Effect of salinity on morpho-physiological aspects, antioxidant enzymatic studies and yield attributes in wheat genotypes

Two cultivars of Triticum aestivum (KRL1-4 and UP2338) with differential tolerance of salinity were compared by evaluating the morphological parameters, antioxidant enzymes, pigment content and yield attributes. Plants were exposed to varying levels of NaCl (i.e. 100, 200 and 300 mM) and untreated plants were considered as control. Growth parameters progressively declined with increasing NaCl concentration. Salt stress significantly reduced the pigment content of the plants as reflected by decrease in chl ‘a’, chl ‘b’, total chl and carotenoid content. The plants exhibited a decline in number of grains per spike and grain weight under salinity, the effect being more pronounced in sensitive cultivar than the tolerant. The cultivar KRL1-4 had higher antioxidant activity and pigment content than other cultivar i.e. UP2338 and can be used in breeding programs for saline habitats. © 2018, Indian Society for Plant Physiology.