Wheat being a glycophyte crop, responds differently to saline-sodic soil environmental conditions. The application of calcium is multidimensional with respect to sodium ion and plant part response. This study was conducted to record the response of shoot and root to sodium and calcium interaction under saline environment. Wheat seed of variety Punjab 85 were raised in quartz sand. Later on the seedlings were transplanted to pots containing Hoagland's nutrient solution along with NaCl at 0 mM. and 50 mM. Calcium was applied as CaSO 4 2H 2 O at 3 mM. and 6 mM. Under saline conditions shoot showed positive response to sodium ion in the presence of higher calcium. Relative water contents were higher in the root system at 6 mM of CaSO 4 . 2H 2 O under saline condition. Growth responses to potassium and Magnesium in the presence of sodium induced salinity with calcium ion interaction remained variable.

Salinity and sodicity is today one of the most shocking threat in the irrigated agriculture. Mostly this is an abiotic strain that influences germination and plant growth. Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Wild.) has garnered much attention in recent years because it is an excellent source of plant-based protein and is highly tolerance of soil salinity and sodicity. Protein content in most quinoa accessions has been reported to range from 12 to 17%, depending on variety, environment, and input sit is traditionally called the mother of grains having the potential to habitat under high saline sodic conditions environment. The aim of the present protocol was to investigate the germination and growth of quinoa plant under different naturally salt affected soils. Quiona weeds were sown in different salt affected soils comparing with a normal soil. A pot experiment was planned using randomized complete block design with three replicates. Non-significant results regarding germination among different naturally salt affected and normal soils was determined However germination percentage was reduced to 66.8 % by soil 5 having (SAR= 37.2). In other words Quinoa seeds were germinated up to (SAR= 37.2). Results of Quinoa plant height, fresh weight, and dry weight after two weeks were significantly affected by different naturally salt affected and normal soils. This study revealed the quiona growth was inversely proportional to the sodium absorption ratio. Reduction in growth parameters was associated with increasing trend of SAR due to the presence of excessive salts in plant tissues.

Six wheat varieties (SARC-1, SARC-2, SARC-3, were planted in the field to evaluate their comparative performance under saline conditions. LU26S appeared the most salt-tolerant variety and gave the highest grain weight due to its low Na + uptake, high K + /Na + ratio, higher dry weight of shoots and spikes and better grain development. Better exclusion of Na + and other ions from the leaves of salt-tolerant variety LU2 6S could also be a reason for its ability to maintain a higher grain weight in the saline soil. Punjab-85 appeared the most saltsensitive variety as its dry weight of main shoots and spikes were also found to be the lowest. High Na + uptake, lower K + /Na + ratio, lower dry weight of main shoots and spikes and lower 100 grain weight were the main reasons for saltsensitivity in Punjab-85. Dry weight of shoots, spikes and grain weight of SARC-3 under saline soil conditions was almost similar to the salt-sensitive variety Punjab-85 and could be classified as salt-sensitive. Flag leaf area decreased drastically due to salt stress in all the varieties and this could be a major cause for low yield. There was however, a very low linear correlation between the flag leaf area and the grain weight in pooled data for all the six wheat varieties.

A hydroponic study was conducted to investigate the role of sulphur application on K/Na selectivity by sunflower and alleviation effect of sulphur on plant growth under saline conditions. Three salinity levels (0, 75, and 150 mM sodium chloride) and two sulphur levels (1 and 4 mM magnesium sulphate) were maintained in the root medium. The treatments were replicated thrice and arranged on growth chamber bench according to a complete randomized design (CRD). Seeds of Helianthus annuus (cv. Hysun-33) were germinated in quartz sand under standard conditions. One-week old seedlings were transferred to pots containing 2.5 l continuously aerated half strength modified Hoagland , s nutrient solution. The plants were provided optimum growth conditions. First harvest on 25 th and second harvest on 30 th day were taken after germination. Plants grown with 4 mM sulphur level showed significant growth whereas interaction between sulphur and salinity was highly significant (P<0.01) for growth parameters like fresh weight, dry matter yield of shoot and root, diameter and length of stem and root. The positive correlation of dry matter yield with sulfur (r=0.93), potassium (r=0.99) and calcium (r=0.83) were observed, whereas sodium had negative relationship (r=-0.99) with dry matter yield. Potassium/sodium selectivity in plants was significantly higher (P< 0.01) at 4 mM sulphur level than at 1 mM.

ABSTRACT:A study was conducted in the glass house to observe the role of K/Na ratio and moisture contents on the growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum L .cv. Lu-26) under NaCl stress. The plants were grown under hydroponic conditions at two salinity levels of 0 and 50 mM as NaCl. Calcium as CaSO 4 . 2H 2 O was applied at 3 and 6 mM to the pots of salinity. The plants were harvested after 30 days of growth. The treatments showed a highly significant (p< 0.01) effect on the growth and ionic relations. Fresh weight of shoot and root increased by 44 and 41 % respectively, with increased application of CaSO 4 from 3 to 6 mM in the saline medium. Dry mass was increased by 46% at 50 mM of NaCl with the application of 6 mM of CaSO 4 .2H 2 O. Relative water content in the root decreased with the application of CaSO 4 .2H 2 O in saline treatment as compared to non-saline treatment. The increased K/Na ratio had a pronounced effect on the increase of dry mass of shoot by 72% at 6 mM than 3 mM of CaSO 4 .2H 2 O application in the saline medium. @JASEM