Cell and Tissue Journal

Abstract Aim: In this study we have used two wheat varieties with different tolerance to salt in different concentration of solt.
Material and Methods: Giza 168, Seds 1 plants have been grown for seven days in Hoagland solution and some of them were grown in Hoagland solution supplemented with 200 mM extra salt. Cutted leaf segments from these plants incubated with 600 mM salt. Dark-grown pre-adapted, with 200mM extra salt, plants were illuminated to determine the chlorophyll accumulation in two varieties.
Results: The maximum photochemical efficiency, Fv/Fm, stayed the same for all measurements. Measurement of relative ETR showed that the tolerant variety, Seds 1, had higher values for ETR than the susceptible variety (Giza 168). Also the measurement showed that the salt adapted samples of both varieties better withstood the excess of salt applied than the non-adapted samples.
The chlorophyll content was higher for the tolerant variety compared to the susceptible. The chlorophyll accumulation of the tolerant samples pre-adapted with or without salt showed no dramatic differences. The susceptible sample, Giza 168, however, accumulated more chlorophyll if pre-adapted to salt before being exposed to high salt concentration.
Conclusion: PSII seems to be stable and unaffected at the functional level by salt stress. The tolerant variety is better adapted to salt stress. It seems to be due to the advantage of having a more efficient photosynthetic apparatus.