The effect of salinity on early seedling growth of seeds of three wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars

We studied the effects of three salinity levels (50, 100 and 150 mM NaCl) on the early seedling growth of three wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars of Albanian origin characterized by different sensitivities to salt. Sodium accumulation was similar in seedlings of different cultivars and, in general, Na+ was confined to the root. Chloride accumulated at high levels in both the root and the shoot but least so in Daity. No appreciable differences were observed in K+ content. The most salt-tolerant cultivar showed a higher capacity for osmoregulation than the other two cultivars. Key words: Ion regulation, ion toxicity, osmoregulation, salinity, Triticum aestivum