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Screening of drought and salt tolerant germplasm during wheat seedling stage and comprehensive evaluation of drought and salt tolerance

HU Run-Hui1,2,WANG Jun-Cheng1,3,SI Er-Jing1,3,ZHANG Hong1,3,MA Xiao-Le1,3,MENG Ya-Xiong1,3,WANG Hua-Jun1,3,LIU Qing1,2,YAO Li-Rong1,3,*,LI Bao-Chun1,2,*   

  1. 1 State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China; 2 College of Life Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China; 3 Agronomy College, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, Gansu, China
  • Received:2025-02-27 Revised:2025-06-01 Accepted:2025-06-01 Online:2025-06-11 Published:2025-06-11
  • Supported by:
    This study was supported by the Gansu Province Science and Technology Joint Plan Fund Project (24JRRA840), the Modern Cold and Drought Characteristic Agricultural Seed Industry Research Project (ZYGG-2025-3, ZYGG-2025-12-3), the Key Talent Project of Gansu Province (2023RCXM70), the Key Research and Development Project of Gansu Provincial Department of Science and Technology (25YFNA032), the Central Guidance for Local Scientific and Technological Development Funding Projects (25ZYJA002), the Science and Technology Program of Gansu Province (24CXNA038), the Key Project of Natural Science Foundation of Gansu Province (24JRRA637), the Industrial Support Project of Colleges and Universities in Gansu Province (2021CYZC-12), the Fuxi Young Talents Fund of Gansu Agricultural University (Gaufx-03Y06, GAUfx-04Y011), and the State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science Open Fund (GSCS-2021-05). 

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Abstract:

A drought and salt stress evaluation system was established to screen for drought- and salt-tolerant wheat germplasm. Eight wheat genotypes (varieties/lines) were used as experimental materials, and hydroponic culture was employed at the seedling stage. Plants were subjected to drought stress (20% PEG-6000), salt stress (200 mmol L-1 NaCl), and combined stress (20% PEG-6000+200 mmol L-1 NaCl). A total of 19 traits, including biomass, root-related parameters, and physiological indices, were measured under each stress condition. Drought and salt tolerance indices were calculated for each trait, followed by principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis using the comprehensive membership function method to evaluate the stress tolerance of the different wheat varieties. Compared with the control, leaf relative water content decreased to varying degrees under all three stress treatments. In contrast, protective enzyme activities (SOD, POD, and CAT), membrane lipid peroxidation (MDA content), and proline accumulation showed overall increases. Soluble protein content declined across the different wheat varieties. Root morphological indicators such as average root volume, root surface area, and total root length generally increased under stress. The coefficient of variation among traits reached up to 116.86% across treatments. PCA was performed on the drought and salt tolerance indices of the 19 traits, and the comprehensive evaluation index (D value) was calculated using the membership function method. Multiple regression analysis identified chlorophyll content (SPAD), soluble protein content (SP), root surface area, average root volume, total root length, and root-to-crown ratio as key indicators for evaluating drought and salt tolerance in wheat lines. Systematic cluster analysis further revealed that Xinong 535, Longyu 11, Lan 19, Lantian 10, and Longzimai 1 exhibited strong drought resistance; Longjian 114 and Xikemai 510 showed strong salt tolerance; and Xinong 535 and Longyu 11 performed best under combined drought and salt stress.

Key words: wheat, seedling stage, drought resistant and salt tolerant, screening criteria, comprehensive evaluation

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