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Responses to Salt Stress

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Tonicity
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 8, 2025

Production of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) Fungal Inoculum and Phenotypic Evaluation of Rice and AM Symbiosis Under Saline Conditions

Production of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) Fungal Inoculum and Phenotypic Evaluation of Rice and AM Symbiosis Under Saline Conditions

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Responses to salinity of grapevine plants with split root systems.

U Shani¹, Y Waisel², A Eshel²

¹Arava Research Station, Hevel Eilot, Israel.

The New Phytologist

|April 20, 2021

Summary

Grapevine plants with split root systems show reduced yield and vigor when exposed to saline water. Freshwater roots are crucial for water supply, with salt-affected roots contributing minimally.

Keywords:

Vitis vinifera (grapevine)saline irrigation sectorial stem split roots water ascent water use

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Area of Science:

Agricultural Science
Plant Physiology
Horticulture

Background:

Grapevine cultivation is sensitive to water quality, particularly salinity.
Understanding root system responses to varying water conditions is vital for crop management.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the effects of split root irrigation with fresh and saline water on grapevine physiology.
To determine water use efficiency and plant responses under different salinity treatments.

Main Methods:

Grapevine plants were subjected to split root systems with varied irrigation treatments (fresh, saline, dual, and switched water quality).
Measurements included fruit yield, shoot and root vigor, water use, and root viability.
Sectorial water ascent in the stem was analyzed.

Main Results:

Fruit yield, shoot, and root vigor were positively correlated with actual water use.
Freshwater roots supplied the majority of water; salt-affected roots contributed minimally.
Salinity below 100 mM NaCl significantly inhibited shoot growth and fruit yield, even with partial root exposure.

Conclusions:

Grapevine water use and plant health are directly linked to water quality and availability.
Split root systems demonstrate differential water uptake, with freshwater roots being dominant.
Grapevine plants in the Arava valley are highly susceptible to NaCl, impacting yield and growth significantly.