Comparative Study of the Biochemical and Physiological Mechanisms of Two Varieties of Durum Wheat (Triticum durum L.) Subject to Salt Stress

Abstract

Background: To study the effect salt stress on two varieties of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) GTA dur and Simeto variety. Methods: Seedlings of each variety were subjected to 0, 25, 50, 75, 100, 250 mM NaCl. Germination rate, leaves and roots length, protein contents, Relative Water Contents (RWC), sugars and proline concentrations were determined for seedlings treated with salt after 3, 6 and 9 days. Findings: Salt stress has caused morphological and physiological changes in leaves and roots. With the increase of salt concentrations and processing time, the germination rate, contents of total proteins, leaf and roots length and relative water content in the leaves and root of durum wheat were reduced. Sugars and proline levels in the leaves had shown an accumulation with the increase of salt concentrations and processing time, which reached the maximum at 9 days; the variations of these biochemical indicators were more significant in high concentrations of NaCl solution (100 mmol/L). Improvements: Wheat seedlings when subjected to salt stress have developed a set of adaptive mechanisms such as morphological, physiological and biochemical changes, which enable them to perceive and respond specifically to different constraints.