Changes in growth, osmotic potential and cell permeability of wheat cultivars under salt stress

Abstract

10-d-old wheat seedlings were grown hydroponically in presence and absence of 100 mM NaCl for 7 d. Salt stress decreased growth of shoots and roots of both cultivars; fresh mass of sensitive cultivar being more affected. NaCl increased membrane permeability to urea, methylurea and ethylurea and decreased membrane partiality in root cortex cells of sensitive cultivar. Neither parameter changed by NaCl in resistant cultivar. NaCl treatment decreased water permeability and osmotic potential in both cultivars; sensitive cultivar was more affected. The results extends our previous data that cell membrane properties are different in salt sensitive and resistant genotypes and so cell permeability could be a potential trait indicating salt tolerance. © 1994 Institute of Experimental Botany.