Na CI salinity at 2500 and 500 ppm decreased wheat plant growth expressed
by plant height, number of fertile tillers, dry weight of shoot system (g) and flag leaf
area (Cm) as well as photosynthetic pigment concentrations in flag leaf in both
seasons. Accumulation of both Na‘ and Ci‘ ions in the shoot system was increased
With increasing NaCl levels, while K' concentration was decreased. Yield and its
components represented by number of spikes per plant, spike length (cm); number of
spikelets per spike, grains weight per spike and 1000-grain weight as well as
carbohydrate, protein, N. P and K percentages in the grains were decreased
compared with control.
Anatomically, salinity decreased root diameter, cortex thickness, vascular
cylinder diameter and metaxylem vessel diameter as well as flag leaf thickness in the
keel region, mesophyll tissue thickness, main vascular bundle dimension, xylem and
phloem tissues thickness and metaxylem vessel diameter. Treatment with either
trehalose or glycinebetaine at 100 ppm and their interactions with salinity increased all
the above mentioned parameters in both non-salinized and salinized plants.
Trehalose was the most effective in this respect.
Treatments with either trehalose or glycinebetaine are recommended not
only for improving plant growth and yield of wheat plant but also for recovery the
adverse effects oi salinity. '