Hydroponic Screening for Iron Deficiency Tolerance in Evergreen Azaleas

Authors

  • Sonia DEMASI University of Torino, Department of Agricultural Forest and Food Sciences, Largo P. Braccini 2, 10095, Grugliasco, Torino (IT)
  • Matteo CASER University of Torino, Department of Agricultural Forest and Food Sciences, Largo P. Braccini 2, 10095, Grugliasco, Torino (IT)
  • Nobuo KOBAYASHI Shimane University, Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, Nishikawatsu, 690-8504, Matsue (JP)
  • Yuji KURASHIGE Niigata Prefectural Botanical Garden, 186 Kanazu, Niigata (JP)
  • Valentina SCARIOT University of Torino, Department of Agricultural Forest and Food Sciences, Largo P. Braccini 2, 10095, Grugliasco, Torino (IT)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15835/nbha4319929

Abstract

Evergreen azaleas grow in acid soil and suffer from iron deficiency when cultivated in substrate with pH higher than 6.0. In order to select tolerant plants, 11 azalea genotypes were tested for 21 days in alkaline solution (pH 9), buffered with sodium hydrogen carbonate (1 g·l-1). Leaf damage, root length and mortality rate were recorded. While leaf damage and mortality rate allowed to discriminate genotypes, root development appeared not directly linked to iron deficiency tolerance. Rhododendron ‘Juko’, R. scabrum, R. macrosepalum ‘Hanaguruma’, R. x pulchrum ‘Oomurasaki’, and R. x pulchrum ‘Sen-e-oomurasaki’ resulted iron efficient genetic resources, useful for azalea cultivation and gardening in calcareous soils. On the contrary, R. obtusum ‘Kirin’, R. tosaense, R.x mucronatum ‘Fujimanyo’ and R. obtusum ‘Susogo-no-ito’ resulted iron deficiency sensitive genotypes. R. x mucronatum ‘Ryukyushibori’ and R. indicum ‘Kinsai’ showed intermediate responses.

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Published

2015-06-16

How to Cite

DEMASI, S., CASER, M., KOBAYASHI, N., KURASHIGE, Y., & SCARIOT, V. (2015). Hydroponic Screening for Iron Deficiency Tolerance in Evergreen Azaleas. Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca, 43(1), 210–213. https://doi.org/10.15835/nbha4319929

Issue

Section

Research Articles
CITATION
DOI: 10.15835/nbha4319929

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