Investigation of salinity effects on Gemlik olive (Olea europaea L.) cultivar

In the study, one year-old cv. Gemlik olive (Olea europaea L.) seedlings grown in 18 L containers by using 1:1.5 soil:coarse sand mixture were exposed to increasing concentrations of NaCl (control, 2560, 5120 ve 7680 mg L-1 NaCl which is equal to 4.0, 8.0 ve 12.0 dS m-1 salinity). The salinity levels were obtained by addition of appropriate amounts of NaCl to half-strength Hoagland solution. The experiment was set up according to completely randomised block design with 12 replications and one plant per container. The experiment was consisted of 48 plants and lasted four 4 months after planting. Then the plants were divided into four different parts; root, subsoil trunk, trunk and leaf. The samples were dried and and ground at the laboratory. Fresh weight, dry matter (%) of the samples were determined Na, Cl, K, Ca, Mg, N, P, Fe, Mn, Zn were analyzed and K/Na, K+Ca+Mg/Na ratios were also measured. Due to insufficient sample amounts B analysis were performed only in the leaf samples.Analysis of variance was performed for obtained data by using MSTAT statistical program. Mean separation was performed using ?least significant difference? (LSD) at P ? 0.05. Salinity decreased dry matter in the root of experimental plants, not affected subsoil trunk and trunk samples and increased in the leaves. Total fresh weight of the samples were not affected by salinity. In general, K, Ca, P, Mn, Zn, B contents of the samples reduced with salinity. Total N contents of samples were not affected by salinity while Mg contents increased. Since, K/Na and K+Ca+Mg/Na ratios decreased significantly. In general experimental plants were kept leaves for their photosynthetic activity by accumulating high amounts of Na and Cl into roots.