Screening for Salinity Tolerance in Wheat

Abstract

A collection of 5072 spring wheat genotypes from different origins were planted in sandy soil and irrigated with sea water diluted to salinity concentrations of 8,000, 12000 and 16,000 ppm TDS. Lines showing 60% emerging healthy seedlings under the highest salinity level were grown in the greenhouse and irrigated with the previously designated saline solutions until maturity. 86% of the lines were discarded in the first step and 85% of the lines tested to maturity were of no value as a source for salinity tolerance traits. Tetraploids were best adapted for salt tolerance than other species. A considerable portion of genotypes from countries with salt affected soils were tolerant to salinity stress.