grown under salt stress of
100 mM NaCl. Results showed that salt stress provoked a
marked decline in germination, growth and yield parameters
as well as increased lipid peroxidation and hydrogen
peroxide (H2O2) contents. However, higher accumulation
of proline and low H2O2 contents were recorded in both
cultivars under halopriming followed by hydropriming.
Halopriming induced a significant increase in antioxidant
enzyme activities (CAT, POD, APX) of salt-tolerant cultivar
Lu26s, whereas such pattern of enhanced activities of
antioxidant enzymes in cultivar Lasani-06 was also found
but the content of these activities was less than control
under saline regime. The cultivar Lu26s (salt tolerant)
maintained lower Na? and higher K?/Na? ratio in leaves than salt-sensitive cultivar Lasani-06. Reason behind the
loss of grain yield under salinity was found due to the
reduction in the grain spike-1 in cultivar Lasani-06, while,
in cultivar Lu26s, it was due to decrease in the size of
grains. Enhanced germination, low proline and Na? contents
stimulated antioxidant activities as well as phenolic
contents associated with improved salt tolerance in haloprimed
plants. These results suggest that halopriming is an
efficient approach for imparting tolerance in wheat against
salinity stress.