Variation in the Interactions among soil K+, Ca++, Mg++ and Na+ ions as influenced by the variety and rootstock in grape S.D. Shikhamany*, J.N. Kalbhor, T.S. Shelke and T.S. Mungare R & D Unit, Maharashtra Grape growers’ Association, Manjri Farm, Pune - 412 307 *E-mail: sdshikhamany@gmail.com ABSRACT A nutritional survey was conducted to study the influence of variety and rootstock on interaction among K+, Ca++, Mg++and Na+ ions in grape during 2012-14. Soil cation contents did not correlate with their respective contents in petioles indicating a strong antagonism among them. Quadratic relationship of soil cations with the absorption (ratio of petiole content to soil content) of other ions revealed that the antagonism among cations was observed in case of soil K+ with Ca++ and Na+ absorption on 110R and Dog Ridge rootstocks, soil Ca+ with K+ and Mg++ and Na+ in Sonaka variety and Na+ in own rooted vines, soil Mg++ with Ca++ and Na+ also in own rooted vines; and Na++ with Ca++ and Mg++ respectively in 2A clone and Dog Ridge. Contrarily, increased absorption of K+ by soil Ca++ on 110R, Na+ and K+ by soil Mg++ respectively in Sonaka and 110R, and Ca++ by soil Na+ on Dog Ridge was also observed. All the soil cations together influenced K+ absorption most in Sonaka followed by Mg++ absorption in 2A clone, but Ca++ absorption on Dog Ridge followed by K+ on 110R. Keywords: Cations, interactions, grape, variety, rootstock INTRODUCTION Antagonism among K, Na, Ca and Mg ions is well esta blished (Robson a nd Pitma n, 1983; Shikhamany et al., 1988; Wilkinson et al., 1999; Fageria, 2001). Cation content in the plant tissue is dependent on the physico-chemical characteristics of the soil (Abrol et al., 1988; Sumner and Yamada, 2002; Fisarakis et al., 2005; Shikhamany and Sharma, 2008; Shikhamany et al., 2017), both the availability of a particular cation and the presence and absence of other cations (Emmert, 1959; Bergman et al., 1960) and their relative abundance in the growth medium (Epstein, 1972). Generally an excess of one cation in the medium reduces the uptake of other cations to maintain the cation equilibrium in the soil-plant system (Dibb and Thompson, 1985). Further, the cation composition of the plant tissue was found to vary with the variety, based on its physiological need (Jacobson and Ordin, 1954; Barbar and Russell, 1961) and the rootstock due to affinity of their roots to particular ion ( Downton, 1977; Anna and Lajos, 2008; Antonio and Carlos, 2009; Marco et al., 2011). The vineyard soils of Maharashtra, where more than 80 per cent of the area under grapes in India exists, are saline alkali with wide variation in soil physico-chemical characteristics and available nutrient status. Thompson Seedless and its clones, namely 2A and Sonaka are grown on their own roots as well as on Dog Ridge and 110R rootstocks. In this background, these investigations were aimed at bring out the variation in the influence of dominant cations in the absorption of other cations in a given stionic combination and guide in fertilizer practices. MATERIAL AND METHODS A survey was conducted to study the variation in bloom time petiole nutrient contents of Thompson Seedless and its clones namely, 2A and Sonaka grown on their own roots, Dog Ridge or 110Richter rootstocks in Pune and Sangli districts of Maharashtra during 2012- 14 fruiting seasons. Six vineyards in each stionic combination (three varieties x three roots) were selected for the study. All the vineyards were in the age group of 4-6 years and received varying levels of nutrients. The soils of the vineyards surveyed belonged to the order ‘Vertisols’ with the following