Responses of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to various concentrations of
NaCl and levels of drought were followed. With the rise of NaCl or dr
ought, or NaCl and drought together, growth was retarded. The water co
ntent of shoots and roots was mostly unchanged. The chlorophyll and ca
rotenoid contents were increased in plants subjected to salinity or dr
ought or both. Only high salinity level induced a considerable decreas
e in net photosynthetic rate (P-N) and dark respiration rate (R(D)). P
-N and R(D) were decreased with the decrease of soil moisture content.
The content of Na+ in the shoots and roots of wheat plants increased
with increasing salinity or decreasing soil moisture content or both t
reatments. Considerable variations in the content of K+, Ca2+ or Mg2were induced by the NaCl, drought or both treatments.