Abstract
Salinity is the second important factor after soil erosion that reduces crop yields by restricting plant growth and development. Misuse of fertilizers, excessive irrigation and industrial pollution are the main causes of widespread soil salinity, which poses a serious threat to agricultural productivity and food security for both humans and animals. Ancient wheats, unchanged for centuries, are seen as a promising solution for improving crop production on saline lands. Despite their importance for food security and local culture, these species are often neglected and undervalued in commercial production. In this study, we tried to predict the usability of this wheat in the reclamation of saline soils by measuring the tolerance of T. boeoticum to salt stress and the effectiveness of GB application in coping with stress. As salt stress, CaCl2 (Control-25-50-100-150-200 mM) and CaCl2 + Glycine-betaine (GB, 1 mM) were applied. The enzymatic and non-enzymatic responses of wheat roots and leafy stems to salt stress were analyzed separately to understand the specific reactions of each plant part. According to the results of the study, calcium chloride salt causes high levels of stress in T. boeoticum Boiss at concentrations above 100 mM. Combined application of glycine-betaine and calcium chloride significantly mitigated salt stress damage in wheat at 50, 100, and 150 mM salt concentrations. However, at 200 mM salt concentration, T. boeoticum Boiss suffered severe damage, resulting in approximately 80% reduction in stem length, leaf length, and chlorophyll content compared to the control. However, when 1 mM GB is applied together with 200 mM salt stress, the damage to wheat can be compensated by approximately 90% compared to the control. It has been observed that T. boeoticum Boiss variety has high antioxidant activity capacity in terms of both enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity. According to these results, it is predicted that ancient hulled wheat T. boeoticum Boiss can be used effectively in bringing saline/sodic areas into agriculture.
Published Version
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