IMPACT OF SALT STRESS ON MICRONUTRIENTS IN CORDYLINE FRUTICOSA VAR. ‘RED EDGE'

This trial was carried out to study the influence of the nutrient solution on the microelements concentration and distribution in C. fruticosa var. ‘Red Edge' plants. Four treatments were tested: T1 [control, 1.5 dS m−1, 14.3 mmol L−1 sodium chloride (NaCl)], T2 (2.5 dS m−1, 22.2 mmol L−1 NaCl), T3 (3.5 dS m−1, 32.7 mmol L−1 NaCl) and T4 (4.5 dS m−1, 38.2 mmol L−1 NaCl). In roots and stems, iron (Fe) concentrations were lower in the no saline treatment. Stems accumulated more Fe with treatments T3 and T4. Copper concentration and extraction were not affected by salinity. The highest manganese (Mn) concentration in roots was observed in T2, while in petioles was higher in T3 and T4. Manganese extraction reached higher levels in the saline treatments in roots and stems, while in petioles it was lower in T1, T2 and T3. In roots, zinc (Zn) concentration was lower with the extreme treatments. Micronutrients concentration in leaves was unaffected by salinity, because an exclusion mechanism that consists on accu...