Evaluation of salt tolerance in desert wheatgrass (Agropyron desertorum L.)

Because of water and soil salinity، there are many problems for turfgrass in Iran. use of salt tolerant native plants is one of the appropriate way for solving these problems. This study was undertaken to evaluate effect of four levels of salinity (less than2، 4، 8 and 16 ds/m) on morphological and physiological characteristics in naitive grass، Wheatgrass (Agropyron desertorum). The experiment was performed based on randomized complete block design with three replications. The results showed that salinity stress decreased turfgrass qualiy (TQ)، fresh and dry weight of shoots and roots، relative water content (RWC) and root and shoot potassium contents. Also، salinity stress increased shoot and root sodium contents، electrolyte leakage (EL)، proline contents and activity of enzymes. According to reduction in TQ and RWC and increase in EL under salinity stress، it seems that increasing in proline contents and enzymes activities could not be able to reduce the damage caused by stress. All of the measured parameters in this study showed the significant differences with control plant in 4 ds/m salinity level. The results showed the wheatgrass is salt-sensitive and salt tolerance it was less than 4 (ds/m).