Physiological Responses of Wheat (Triticum aesivum L. cv. Giza 158) Seedlings under Salt Stress Conditions

This investigation was conducted to evaluate the physiological responses of wheat seedlings under salt stress conditions induced by different levels of sodium chloride (NaCl). Growth and physiological parameters were evaluated on 14-day old seedlings of wheat grown in Long Ashton solution containing 0, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150 and 200 mM NaCl . Salt stress treatments resulted in a dramatic decrease in length of shoots and roots, percent of stressed shoots and roots length to control, fresh and dry weights of different parts of stress imposed seedlings. Furthermore, a considerable increase was observed in the total soluble sugar levels, total amino acids, proline and total organic solutes in response to various salt treatments. Sodium and chloride content significantly increased in tissues as salinity increased with a high accumulation rate in roots than the translocation to shoots. On contrary, a substantial decrease in potassium and total inorganic solutes contents in both roots and shoots was observed.