Salt-induced variation in some potential physiochemical attributes of two genetically diverse spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars: Photosynthesis and photosystem II efficiency

Variation in salt tolerance potential of two contrasting wheat cultivars (salt tolerant s-24 and moderately salt sensitive mh-97) at different growth stages was observed when these wheat cultivars were exposed to salinity stress in hydroponic culture. salinity caused a marked reduction in photosynthetic pigments,transpiration and photosynthetic rates,and stomatal conductance at early growth stages in both wheat cultivars,being more prominent in cv. mh-97. in addition,a marked saltinduced alteration was observed in different attributes of chlorophyll fluorescence. on the basis of physiological characterization of these two wheat cultivars at different growth stages,it was inferred that cv. s-24 exhibited higher salinity tolerance at all growth stages in terms of less salinity-induced degradation of photosynthetic pigments,higher photosynthetic rates,maintenance of photosystem ii under salinity stress as compared to that in cv. mh-97. in view of the results presented here,it is evident that wheat plants were prone to adverse effects of salinity at early growth stages as compared to later growth stages.