Changes in mineral composition,uptake and use efficiency of salt stressed wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plants raised from seed treated with triacontanol

The role of pre-sowing treatment with triacontanol (tria) on two cultivars [mh-97 (moderately salt sensitive) and s-24 (salt tolerant)] of wheat (triticum aestivum l.) was assessed under saline and non-saline conditions. twenty four day old plants raised from seed pretreated with tria for 24 h were subjected to 0 (control) or 150 mm nacl. after 21 days of salt application,changes in shoot and root mineral nutrient concentrations,nutrient uptake and use efficiency,and shoot and root k+/na+ ratios were measured. salt stress (150 mm nacl) significantly increased the shoot and root na+ and cl- contents,while decreased that of k+,and k+/na+ ratios in shoot and root of both cultivars under saline conditions. the uptake of shoot na+ increased significantly,while that of the remaining nutrients decreased under saline conditions. shoot and root nutrient (na+,k+,ca2+,cl-) use efficiency (nue) decreased significantly in both cultivars under saline conditions. the exogenous application of tria as pre-sowing seed treatment significantly increased the shoot na+ and k+ contents,shoot k+ uptake and shoot cl- use efficiency,while its effect was non-significant on the remaining attributes in both cultivars under nonsaline or saline conditions. overall,the performance of s-24 was better than mh-97 in shoot and root k+ and ca2+ contents and the uptake of these nutrients under both saline and non-saline conditions.