Evaluating the tolerance of young hybrid poplar trees to recycled waters high in salinity and boron

Int J Phytoremediation. 2010 Jul;12(5):419-39. doi: 10.1080/15226510903213910.

Abstract

The successful adoption of water recycling strategies in many arid regions will require crops able to tolerate poor-quality waters. We evaluated different clones for salt and boron (B) tolerance within each of seven genetically distinct genomic groups (e.g., deltoides, deltoides x nigra, trichocarpa x deltoides, trichocarpa x deltoides x maximowizcii, trichocarpa x deltoides x nigra, trichocarpa x nigra, trichocarpa x maximowizcii). During each evaluation period, different clones within each of the groups were irrigated with high sodium chloride (NaCl) salinity (i.e., 10-30 dS m(-1)) and B (i.e., 10 mg L(-1)) water up to a maximum of 150 days, for a 4-year testing period under micro-field plot conditions. Excessive accumulation (up to 6%) of chloride (Cl) likely caused toxicity symptoms (necrosis of the leaves) observed in the less tolerant clones, while leaf B concentrations rarely exceeded 300 mg kg(-1) DM in any clone. Increased soil salinity likely hindered the uptake of B by the clones. Our results show that a wide range of selected Populus clones, of parentage trichocarpa x nigra, followed by deltoides x nigra show potential salt and B tolerance as young trees to recycled waters high in salinity and B.

MeSH terms

  • Agricultural Irrigation / methods
  • Conservation of Natural Resources
  • Populus / drug effects
  • Populus / growth & development*
  • Recycling / methods
  • Salinity
  • Seasons
  • Sodium Chloride / pharmacology
  • Sunlight
  • Temperature
  • Washington
  • Waste Disposal, Fluid
  • Water Supply*

Substances

  • Sodium Chloride