Morphological and biochemical response of eight pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cultivars under salinity stress

Purpose: Identification of pomegranate cultivars with higher tolerance to salinity stress was the purpose of the current study. Research Method: One-year-old rooted cuttings of the pomegranate cultivars including Malase Saveh ( M-Saveh ), Malase Isfahan ( M-Isfahan ), Robabe Ghermeze Shiraz ( Robab ), Gabrie Yazd ( G-Yazd ), Gabrie Torshe Yazd ( GT-Yazd ), Zaghe Sefide Yazd ( ZS-Yazd ), Zaghe Torshe Yazd ( ZT-Yazd ) and Malase Torshe Pishva ( M-Pishva ) were cultured in plastic pots and treated with different concentrations of sodium chloride in irrigation water including 0 (control), 3, 6, 9 and 12 dS m-1. Findings: At 12 dS m- 1salinity level, the lowest decrease in plant height was observed in Robab , and M-Pishva and the lowest decrease in the plant diameter was recorded in ZT-Yazd and G-Yazd . At the same salinity level, GT-Yazd showed the lowest percentage of increase in electrolyte leakage (EL) compared to the control (23%). The highest increase in proline content was observed at 9 dS m^-1 salinity for ZSYazd and at 12 dS m-1 salinity for GT-Yazd . At high salinity levels, leaf chlorophyll content decreased in pomegranate cultivars compared to the control. The activity of peroxidase enzyme in MPishva , ZT-Yazd and GT-Yazd followed an increasing and then decreasing with increasing salinity levels. The activity of the superoxide dismutase enzyme was highest in G-Yazd , M-Isfahan and Robab . Limitations: Investigation of salinity tolerance in pots is one of the limitations of this study. Originality/Value: Yazd cultivars including G-Yazd , GT-Yazd , ZS-Yazd and ZT-Yazd were more tolerant to salinity stress.