• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.276-280
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• 2013

D. kaki and D. lotus are used as rootstocks for astringent persimmons in Korea but characteristics of their seedlings have not been determined. In this experiment, their seeds were sown in 3-L pots on April 18 and the seedlings were grown until October 24. Growth and nutrient absorption were compared at the end of the season after destructively harvesting the seedlings. Seedling growth of D. lotus was much faster than that of D. kaki in terms of total stem length, stem diameter, and number of leaves. However, chlorophyll value and specific leaf weight were higher in D. kaki than in D. lotus. Dry weight of D. lotus was 3.6- and 3.7-fold higher than that of D. kaki in above-ground parts and the root, respectively. D. kaki seedlings were characterized by higher concentrations of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg in the leaves, stem, or the root. However, total contents of the elements were 1.8- to 3.7-fold higher in a D. lotus seedling due to its greater dry weight. Since D. lotus seedlings absorbed more inorganic elements on a tree basis and grew more vigorously than D. kaki seedlings, the level of fertilization for astringent persimmons should be adjusted depending on rootstocks to maintain the trees at the optimum vigor.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.564-577
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• 2016

Salinity stress limits plant cultivation in many areas worldwide; however, persimmon (Diospyros spp.) has high tolerance to salt. Five accessions of Diospyros [three of Diospyros lotus (accession numbers 824, 846, and 847); one of Diospyros kaki var. sylvestris (869); and one of Diospyros virginiana (844)] were chosen for analysis of salinity stress. We compared the effects of salt stress on plant growth, relative water content (RWC), malondialdehyde (MDA), electrolyte leakage (EL), hydrogen peroxide content ($H_2O_2$), and antioxidative enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase, SOD; catalase, CAT; peroxidase, POD; and ascorbate peroxidase, APX) in leaves of healthy potted seedlings from each of the five accessions after salt treatment for 25 days. Salt stress affected the growth of plants in all five accessions, with all three D. lotus accessions showing the most severe effect. Salt stress increased membrane lipid peroxidation in all accessions, but a stronger increase was observed in the three D. lotus accessions. Moreover, accumulation of $H_2O_2$ was faster in salt-sensitive D. lotus compared to salt-tolerant D. virginiana 844. The activities of all antioxidant enzymes increased in D. virginiana 844 and in D. kaki var. sylvestris 869; the activities of SOD, CAT, and APX were at similar levels in D. virginiana 844 and D. kaki var. sylvestris 869, but POD activity was stimulated to a greater extent in D. virginiana 844. The activities of all antioxidant enzymes (except POD) decreased in D. lotus 824 and increased (except for SOD) in D.lotus 846. The activities of SOD and APX decreased in D. lotus 847, whereas POD and CAT activities both increased. Relative water content decreased significantly in D. lotus. No significant changes in lipid peroxidation or relevant antioxidant parameters were detected in any of the accessions in controls treated with 0.0% NaCl. D. virginiana 844 had higher antioxidant capacity in response to salinity compared to other persimmon rootstocks. These results indicate that changes of these key physiological variables are related to salinity resistance in different accessions of persimmon.