ABSTRACT
There are few studies on effects of salinity on adult cashew plants, thus the objective was to evaluate the growth and ion accumulation in dwarf cashew plants, irrigated with saline water. The experiment was conducted at Embrapa Agroindústria Tropical, in Pacajus, CE. For thirteen months the treatments in seedlings of clone CCP 06 were applied. The treatments were arranged in a randomized block design with three replications, referring to salt solutions adjusted to different electrical conductivities (0.4, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5 and 6.0 dS m-1). The plants were irrigated by microsprinkler system and were collected and divided into absorbing roots (thin) and support (thick), stem + branches and leaves, to determine the levels of Na and Cl in these organs, leaf area and dry mass of aerial parts. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and regression by ASSISTAT program. As for the variables Na in the stem and leaf, significant effects of salinity levels, with averages of 3.0 and 6.0 mg g-1 DM for the highest level of electrical conductivity applied, respectively. Regarding Cl, statistical differences were noted only for the support roots, with an average of 4.8 mg g-1 DM for salinity of 6.0 dS m-1. However, the accumulation of salts in plant organs was not enough to affect the growth variables studied in dwarf cashew.
Key words:
Anacardium occidentale; salt stress; tolerance