13294 10.30848/PJB2026-1(30) <p> Salinity tolerance assessment in wheat genotypes under hydroponic conditions</p> Sobia Akram, Muhammad Anwar-Ul-Haq, Muhammad Saqib and Ejaz Ahmad Waraich <p> This study aimed to evaluate the performance of 24 wheat genotypes using a hydroponic system under 100 mM,140 mM and 200 mM NaCl treatments. Among the genotypes tested MH-21 and SARC-4 exhibited notable salt tolerance, displaying minimal reductions in growth and maintaining high SPAD values. Conversely, Lasani 2008 and AARI-11 demonstrated sensitivity, showing significant decreases in growth parameters. Furthermore, the measurement of MSI and RWC indicated that the salt-tolerant genotypes maintained better cellular membrane stability and water retention capacity up to 21% and 41% under high salinity stress compared to the salt-sensitive genotypes. Ionic analysis revealed that the salt-tolerant genotypes MH-21 and SARC-4 exhibited efficient ion regulation, with lower Na⁺accumulation up to 86% and 85% and higher K⁺ retention up to 62 % and 58% at higher salinity level compared to the salt-sensitive genotypes Lasani 2008 and AARI-11. This suggested that ion homeostasis and selective ion uptake mechanisms play a critical role in salt tolerance in wheat. MH-21 and SARC-4 were ranked as salt tolerant genotypes in Principle Component Analysis based on Salt Tolerance Index_TDM and Salt Tolerance Index_K⁺_/Na⁺.</p> <p> &nbsp;</p> Published 2026 58 1 1 16