Agro-Morphological, Yield and Biochemical Responses of Selected Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Genotypes to Salt Stress

Wheat is affected by various biotic and abiotic stresses, especially salinity, which reduces the growth and yield drastically. With this view, an experiment was conducted to observe genotypic differences in agro-morphological, yield, and biochemical responses to salinity. Experimental variables consisted of five salt-tolerant genotypes (G 13, G 20-1, G 9, G 22, G 20-2), one susceptible genotype (G 24) and one standard check variety (BARI ghom 25), which assigned to four levels of salinity with electrical conductivities 0, 4, 8 and 12 dS m⁻¹. Irrespective of genotypes, salinity stress significantly decreased the yield and yield attributes. However, maximum total tillers plant⁻¹, effective tillers plant⁻¹, number of grains spike⁻¹, and grain yield plant⁻¹ was found in salt tolerant genotype G 20-2, followed by genotypes G 13, G 20-1, and the lowest was observed in salt-susceptible genotype G 24. The lowest reduction percentage of yield and yield attributes were also observed in salt tolerant genotype G 20-2 followed by genotypes G 13, G 20-2, and the maximum reduction percentage was found in salt-susceptible genotype G 24. Results showed that the highest amount of proline, glycinebetaine, soluble sugar and soluble protein content were observed in salt-tolerant genotype G 20-2, followed by genotypes G 13, G 20-1, and the minimum was found in salt-susceptible genotype G 24. On the other hand, the lowest hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and melondealdehyde (MDA) accumulation was detected in the same salt-tolerant genotype G 20-2, followed by G 13, G 20-1, and the maximum was observed in salt-susceptible genotype G 24. Therefore, higher accumulations of compatible solute in the tolerant genotypes reduce the oxidative stress, and provide the higher yield.