In: Phyton, 52 Fasc. 1 (2012), S. 145-162, with 3 figures

Key words: Broad bean, potassium, salinity, sodium, water content, wheat.

Summary

RADI A. A., FARGHLY F. A. & HAMADA A. M. 2012. Assessment of tolerance to NaCl salinity of fourteen wheat and broad bean cultivars. – Phyton (Horn, Austria) 52 (1): 145–162, with 3 figures.

The development and identification of salt-tolerant crop cultivars would complement salt man-agement programs. The present investigation provides differential responses to salt stress in seven wheat and seven broad bean cultivars to select the most salt tolerant cultivars versus the most sensi-tive ones. Two cultivars have been shown to have a certain affinity to tolerate NaCl-stress (wheat Sakha93 and broad bean Sakha1), while wheat Gemmeza10 and bean Giza716 exhibited notable sensitivity. Wheat Sakha93 and broad bean Sakha1 was recorded lower growth depression com-pared with wheat Gemmeza10 and bean Giza716 which recorded the highest growth depression. The lowest Na+ content in roots and shoots was consistently found in Sakha93 and Giza716, while the highest Na+ content was manifested in Gemmeza10 and Sakha1 at the highest salt level. The high Na+ content in the different organs of Sakha1 was associated with a marked increase in water content as compared to Giza716. Potassium content of roots and shoots of wheat cultivars was pro-foundly reduced with the increase of NaCl supply. While K+ content of roots and shoots of bean cultivars fluctuated between significant and non-significant reduction. On the other hand, NaCl treatments had generally a depressive effect on K+/Na+ selectivity in shoot and root of wheat and broad bean cultivars.