Biochemical response of salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive wheat cultivars to salinity

Two wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties KRL 1–4 and UP 2338 were tested in pot culture under different salinity regimes for their biochemical response. Three different levels of salinity (100, 200 and 300 mM NaCl) were used. Untreated plants were kept as control. Samples were analyzed from 20 DAS till 60 DAS for various biochemical parameters viz., proline content, total reducing sugar content, total nitrogen content and total protein content. Protein profiling through SDS-PAGE for both the cultivars of wheat was performed. The amount of proline and reducing sugar increased with increasing salinity, the increase being more in tolerant than in sensitive cultivar. Total nitrogen and total protein content, however, decreased with increasing salt concentration and reduction being more in sensitive than in tolerant cultivar. The changes in protein synthesis were determined as new synthesis, complete loss, increase and decrease.