Sodium Exclusion Affects Seed Yield and Physiological Traits of Wheat Genotypes Grown Under Salt Stress

Abstract

Increasing salinization is a real threat to food security by diminishing the performance of glycophyte staple crop wheat. To tackle salinity, one option is to identify and use salt-tolerant germplasm but salinity tolerance is a multigenic trait which is conferred by a large array of interacting physiological and biochemical processes. Keeping this in mind, (eighteen) physiological indices were used to appraise salt tolerance of 20 bread wheat genotypes and specifically evaluated the effect of sodium exclusion on seed yield of salt-stressed wheat genotypes in pots. Significant statistical difference was found between the genotypes, at different salinity levels for physiological, biochemical, and yield-related attributes. Under salt regime (15 dS m −1), the performance of all wheat genotypes was significantly affected as compared with those of the plants grown in control conditions (1.41 dS m −1). Among the 20 genotypes, Kharchia 65 produced maximum grain yield followed by V-03094, V-02156, LU26S, PVN, V0005, and TURACO, which was linked to lower Na + and higher K + accumulation in the leaf. Moreover, these genotypes also maintained higher K + /Na + ratios in their leaves under saline stress. Furthermore, significant increase in leaf proline content was found in all genotypes growing in salt regimes as compared with those in plants grown under non-saline conditions. Chlorophyll fluorescence such as non-photochemical chlorophyll fluorescence quenching (NPQ) and electron transport rate (ETR) were markedly higher in saline environment in all wheat genotypes as compared with those in plants grown in control. Of the 20 genotypes, V-0005 followed by V-02156, V-03094, V-04181, and PVN were found to be salt-tolerant as they showed enhanced exclusion of Na + and maintained the high K + /Na + ratio. These genotypes also showed improved plant water relations and gas exchange characteristics and less cell membrane injury. While genotypes PBW343*2, PUNJAB 85, FRET2, and TAM200/TUI were found to be salt-sensitive genotypes. Better yield was strongly linked with sodium exclusion, stable membranes, and protected oxygen-evolving complex (PS II).

Impact of Mother Plant Saline Stress on the Agronomical Quality of Pepper Seeds

“…Our results support the hypothesis that the agronomical quality of pepper seeds diminishes with rising salinity of the nutrient solution used for mother plant fertigation. These findings are important because escalating soil and water salinization diminishes crop yields, thus posing a major threat to food security (Saddiq et al 2020;Wang et al 2020).…”

Improved salinity and dust stress tolerance in the desert halophyte Haloxylon aphyllum by halotolerant plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria

“…The results of this study also showed that with increase in salinity and dust application in H. aphyllum species, the content of proline increased. Proline plays an essential role in osmotic regulation and reduction of sodium toxicity in plants (Saddiq et al, 2020 ). Proline accumulation has a positive and direct relationship with increased resistance to dehydration under salinity and drought stresses in plants (Saneoka et al, 2004 ).…”

Exogenous aspartic acid alleviates salt stress-induced decline in growth by enhancing antioxidants and compatible solutes while reducing reactive oxygen species in wheat

“…Our results on stress caused due to salinity impact on wheat plants agree with those obtained earlier on sunflower plants ( Abd El-Hameid and Sadak, 2020 ). Salinity stress severely disturbs plant growth via various physiological processes ( Mujeeb-Kazi et al., 2019 ; Saddiq et al., 2019 ; Saddiq et al., 2020 ). Salinity affected wheat growth parameters via decreased water availability and increased levels of Na and Cl ions which interfered with essential macro elements such as Mg, K, and Ca uptake from the soil, thus resulting in nutrient deficiency ( Awad et al., 2012 ; Saddiq et al., 2019 ; Saddiq et al., 2020 ; Mohamed et al., 2021 ).…”