Effect of Salinity Stress on Physiological Changes in Winter and Spring Wheat

• Published in: Agronomy (Basel) Vol. 11; no. 6; p. 1193
• Main Authors: Saddiq, Muhammad Sohail, Iqbal, Shahid, Hafeez, Muhammad Bilal, Ibrahim, Amir M. H., Raza, Ali, Fatima, Esha Mehik, Baloch, Heer, Jahanzaib, Woodrow, Pasqualina, Ciarmiello, Loredana Filomena
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.06.2021
• Subjects: Abiotic stress; Agricultural production; Agriculture; agronomy; Cereals; Chlorophyll; chlorophyll fluorescence; Conductance; Crop growth; Fluorescence; Gene expression; Genetic improvement; Genetic resources; Genotypes; Germplasm; growth performance; Growth rate; Leaves; Morphology; Na+ efflux; Photosystem II; Physiological effects; Physiology; Plant growth; Rain; Resistance; Salinity; Salinity effects; Salinity tolerance; Salt; salt stress; salt tolerance; salt tolerant; Salts; seedling growth; Seedlings; Spring; Spring wheat; Stomata; Stomatal conductance; Triticum aestivum; Water shortages; Wheat; Winter wheat
• DOI: 10.3390/agronomy11061193
• ISSN: 2073-4395

Salinity is a leading threat to crop growth throughout the world. Salt stress induces altered physiological processes and several inhibitory effects on the growth of cereals, including wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). In this study, we determined the effects of salinity on five spring and five winter wheat genotypes seedlings. We evaluated the salt stress on root and shoot growth attributes, i.e., root length (RL), shoot length (SL), the relative growth rate of root length (RGR-RL), and shoot length (RGR-SL). The ionic content of the leaves was also measured. Physiological traits were also assessed, including stomatal conductance (gs), chlorophyll content index (CCI), and light-adapted leaf chlorophyll fluorescence, i.e., the quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv′/Fm′) and instantaneous chlorophyll fluorescence (Ft). Physiological and growth performance under salt stress (0, 100, and 200 mol/L) were explored at the seedling stage. The analysis showed that spring wheat accumulated low Na+ and high K+ in leaf blades compared with winter wheat. Among the genotypes, Sakha 8, S-24, W4909, and W4910 performed better and had improved physiological attributes (gs, Fv′/Fm′, and Ft) and seedling growth traits (RL, SL, RGR-SL, and RGR-RL), which were strongly linked with proper Na+ and K+ discrimination in leaves and the CCI in leaves. The identified genotypes could represent valuable resources for genetic improvement programs to provide a greater understanding of plant tolerance to salt stress.