Responses of V. vinifera subsp. sylvestris (C.C. Gmelin) ecotypes originated from two different geographical regions of Turkey to salinity stress at seed germination and plantlet stages.

This research was carried out under the laboratory conditions of Department of Horticulture, Agriculture Faculty, Namik Kemal University in Turkey. In this research, salinity tolerance of V. vinifera subsp. sylvestris (C.C. Gmelin) ecotypes derived from Marmara Region and Akdeniz Region of Turkey was evaluated for various salinity levels at seed germination and plantlet stages. In addition to V. vinifera subsp. sylvestris (C.C. Gmelin); 5 BB Kober (V. berlandieri Planch. x V. riparia Michx.) and Isabella grape (V. labrusca L.) were also inserted to study to make a comparison. In order to determine responses of V. vinifera subsp. sylvestris (C.C. Gmelin) ecotypes, 5 BB Kober and Isabella grape to salinity, NaCl was added at 0 (control), 2.7, 5.4, 8.1 and 10.8 dS m(-1) to nutrient solution to achieve five salinity levels. Prior to study, all seeds were extracted from grape berries and stratified to be permeable to water by humidified sand. Afterwards, seeds were germinated under the different salinity stress conditions mentioned above. At the end of germination phases, germination percentages were calculated for all seed types and fresh weight (mg), dry weight (mg), water content (%), tolerance index values, Na+:K+ values were found out for shoots and roots of all plantlet types. No germination was observed during the germinations of all seeds under the stress conditions induced by 10.8 dS m(-1) NaCl treatment. On the basis of various salinity tolerance indexes, it was seen that Marmara Region plantlets were more resistant than Akdeniz Region for 8.1 dS m(-1) NaCl treatment. In conclusion, since V. vinifera subsp. sylvestris (C.C. Gmelin) ecotype from Marmara Region exhibits higher resistance to salinity, its rooted plant materials as grapevine rootstock can be used for salinity soil conditions in grape growing. Besides, it can be utilized from seeds of Marmara Region to obtain salinity resistant hybridized grapevine rootstocks in breeding programs of viticulture.