Evaluation of salinity tolerance of Oat genotypes at seedling and reproductive stages

In order to evaluate the salinity tolerance of oat genotypes (Avena sativa L.), at seedling and reproductive stages, an experiment with three replications was carried out in greenhouse condition (based on Randomized Completely Design). Experiments were carried out in research field of Esfahan University of Technology. which is located in Lourk’s Najafabad without stress, EC=4 ds/m, as well as in research field of Sharifabad of Ardakan, saline condition, EC=10 ds/m. The Na+, K+ concentration and Na+/K+ ratio in seedling stage, and plant height, number of tiller, panicle length, number of grain, 1000-grain weight, yield and harvest index in field condition were recorded. The analysis variance results at seedling stage showed significant difference among genotypes for standard evaluation system (SES), but no significant difference was observed for Na+, K+ concentration and Na+/K+ ratio, that indicated that the existence of the other controlling mechanisms in salinity tolerance in these genotypes. The results of the combined analysis, showed significant difference among genotypes for in the studied traits. The interaction between genotype and environment was significant for all traits. Field and greenhouse evaluations on different oat genotypes established no clear correlation between seedling and reproductive stage, that indicates the existence of genetic variation in tolerance in the adult plants and in seedling stage, and the existence of different tolerant mechanism in two growth stages. Based on obtained results, lines No. 28, 32, 80 and 84 were introduced as high yielding genotypes, that due to the significant interaction between genotype and environment, lines No. 80 and 84 are introduced for Esfahan and line No.17 for Yazd.