Kinetics and Spatial Distribution of Leaf Elongation of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under Saline Soil Conditions

Leaf development of wheat largely determines the rate of plant growth in the early growth stages and is most sensitive to salinity. The objectives were to investigate the shoot growth, area of leaves, and kinetics of leaf elongation of wheat seedlings (Triticum aestivum L.) grown in illitic‐chloritic silt loam with four salinity levels from 0 to 120 mM NaCl in growth chambers. Shoot fresh mass (FM) and leaf area were measured at days 12 and 18 after sowing. Instantaneous measurements of the leaf elongation rate (LER) of leaves 3, 4, and 5 of the main stem were carried out by using linear variable differential transducers (LVDT). Spatial distribution of relative elemental growth rate (REGR) and the length of the leaf elongation zone were determined by measuring displacement rates with a pricking method. Shoot FM per plant linearly decreased with increasing salinity levels. Leaf area under saline conditions was significantly correlated to the shoot FM during vegetative stages, indicating that leaf growth mo...