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Effect of water deficit stress on electrolyte leakage and mineral contents in citrus rootstocks
Abstract
This study evaluated the physiological performance, electrolyte leakage, and mineral content of trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata) and rough lemon (Citrus jambhiri) one-year-old seedlings under control and water- deficient conditions for 12 days. The experiment was conducted using a completely randomized design with two treatments and three replications. Under water deficit stress, sodium content in leaves increased by 39.42% in rough lemon compared to 35.81% in trifoliate orange leaves. Conversely, trifoliate orange roots reduced sodium levels more than rough lemon (27.27% vs. 23.03%). Leaves and roots of both rootstocks lost chloride content under water deficit stress, with rough lemon showing a stronger decrease than trifoliate orange (9.97% vs. 8.85% in leaves and 8.03% vs. 6.78% in roots). Calcium content in both rootstocks' leaves and roots increased under water deficit stress. In leaves, the increase was greater in trifoliate orange (11.58%) compared to rough lemon (10.59%), while in roots, rough lemon had a larger increase than trifoliate orange (22.89% vs. 21.39%). Under drought stress, trifoliate orange exhibited lower nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium content in leaves and roots compared to rough lemon, except for potassium content in roots (51.29% vs. 50.60%, 27.28% vs. 25.64%, 47.55% vs. 44.08%, and 33.63% vs. 33.42%). Under water deficit stress, trifoliate orange leaves and roots leaked more electrolytes than rough lemon leaves and roots (72.94% vs. 53.42% and 54.90% vs. 34.07%). On day 12 of the study, both rootstocks had a higher plant height, root length, fresh weight, dry weight, and diameter than on day zero, regardless of water treatment. However, rough lemon increased more than trifoliate orange, except for plant dry weight (18.49% vs. 14.32% for plant height, 9.04% vs. 8.03% for root length, 14.05% vs. 12.35% for plant fresh weight, 16.34% vs. 17.59% for plant dry weight, and 16.28% vs. 11.42% for plant diameter). Water deficit decreased leaf greenness in both rootstocks, but trifoliate orange decreased more than rough lemon (27.77% vs. 50.16%). Our results indicate that rough lemon plants cope better with short-term water deficit by maintaining growth and mineral balance.
