EVALUATION OF SALT STRESS TOLERANCE IN WHEAT VARIETIES CULTIVATED IN THE POLDERS OF LAKE CHAD AT THE GERMINATION STAGE

Soil salinity is one of the major abiotic stresses that severely limits agricultural productivity, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. This study evaluated the effects of salt stress on germination and early seedling growth of five wheat varieties subjected to five sodium chloride (NaCl) concentrations: 0, 75, 150, 225, and 300 mM. Key germination and growth parameters, including germination percentage, germination speed index, root and shoot length, and salt tolerance index, were measured. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences (p < 0.001) among treatments for most variables. Mexipack and Somps 90 showed strong tolerance, maintaining relatively high germination and growth performance even at elevated NaCl concentrations, while Marzak was highly sensitive, with substantial reductions in germination and seedling growth at lower salt levels. These findings highlight the critical importance of selecting wheat varieties adapted to saline conditions. They also emphasize the strategic role of salt-tolerant genotypes in sustaining agricultural productivity in the polders of Lake Chad, where soil salinization is progressively increasing. The results provide valuable insights for breeding programs targeting salt tolerance and offer practical guidance for improving the resilience of local wheat production systems under salinity stress.