Integrated Use of Potassium, GA?, and Cytokinin in Mitigating Salinity-Induced Mineral Imbalance in Wheat Seedlings

Abstract

Salinity is a significant abiotic stress factor in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Salinity alters the mineral concentration and its distribution in various plant parts. Due to this ion homeostasis get disrupted and result in poor seedling growth in wheat. Present work is to find the possibility of exogenous application of potassium (K?), gibberellic acid (GA?) and cytokinin (CK) treatment alone or in combination to alleviate the salinity induced change in mineral ion concentration at various salinity levels (NaCl salinity) in wheat seedlings. It was observed that there is accumulation of chloride (Cl?) in radicle and coleoptile, while the level of nitrate ((NO??), phosphate (PO?³?) and sulphate (SO?²?) reduced dramatically. All the treatments (alone or in combination) given to seeds improved the mineral ion concentration. Treatment K? + GA? + CK was found the best treatment or most successful treatment in restoring mineral level in seedlings of wheat. It indicates that ion uptake, re-establishment of nutrient transport and reduction in chloride toxicity is a complex function. Integrated treatment of nutrients and hormones enhanced wheat’s ion homeostasis and salt tolerance for crop productivity in alkaline soils.

Introduction

Salinity stress poses a major global threat to agriculture, affecting over 1.2 billion hectares of soil worldwide, and is expected to worsen by 2050. Wheat, a staple crop, is moderately sensitive to salt stress, which causes ionic and osmotic imbalance—reducing water uptake and disrupting nutrient homeostasis. High sodium (Na?) and chloride (Cl?) concentrations displace essential nutrients like potassium, nitrate, phosphate, and sulfate, impairing metabolic activities and growth.

Potassium application is crucial for maintaining ion balance (K/Na ratio) and enhancing salt tolerance by improving chlorophyll production and nutrient transport. Plant hormones like gibberellic acid (GA3) and cytokinin (CK) play vital roles in growth, cell division, and delaying senescence under stress. Combined treatments of potassium and growth regulators have shown synergistic effects in improving seedling growth, ion balance, and membrane stability under saline conditions.

Key Points on Seed Germination and Early Seedling Growth

• Seed germination is highly sensitive to salinity and crucial for overall plant development.

• Abiotic stress impairs germination by affecting biochemical and physiological processes.

• Seed priming with minerals and plant growth regulators enhances seed germination and seedling resilience to salinity.

Experimental Findings on Mineral Content in Wheat Seedlings

• Nitrogen (N): Salinity decreased N in radicle and coleoptile but increased it in the endosperm, indicating disrupted nutrient mobilization. Seed priming (especially K + GA3 + CK) partially restored N content by improving membrane selectivity.

• Phosphorus (P): P levels rose with salinity but decreased with seed priming, suggesting increased utilization in cell metabolism. Salinity impedes phosphorus uptake and translocation in seedlings.

• Chloride (Cl): Cl content increased significantly under salinity, especially in radicle and coleoptile. Seed priming treatments reduced Cl accumulation, with combined K + GA3 + CK treatment being most effective.

• Sulphate (SO4): Sulphate content doubled under high salinity but decreased after seed priming, particularly with combined treatments, indicating improved ion homeostasis.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Dr. Seema Gupta. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.