Morphophysiological Responses of Oat (Avena sativa L.) Genotypes from Pakistan’s Semiarid Regions to Salt Stress

Soil salinity is a major constraint to modern agriculture, with around 20% of the previously irrigated area becoming salt affected. Identifying suitable stress-tolerant genotypes based on their agronomic and physiological traits remains herculean challenge in forage-type Oat (Avena sativa L.) breeding. The present study was designed investigate response oat crop plants against (NaCl) stress Mardan, Pakistan. experiment carried out complete randomized design (CRD) two factors trail comprising performance four different (NARC oat, PARC Green Gold Islamabad oat) levels saline (0, 25, 50 75 mmol L-1 NaCl). Plant growth parameters including germination (G, %); fresh shoot weight (FSW, g); root (FRW, chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b, total chlorophyll, carotenoids were analyzed for identifying tolerance. Germination (%) negatively affected by higher stress. Mean values showed that maximum (57.5%) recorded control while minimum (48.75%) 25 NaCl (58%) oat. all declined increasing stress, NARC considerably than other genotypes. Although chlorophyll found be concentrations, performed better at when compared Based mean dry ratio ± one standard error, categorized as salt-tolerant (Green Gold), moderately tolerant (PARC NARC), salt-sensitive (Islamabad). more genotype Gold) demonstrated relatively high tolerance may useful developing high-yielding hybrids future breeding programs under conditions.