ABSTRACT Background Wheat wild relatives are untapped genetic resources from salinity and drought hit areas. Salinity disrupts physiological processes of wheat leading to impaired growth and development. A comparative study on salt resistance of wheat wild relatives (landraces and wild types) and modern wheat cultivars is lacking. Aims This study compares the impact of salinity on wild wheat species, landraces, and modern wheat cultivars to identify salt‐resistant traits and genotypes. Methods A hydroponics experiment was carried out on wheat in controlled environment with two treatments (nonsaline and saline 125 mM NaCl) and three replications over a period of 4 weeks. Morph‐physiological traits were studied. Results Salinity significantly reduced growth and physiological performance of wheat with significant differences among the wheat genotypes and a significant genotype × salinity interaction. Salinity increased shoot Na + concentration and decreased shoot K + concentration and shoot K + :Na + ratio. Wheat species and genotypes differed for their response to salinity for Photosystem II efficiency, chlorophyll contents, stomatal conductance, and malondialdehyde. Triticum dicoccoides (G242) is the most salt‐resistant genotype based on relative shoot fresh and dry weights under saline conditions. Conclusions This is the first study presenting differential comparative morph‐physiological responses of wheat wild species, landraces, and modern cultivars under saline conditions. Salt‐resistant species produced more shoot and root biomass under saline conditions through salt exclusion or tissue tolerance. Salt‐resistant genotypes like T. dicoccoides may be used for de novo domestication and to introduce salinity resistance traits in wheat improvement programs.
Saqib et al. (Wed,) studied this question.