article · Plant Stress
Soil salinity presents a major challenge to worldwide agricultural yields, making the study of stress tolerance in resilient crops such as barley essential. An assessment of four barley genotypes, consisting of Giza 129, Giza 135, Line 1, and Line 2, examined plant responses under salinity levels of 12 and 16 dS/m over a 30-day period. While high salinity reduced overall plant growth across all varieties, growth reduction was notably more severe in the Giza genotypes. In contrast, Line 1 and Line 2 demonstrated superior salt tolerance mechanisms. These two lines maintained higher potassium levels and reduced sodium-to-potassium ratios, alongside significantly elevated levels of protective proline. Furthermore, Line 1 and Line 2 displayed markedly higher activities of key antioxidant enzymes, including catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and peroxidase, providing physiological insights for future crop enhancement.
Rising soil salinity degrades farmland and lowers crop yields globally. Identifying specific plant traits and resilient genotypes that thrive in saline soils helps agricultural researchers understand stress defence mechanisms. These physiological markers provide foundational knowledge for developing hardier barley crops and potentially transferring similar tolerance traits to other essential food crops threatened by environmental stress.
The findings provide early-stage biological evidence that could inform crop breeding and genetic improvement programmes. Plant breeders and seed development organisations could potentially use the identified lines, along with their biochemical markers such as proline content and antioxidant activity, to develop salt-resilient barley varieties. As the research is experimental and focused on physiological characterisation, practical commercial applications remain at an early stage of development.
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Salt stress poses a significant threat to global crop yield, prompting the need for understanding stress responses in crops like barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) known for salt tolerance. This study investigated four barley genotypes - Giza129, Giza135, Line 1 and Line 2 - under 12 and 16 dS/m salt concentrations over a 30-day period. Results revealed a salinity-induced decrease in plant growth, particularly pronounced in Giza 129 and Giza 135. Ion analyses demonstrated distinct responses, with Giza genotypes accumulating more Na+ and less K+, leading to an increased Na+/K+ ratio, while both lines maintained K+, reducing the Na+/K+ ratio. Proline accumulation emerged as a crucial protective mechanism, evident in Line 1 and Line 2 exhibiting significantly higher proline content under salt stress compared to Giza genotypes. Antioxidant enzyme activities, including catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and peroxidase, are markedly elevated in both lines, indicating superior salt tolerance mechanisms. This research contributes insights into barley salt tolerance, emphasizing the potential for genetic enhancement programs. The study elucidated variations in salinity tolerance among new barley lines and their signaling mechanisms under salt stress. Given the global impact of salinity on crop yield, these findings hold promise for enhancing salt tolerance in barley and other crops through genetic advancements.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.stress.2024.100403
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