RESPONSE OF WHEAT GENOTYPES TO SALINITY UNDER FIELD ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

The study entitled “Response of wheat genotypes to salinity under field environment” was conducted to investigate the response of different wheat genotypes to salinity stresses. The experiment was laid out at three different locations of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan i.e., Yar Hussain, Baboo Dehari (District Mardan) and Khitab Koroona (District Charsadda) to study the performance of 11 wheat genotypes (Local, SR-24, SR-25, SR-7, SR-22, SR-4, SR-20, SR-19, SR-2, SR-23 and SR-40) for their salinity tolerance. These locations had different salinity profile i.e., Yar Hussain (EC. 3-3.5 dSm-1), Baboo Dehari (EC. 4-4.5 dSm-1) and Khitab Koroona (EC. 5-5.30 dSm-1). Different locations and wheat genotypes had significantly (p<0.05) effected grain yield, shoot Na+ and shoot K+ concentration (3, 6 and 9 weeks after emergence). Maximum grain yield , maximum shoot K+ and minimum Na+ concentration (3, 6 and 9 weeks after emergence) were recorded from genotype SR-40 followed by genotype SR-23. Our results further indicated highest grain yield compared with lowest shoot K+ , Na+ concentrations (3, 6 and 9 weeks after emergence) at Yar Hussain. Maximum, K+ and Na+ concentration (3, 6 and 9 weeks after emergence) and minimum grain yield were recorded at Khitab Koroona.