Salt tolerance

Salt tolerance is expressed as the ability of agricultural crops to maintain yields under stress caused by the presence of salts in the soil. The manifestation of this trait depends on the type of salinity, such as chloride, sulfate, or soda, as plant defense mechanisms are specific to each chemical composition.

This indicator is dynamic and changes during the plant's ontogeny, reaching critical levels during the germination and flowering stages. Crop tolerance is not a constant and requires assessment at various stages of vegetation, as the ability to withstand stress may vary from seedling to maturity.

The assessment of salt tolerance is carried out by comparing productivity in saline and control environments or by using indirect laboratory methods. The latter include seed germination analysis, seedling growth rates, and biochemical tests, in particular the determination of proline concentration as a protectant, which allows for the classification of cultivars into highly, moderately, and weakly tolerant.