| Abstract | Avocado is a salt sensitive fruit tree species that often faces serious problem of saline toxicity in many coastal areas, including those of Greece. Salinity cause negative effects on avocado yields and fruit quality, as well as on the survival of young plantlets. In order to investigate this problem, a 75-day pot experiment, inside an experimental greenhouse, with 6 NaCl treatments (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 meq NaCl L-1) was conducted. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of NaCl stress on: i) the nutrition of ‘Fuerte’ avocado plants and Na and Cl distribution in different vegetative tissues (Top leaves, Basal leaves, Graft stem, Rootstock stem and Root), ii) the compartmentalization of Na and Cl within the following leaf surface area zones: Apex (1), Margin (2), Centre (3) and Base (4), in mature, as well as in young leaves. It was found that the highest Cl and K concentrations in the top and basal leaves were found in 30 meq NaCl L-1. Na concentration was significantly higher in graft stem, rootstock stem and root, in the treatments 15-30 meq NaCl L-1. Compartmentalization in mature leaves indicated that Cl concentration was significantly higher in the Apex leaf zone, in the treatments 15, 20 and 30 meq NaCl L-1. With regard to Na compartmentalization, neither in the young leaves, nor in the mature ones were found significant differences in Na concentration among the leaf zones 1-4. |
