Salt tolerance classification in wheat genotypes using reducing sugar accumulation and growth characteristics

The aim of the present study was to assess inter and intra-specific variations in Triticum groups. Local hexaploid bread wheat and Synthetic Elites and Durum where characterized based on growth abilities and amount of reducing sugar accumulated under 200 mM NaCl salinity. Further, the role of reducing sugar accumulation in adaptive process of different Triticum groups towards salinity was also measured. Identification of inter-specific and intra-specific variation with in the gene pool is of greater importance for breeding salt tolerant varieties. Salt tolerant genotypes tend to accumulate more carbohydrates under salt stress and prevent plants from oxidative damage. Wide differences observed between Triticum groups under salt stress for shoot length, shoot weight and reducing sugar content. Salt stress reduced shoot length and weight in both Local hexaploids and Synthetic elites but effect was more pronounced in Local hexaploid wheat. Kharchia and LU-26 were identified as salt tolerant standard genotypes which showed significant increase in reducing sugar content where as salt stress induced reduction in amount of reducing sugars of local hexaploid genotypes. Performance of salinity tester genotypes and synthetic elite and durum genotypes was less affected by salinity and prominent increase in reducing sugar content has been observed in comparison to local hexaploid genotypes. High values for salt tolerance indices were also observed for salinity tester set and synthetic elite and durum wheat genotypes. It may be concluded from the above findings that wheat genotypes like Kharchia, LU-26, Durum 155 and SE 88 with highest accumulation of reducing sugar content under stress could be used in breeding programs to develop salt tolerant germplasm and accumulation of reducing sugars under stress conditions could be a useful bio-marker for selecting tolerant wheat genotypes.