Comprehensive Evaluation of Morpho-Physiological and Ionic Traits in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Genotypes under Salinity Stress

Abstract

Salinity is the foremost abiotic stress that severely affects plant growth and constrains its productivity worldwide. In the present investigation, genetic variation in wheat genotypes was evaluated to identify novel salt-tolerant genetic resources, which could be used in the bread wheat improvement program. A diverse panel of 44 different wheat genotypes was evaluated at seedling stage to characterize morphological and ionic traits under salt stress (150 mM NaCl). Salt treatment caused 33.33, 45.31, 55.17, and 72.53% reduction in root dry weight (RDW), root fresh weight (RFW), shoot dry weight (SDW), and shoot fresh weight (SFW), respectively. Under salt stress, maximum inhibition of Na+ ion uptake was observed in tolerant genotypes, and this was accompanied by a high Ca2+ uptake. Wheat genotypes showed a wide spectrum of responses under salt stress; however, four genotypes, EC576356, IC533596, IC279230, and IC290188, exhibited consistent performance, which was strongly linked to proper Na+ and K+ discrimination in leaves. The tolerant genotypes acquired a better ability to maintain stable relative water content (RWC), chlorophyll (CHL), and photosynthesis rate (PS), resulting in significantly higher dry matter production under salt stress. Further, biomass, shoot K+, root Ca2+, and shoot K+/Na+ were identified as the most effective parameters for screening wheat germplasm for salinity tolerance. The identified germplasm could be used as donors for transferring salt tolerance to improved cultivars as well as in further genetic studies to uncover the genetic mechanisms governing salt stress response in wheat.

Sub‐soil plastic film mulch promotes the growth and yield improvement of winter wheat in coastal saline–alkali soil

“…Salt stress significantly reduces DM in winter wheat (Chaurasia et al., 2022; Yu et al., 2016). According to linear regression analysis, a significant negative correlation exists between DM and EC in shallow soil.…”

Influence of Incremental Short Term Salt Stress at the Seedling Stage on Root Plasticity, Shoot Thermal Profile and Ion Homeostasis in Contrasting Wheat Genotypes

“…The seeds of the genotypes were maintained at the Division of Plant Physiology, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi, and grown in a pot (30 cm tall and 15 cm in diameter) under hydroponic conditions with modified Hoagland solution [16] at the National Phytotron Facility, ICAR-IARI, New Delhi for 30 days (Supplementary Figure S1) in November 2021. Treatments with varying electrical conductivity (Control, 5 dS m −1 , 10 dS m −1 , 15 dS m −1 ) were imposed on seven-day-old plants, using a combination of three different salts, NaCl, CaCl 2 .2H 2 O, and Na 2 SO 4 , and the plants were maintained in a suitable [13] microenvironment condition in a glasshouse. Various physio-biochemical parameters were recorded from plant samples harvested at 30 days.…”

“…Many salt-tolerant bread wheat genotypes, including KRL99, KRL3-4, KRL1-4, KRL19, KRL210, KRL283, and KRL213, were created via traditional breeding using kharchia as the donor parent. KRL283, KRL213, and KRL210 cover over 2.4 lakh hectares in India and claim high breeder seed indents [13].…”