Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Response of various cultivars of wheat and maize to salinity stress

Author(s):

Ali Ahmadi ¹, Yahya Emam ¹, Mohammad Pessarakli ²

Recieved Date: 2008-08-29, Accepted Date: 2008-12-03

Abstract:

The effects of salt stress (NaCl and Na₂SO₄ in 1:1 ratio) on the activity of peroxidase (POD), proline accumulation, protein, Na⁺ and K⁺ contents and K⁺/Na⁺ ratio were studied in leaves of two maize (Zea mays L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes. Wheat [Kavir (tolerant) and Ghods (sensitive)] and maize [704 (tolerant) and 666 (semi-tolerant)] cvs were grown in a greenhouse under control (ECe = 1.26 dS m^-1) and two levels of salinity (ECe = 6.8 and 13.8 dS m^-1, respectively). A completely randomized design (CRD) with factorial treatments with three replications was used. Salinity stress decreased K⁺ and K⁺/Na⁺ ratio and increased Na⁺, proline and protein contents and POD activity in both genotypes of wheat and maize under both salinity levels. Furthermore, the results showed a lower amount of proline, protein and POD activity in wheat than in maize cvs. On the other hand, the higher amounts of K⁺ and K⁺/Na⁺ ratios in wheat compared to maize resulted in better ion homeostasis in wheat that caused this species to have a higher tolerance than maize. In wheat cvs, salinity stress resulted in an increase in proline and protein contents, POD activity, K⁺ and K⁺/Na⁺ ratio in Kavir cultivar compared to Ghods. However, Ghods cultivar showed a higher Na⁺ content than Kavir. In maize, cultivar 704 showed a higher increase in proline and protein contents, POD activity, K⁺ and K⁺/Na⁺ ratio and a lower increase in Na⁺ than 666 cultivar. Maize cvs showed a higher level of proline, protein and POD activity than wheat cvs, but these effects may have been a reaction to salt stress in maize and not a plant response associated with tolerance. The results of this study suggest that Na⁺ and K⁺ contents and K⁺/Na⁺ ratio in maize as a C₄ plant and in wheat as a C₃ plant may be considered for selecting the tolerant cultivars.

Keywords:

Maize, peroxidase activity, proline, protein, salinity stress, wheat, K⁺ and Na⁺content, K⁺/Na⁺ ratio

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2009
Volume: 7
Issue: 1
Category: Agriculture
Pages: 123-128

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