Effect of NaCl-Induced salinity on biomass of bread wheat cultivars in seedling stage

The soil and irrigation water salinity is a major problem for crop producing in world dry & semi dry regions under salinity stress. In order to study of salinity stress on bread wheat cultivars in seedling stage, 47 cultivars and (Rye cultivar & Durum wheat cultivar as check cultivars) were assessed in factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replications. Tap water was used for control (0 ds/m), and an increasing concentration of NaCl in water, up to an EC of 5 and 10 ds/m was used to represent the salinity treatments. Measured traits were included: Root dry weight, leaf dry weight and Biomass dry weight. Irrigation of pots continued until 4 leaf stage and at this time all of the existed leafs was harvested. Analysis of variance showed significant differences among the cultivars and salinity levels. But the interaction of genotype × salinity showed non-significant differences in measured traits. Boolani & Sistan cultivars were known salt tolerant wheat cultivars were found superior with respect to root and leaf dry weight and also to biomass. The results also indicated that the Aria & Yavaroos cultivars had lowest root, leaf and biomass dry weight. The cluster analysis classified cultivars in 5 groups and the correlation of all traits were significant and positive. It seems that salt tolerance mechanism in resistant cultivars differs from that of sensitive when subjected to harsh salt stress conditions.