Impact of salt-induced toxicity on growth and yield-potential of local wheat cultivars: oxidative stress and ion toxicity are among the major determinants of salt-tolerant capacity

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) Vol. 187; pp. 385 - 394
• Main Authors: Siddiqui, Md. Nurealam, Mostofa, Mohammad Golam, Akter, Mst. Mahmuda, Srivastava, Ashish Kumar, Sayed, Md. Abu, Hasan, M. Shamim, Tran, Lam-Son Phan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-11-2017
• Subjects: Agronomical and physiological traits; Ascorbate Peroxidases; Bangladesh; Catalase; Cluster analysis; Genotype; Grain yield; Ions; Oxidative Stress; Potassium; Proline; Salinity; Salt tolerance; Salt-Tolerance - genetics; Sodium; Triticum - drug effects; Triticum - genetics; Triticum - growth & development; Wheat; Cluster analysis; Agronomical and physiological traits; Oxidative stress; Salt tolerance; Wheat; Grain yield
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.08.078

High salinity is a major constraint for wheat productivity in many countries, including Bangladesh. Here, we examined the effects of salt-induced toxicity on growth and production of 10 local wheat cultivars by analyzing physiological, biochemical and agronomical responses to identify the salt-tolerant attributes among the contrasting genotypes. Results of cluster analyses based on salt tolerance indices of plant growth-related and yield-contributing parameters, ionic balance (Na+, K+ and Na+/K+ ratio), and stress indicators (SPAD values and proline) revealed Gourab and Shatabdi as salt-sensitive, BARI Gom 27 and 28 as salt-tolerant and the other six examined varieties as moderately salt-tolerant cultivars. Hierarchical clustering and principle component analyses also demonstrated BARI Gom 27 and 28 as the highest salt-tolerant cultivars, especially in terms of Na+/K+ ratio and proline level. Additionally, lower accumulations of hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde, and higher activities of antioxidant enzymes catalase, peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase in the salt-tolerant BARI Gom 28 than in the salt-sensitive Gourab indicated reduced oxidative damage in BARI Gom 28 relative to that in Gourab. Collectively, our findings suggest that the optimum growth and yield of salt-tolerant cultivars are associated with decreased Na+/K+ ratio, increased proline level and reduced oxidative stress. Furthermore, BARI Gom 27 and 28 could be suggested as suitable cultivars for cultivation in salt-affected areas, and the contrasting salt-responsive genotypes can be used as valuable genetic resources in breeding and dissection of molecular mechanisms underlying wheat adaptation to high salinity.
•Salt-toxicity on growth and production of ten local wheat cultivars were investigated.•PCA and cluster analyses enabled us to identify differential salt-tolerant genotypes.•Na+/K+ ratio and proline content positively correlated with growth of tolerant cultivars.•BARI Gom 28 (tolerant) exhibited lower oxidative damage than Gourab (sensitive).