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Adaptation to iron deficiency and high pH in evergreen azaleas (Rhododendron spp.): potential resources for breeding

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Abstract

The growth of evergreen azaleas (Rhododendron spp.) can be altered by iron (Fe) chlorosis when plants are cultivated in a neutral-alkaline substrate. In this study, morphological and physiological responses to alkalinity and Fe deficiency were evaluated in five diploid Japanese azaleas to assess their potential as resources for breeding. R. obtusum ‘Kirin’, R. indicum ‘Shinsen’, R. × pulchrum ‘Sen-e-oomurasaki’, R. indicum ‘Osakazuki’, and R. ripense were pot cultivated in a peat-based substrate for 10 weeks, in acid and alkaline growing media with both adequate and inadequate Fe nutrition. Plant performance was generally affected by high pH of the substrate, while Fe deficiency by itself influenced few of the evaluated parameters, possibly due to the complex adaptive response mechanisms of these slow growing ornamental shrubs. According to the biochemical and physiological variations recorded on a long period of cultivation, R. indicum ‘Osakazuki’ reported the best performance. This azalea could be a valuable resource for breeders.

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Abbreviations

GI:

Growth index

IO:

R. indicum ‘Osakazuki’

KR:

R. obtusum ‘Kirin’

RI:

R. ripense

SH:

R. indicum ‘Shinsen’

SO:

R. × pulchrum ‘Sen-e-oomurasaki’

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Acknowledgements

The research was financially supported by the Italian ‘Ministero dell’Istruzione, dell’Università e della Ricerca’ (Project PRIN 2009, prot. 2009BW3KL4_003). The mobility of SD was funded by ForESTFlowers Project (FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IRSES-269204). The authors wish to thank Kazuki Koiwai, Tomoki Takaku and Walter Gaino for providing technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Torino, Largo P. Braccini 2, 10095, Grugliasco, Italy

    Sonia Demasi, Matteo Caser & Valentina Scariot

  2. School of Agriculture, Meiji University, 1-1-1 Higashimita, Kawasaki, 214-8571, Japan

    Takashi Handa

  3. Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, Shimane University, 1060 Nishikawatsu, Matsue, 690-8504, Japan

    Nobuo Kobayashi

  4. Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Università 100, Portici, 80055, Naples, Italy

    Stefania De Pascale

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  1. Sonia Demasi
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  2. Matteo Caser
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Correspondence to Sonia Demasi.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Plant Breeding: the Art of Bringing Science to Life. Highlights of the 20th EUCARPIA General Congress, Zurich, Switzerland, 29 August–1 September 2016

Edited by Roland Kölliker, Richard G. F. Visser, Achim Walter & Beat Boller

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Demasi, S., Caser, M., Handa, T. et al. Adaptation to iron deficiency and high pH in evergreen azaleas (Rhododendron spp.): potential resources for breeding. Euphytica 213, 148 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-017-1931-3

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