Response of wheat varieties to salinity: growth, yield and ion analysis

Abstract

In plants, development, growth and yield most severely affected through saline soil/water in growth medium, ultimately cause severe threat to global food production for human being. Wheat (Triticum aestivum) is the most edible crop in Pakistan. Production of this crop can be improved through using marginal areas with the help of growing salt-tolerant varieties. The present investigation is carried out to screen out six local wheat varieties (F.Sarhad, Insaf, Lalma, Tatora, Bathoor and Barsat) with reference to their vegetative and reproductive growth, different physiological parameters [relative water content (RWC), electrolyte-leakage (EL) and leaf water loss (LWL)] and ionic status of plants. Present experiment designed in completely randomized manner (CRD) and 54 pots were arranged in the Botanical Garden, Department of Botany. These pots arranged in 6 lines with 9 pots/line and each line was irrigated with non-saline (control), 50 mM and 150 mM NaCl solution. The data from present research revealed that application of salt cause significant reduction in plant-height, root-length, fresh-biomass, dry-biomass, seed number/plant, seed weight/plant, spike-weight, relative water content, leaf water loss, and different ions of plants. Similarly at same applied doses of salt weight of 100 seeds, spike-length, electrolyte-leakage, Na+ and Cl- ions become increased. It has been concluded from the results of present study that varieties F. Sarhad, Insaf and Lalma exhibited more salt tolerance as compare to other varieties. So, these recommended for growing on moderately salt affected soil/water to achieve more yield of wheat from such affected lands of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

Effect of Salt Stress on the Germination and Early Seedling Growth in Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus)

“…Plant growth consists of potential of germination process, hypocotyle length, fresh and dry Biomass, seedling growth and vegetative growth of plants, mainly caused through cell division, cell differentiation and cell enlargement (Nazeer et al, 2021). In the current study salt stress has affected the fresh and dry weight of root and shoots in all varieties.…”

“…Abiotic stresses like salinity, drought and heat stress are the main causes of low productivity. Amongst these problems, salinity is the main hurdle for the reduction in agricultural productivity (Nazeer et al, 2021). Worldwide, salinity led to the decline of crop production and plant growth in many cultivated areas (Farahmand and Sadeghi, 2020), resulting in 65% loss of crop yield (Gupta et al, 2021).…”