Salinity Tolerance in Wheat Cultivars Is Related to Enhanced Activities of Enzymatic Antioxidants and Reduced Lipid Peroxidation

Soil salinity is a stringent abiotic constraint limiting crop productivity. Studies were undertaken to appraise the performance of six diverse wheat cultivars (LU‐26S, MH‐97, AARI‐2011, Millat‐2011, Lasani‐2008, and FSD‐2008) under non‐saline (control) and saline soil (8 and 16 dS m−1) conditions. Increasing the salinity level severely diminished emergence and seedling growth attributes in all wheat cultivars. Nevertheless, cultivar specific responses were evident and a significant salinity × cultivar was observed in most cases. The lowest (23%) reduction in final emergence was observed for AARI‐2011 as compared with the maximum recorded for LU‐26S (56%). AARI‐2011 and Millat‐2011 recorded the highest seedling dry biomass at a salinity level of 16 dS m−1. The highest salinity level resulted in the maximum inhibition of chlorophyll content in Millat‐2011 and MH‐97 by 59 and 68%, respectively, as compared with their respective control. With an increase in the salinity level, enhanced activities of antioxidants like superoxide dismutase and catalase were observed in AARI‐2011 compared with all other wheat cultivars. Lasani‐2008 showed a maximum (70%) increase in malondialdehyde content compared with control. AARI‐2011 and FSD‐2008 appeared as promising wheat cultivars manifesting salt tolerance that was related to enhanced activities of enzymatic antioxidants and reduced lipid peroxidation, respectively.