This subset contains materials that are tolerant to elevated concentration of salt (Sodium chloride) in the soil.

Salt (NaCl) affected plants may be wilted, even though soil moisture seems adequate. Leaves may look dull, and the leaf tips or margins may appear to be grayish. Plants suffering from salt stress can be stunted and are blue-green in color, with tip burn and firing on the leaf margins.

If the salt toxicity is severe, the tissue along the leaf margins may become yellow and die. When plants grow in salty soils their growth is reduced; leaves and tillers do not expand. As salt accumulates in tissues it kills the leaves and eventually whole plants. The higher the salinity level the more rapidly effects become obvious and the lower the yield. Salt crystals are on the soil surface.

Crop production strategies that rely solely on growing salt tolerant crop varieties to combat soil salt toxicity should proceed with caution, as a cycle of increasing soil salt accumulation to match the crop tolerance threshold may occur if suitable agronomic practices are not followed. The agronomic management of moderate to high salt content soils must include soil drainage techniques, flushing of accumulated salts, irrigation water quality management, high water table management, together with the use of tolerant crop varieties.

Source: CIMMYT Wheat Germplasm Bank