Effect of Enhanced Nickel Levels on Wheat Plant Growth and Physiology under Salt Stress |
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| Authors: | Q Ain J Akhtar M A Haq Z A Saqib |
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| Institution: | Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan |
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| Abstract: | A pot experiment was conducted to study the response of wheat to concurrent stresses of salinity and nickel (Ni)-toxicity. Soil was spiked with Ni (0, 20 and 40 mg kg?1) combined with two levels of salinity (control and 10 dS m?1) using Ni(ii) nitrate hexahydrate (Ni(NO3)2.6H2O) and sodium chloride (NaCl), respectively, in a completely randomized design with four replicates. Plants were harvested at the tailoring stage and the results showed that wheat growth was positively affected by Ni at 20 mg kg?1, and negatively at 40 mg kg?1 concentration both in control and at 10 dS m?1. Ni (20 mg kg?1) had a nonsignificant positive effect on tissue potassium (K+) and a significant negative effect on Na+ concentration. Moreover, Ni translocation from root to shoot and accumulation decreased by increasing the levels of Ni in both control and salinity treatments. It can be concluded that Ni at 20 mg kg?1 increased wheat growth by alleviating salinity stress; however, at 40 mg kg?1 it aggravated the plant stress and decreased the plant growth. |
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| Keywords: | Ni plant physiology salinity wheat |
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