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Abstract
A nondestructive method for evaluating the salt tolerance of Prunus seedlings was devised for greenhouse sand-culture with 60 days of saline drip irrigation. The treatments contained half-strength Hoagland's solution using distilled water and supplementary chloride and sulfate salts of Na, Ca, and Mg to reach 1.5 dS·m–1 for control, 4.5 dS·m–1 for the first trial, and 6.0 dS·m–1 for the second and third trial screenings. After 60 days of irrigation with 6.0 dS·m–1 Nemaguard, the standard peach [P. persica (L.) Batsch] rootstock averaged 46% of the fresh weight, 53% of the volume, 66% of the height, and 74% of the foliar health ratings of the control seedlings. Percent of control values were compared for a tentative ranking of salt tolerance: ‘Titan’ almond × Nemaguard and P. mexicana Wats. > Nemaguard and Nemared > Myrobalan plum (P. cerasifera J.F.Ehrh.) and bitter almond (P. amygdalus var. amara Focke.). Correlation coefficients were used in selecting useful sets of evaluation parameters. Height was rejected as a screening parameter. Final fresh weight and a final foliar health rating are recommended for cursory screenings of Prunus germplasm. The last three weekly foliar health scores are useful for comparing rates of decline. Volume displacements are useful for comparing root vs. shoot growth.