Sucrose-Induced Tolerance to and Recovery from Deicing Salt Damage in Containerized Ilex aquifolium L. and Quercus robur L.

Two outdoor experiments were conducted using containerized trees of the species holly (Ilex aquifolium L.) and English oak (Quercus robur L.) to determine the effectiveness and feasibility of sucrose to improve tolerance to and recovery from deicing salt (sodium chloride [NaCl]) damage. In experiment one, sucrose plus a water-only control was applied as a root drench to containerized stock. Seventy-two hours later, NaCl was applied to both tree species as a root drench. At day 15 after NaCl application, effects on leaf chlorophyll a and b, carotenoid (lutein, β-carotene, neoxanthin, α-carotene), xanthophyll (zeaxanthin, antheraxanthin, violaxanthin) concentration, leaf necrosis, and chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) were measured. In experiment 2, NaCl was applied as a root drench. At day 14 after NaCl application, plants were root drenched with sucrose plus a water-only control and recovery rates monitored by recording leaf necrosis, leaf chlorophyll concentration, and chlorophyll fluorescence over the proceeding 8 weeks. At week 8 after sucrose application, effects on tree growth were recorded. Sucrose was found to confer to both tree species a useful degree to tolerance to NaCl and improve recovery from salt-induced damage with promotion of photoxidative antioxidant pigments (carotenoids, xanthophylls) and chlorophylls strongly indicated as significantly contributing to the induction of NaCl tolerance.