Chlorophyll fluorescence response of ‘Yusef Khani’ and ‘Malas-e-Yazdi’ pomegranate varieties under salinity stress

Purpose: The present research was done to evaluate the responses of ‘Yusef Khani’ (Y) and ‘Malas-e-Yazdi’ (M) Iranian pomegranates to salt stress under field conditions. Research method: Treatments included different salinized water (EC=1.05 as control, 4.61 and 7.46 dS m–1) and two commercially Iranian pomegranate varieties. Main findings: Interaction of salinity × variety showed the lowest chlorophyll (chl) and potassium (K) level, and the highest chloride (Cl) and sodium (Na) in M variety, under high level of salinity. Although the lowest non-photochemical quenching, and effective quantum yield of photochemical energy conversion in PSII observed in this variety under 7.46 dS m–1, however, basal quantum yield of non-photochemical processes in PSII increased. Accumulation of Na and Cl in leaf tissue increased with increasing salinity in both varieties. Moreover, lower accumulation of calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and iron (Fe) observed in both varieties. More Na and Cl was obtained within leaves of M variety, compared with other one. We found that there were some differences between these varieties and ‘Yousef Khani’ was more tolerant to salinity compared with ‘Malas-e-Yazdi’. Limitations: It might be better to evaluate several varieties for salinity resistance, however, it was impossible to us. Originality/Value: Iran is the main source of genetic variability for pomegranate. There is a huge diversity within pomegranate germplasm that should be studied for salinity and drought resistance. Thus, here we conducted a research to find a salt resistant pomegranate.