Tolerance of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Genotypes under Saline Water Irrigation Conditions

An experiment was conducted in microplots (2 m x 2 m) filled with sandy loam soil to evaluate the relative tolerance of fourteen wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes irrigated with saline water having four salinity levels (canal water (0.4 dS m⁻¹), EC_iw 2.5, EC_iw 5 and EC_iw 7.5 dS m⁻¹). The data revealed that the growth and yield parameters decreased significantly with an increase in salinity levels of the irrigation water. The mean grain yield declined by 28.3% at the highest salinity (EC_iw of 7.5 dS m⁻¹). The genotypes WH-1043, WH-1041, WH-1016 and WH-1036 recorded significantly higher grain yields than other genotypes at all the levels of salinity. Therefore, these genotypes had higher yield potential and hence recorded higher grain yield, better growth and yield parameters at all salinity levels. On the contrary, the genotypes KRL-19, WH-157, WH-1037 and WH-1034 had low yield potential but higher physiological tolerance as evidenced from the lower reduction in osmotic potential, chlorophyll content and K/Na ratio at the higher salinity level of 7.5 dS m⁻¹. It is concluded from this study that the genes responsible for better salinity tolerance traits in the two groups of genotypes can be exploited for further genetic improvement of wheat.