Influence of halopriming on physiological traits and yield of wheat under saline conditions

Abstract

Soil salinity is a widespread production constraint for wheat in Pakistan. The feasible options to overcome soil salinity are salt tolerant varieties and treatment of seed with various priming agents. Concern for sustainable production of wheat crop led to renewed interest in management of soil salinity through salt tolerant varieties and seed priming. In order to address the problem the current study was carried out to investigate about the role seed priming (30 mM NaCl) in comparison with dry seed in ameliorating the impact of various levels of salt stress (control, 4, 6 and 8 dSm-1) on growth and physiological traits of two wheat varieties (Bakhtawar and Auqab). Results of the study confirmed significant influence of salt stress and varieties on all the studied traits. Gradual increase of salt stress reduced all the traits gradually. Salinity level of 8 dSm-1 decreased spikes plant-1 by 38%, grains spike-1 by 37%, hundred grains by 24%, grain yield plant-1 by 68%, biological yield plant-1 by 56%, harvest index by 29%, and shoot K+/Na+ ratio by 60%. The impact of seed priming (30 mM NaCl) was only non-significant on grains spike-1 and it had positively influenced spikes plant-1, grains spike-1, 100-grain weight, plant grain yield, biological yield, harvest index, and shoot K+/Na+ ratio by 8.52%, 0.97%, 4.245, 12.17%, 24%, 11.68%, and 12.28% respectively with highest influence on Bakhtawar. Bakhtawar performed better than Auqab and maximum spikes plant-1 (3.18), grains spike-1 (36.17), hundred grains weight (2.94 g), grain yield plant-1 (3.66 g), biological yield plant-1 (10.54 g), harvest index plant-1 (34.33 %), and shoot K+/Na+ ratio (1.44) were confirmed for it. In conclusion it is stated that salinity stress had adversely influenced the yield and physiological traits of wheat varieties. However, seed treatment with NaCl had alleviated the negative effects of salt stress up to great extent.