Agro-morphological, physiological and biochemical performances of two new durum wheat cultivars under salt stress conditions

Soil salinization requires developing genetically salt-tolerant and high-yielding genotypes, especially in semi-arid arid regions. In this study, two new Tunisian durum wheat cultivars, INRAT100 Dhahbi, were tested for the first time a semi-closed environment against salinity (0, 6 12 dS m-1). Dry weight of aerial root parts, plant height, number tillers per plant, spike awn length, grain yield its components, relative water content, membrane permeability, chlorophyll leaf fluorescence, i.e., initial fluorescence (F0) quantum photosystem II (Fv/Fm), potassium (K+) sodium (Na+) accumulation ratio K+/Na+ assessed. Overall, most growth performance, physiological biochemical attributes affected by salinity. Notably, was characterized higher K+ ion selectivity, content Fv/Fm, lower permeability than that Dhahbi under saline conditions. However, exhibited length spikelets spike. These findings suggest is more tolerant to might be recommended farmers marginal environments.