Salinity Tolerance in Wheat Cultivars Is Related to Enhanced Activities of Enzymatic Antioxidants and Reduced Lipid Peroxidation

Soil salinity is a stringent abiotic constraint limiting crop productivity. Studies were undertaken to appraise the performance of six diverse wheat cultivars (LU-26S, MH-97, AARI-2011, Millat-2011, Lasani-2008, and FSD-2008) under non-saline (control) and saline soil (8 and 16 dS m(-1)) conditions. Increasing the salinity level severely diminished emergence and seedling growth attributes in all wheat cultivars. Nevertheless, cultivar specific responses were evident and a significant salinity x cultivar was observed in most cases. The lowest (23%) reduction in final emergence was observed for AARI-2011 as compared with the maximum recorded for LU-26S (56%). AARI-2011 and Millat-2011 recorded the highest seedling dry biomass at a salinity level of 16 dS m(-1). The highest salinity level resulted in the maximum inhibition of chlorophyll content in Millat-2011 and MH-97 by 59 and 68%, respectively, as compared with their respective control. With an increase in the salinity level, enhanced activities of antioxidants like superoxide dismutase and catalase were observed in AARI-2011 compared with all other wheat cultivars. Lasani-2008 showed a maximum (70%) increase in malondialdehyde content compared with control. AARI-2011 and FSD-2008 appeared as promising wheat cultivars manifesting salt tolerance that was related to enhanced activities of enzymatic antioxidants and reduced lipid peroxidation, respectively.