Effect of salinity on chlorophill content and activity of photosystems of wheat genotypes

Abstract

The genotypes of wheat were grown in field conditions of Apsheron Peninsula and Akhsu region under salinity (1.5%) soil conditions. The summary of the analysis of variance for the biometrical parameters studied during onthogenesis of wheat showed that salinity stress had adverse effects not only on the biomass yield, leaf area and other morphological parameters, but also on photosynthetic pigments and photochemical activity of chloroplasts. Salt stress reduced plant growth of all wheat genotypes, but the genotypes Barakhatli, Giymatli and Azamatli were characterized as the most salt-tolerant. Decrease in activity of PS II of genotypes Barakhatli, Azamatli-95 and Giymatli 2/17 was less than genotypes Garagilchig-2 Girmizigul-1, Ruzi-84, Nurlu-99, Alinja-84. Salt stress led to a block of electron flow between primary and secondary electron acceptors of PS II. Our results suggest that the genotypes of wheat Barakhatli, Giymatli 2/17 and Azamatli-95 are more tolerant to salinity and they could be used as a physiological markers during the screening for salt tolerance.