Identification of novel source of salt tolerance in local bread wheat germplasm using morpho-physiological and biochemical attributes

Nadeem Hussain,Islam Frahat Zaky Hassan,Ayesha Khalid,Misbah Aamir,Hafiza Saima Gul,Younas Sohail,Muhammad Iqbal,Zafar Ullah Zafar,Sibgha Noreen,Abdul Ghaffar,Kausar Hussain Shah,Habib-Ur-Rehman Athar,Hussan Bano,Muhammad Ashraf,Muhammad Javed,Hamid Manzoor

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-90280-w

Abstract

Salt tolerant wheat cultivars may be used as genetic resource for wheat breeding to ensure yield stability in future. The study was aimed to select salt tolerant cultivar(s) to identify novel source of salt tolerance in local wheat germplasm. Initially, 40 local wheat cultivars were screened at 150 mM NaCl stress at seedling stage. Selected salt-tolerant (three; S-24, LU-26S and Pasban-90) and salt-sensitive (four; MH-97, Kohistan-97, Inqilab-91 and Iqbal-2000) wheat cultivars were further evaluated using growth, yield, biochemical and physiological attributes. Growth and yield of selected cultivars were reduced under salt stress due to decline in plant water status, limited uptake of macronutrients (N, P and K), reduced K+/Na+ ratio, photosynthetic pigments and quantum yield of PSII. Wheat plants tried to acclimate salt stress by osmotic adjustment (accumulation of total soluble sugars, proline and free amino acids). Degree of salinity tolerance in cvs. S-24 and LU-26S found to be associated with maintenance of K+/Na+ ratio, osmo-protectant and photosynthetic activity and can be used as donor for salt tolerance in wheat breeding program at least in Pakistan. These cultivars can be further characterized using molecular techniques to identify QTLs/genes for salt exclusion, osmo-protectant and photosynthetic activity for molecular breeding.

Highlights

Salt tolerant wheat cultivars may be used as genetic resource for wheat breeding to ensure yield stability in future
The prime objective of the current study is identification of salt tolerant wheat cultivars with novel source of salt tolerance from local wheat germplasm
Screening of wheat germplasm was done on the basis of growth and accumulation of mineral nutrients and given elsewhere

Summary

Introduction

Salt tolerant wheat cultivars may be used as genetic resource for wheat breeding to ensure yield stability in future. urgency[2,5,8,13,14,15] These scientists were of view that identified physiological and genetic components of salt tolerance should be transferred in crop cultivars adaptive to their local e nvironment[1,3,16,17]. Munns et al.[18] selected a salinity-stress tolerant durum wheat line 149 having greater K +/ Na+ ratio They used it as a potential donor line in breeding program. After introgression of this trait, they developed salinity stress tolerant durum and bread wheat lines named Nax[1] and Nax[219]. It was aimed to evaluate selected wheat cultivars for salt stress tolerance using biochemical and physiological traits which can be used as potential physiological selection criteria

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion