Abstract
Seedlings of salt sensitive cultivar of wheat were grown in Hoagland solution supplemented with 150 mM NaCl for 21d following presoaking of caryopses in various polyamines (2.5 mM Putrescine, 5 mM speromidine, 2.5 mM spermine). Changes in relative growth, mineral content of root and shoot, polyamines, ethylene and proline level of shoot were determined. Polyamine pretreatment significantly alleviated the NaCl-induced growth reduction, the effect was more pronounced with Put and Spd.Polyamine application decreased Na and Cl content in shoot and root, and increased Ca and K in root of stressed plants. Polyamine treatment decreased polyamine/diamine ratio, ethylene production and proline accumulation which were increased by NaCl. The physiological role of polyamines in the previous processes is discussed in relation to the salt tolerance of plants.