characteristics. All the vines selected for the study were planted at 2.7 x 1.8 m, trained to extended Y trellis and pruned J. Hortl. Sci. Vol. 13(2) : 178-187, 2018 178 Original Research Paper 179 Cation interactions in grape J. Hortl. Sci. Vol. 13(2) : 178-187, 2018 to have 30±2 canes/vine. One hundred petioles of leaves opposite to flower clusters were collected at full bloom in November 2013 from each vineyard and soil samples from 15-30 cm depth at 60 cm away from the vine stem at back pruning before the application of fertilizers. Cations from soil samples were extracted using 1.0 N neutral ammonium acetate in 1:5 (w/v) ratio. Oven dried petiole samples were wet digested with HNO3: HClO4 (9:4 v/v). Potassium and sodium contents in soil as well as petiole samples were determined by flame photometer, while calcium and ma gnesium contents by a tomic a bsor ption spectrophotometer. All the contents were expressed as me/100 g dry weight. Linear, quadratic and multiple regression equations were fitted to elucidate the variation in the interaction of soil cation contents (independent variable) with petiole contents (dependent variable) among the varieties and rootstocks. Threshold levels of soil cations were determined by the formula -b/2c in the quadratic equation Y= a + bx + cx2 in negative correlations. It is the level of x at which the negative relationship between x and y parameters turns positive. It is inverse to the x-optimum in a positive correlation. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Interaction among cations: Cor relations among the major cation nutrients in the petioles revealed positive relationship of Mg with Ca and Na across all the varieties and rootstocks (Table 1). On the other hand, in contrast to the observations of Bayers (1951), Emmert (1959) and Bergman et al. (1960), no significant relationship between the soil and petiole contents of any ion was observed except the negative r ela tionship between K + cont ents (Table 2). Since the uptake of nutrient ions is directed by the variety (Jacobson and Ordin, 1954; Barbar and Russell, 1961) and rootstock (Smith and Wallace, 1956; General Characteristics of the vineyard soils (Mean of 54 samples) OM pH EC CaCO3 ESP Available Available Available Available (dsm-1) (%) (%) K Ca Mg Na (mg/kg) (mg/kg) (mg/kg) (mg/kg) Mean 2.57 7.76 0.604 15.79 7.7 110.8 456.0 141.4 70.4 SD 1.08 0.52 0.428 4.21 1.82 54.2 118.8 29.5 17.4 CV(%) 27.8 14.9 70.9 26.7 32.6 48.9 26.1 20.9 24.7 Cook and Lider, 1964; Downton, 1977); and different varieties and rootstocks were involved in these cor r ela tions, va r iety-wise a nd r ootstock-wise regression analysis could reveal better picture of the interactions among the cations in different varieties and rootstocks. Simple correlations revealed that soil contents of K, Ca or Na were not correlated with their respective contents in the petioles of any variety or rootstock, but Mg content alone was correlated in the variety Sonaka. Petiole K and Na contents were also influenced by the soil Ca in this variety. Among the rootstocks, soil Na influenced the petiole Ca on Dog Ridge, while soil Ca influenced the petiole K on 110R (Table 3). Interaction among cations was also dependent on their relative abundance in the root medium (Bayers, Table 1. Correlation matrix among petiole nutrient contents ________________________________________________________ K Ca Mg Na_______________________________________________________ K 1.000 Ca -0.0029 1.000 Mg 0.0019 0.2989* 1.000 Na 0.0409 0.1638 0.3475* 1.000 ___________________________________________________________ Table 2. Correlations between soil and petiole cation contents ___________________________________________________________ X parameter Y parameter r___________________________________________________________ Soil K Petiole K -0.291* Soil Ca Petiole Ca -0.004 Soil Mg Petiole Mg -0.083 Soil Na Petiole Na -0.118 ___________________________________________________________ 180 Shikhamany et al J. Hortl. Sci. Vol. 13(2) : 178-187, 2018 Table 3. Linear relationship of soil nutrients with petiole contents in grape varieties and rootstocks Correlation coefficients (r) Varieties Rootstocks Soil Petiole Thompson 2A Sonaka Own root Dog Ridge 110 R nutrient content Seedless Clone K K 0.045 -0.382 -0.359 -0.283 -0.285 -0.399 Ca 0.077 -0.330 -0.089 0.313 -0.077 -0.443 Mg 0.032 0.319 -0.089 0.054 0.063 -0.235 Na 0.032 0.000 -0.095 0.376 -0.366 -0.352 Ca Ca -0.095 -0.032 0.288 -0.316 -0.044 0.418 K 0.045 0.055 0.588* -0.333 0.095 0.567* Mg -0.167 -0.167 0.195 -0.212 0.138 0.173 Na 0.326 0.055 -0.515* 0.359 0.089 0.333 Mg Mg -0.182 -0.504* 0.288 -0.207 0.045 0.134 K 0.045 0.170 0.431 -0.363 0.465 0.435 Ca -0.239 -0.184 0.167 -0.385 0.237 0.071 Na 0.167 0.000 -0.032 0.279 0.212 0.416 Na Na -0.167 -0.032 -0.406 0.373 -0.352 -0.418 K -0.032 -0.173 -0.032 0.122 -0.247 -0.348 Ca -0.084 0.452 0.210 0.000 0.510* 0.170 Mg 0.179 0.361 -0.214 0.000 0.439 0.341 *Significant at P=0.0 1951; Emmert, 1959; Bergman et al., 1960) and was found to be synergistic under low levels but antagonistic under high levels (Fageria, 1983). Hence interactions were assessed in a quadratic relationship. Quadratic functions reflected the interactions among cations better tha n the linea r functions with higher determination coefficients (Table 4). Regression equations for the significant quadratic relationship among soil and petiole contents of cations with their determination co-efficient and the threshold levels of soil cations associated with the lowest contents of other ions in petioles, are presented in Table-4 and the graphical presentation of the variation in the petiole contents in relation to the increasing levels of soil cation contents in Figure 1. Interaction among cations was complex in this study. A soil cation was found to influence more than one ion in the petiole; differently in different varieties and rootstocks. Interaction of soil K+: Increasing levels of soil K up to 1.59 me/100 g were associated with its increased contents in petioles in Sonaka and reduced on Dog Ridge rootstock up to 3.95 me/100 g. The threshold levels of soil K, beyond which the Ca content in the petiole on 110R rootstock and Na contents on Dog Ridge rootstock increased, were respectively 6.3 and 4.38 me/100 g. Soil K accounted for 22.9 per cent variation in the petiole K in Sonaka while for 39.6 per cent on Dog Ridge rootstock. It also accounted for 31.0 per cent variation in petiole Ca on 110R rootstock and 24.5 per cent in petiole Na on Dog Ridge rootstock. Absorption of K by Sonaka was independent of other cation contents in the soil. Physiological demand for K seems to be more in Sonaka, irrespective of the root affinity for any cation in any rootstock. Optimum level of soil K seemed to be 1.59 me/100 g for this variety. Negative relationship of soil K with petiole K and Na on Dog Ridge rootstock suggests its higher affinity for other cations than K and dominant antagonism between Na and K on this rootstock. 