Vol. 82 No: 4

Title:
Calcium starvation increases salt susceptibility in olive plants but has no effect on susceptibility to water stress

Authors:
J.C. MELGAR, M. BENLLOCH and R. FERNÁNDEZ-ESCOBAR

pp: 622-626

Abstract:
The responses of leaf water status, growth, and ion concentrations to water or to saline stresses were compared in olive cuttings of different Ca²⁺ status. Mist-rooted ‘Picual’ olive cuttings were grown in a greenhouse in 2 l plastic pots containing perlite. A nutrient solution with or without 2.5 mM CaCl₂ was initially used to irrigate the plants.When the Ca²⁺ -starved plants differed in height from the Ca²⁺ -treated plants, water or saline stress (i.e., no irrigation or 75 mM NaCl, respectively) were applied.The results indicated that Ca²⁺ increased growth in saline-treated plants, but not in water-stressed plants. After 98 d growth, the stresses were relieved and the plants were irrigated again with or without Ca²⁺ . Growth increased and leaf water status was increased during this recovery period, but no direct effects of Ca²⁺ were observed in the response of plants to stress-relief. We suggest that the beneficial effect of Ca²⁺ on tolerance to salt stress in olive plants was related to protection against Na⁺ toxicity, because there was no response of water-stressed plants to the supply of Ca²⁺.

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