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Salt stress reveals differential physiological, biochemical and molecular responses in T. monococcum and T. durum wheat genotypes

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Abstract

Salt stress responses implicate a complex mechanism and differ from plant species to another. In this study, we analyzed the physiological, biochemical and molecular responses to salt stress of the diploid wheat (T. monococcum) and compared to the tetraploid wheat (T. durum). Our results showed that the diploid wheat cultivar (cv. Turkey) is relatively tolerant to different salt stress conditions than the tetraploid wheat cultivar (cv. Om Rabia3). This tolerance was manifested by significant germination, plant growth and uptake of water generating cell turgor and development. Moreover, total chlorophyll content was higher in the diploid wheat than that in the tetraploid wheat. The Na+ content in leaf blade of the cv. Om Rabia3 was significantly higher than that of the cv. Turkey, suggesting that the diploid cultivar accumulates less toxic sodium in the photosynthetic tissues. This mechanism could be explained by the recirculation of the toxic ions Na+ into the xylem sap by SOS1 protein, which coordinates with HKT-like proteins to reduce the accumulation of Na+ ions in leaf blade. Interestingly, the expression of the three genes SOS1, HKT and NHX was enhanced under salinity especially in leaf blade of the cv. Turkey. Moreover, this wheat cultivar induced the antioxidative enzymes CAT and SOD activity more efficiently than the other cultivar.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by a grant from the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Tunisia.

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  1. Khaled Masmoudi

    Present address: Arid Land Department, College of Food and Agriculture, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biotechnology and Plant Improvement Laboratory, Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax (CBS), University of Sfax, BP “1177”, 3018, Sfax, Tunisia

    Sana Tounsi, Khaled Masmoudi & Faiçal Brini

  2. Laboratoire Des Légumineuses, Centre de Biotechnologie de Bordj Cedria, BP901, CP2050, Hammam-Lif, Tunisia

    Kaouthar Feki

  3. Laboratoire Des Plantes Extrêmophiles (LPE), Centre de Biotechnologie de Bordj Cedria, BP901, CP2050, Hammam-Lif, Tunisia

    Dorsaf Hmidi

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  1. Sana Tounsi
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Correspondence to Faiçal Brini.

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Tounsi, S., Feki, K., Hmidi, D. et al. Salt stress reveals differential physiological, biochemical and molecular responses in T. monococcum and T. durum wheat genotypes. Physiol Mol Biol Plants 23, 517–528 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12298-017-0457-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12298-017-0457-4

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