181 J. Hortl. Sci. Vol. 13(2) : 178-187, 2018 Cation interactions in grape Variety/ Soil ion PetioleIon Regression R2 Threshold rootstock (X) (Y) equation level (me/100 g) Sonaka K K 35.4+ 33.5x- 10.56x2 0.229* 1.59 Dog Ridge K K 131.25- 50.52x+ 6.39x2 0.396** 3.95 110R K Ca 115.47- 23.17x+ 1.84x2 0.310* 6.30 Dog Ridge K Na 74.39- 23.41x+ 2.67x2 0.245* 4.38 Sonaka Ca K 120.98- 8.12x+ 0.233x2 0.429** 17.42 110R Ca K 22.68+ 1.52x+ 0.002x2 0.322* -608.3 2A Clone Ca Ca 449.73- 27.29x+ 0.47x2 0.403** 29.03 Sonaka Ca Mg 142.42x- 9.79x+ 0.231x2 0.263* 21.19 Sonaka Ca Na 59.39- 1.7x+ 0.015x2 0.266* 56.67 Own root Ca Na 110.36- 6.51x+ 0.146x2 0.365** 22.29 110R Mg K -29.89+ 11.37x- 0.32x2 0.222* 17.76 Own root Mg Ca 242.69- 26.53+ 0.99x2 0.223* 13.40 Sonaka Mg Mg 93.41- 10.19x+ 0.47x2 0.340* 10.84 Sonaka Mg Na -25.64+ 10.17x+0.436x2 0.272* -11.66 Own root Mg Na 113.78- 15.13x +0.75x2 0.253* 10.09 2A Clone Na Ca 169.3- 82.44x+ 15.87x2 0.368** 2.60 Dog Ridge Na Ca -27.91+ 34.86x- 1.53x2 0.260* 11.39 Dog Ridge Na Mg 260.6-145.18x+ 23.8x2 0.300* 3.05 *Significant @P=0.05 **Significant @P=0.01 Table 4: Quadratic relationship of the significant correlations of soil cations with petiole contents in grape varieties and rootstocks Interaction of soil Ca++: Increasing levels of soil Ca were not associated with increase in petiole Ca in any variety or on any rootstock, but contrarily resulted in its quadratic reduction in 2A clone. The threshold level of soil Ca, beyond which its content increased was 29.03 me/100 g. Increasing levels of Ca in soil up to 17.42 me/100 g resulted in reduced contents of K in petioles in Sonaka but in steadily increasing K contents in a linear fashion on 110R. They were also found to reduce the petiole Na contents in Sonaka and in all varieties on their own roots. The threshold levels of soil Ca above which it was associated with increasing levels in petiole Na were 56.67 and 22.29 me/100 g respectively for Sonaka and own rooted vines of other varieties. Increasing levels of Ca in soil up to 21.19me/ 100 g were associated with reduced content of Mg in the petioles of Sonaka, above which, Mg contents increased. Soil Ca was found to determine its content in petiole by 40.3 per cent in 2A Clone. It accounted for variation in petiole K by 42.9 per cent in Sonaka, and 32.2 per cent on 110R rootstock. It also accounted for 26.3 per cent variation in petiole Mg. Soil Ca was also found to determine the petiole Na contents by 26.6 and 36.5 per cent respectively in Sonaka and own rooted vines. Reduction in petiole Ca with increasing levels of soil Ca was due to either less physiological need by 2A clone or strong antagonism of other cations in the soil. Soil Ca at higher levels was synergistic to K in Sonaka and on 110R and to Mg in Sonaka. It was antagonistic to Na in Sonaka but synergistic at higher levels on own root. Thus, Sonaka proved to be a better bet for the utilization of available soil K and Mg; and restricting the sodium absorption in soils with high available Ca (> than 20 me/100 g). Higher absorption of Na by own rooted vines of all variety suggests the 182 J. Hortl. Sci. Vol. 13(2) : 178-187, 2018 Shikhamany et al Fig.1: Relationship of soil cations with petiole contents (Y- axis) in me/100 g in grape varieties /rootstocks 183 use of either Dog Ridge or 110R rootstock; particularly 110R for better utilization of K in such soils. Interaction of soil Mg++: Increasing levels of Soil Mg up to 10.84 me/100 g were found to reduce its contents in Sonaka but not in any other variety or on any root stock. Higher levels of soil Mg up to 17.76 me/100 g were associated with higher petiole contents of K on 110R rootstock. Increasing levels of soil Mg up to 13.4 me/100 g reduced the petiole Ca in vines on their own roots. They increased the petiole Na steadily in a linear fashion in Sonaka. Increasing levels of soil Mg up to 10.09 me/100 g were associated with reduced contents of Na in the petioles of vines on their own roots. Soil