Characterization of salt tolerant Wheat (Triticum aestivum) genotypes on the basis of physiological attributes

Abstract

A glass house experiment was conducted to investigate the potential of different wheat genotypes for physiological traits, decisive for their salt tolerance. Ten wheat genotypes along with salt tolerant check (LU-26s) were evaluated under two salinity levels (control and 120 mM NaCl). Salt stress significantly affected growth and yield attributes, as well as physiological traits of wheat genotypes. However, LU-26s, CT-09117, NRL-1237, NRL-1235, Tatara and NIA-AS-14-2 had better growth in terms of plant height, productive tiller, plant biomass and grain yield per plant. These genotypes also demonstrated least degradation in chlorophyll contents with significant increase in endogenous level of proline, glycine betaine (GB), total phenols (TP), total soluble sugars (TSS) and maintained high potassium (K+) content by restricting sodium (Na+) uptake in response to salt stress. Genotypes NIA-AS-9 and 4 performed moderately but NIA-AS-14-8 and CT-09149 failed to adjust osmotically and resulted in poor growth and yield under saline stress. Wheat grain yield was positively correlated with K+, proline and TSS; however, it showed negative relationship with Na+ contents under salinity. Based on growth and yield parameters, physiological attributes and ion accumulation, wheat genotypes CT-09117, NRL-1237, NRL-1235, NIA-AS-14-2 and Tatara could be categorized as salt tolerant and may be further evaluated for mechanisms conferring salinity tolerance.