Evaluation of wheat varieties to salt stress (NaCl) for seed germination and early seedling growth under laboratory conditions

Abstract Salinity tolerance during germination and early seedling growth was evaluated of four wheat varieties under four salinity (NaCl) levels that included Control (distilled water) 0, 9, 12 and 16 dSm-1. The seeds of four wheat varieties including Imdad-2005, Mahran-89, TJ-83 and TD-1 were sown under various NaCl levels in Petri dishes. The trial was performed at Seed Testing Laboratory, Department of Agronomy, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam Pakistan, following completely randomized design with three replications. The results showed that different salt stress (NaCl) levels had significant effects on germination (%), shoot and root length (cm), shoot and root water content (%), shoot and root fresh weight (g) and shoot and root dry weight (g) of wheat varieties. Among varieties, Imdad-2005 showed tolerance against salt stress for all parameters as compared to other varieties. The Imdad-2005 produced maximum mean germination (93.7%), shoot and root length (14.8 cm and 9.3 cm), shoot and root RWC (80.1 % and 86.2%), shoot and root fresh weight (2.3 g and 1.5 g) and heaviest shoot and root dry weight (0.28 g and 0.13 g). However, for NaCl levels, maximum germination (96.2 %), shoot and root length (15.5 cm, 10.7 cm), shoot and root water content (86.4 %, 87.0%), shoot and root fresh weight (2.3 and 1.5 g) and highest shoot and root dry weight (0.28 g and 0.13 g) was noted at control, where seeds were on sown by using distilled water. Keywords: Germination; NaCl Tolerance; Seedling growth; Salinity levels; Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) http://dx.doi.org/10.19045/bspab.2018.700223