P. Rodriguez et al., EFFECTS OF SALINITY ON GROWTH, SHOOT WATER RELATIONS AND ROOT HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY IN TOMATO PLANTS, Journal of Agricultural Science, 128, 1997, pp. 439-444
Growth, shoot water relations and root hydraulic conductivity were stu
died in tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum cv. INCA9) subjected to
different salt concentrations in the root medium. Two experiments wer
e carried out at Institute Nacional de Ciencias Agricolas (INCA), Cuba
, during May and June 1995. In the first experiment, plants were grown
for 13 days in a nutrient solution with 0 or 100 mM NaCl. In the seco
nd experiment, the hydraulic conductivity was measured on roots submer
ged in nine different concentrations of NaCl up to 200 mM. The effect
of temperature treatments between 0 and 50 degrees C on root hydraulic
conductivity was also examined. Shoot growth, leaf water potential, l
eaf stomatal conductance, leaf relative water content and root hydraul
ic conductivity values decreased more rapidly in the treated plants th
an in control plants. A strong correlation was found between the root
hydraulic conductivity and leaf water parameters, indicating that wate
r flow through the roots was the main factor controlling shoot water r
elations.