Department of Plant Sciences

Saline agricultural lands are often prone to waterlogging. H. marinum accessions were collected from the grain-belt of Western Australia and evaluated for tolerance to salinity, O2-deficiency, and these two stresses combined. The H. marinum accessions showed variation in tolerance, but were all substantially more tolerant than wheat (cv. Chinese Spring). All H. marinum accessions were better able to maintain [K+] in leaves when exposed to salinity, compared with wheat. H. marinum formed a barrier to ROL in adventitious roots when grown in stagnant, O2-deficient solution, by contrast wheat lacked a barrier. In summary, compared with wheat, H. marinum was less affected by saline and waterlogging alone; and also by these stress combined.