Salinity is a leading threat to crop growth throughout the world. Salt stress induces altered physiological processes and several inhibitory effects on the growth of cereals, including wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). In this study, we determined the effects of salinity on five spring and five winter wheat genotypes seedlings. We evaluated the salt stress on root and shoot growth attributes, i.e., root length (RL), shoot length (SL), the relative growth rate of root length (RGR-RL), and shoot length (RGR-SL). The ionic content of the leaves was also measured. Physiological traits were also assessed, including stomatal conductance (gs), chlorophyll content index (CCI), and light-adapted leaf chlorophyll fluorescence, i.e., the quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv′/Fm′) and instantaneous chlorophyll fluorescence (Ft). Physiological and growth performance under salt stress (0, 100, and 200 mol/L) were explored at the seedling stage. The analysis showed that spring wheat accumulated low Na+ and high K+ in leaf blades compared with winter wheat. Among the genotypes, Sakha 8, S-24, W4909, and W4910 performed better and had improved physiological attributes (gs, Fv′/Fm′, and Ft) and seedling growth traits (RL, SL, RGR-SL, and RGR-RL), which were strongly linked with proper Na⁺ and K⁺ discrimination in leaves and the CCI in leaves. The identified genotypes could represent valuable resources for genetic improvement programs to provide a greater understanding of plant tolerance to salt stress.

Salinity stress can be mitigated by using the physiological seed enhancements. Kharchia 65 (salt tolerant) and PI.94341 (salt sensitive) genotypes were evaluated under salt stress (20 dS/m) by various priming treatments, that is hydropriming and halopriming (50 mmol, KCl and NaCl) in a pot study. Experiment was conducted in completely randomized design under factorial arrangements with three replications. Priming agents improved the final emergence percentage (FEP), emergence index (EI) and reduced the mean emergence time of both wheat genotypes under normal and saline conditions as compared to non-primed seed. Priming treatments elicited the efficiency of wheat seedlings by increasing both Fv/Fm and Ft under both normal and salt stress conditions which were strongly linked with low Na⁺ and high K⁺. In conclusion, all three priming agents effectively nullified the deleterious effects of salt stress by improving seed emergence and triggering the physiological attributes of wheat.

Seed priming with sorghum water extract (SWE) enhances crop tolerance to salinity stress; however, the application of SWE under salinity for camelina crop has not been documented so far. This study evaluated the potential role of seed priming with SWE in improving salt stress tolerance in camelina. Primed (with 5% SWE and distilled water-hydropriming) and nonprimed seeds were sown under control (no salt) and salt stress (10 dS m⁻¹) conditions. Salinity reduced camelina’s emergence and growth, while seed priming with SWE improved growth under control and stress conditions. Under salt stress, seed priming with SWE enhanced emergence percentage (96.98%), increased root length (82%), shoot length (32%), root dry weight (75%), shoot dry weight (33%), α-amylase activity (66.43%), chlorophyll content (60–92%), antioxidant enzymes activity (38–171%) and shoot K⁺ ion (60%) compared with nontreated plants. Similarly, under stress conditions, hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and shoot Na⁺ ion were reduced by 60, 31, and 40% by seed priming with SWE, respectively, over the nonprimed seeds. Therefore, seed priming with SWE may be used to enhance the tolerance against salt stress in camelina.