Interactive Effects of Salinity Stress and Zn Availability on Physiological Properties, Antioxidant Activity, and Micronutrients Content of Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Plants

ABSTRACT

In order to evaluate the combined effects of salinity stress and Zinc (Zn) applications on wheat growth, an experiment was conducted with the treatments included four Zn levels (0, 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg of dried soil) and three levels of sodium chloride (NaCl) salinity of irrigation water (0, 100, and 200 mM NaCl). Salinity caused a significant reduction in chlorophyll a and b content. The activity of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione reductase (GR) was enhanced as salinity level was increased. The significant enhancement in concentration of sodium due to the salinity was alleviated by Zn addition. Potassium content was increased by Zn treatments. A substantial increase was observed in leaf Zn concentration as the applied level of Zn was increased. Overall, these results indicate some positive and negative interactions of salinity and Zn application, which could be helpful in management of the saline soil and water.

KEYWORDS:

• Antioxidants
• combined stresses
• wheat
• zinc