Abstract

Using the genetic variation to improve salt tolerance in some wheat genotypes is a very important achievement to increase the production of salinized soils. The aim of this study is to determine the realized improvement in salt tolerance in some selected genotypes of wheat, which induced through plant breeding programs. The selected genotypes were derived from F2 populations after exposed to high salinity condition for six cycles of screening and selection. Salt tolerance of these selected genotypes (2H, N3) was tested during germination, early seedling and tillering stages in salinilized soils with three salinity levels (2, 8 and 15 ds/m) as compared with the local cultivar (Tamooze-2). Results showed that all selected genotypes were significantly superior in shoots and roots growth at 8 and 15 ds/m to those of the local cultivar. At all salt levels, the highest reduction in shoots and roots growth was in the local cultivar. Results also indicated that the highest values of K⁺/ Na⁺ and ca⁺²/ Na⁺ ratios were in the selected genotypes (2H, N3) at 8 and 15 ds/m. therefore, significant improvement in salt tolerance was achieved in the selected genotypes through plant breeding programs. The conclusion of these results is the salt tolerance of the selected genotypes correlated with the highest values of K⁺/ Na⁺ and ca⁺²/ Na⁺ ratios in their upper leaves, then the selected genotypes were more salt tolerance than local cultivar, which had the lowest K⁺/ Na⁺ and ca⁺²/ Na⁺ ratios in upper leaves.

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