Agronomical Traits and Biochemical Genetics Markers Associated with Salt Tolerance in Wheat Cultivars (Triticum aestivum L)

The lack of an effective evaluation method for salt tolerance in the screening process is one of the reasons for limited success in conventional salt tolerance breeding. This study was designed during winter 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 to identify useful agronomical and biochemical traits for salt tolerance in wheat. Five wheat cultivars were grown in field experiment in three sites at Sahel El Tenna region, south Port Said with various salinity levels; 0.098 ds m - 1), 4.2 ds m - 1 and 8.4 ds m - 1. Salt stress suppressed seedling growth and simultaneously reduced leaf area, content chlorophyll, spike length, 1000 grain weight, grain yield as well as harvest index. Based on salt tolerance index, Gemmeiza 1 cultivar showed the highest and stable yield across normal and saline conditions. Significant correlations observed between grain yield and some agronomic traits, indicating that these traits might be useful criteria to select salt tolerant wheat cultivars.Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis has revealed that plant grown under salinity showed induction or suppression in the synthesis of few polypeptides. Isozymes of Esterase (EST), Malate dehydrogenase (MDH) and Glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) showed differences under salt stress. These differences might reflect the gene activation for the adaptation of plants to salt condition. Among the cultivars, Gemmeiza1 showed best performance in respect of appearance of new bands in protein and isozyme profile. So that protein patterns and isozyme analysis could consider tool to know the existence and expression of the gene in respect of stress tolerance. These results can be translated into effort to develop this salt tolerance cultivar and maximize the use of saline soils.