Amelioration of salinity effect in salt sensitive wheat by choline chloride presoaking of caryopses

ABSTRACT

Caryopses of salt sensitive wheat cultivar were presoaked in 5 mM choline chloride and then subjected for 100 mM NaCl added to the 1/4-strength Hoagland solution for 21 days. The effect of salt stress in the presence and absence of choline was studied on the vegetative growth, mineral contents of shoot and root and cell permeability of leaf sheath subepidermal cells and root cortex cells. Choline presoaking of wheat caryopses alleviated the NaCl-induced growth reduction of shoot and root comparing with those received only salt treatment. Also, choline decreased cell permeability of shoot and root cells. NaCl stress increased root and shoot Na and Cl, and decreased K and Ca levels, whereas choline treatment decreased Na and Cl and increased K levels in relation to those that did not receive choline treatment. The results were discussed in terms of how choline induced salt tolerance in sensitive wheat cultivar under salt stress