Salinity-induced Physiological and Molecular Changes in Barley and Wheat

Abstract

In this study, it was aimed to compare salinity-induced changes in barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Bornova-92) and bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Gerek-79). Seeds were germinated under saline conditions (0, 50, 100, 250 and 500mM NaCl) for 2 days and recovered under non-saline conditions for 2 days. At the end of the salt-treatment, germination, water content (WC), total soluble protein content, catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6) activity were affected in both species while superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1) activity was affected in barley. Salinity affected WC, protein content and CAT activity in both species while affected germination in barley and affected fresh weight and SOD activity in wheat after recovery. Physiological responses of both species were correlated. Expression of α-tubulin, Atls1 and Lls1 genes were down- regulated in barley after 250mM NaCl treatment. HVA1 gene was highly (more than 50-fold) stimulated by salinity in barley. However, α-tubulin, Atls1 genes were down-; Lls1 gene was up-regulated in wheat after recovery from 250mM NaCl treatment. Increase in HVA1 expression was not significant in wheat. Expression profiles of barley and wheat under salinity are different and barley tended to regulate gene expression faster than wheat.