EXOGENOUSLY APPLIED PROLINE MITIGATES ADVERSE EFFECTS OF SALT STRESS IN WHEAT ( TRITICUM AESTIVUM ) THROUGH DIFFERENTIAL MODULATION OF ANTIOXIDATIVE DEFENCE SYSTEM AND OSMOLYTES ACCUMULATION

Soil salinity is a major environmental problem all over the globe. This issue is of great concern and needs special attention as it reduces fertility of the agricultural land and retards seedlings development and growth. Recently various techniques are under consideration to reclaim salt affected soils. Imparting tolerance against salt stress by employing organic supplements is one of the useful methods. In this study, effects of exogenously applied proline (50 mM and 100 mM) on the germination, growth and biochemical attributes of two cultivars of Triticum aestivum L., namely Aanj 2017 and Faisalabad 2008 at the different levels of salt stress (50 mM and 100 mM) were examined. Plants were randomly arranged in control groups (no salt and proline treatment), different levels of salinity and proline, and their combined application. The salt stress (NaCl) suppressed the parameters related to germination, growth and biochemical compositions in both genotypes especially in Faisalabad 2008 was badly stunted. Exogenously applied proline has tremendously counteracted the adverse effects of salinity in both genotypes by upregulation of antioxidant defense system, promoting the efficiency of photosynthetic pigments and flavonoids, improvements in uptake of mineral ions and water, however, the performances of Aanj 2017 surpassed in the presence of proline.