1Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed To Be University), Mullana, Ambala-133 203, Haryana, India
2ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal-132 001, Haryana, India
*Corresponding Author: Shobha Soni, ICAR-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute, Karnal-132 001, Haryana, India, Email: shobhasoni88@gmail.com
Online Published on 15 July, 2022.
Rapid global warming associated with abiotic stresses particularly salinity stress directly poses a major challenge to the present-day agriculture. Wheat is moderately sensitive crop that occupies the largest total harvested area among the cereals including rice and maize. Durum wheat is considered as a less tolerant to bread wheat, hence, the study aims to investigate the response of durum wheat genotypes under salinity stress.
A randomised block design experiment involving five durum wheat genotypes viz; HI 8737, HD 4728, HD 4730, MACS 3972 and HI 8708 and two levels of salinity i.e. normal water (Control) and saline water (ECiw -10.0 dSm−1) was conducted with three replications during 2018–2019 and 2019–2020. The observations on different physico-biochemical parameters were recorded in roots as well as shoots at the vegetative stage.
Salinity of 10 dS m−1 water caused 26.36% reduction in the chlorophyll content in comparison to control. Among osmolytes, salinity stress caused dual response i.e. limits the accumulation of TSS in roots whereas it enhanced the TSS accumulation in shoot, while reverse trend was noted for proteins. Salt stress enhanced the accumulation of proline and antioxidative enzymes activities in both root and shoot in comparison to control.
Antioxidative enzymes, Biochemical traits, Durum wheat, Salinity
