The present research was conducted to assess physiological responses of 'Malas-e-Saveh' (Malas) and 'Shishe-Kab' (Shishe) pomegranates to water of different salt content and electrical conductivity (1.05, 4.61, and 7.46 dS m −1). Both cultivars showed a reduced trunk length due to salinity. Relative water content and stomatal conductivity of both cultivars were significantly reduced under salt stress, but ion leakage increased. In both cultivars, total chlorophyll (Chl) and carbohydrates decreased with rise in salinity, while proline accumulation increased. With salinity increment, the Chl fluorescence parameters (maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII and effective quantum yield of PSII) declined significantly in both cultivars, with higher reduction observed in Shishe. Generally, more Na + accumulated in shoots and more Cl − was observed in leaves. Cl − accumulation increased by salinity in leaves of Malas, but it was reduced in Shishe. The K + /Na + ratio in leaves decreased in both cultivars by salinity increment. Malas was less affected by osmotic effects of NaCl, but it accumulated more Cl − in its leaves. Thus, Malas might be more affected by negative effects of salinity.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

Effects of different scion-rootstock combinations on vigor, tree size, yield and fruit quality of three Iranian cultivars of pomegranate. Abstract-Introduction. Probably because pomegranate trees are established in orchards as own-rooted plants, there are no studies regarding scion-rootstock combination effects on growth, tree size, yield and fruit quality of this fruit tree. Thus, the main aims of our experiment were to study the effects of some pomegranate rootstocks on growth and yield characteristics of Iranian commercial cultivars used as scions. Materials and methods. Our research was carried out between the 1999 and 2007 growing seasons at a collection of 760 pomegranate cultivars in the Yazd Province of Iran. Rootstocks were provided via clonal propagation using stem cuttings similar in height, diameter and age (2 years old) from '