Effect of Salts Stress on the Growth and Yield of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

In order to study the effect of salts stress on the growth and yield of wheat (cv. Inqalab), a pot experiment was conducted in the wire-house of the Department of Soil Science, Sindh Agriculture University Tando Jam. The soil was artificially salinized to a range of salinity levels i.e . EC 2.16, 4.0, 6.0, 8.0 and 10.0 dS·m-1 with different salts (MgCl2 + CaCl2 + Na2SO4). The salinized soil used for the experiment was sandy clay in texture, alkaline in reaction (pH > 7.0) and moderate in organic matter (0.95%) content. The results showed that with increasing salinity there was an increase in the ECe, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+ and Cl- and decrease in the K+, SAR and ESP values of the soil Increasing salinity, progressively decreased plant height, spike length, number of spikelets spike-1 1000 grain weight and yield (straw and grain). Adverse effects of salts on plants were associated with the accumulation of less K+ and more Na+ and Cl- in their flag leaf sap, grains and straw. This resulted in lower K+:5Na+ ratio in flag leaf sap, grains and straw of wheat plants. These results indicated that the effects of salts stress were greater at 10 than at 8, 6 and 4 EC dS·m-1.

Correlation and Regression Analysis for Yield Traits in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Genotypes

The present research work was carried out at Southern Wheat Research Station, Tandojam during the growing season 2013-14 in order to work out correlation and regression analysis for yield traits in wheat genotypes. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Eight bread wheat genotypes such as Mehran, Sarsabz, TJ-83, SKD-1, Inqlab, A. Sattar, Sehar and Sassui were used to examine correlation and regression. Seven traits, viz.;plant height, tillers plant-1, spike length, spikelet’s spike-1, grains spike-1, seed index and grain yield plant-1 were studied. The analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the genotypes for plant height, tillers plant-1, spike length, spikelet’s spike-1, grains spike-1, seed index and grain yield plant-1. Based on mean performance, variety Sarsabz gave maximum plant height (95.46), produced maximum tillers plant-1 (4.40), gave more grain spike-1 (63.13), TJ-83 gave highest seed index (47.260), and was next ranker in spike length-1 (12.07), spikelet’s spike-1 (19.13), grains spike-1 (59.86), and grain yield plant-1 (9.86) among the genotypes. The phenotypic correlations revealed that tillers plant-1 and grains spike-1 were highly positively associated;hence these yield components can be used as reliable selection criteria to improve grain yield in wheat. Thus estimation of correlation and regression analysis among yield and yield components may provide effective selection criteria to improve wheat grain yield. The results from correlation and regression of plant height indicated significantly positive association with spikelet’s spike-1, tillers plant-1 and grains spike-1 which revealed that increase in plant height will cause corresponding increase in associated traits.