When collecting the axilary buds, the mother plants (H0)
used for vegetative multiplication were selected for their vigorous
aspect. This vigour was reflected in the better behaviour
of these plants when compared to the mean of their respective
populations in parameters such as fruit yield and shoot biomass
(Table 3). The selected H0-plants yielded 28–53% more fruit
and up to 68% more shoot biomass than the SC plants. These
improvements were 10–40% when compared to the mean of
each treatment. Only the F5 and B8 H0-plants did not show any
improvement in shoot biomass with respect to both the SC and
their respective populations. The leaf water content of the H0-
plants was similar to their respective treatments, and 10–25%
lower than the SC plants (Table 3). The leaf Na+ and Cl− concentrations
varied by up to 50% from the SC plants, with 15–20%
increases in the B5 and D5 and 15–50% decreases in B8 and
C8 mother plants. The leaf K+ contents in the D5, F5, B8 and
C8 mother plants were between 10 and 41% higher than in the
SC plants, showing a similar tendency that all the pre-adapted
population of plants.