Analysis of the Tolerance of 22 Malus baccata Accessions to Alkali Stress
Lu Zhang,
Xuan Liu,
Lijuan Dong,
Wei Liang,
Fengwang Ma,
Wenquan Yu,
Zhengnan Li,
Cuiying Li
Affiliations
Lu Zhang
State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-efficiency Production/Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Apple, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, PR China
Xuan Liu
State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-efficiency Production/Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Apple, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, PR China
Lijuan Dong
State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-efficiency Production/Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Apple, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, PR China
Wei Liang
State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-efficiency Production/Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Apple, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, PR China
Fengwang Ma
State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-efficiency Production/Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Apple, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, PR China
Wenquan Yu
Mudanjiang Branch of Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Science, Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang 157041, China
Zhengnan Li
College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, PR China
Cuiying Li
State Key Laboratory for Crop Stress Resistance and High-efficiency Production/Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Apple, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, PR China
Alkali stress is an important factor that restricts the growth and yield of crops. Apple (Malus baccata Borkh.) rootstocks have attracted widespread attention because of their wide distribution and ability to exist in various forms. This study reported the tolerance of several M. baccata accessions to alkaline stress using the sand culture method. Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) contents in the roots of 22 M. baccata accessions decreased after 40 days of alkali stress exposure. N and P contents in the leaves of most M. baccata seedlings decreased, whereas K content increased. In addition, the new leaf number and fresh and dry weights of the M. baccata accessions decreased significantly, indicating that alkali stress inhibits the growth of M. baccata seedlings. The 22 M. baccata accessions were divided into three categories: high, moderate, and low tolerance based on the cluster analysis of the resistance coefficients of six growth indices combined with the average resistance coefficient evaluation of the growth indices. These delineations are important for screening M. baccata resources. This study provides a basis for the growth of the apple industry in areas such as northwest China, which suffer from severe salinization.