Mg was found to determine the petiole Mg by 34.0 per cent in Sonaka only but not in other varieties or on any rootstock. It also accounted for 22.2 per cent variation in petiole K on 110R rootstock and 22.3 per cent in the petiole Ca in own rooted vines. Soil Mg determined the petiole Na content by 27.2 per cent in Sonaka and 25.3 per cent in vines on their own roots. Reduction in petiole Mg with its increasing soil levels; and strong synergism of soil Mg with petiole Na in Sonaka imply that either the physiological needs are less or its roots have less affinity for Mg and more affinity for Na. Synergism of soil Mg with petiole K on 110R rootstock can be attributed to its root affinity. Positive relationship between two cations is possible, when a third dominating one simultaneously suppresses their absorption. Such phenomenon was observed by Shikhamany and Satyanarayana(1972) in grape. Strong antagonism of soil Mg with petiole Ca and Na points out that management of available soil Mg is crucial in balancing the absorption of Ca and Na in vines of any variety on their own roots. Interaction of soil Na+: Higher levels of Soil Na up to 2.6me/100 g were associated with reduced petiole Ca content in 2A clone. Soil Na up to 11.39/100 g increased the Ca contents steadily, but reduced the Mg contents up to its level of 3.05me/100 g on Dog Ridge. Soil Na accounted for variation in the petiole Ca by 36.8 per cent in 2A Clone and 26.0 per cent on Dog Ridge rootstock. It also accounted for30.0 per cent variation in petiole Mg on Dog Ridge. The negative relationship of soil Na with petiole Mg but positive one with petiole Ca on Dog Ridge rootstock indicates the greater affinity of its roots for J. Hortl. Sci. Vol. 13(2) : 178-187, 2018 Cation interactions in grape Ca than Mg in soils with high available Na content. Soil Na at its lower levels although reduced the absorption of Ca, increased it at higher levels in 2A clone. Interaction with petiole contents: Individual cation contents in the petioles were influenced by many soil cations; differently in different varieties and rootstocks. Their co-efficient of determination by all the four soil cations together in different varieties and rootstocks is presented in Table 5. Individual effects of soil cations (Table 4) were masked by their mutual interactions in their combined effect. The normalized petiole contents in relation to their respective soil contents in varieties on different rootstocks are presented in Table 6. Interaction with K: Petiole K was influenced by soil K as well as ca in Sonaka with their respective determinations of 22.9 and 42.9 per cent as against 57.2 per cent by all the soil cations together. Soil Ca was found to influence the petiole K more than soil K. Soil Ca and Mg had synergistic effect, whereas Na had strong antagonism on the absorption of K. Thus soil Na reduced the absorption of K by antagonizing with soil K, Ca and Mg in Sonaka. Petiole K contents were also influenced by soil Ca and Mg on 110R rootstock. They respectively accounted for 32.2 and 22.2 per cent variation in the petiole K content as against 44.0 per cent by all the soil cations together. Antagonistic effect of soil Na on reducing the synergistic effect of soil Ca and Mg on K was evident on 110R rootstock also. Petiole K content was also found to be determined by 39.6 per cent by soil K on Dog Ridge rootstock, as against 28.5 per cent by all the soil cations together. In addition to antagonizing K, soil Na suppressed the synergistic effect of soil Mg in K absorption. This was how, the relatively higher absorption of K by Sonaka and on 110R rootstock; and less absorption on Dog