Integrative analysis of salt tolerance in wheat using multi-gradient phenotyping and molecular/physiological...

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Plant Biology
• Genetics

Background:

• Salt stress severely limits wheat production globally.
• Developing salt-tolerant wheat varieties is crucial for food security.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish an integrated framework for identifying salt-tolerant wheat germplasm.
• To validate screening methods using physiological and molecular analyses.

Main Methods:

• Evaluated 120 wheat varieties under varying NaCl concentrations (0-150 mM).
• Measured key growth traits and calculated Salt Tolerance Index (STI).
• Applied statistical analyses including ANOVA, PCA, clustering, and TOPSIS for ranking.

Main Results:

• Salinity significantly inhibited growth and germination, with high variation at 100-150 mM NaCl.
• STI correlated positively with growth traits; multivariate analyses identified distinct tolerant/sensitive groups.
• Tolerant varieties exhibited better ion homeostasis and antioxidant activity.

Conclusions:

• The integrated framework offers a reliable and scalable strategy for salt-tolerant wheat germplasm identification.
• This approach supports future wheat genetic research and breeding initiatives.