The response of young mandarin trees grown under saline conditions depends on the rootstock

We studied the effects of the rootstocks, Cleopatra mandarin and Carrizo citrange and of saline irrigation water (3, 15 and 30 mM NaCl) on yield, growth, fruit quality and leaf mineral composition of ‘Clemenules’ mandarin citrus trees. At the end of the experiment, ‘Clemenules’ trees grafted on Carrizo had higher yield efficiency (cumulative yield of three years per canopy volume) than trees grafted on Cleopatra, under both control and saline treatments. Fruit yield was reduced by the salinity due to a decrease in the number of fruit per tree but not fruit size. Trees on Cleopatra mandarin accumulated less Cl− and more Na+ than those grafted on Carrizo. The leaf Na+ concentration reached its maximum value during the first year; however, the leaf Cl− concentration continued increasing with time. For both rootstocks, leaf concentrations of N, P and K+ decreased with increasing salinity levels. Salinity reduced juice content and increased total soluble solids (TSS) in fruit from trees on Carrizo.