It was aimed to investigate effect of water salinity on salt tolerance of M.M.106 and Pyrus communis rootstocks to response of the leaf physiological properties i.e., (leaf relative turgidity (L.R.T), leaf succulence grade (L.S.G.), leaf osmotic pressure (L.O.P.) in bar and leaf water potential (L.W.P.)) and proline contents in response to investigated treatments were estimated. Data obtained regarding the interaction effect of (soil kind X salt concentration X SAR X chloride levels) pointed out that the highest values of leaf water potential (L.W.P.) and leaf relative turgidity (L.R.T.) were statistically in concomitant to M.M.106 and Pyrus communis rootstocks transplants grown in clay soil irrigated with 2000 ppm saline solution of SAR 3 and lower Cl : SO4 ratio. However, the least value was coupled with irrigated transplants with 6000 ppm saline solution of SAR 6 and higher Cl: SO4 ratio during the study. Other combinations were in between regarding the response of the aforesaid two leaf physiological properties. On the other hand, the interaction effect between the four investigated factors i.e., soil kind; salinity concentration; SAR and Cl: SO4 ratio in the irrigation water caused noticeable variances. Herein, the highest decrease in both leaf osmotic pressure and leaf succulence grade (L.S.G.) detected by M.M.106 and Pyrus communis rootstocks transplants grown in clay soil X 2000 ppm X SAR 3 X lower Cl: SO4 ratio, however the highest values were coupled with M.M.106 and Pyrus communis rootstocks transplants grown in sandy soil X 6000 ppm X SAR 6 X higher Cl: SO4 ratio. In addition, other combinations were in between regarding such leaf physiological properties. Concerning leaf prolin contnt, data obtained revealed that the highest value of proline contents were found by M.M.106 and Pyrus communis rootstocks transplants grown in sandy soil X highest salinity concentration (6000 ppm) X SAR 6 X higher Cl: SO4 ratio, while the reverse was detected by the tap water irrigated combinations followed in an increasing order by those seedlings of M.M.106 and Pyrus communis rootstocks transplants grown in clay soil X lowest salinity concentration (2000 ppm ) X SAR 3 X lower Cl: SO4 ratio. Leaf anatomical structure of two rootstocks transplants (M. M.106 and Pyrus communis)) as influenced by salt stress (irrigated with 2000; 4000 and 6000 ppm) saline solution were investigated. The obtained results revealed that salinity increased thickness of both cuticle and epidermis layers of two leaf surfaces as well as palisade tissue thickness. However, spongy tissue thickness and xylem rows in vascular bundle were decreased in salt stressed of two rootstocks as compared to the analogous ones of tap water irrigated transplants (control). |