RESPONSE OF SOME WHEAT VARIETIES TO SOIL SALINITY

A pot experiment was conducted to study the effect of soil salinity on growth and mineral composition of some wheat varieties ( Gemmeza 7, Gemmeza 9 , Gemmeza 10; Giza 164, Giza 168; Sakha 8, Sakha 69, Sakha 93, Sakha 94 and Sids 1). A mixture of NaCl and CaCl2 with the ratio of (1:1) was added to the soil at different amounts to reach salinity levels of 6, 9 and 12d Sm-1. Dry weight of shoots and roots of all wheat varieties was significantly reduced with increasing soil salinity levels . Wheat varieties were divided into two groups according to the relative reduction of shoots dry weight; moderately tolerant (Sakha 93, Sakha 8 and Sids1 ) and moderately sensitive (Giza 164, Giza 168 ;Gemmeza 7, Gemmeza 9, Gemmeza 10, Sakha 94, and Sakha 69). Concentration of sodium and chloride in both shoots and roots was increased by increasing the soil salinity levels. On the other hand , potassium concentration in both shoots and roots was reduced with increasing soil salinity. The ratio of K/Na was decreased as a result of increasing soil salinity. Moreover, the relative reduction of K/Na ratio in shoots of the moderately sensitive group at all salinity levels were more than in the moderately tolerant one.