The response of genetically distinct bread wheat genotypes to salinity stress

With 4 figures and 3 tables Abstract Soil salinity reduces crop yield in many areas of the world. Ninety-eight hexaploid wheat inbreds differing in geographic origin and belonging to six diverse adaptation groups were studied in control, EC-10 and EC-15 dS/m treatments to evaluate variability for salt tolerance and to assess the usefulness of early growth stage salinity assessment in the determination of adult plant salinity response. Significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) were observed among the 98 inbreds, three NaCl treatments and their interactions for relative growth rate (RGR), biomass, fertile tillers, grains/spike, 100-grain weight and grain yield. A range of responses were observed with an increasing salinity for most characters among the inbreds tested. The three evaluation systems (solution culture, raised beds in the field with added salt, naturally saline field conditions) were effective in assessing variability for salt tolerance in wheat germplasm. Assessment of salinity tolerance at the seedling stage correlated well with adult plant response under field conditions, and several highly stable sources of salinity tolerance were identified.