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

Shiksha Chaurasia, Arvind Kumar and Amit Kumar Singh ()
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Shiksha Chaurasia: Division of Genomic Resources, ICAR—National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi 110012, India
Arvind Kumar: Division of Crop Improvement, ICAR—Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal 132001, India
Amit Kumar Singh: Division of Genomic Resources, ICAR—National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi 110012, India

Agriculture, 2022, vol. 12, issue 11, 1-15

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 Ca 2+ 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 Ca 2+ , 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.

Keywords: bread wheat; salt tolerance index (STI); plant biomass; shoot K + /Na +; root Na + /Ca 2+ (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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