Salinity Stress Tolerance in Wheat Advanced Genotypes under Hydroponic and Field Conditions

To study the effects of salinity stress on some wheat characteristics, twenty advanced genotypes were evaluated in controlled (hydroponic culture) and field conditions. Field experiment in randomized complete block design (RCBD) was conducted in saline conditions (Ecwater = 9ds/m and Ecsoil = 12ds/m) at the research farm of Birjand station. The hydroponic culture experiment was conducted in factorial based on RCBD with three replications, in which the first factor was salinity of sodium chloride levels of 0 and 12ds/m and the second factor the same twenty wheat genotypes. In filed experiment, ANOVA results showed significant effects of genotype on grain yield, days to heading and maturity, spike length, peduncle length, spike seed number and weight, thousand grain weight, biological yield and harvest index. Genotype no. 18 (1-66-22//PBW154/3/HALT) was recognized as a tolerant genotype due to the highest grain yield and biomass, while genotype no. 12 (Bow"s"/Vee"s"//1-60-3/3/Cocoraque75/4/Inia) was evaluate as a susceptible genotype in field experiment. In Hydroponic culture, the salinity had significant effects on plant height, biomass dry weight, leaf width, leaf length, leaf area, root dry weight and chlorophyll contents. The interaction effects of genotype and salinity were also significant on some traits. In hydroponic experiment, genotypes no. 4, 5, 14, 17 and 18 having higher biomass and chlorophyll contents, compared to the check cultivars, were determined as superior and tolerant genotypes, while genotype no. 12 was susceptible to solinity stress. The results of hydroponic experiment relatively comfimed the results of field experiment.