Ridge rootstock (Table-6). Interaction with Ca: Petiole Ca varied differently with soil Ca and Na levels in 2A Clone. They respectively accounted for 40.3 and 36.8 per cent variation in petiole Ca, as against 32.4 per cent by all the soil cations together. Soil K and Mg antagonized 184 J. Hortl. Sci. Vol. 13(2) : 178-187, 2018 Shikhamany et al Table 5. Multiple Regression equations for the relationship of nutrient ion contents (me/100 g) of petioles(Y) and soil (X) in grape varieties and root stocks. VARIETY Y parameter Regression equation R2 Thompson Petiole K Y= 42.25 +0.409K +0.079Ca +0.193Mg -0.615Na 0.005 Seedless Petiole Ca Y= 98.05 +2.844K +0.976Ca -5.767Mg -0.509Na 0.083 Petiole Mg Y= 28.69 +1.96K -0.258Ca -1.341Mg +8.026Na 0.108 Petiole Na Y= 42.2 -0.596K +1.075Ca -0.722Mg -6.426Na 0.179 2A Clone Petiole K Y=105.11 -17.84K -0.174Ca +0.798Mg -5.545Na 0.223* Petiole Ca Y=103.99 -19.08K +0.702Ca -3.56Mg +11.55Na 0.324* Petiole Mg Y= 58.22 +2.78K +0.78Ca -4.02Mg +5.77Na 0.431** Petiole Na Y= 34.55 +0.97K +0.29Ca -0.37Mg -0.32Na 0.006 Sonaka Petiole K Y=5.13 -1.75K +2.55Ca +1.84Mg -6.96Na 0.572** Petiole Ca Y=60.49 -13.76K -0.23Ca +1.0Mg +11.41Na 0.154 Petiole Mg Y= 30.78 -2.79K +0.53Ca +1.25Mg -3.09Na 0.291* Petiole Na Y= 46.15 +2.1K -0.93Ca +0.81Mg -3.48Na 0.379** ROOTSTOCK Own root Petiole K Y=66.95 -2.87K -0.36Ca -1.53Mg +7.25Na 0.463** Petiole Ca Y=119.2 +8.8K -1.42Ca -3.77Mg +2.4Na 0.368** Petiole Mg Y=58.72 +0.64K -0.38Ca -0.61Mg +1.8Na 0.087 Petiole Na Y= 20.4 -2.11K +0.42Ca +0.18Mg +2.17Na 0.209 Dog Ridge Petiole K Y=30.84 -2.27K -0.66Ca +4.1Mg -3.33Na 0.285* Petiole Ca Y=-73.25 -0.25K -2.26Ca +7.65Mg +32.48Na 0.507** Petiole Mg Y=-19.52 +0.75K +0.11Ca +1.22Mg +14.82Na 0.220* Petiole Na Y= 60.08 -3.71K +0.25Ca -0.02Mg -7.07Na 0.239* 110 R Petiole K Y=65.32 -2.03K +1.27Ca -0.18Mg -8.41Na 0.440** Petiole Ca Y=70.47-4.59K +2.16Ca -4.0Mg +3.8Na 0.374** Petiole Mg Y=19.08 -0.62K +0.13Ca +0.29Mg +4.74Na 0.175 Petiole Na Y= 37.02 -1.18K -0.002Ca +0.56Mg -4.268Na 0.360** Ca and Na in reducing their synergistic effect on Ca absorption. Petiole Ca contents were also influenced by soil Mg on own roots; soil K on 110R and Soil Na on Dog Ridge. While soil Mg explained the variation in petiole Ca by 22.3 per cent, all the soil cations together did 36.8 per cent. Ca absorption was antagonized by Mg, but soil K and Na increased it in own rooted vines. Soil K accounted for 31.0 per cent variation in petiole Ca on 110R rootstock, as against 37.4 per cent by all the soil cations together. While soil K and Mg antagonized, Na increased the absorption of Ca on this rootstock. Soil Na was found to explain the variation in petiole Ca by 26.0 per cent on Dog Ridge rootstock as against 50.7 per cent by all the soil cations together. Soil Mg enhanced the favourable effect of Na in Ca absorption. Thus these cation interactions contributed for less absorption of Ca by 2A Clone and 110R rootstock; and further less in 2A Clone on Dog Ridge rootstock, but more in own rooted vines of Sonaka and Thompson Seedless (Table-6). Interaction with Mg: Petiole Mg was influenced by Ca and Mg levels in soil accounting respectively for 26.3 and 34.0 per cent variability in petiole Mg 185 J. Hortl. Sci. Vol. 13(2) : 178-187, 2018 Cation interactions in grape Variety/ Petiole contents Soil contents Ratio of petiole/ rootstock (mean of 6 samples) (mean of 6 samples) soil contents K+ Na+ Ca++ Mg+ + K+ Na+ Ca++ Mg+ + K+ Na+ Ca++ Mg+ + Thompson 30.6 50.4 88.0 48.6 4.81 3.39 24.4 11.2 6.36 14.9 3.61 4.33 Seedless/ Own root Thompson 39.2 28.3 64.9 48.5 3.88 3.31 21.5 11.0 10.1 8.55 3.03 4.43 Seedless/ Dog Ridge Thompson 48.1 22.2 51.8 35.9 5.07 3.33 19.5 