Effect of Boric Acid on Enhancing Salt Tolerance in Grapevine Rootstocks

Abstract ‘41B’ and ‘1103 P rootstock wood cuttings were used as materials. The cuttings were planted in a perlite filled planting tray and reached the 9th developmental stage, foliar applications of H 3 BO 3 at different concentrations (0, 0.5, 1, and 2 mM) were carried out by spraying. After applying boric acid, some cuttings were cultivated in saline conditions (5120 ppm NaCl). After 8 weeks of application, shoot, root and some physiological parameters were measured in plants. 1103 P rootstock showed better shoot development compared to the 41 B rootstock. 1103 P rootstock benefited more from the supportive effect of boron in terms of its efficacy in salt resistance. Even in saline conditions, the application of 0.5 mM boron, in the instance of rootstock 41B, improved shoot development with increased fresh and dry shoot weights, indicating that this may be the optimal boron dose for this rootstock. In particular at concentrations of 0.5 and 1 mM, boron has been shown to have a positive impact on supporting root development against salt stress. Salinity with the application of 0.5 mM and 1 mM boron was significantly reduced in ion flux and harmful levels. 1103 P rootstock maintained its water and physiological balance better than the 41 B rootstock.