Iranian Journal of Field Crop Science

Iranian Journal of Field Crop Science

Relation between root growth traits and physiological indices of two bread wheat cultivars under salt stress

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Shokooh Fakhri 1
Afrasyab Rahnama 2
Mousa Meskarbashi Meskarbashi 3
1 M.Sc. Student, Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Iran
3 Associate Professor, Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Iran
10.22059/ijfcs.2016.63593
Abstract
The development of seminal and lateral root system plays a major role in plant access to water and nutrients under abiotic stress, especially salinity. In order to understand the relation between root growth responsesand shoot physiological indices oftwo bread wheat cultivars contrasting in salt tolerance (Kavir and Shiraz), a greenhouse experiment was conducted with two salinity levels (0 and 150 mM NaCl), growing in PVC tubes. Salinity decreases seminal root length, total root length, stomatal conductance, relative water content, chlorophyll index, shoot and root dry weight when compared to control. Although, the values for most traits in salt-tolerant cultivar were more, but seminal root length, total root length and relative water content were less than susceptible ones under salt stress. A significant correlation was observed between root growth characteristics and physiological responses under salt stress. Thus, given the similar effects of salinity on growth characteristics of roots and shoots, it seems that root growth responses can be used as a valuable index for screening salinity tolerance. Because, salinity is caused to reduce the plant's ability to absorb water, resulting in a rapid decline in growth rates associated with a series of physiological changes and finally leads to osmotic stress effects.
Keywords
Osmotic stress
root
Salt tolerance
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Iranian Journal of Field Crop Science
Volume 47, Issue 1 - Serial Number 1
Spring 2016
Pages 109-117

  • Receive Date 06 July 2014
  • Revise Date 17 August 2015
  • Accept Date 29 September 2015
  • Publish Date 21 May 2016