Composite tailings (CT) technology allows Alberta’s oil sands industry to reduce its volume of extraction tailings and accelerate the process of reclamation and revegetation of affected sites. Wild raspberry ( Rubus idaeus) is desired on reclaimed sites; however, its sensitivity to ions in CT complicates its successful establishment. Hypoxia is another challenge for plants in CT, and is known to affect plant salt resistance. This study examined responses of raspberry exposed to CT release water under well-aerated and hypoxic conditions. Unlike many long-lived woody perennials that have been studied, raspberry did not accumulate Na and Cl in roots and therefore, the ability of roots to store these ions was not affected by the hypoxic conditions. This response suggests that the strategy of raspberry plants to cope with moderate salinity may be to protect roots, rather than shoots, against salt accumulation and possible salt injury. Contrary to Na, Cl, and S, well-aerated raspberry exhibited exclusion as a means of regulating B uptake by the roots. We suggest that the ability of roots to store salt should be used as an indicator of salt resistance in woody perennials designated for reclamation on saline sites. Read more...