Low leaf sodium content improves the grain yield and physiological performance of wheat genotypes in saline-sodic soil

• Main Authors: Muhammad Sohail Saddiq, Irfan Afzal, Shahid Iqbal, Muhammad Bilal Hafeez, Ali Raza
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade Federal de Goiás 2021-07-01
• Series: Pesquisa Agropecuária Tropical
• Subjects: triticum aestivum l.; salt stress; salt tolerance
• Online Access: https://www.revistas.ufg.br/pat/article/view/67663/36873

Salt stress is a major production constraint in wheat. The maintenance of a low Na+ accumulation in the leaves may improve the tissue tolerance against salt stress. A field experiment was conducted to discriminate twenty wheat genotypes, based on leaf Na+ accumulation as a criterion for salt tolerance, and evaluate the effect of sodium accumulation on the biomass production, physiological and yield traits of wheat genotypes grown in a saline-sodic environment. The Na+concentration was determined in young fully expanded leaves at the vegetative growth stage. The genotypes were categorized into two contrasting groups (with low and high Na+ content), in a randomized complete block design, with three replications. The low Na+ genotypes (V-03094, V-02156, TURACO, V0005 and PVN) showed much longer chlorophyll retention, leaf K+ content, proline and phenolic contents than the high Na+ genotypes. The salt effects on yield components were also less in the wheat genotypes with low leaf Na+ content than the high Na+ genotypes. The greater grain yield of low Na+ accumulating genotypes was due to the enhanced grain number and weight in their tillers, which were strongly associated with the higher Na+efflux from the leaves. The low sodium accumulator genotypes improved the seedling emergence (%) and grain yield in saline-sodic soil.