10.3 9.48 6.65 2.65 3.49 Seedless/ 110R 2A Clone/ 58.7 44.5 70.8 54.6 2.26 3.06 25.5 12.1 26.0 14.5 2.78 4.53 Own root 2A Clone/ 53.5 41.2 66.1 53.4 2.0 3.0 26.2 12.7 26.8 13.9 2.52 4.21 Dog Ridge 2A Clone/ 63.1 29.6 82.6 40.6 1.7 3.1 27.4 14.3 36.3 9.60 3.02 2.84 110R Sonaka/ 52.3 36.0 70.7 47.1 1.4 1.8 17.6 10.2 38.4 20.0 4.02 4.60 Own root Sonaka/ 46.7 28.0 70.9 37.2 2.6 3.3 19.7 11.1 18.1 8.56 3.58 3.36 Dog Ridge Sonaka/ 68.3 28.3 75.9 41.7 1.9 3.3 23.7 13.3 35.9 8.51 2.21 3.14 110R Mean 51.2 34.3 71.3 45.3 2.8 3.1 22.8 11.8 23.1 11.7 3.05 3.88 SD± 11.7 9.30 10.5 6.75 1.4 0.8 5.94 2.46 12.5 4.35 0.59 0.67 CV % 22.9 27.2 14.7 14.9 48.7 24.7 26.0 20.2 54.3 37.3 19.3 17.3 Table 6: Cation composition of soil and petioles (me/100 g) of vineyards content, while all the soil cations together for 29.1 per cent in Sonaka. This was due to the suppression of Mg absorption by soil K and Na. Petiole Mg was also influenced by soil Na on Dog Ridge. While all the soil cations together accounted for 22.0 per cent variation in petiole Mg, soil Na alone for 30.0 per cent. Soil Na contributed more than soil Mg in the absorption of Mg by this rootstock. Absorption of cations, including Na, was highest in Sonaka on its own r oots. Na absorption wa s reduced by the rootstocks in this variety (Table-6). Since absorption of Mg was favoured by soil Na on Dog Ridge, this r ootstock is better for the management of Mg nutrition in Sonaka in soils with high levels of available Na. Int eract ion with Na: Ab sor p tion of Na wa s influenced by soil Ca and Mg in Sonaka. They were found to determine the petiole Na by 26.6 and 27.2 per cent respectively as against 37.9 per cent by all soil cations together. Soil K had synergistic effect on Soil Na in the absorption of Na in this variety. Soil Ca and Mg also influenced the absorption of Na by vines on their own roots. They accounted respectively for 36.5 and 25.3 per cent variation in the petiole Na contents, while all the soil cations t oget her a c c ou nt ed f or 2 0 . 9 p er c ent only. Favourable effect of Ca and Mg on the absorption of Na was suppressed by soil K in own rooted vines. Soil K influenced Na absorption on Dog Ridge rootstock with a determination of 24.5 per cent as 186 J. Hortl. Sci. Vol. 13(2) : 178-187, 2018 Shikhamany et al against 23.9 per cent by all the soil cations together. Soil Ca reduced the suppressing effect of soil K in the absorption of Na by Dog Ridge rootstock. These interactions suggested the use of rootstocks for Sonaka and application of higher doses of potash to vines on their own roots or Dog Ridge rootstock to limit the absorption of Na. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors are grateful to the Office Bearers and the Chairman, Central Research Committee of The Maharashtra Grape Growers’ Association for facilita ting the conduct of the Survey; and the members of the research Advisory Committee for their suggestions and guidance in conducting the research. REFERNCES Abrol I.P., Yadav, J.S.P., and Massoud, F., 1988, Salt affected soils and their management, Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Soils Bulletin 39 Anna Csikász-Krizsics, and Lajos Diófási, 2008, Effects of Rootstock-Scion Combinations on Macro elements availability of the Vines, Journal of Central European Agriculture, 9(3): 495-504 Antonio Ibacache G., and Carlos Sierra B., 2009, Influence of rootstocks on nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content in petioles of four table grape varieties, Chilean Journal of Agricultural Research, 69 (4) : 503-508 Barber, D. A. and Russell, R. S. 1961. 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