Growth, nutrient acquisition, and physiological responses of three olive cultivars to induced salt stress

Three olive (Olea europaea L.) cultivars Nabali Baladi (NB), Nabali Muhassan (NM), and Grossi Di'Espagna (GE) were evaluated under salt stress. Seedlings were treated with salinity induced by a 3:1 ratio of calcium chloride and sodium chloride to four concentration levels measured as electrical conductivity (EC) [1.2, 4.1, 7.0, and 14.0dS/m] for 122days. Olive seedlings varied in their response to salinity. In all treatments, NB had the highest root; stem and leaf dry weights had among the highest total plant dry weights, specific stem length (SSL) and relative water content (RWC). NB seedlings maintained the highest stomatal conductance at 7.0dS/m and highest chlorophyll index at 14.0dS/m. Olive seedlings that tolerated salt tolerance developed mechanisms of nutrient acquisition and distribution in the organs, by storing minimal amounts of sodium (Na+) and chloride (Cl-) in the stems and loading the most in the leaves and roots.