Mitigation adverse effects of salt stress on Prunus persica L Florida prince peach cultivar

Abstract

Background and aim: Many horticultural plants, especially fruit trees, can have severely reduced growth, productivity, and fruit quality due to salinity. Methods:Under salt circumstances, soil applications of low spray irrigation systems, humic acid, Uni-sal, and mulching resulted in much higher vegetative growth than control, including shoot length, leaf number, and leaf area in shoots. Results: The maximum of photosynthetic pigments were obtained when using sprinkler irrigation systems and Uni-sal at a rate of 6 L/feddan in comparison with control and other treatments. All soil application treatments under salinity conditions led to a decreased proline content in the leaves of every peach tested cultivar in contrast to the control. Soil applications significantly increased potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc while causing a decrease in chloride content as compared with control. The maximum values of fruit weight, fruit size, fruit volume, T.S.S.%, ascorbic acid, T.S.S/acidity ratio, and anthocyanin, while these treatments led to a decrease in total acidity percent when the trees received Uni-sal at a rate of 6 L/feddan and sprinkler water system, compared with control. The highest yield was obtained when both Uni-sal at a rate of 6 L/feddan and the sprinkler water system were used. Conclusion: The Florida Prince Peach cultivar may benefit from soil application to increase growth, productivity, and fruit quality in the face of salt stress under climate change condition.