Evaluation of Tolerance of Trans Chromosomal Primary Tritipyrum Lines to NaCl Salinity for Germination and Seedling Emergence

Abstract

Cell death, oxidative stress and nutrient deficiency are the major stress factors induced by soil salinity and are a source of crop and forest plant losses. By mid of 21st century, 50% of arable lands are expected to be affected, by salinity induced losses costing a loss of > $12 billion annually. The development of salt-tolerant plants such as Tritipyrum (a hybrid between Triticum durum and Thinopyrum besarabicum) could be used to alleviate the problem. It has a high grain yield potential and high salt tolerance. This plant species may become an important source of natural transchromosomal gene transformation and recommended for cultivation on saline soils. The germination and seedling emergence percentage of the primary Tritipyrum line were checked under 24 dS m^-2 induced salt stress to determine their salt tolerance. The results showed that all segregating lines could germinate with 85% at EC=24 dS m^-2. The data was retrieved on seedling length and seed morphology in of TCPT F1 segregating lines. The results support the idea of creating resistant varieties against salinity stress in future wheat breeding programs for inducing salt tolerance.