The impact of potassium chloride (KCl) on germination and seedling growth of Aegilops neglecta Req. ex Bertol.: implications for salinity tolerance
| dc.contributor.author | Desheva, Gergana | |
| dc.contributor.author | Deshev, Manol | |
| dc.contributor.author | Valchinova, Evgeniya | |
| dc.contributor.author | Pencheva, Albena | |
| dc.contributor.author | Kyosev, Bozhidar | |
| dc.contributor.author | Petrović, Gordana | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-05-21T11:33:51Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-05-21T11:33:51Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2026-05-08 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Soil salinity poses a significant threat to global agriculture, impacting crop productivity and land sustainability. Understanding the mechanisms of salt tolerance in wild relatives of crops holds the key to developing salt-resilient varieties. This study investigates the effects of potassium chloride (KCl), a common salt contributing to soil salinity, on the germination and seedling growth of Aegilops neglecta Req. ex Bertol, a wild relative of wheat. Seeds were subjected to varying concentrations of KCl (0 mM, 50 mM, 100 mM, 150 mM, 200 mM, 250 mM, and 300 mM) in controlled laboratory conditions. Germination percentage, germination rate, seedling length (shoot and root), and seedling dry weight were assessed. The results revealed a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect of KCl on all measured parameters. KCl significantly inhibits the germination and seedling growth in the studied genotypes of A. neglecta Req. ex Bertol. The observed reductions in germination percentage, germination rate, root length, shoot length, and biomass accumulation are indicative of the stressful effects of KCl on plant development. However, Aegilops neglecta exhibits some degree of tolerance to KCl stress, suggesting the presence of underlying salt tolerance mechanisms. Based on the integrated analysis of tolerance and susceptibility indices, genotype BGR43687 was identified as highly tolerant to salinity stress, suggesting its potential utilization as a valuable source for salt tolerance genes in wheat breeding programs. | |
| dc.identifier.issn | 1313-9940 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://doi.uni-plovdiv.bg/handle/store/1014 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Plovdiv University "Paisii Hilendarski" | |
| dc.subject | Aegilops neglecta Req. ex Bertol. | |
| dc.subject | KCl | |
| dc.subject | salinity | |
| dc.subject | germination | |
| dc.subject | seedling growth | |
| dc.subject | salt stress | |
| dc.title | The impact of potassium chloride (KCl) on germination and seedling growth of Aegilops neglecta Req. ex Bertol.: implications for salinity tolerance | |
| dc.type | Article |