Influence of Salt and Osmotic Stress on Germination of Different Wheat Cultivars

The aim of this research was to identify the cultivars of winter wheat which tolerate drought and increased salinity at the germination stage. The testing was carried out under controlled conditions with an aim to test reaction of 5 different cultivars of winter wheat to salinity and osmotic stress during the early stage of a seedling's growth. The test included examination of energy of germination and percentage of germination seeds. After being sterilized in 96% Ethanol and rinsed with distilled water, 50 uniform seeds were transferred to Petri dishes (divided per genotype and treatment) filled with a solution (Mannitol and salt) in which the water potential was of almost 0 (control), -0.3, -0.6, and -1.2MPa. Alcohol Mannitol was used to create water stress and NaCl to create salt stress. Seedlings were incubated for 7 days at 25°C. The results showed that the benchmark water potential (under the influence of Mannitol and salt), in which all varieties can germinate and have a good growth of seedlings, is of -0.3 MPa, i.e. of the low stress. Under the stronger stress (-0.6 MPa) all the varieties showed reduction in all measured parameters, while under the stress of -1.2 MPa all cultivars failed to germinate. Bosanka cultivar showed the best result germination and energy of  germination under the influence of water and salt stres when compared to other cultivars. An exception was the cultivar Orion where stress conditions had inhibited energy of germination and germination, when compared to other cultivars. Reasons for stronger resistance, or sensitivity, of certain varieties may be numerous and further studies conducted on this or other varieties of wheat would contribute to understanding and explanation of these differences