid (Kale Ghochi * m2) was the most sensitive hybrid to salinity with the highest amounts of sodium and potassium in the stem and root, and the most resistant hybrid to salinity (Rezaei * m2) was identified with the lowest amount of sodium and magnesium in the stem and the highest potassium and calcium in the root.
Conclusions: Among the 16 pistachio hybrids evaluated, some particularly Sif al-Dini * m15 showed higher salt tolerance by reducing sodium uptake and maintaining potassium and calcium absorption, which supported better osmotic balance and growth under saline conditions. In contrast, sensitive hybrids such as Sarakhs * m15 and Kale Ghochi * m2 accumulated more sodium and had reduced uptake of essential elements, leading to poorer growth. These results suggest that using salt-tolerant rootstocks, along with tailored nutrient management, can enable pistachio cultivation in salinity-affected areas.
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