ASSESSMENT OF DROUGHT AND SALT TOLERANCES OF GRAPEVINE ROOTSTOCKS IN TERMS OF SOME BIOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES

This research was carried out to determine the effect of salt and drought stresses on some biochemical characteristics of grapevines. Three American rootstocks (1103 P, 41 B and 5 BB) were used as plant materials. 0, 50 and 100 mM of salt for salt stress and 25%, 50% and 100% water levels of ETP for drought stress were applied to potted vines together and separately. At the end of the study, it was demonstrated that all of these features were affected more by the applications of salt and drought stress together and there were differences among the rootstocks depending on the stress applications. It was determined that salt and drought stress applications were decreased the amount of chlorophyll and relative water content as an indication of stress, and increased the amount of lipid peroxidation, membrane permeability and hydrogen peroxide. On the other hand, grapevine developed several mechanisms to withstand stress, as a consequence, they increased the contents of proline, soluble sugar and the activities of SOD, CAT and APX effective in the scavenging of oxygen free radicals.