Phenotypic data related to seedling traits of hexaploid spring wheat panel evaluated under salinity

Authors: GUDI, SANTOSH - North Dakota State University; GILL, HARSIMARDEEP - South Dakota State University; COLLINS, SERENA - University Of California, Riverside; SINGH, JATINDER - North Dakota State University; Sandhu, Devinder; SEHGAL, SUNISH - South Dakota State University; UPINDER, GILL - North Dakota State University; Gupta, Rajeev

Submitted to: Data in Brief
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/12/2025
Publication Date: 6/19/2025
Citation: Gudi, S., Gill, H.S., Collins, S., Singh, J., Sandhu, D., Sehgal, S., Upinder, G., Gupta, R. 2025. Phenotypic data related to seedling traits of hexaploid spring wheat panel evaluated under salinity. Data in Brief. 61.Article 111801. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2025.111801.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2025.111801

Interpretive Summary: Wheat is a globally important cereal crop affected by various abiotic stresses including salt stress. Wheat is affected by salt stress at various developmental stages; however, the seedling stage is the most vulnerable among all. Understanding the genetic basis of salt tolerance can help in breeding resilient wheat cultivars with improved productivity. In this study we evaluated a diverse panel of spring wheat landraces and cultivars under salt stress which revealed large phenotypic and genetic variations. Genomic regions, candidate genes, and superior alleles identified in this study hold promise for developing resilient wheat cultivars through use of gene-specific molecular markers.

Technical Abstract: Salt stress is the important abiotic stress affecting wheat at various developmental stages. Salt stress at early developmental stages reduces the seed germination and seedling establishment, and thereby reduces production potential. Developing salt resilient wheat cultivars alleviate the negative impacts of salt stress and helps in maintaining sustainable grain yield under salt stress. A study was undertaken to assess the response of various seedling traits in a genetically, phenotypically, and geographically diverse panel of 228 hexaploid spring wheat accessions using greenhouse lysimeter system with two irrigation treatments: control (electrical conductivity of irrigation water as deci-Siemens per meter., (ECiw = 1.46 dSm-1) and saline (ECiw = 14 dSm-1). Salt stress was given on 18 days old seedlings and the targeted salinity level (ECiw = 14 dSm-1) was achieved gradually over two days period, to overcome any osmotic shock. Data on various seedling traits [such as shoot height (inch), root length (inch), tiller number, shoot weight (g), and root weight (g)] were collected after three weeks of salt treatment from control and salt stress environment. Shoot ant root traits were used to calculate root length by shoot height (RL-by-SH) and root weight by shoot weight (RW-by-SW) ratios. Furthermore, the salt tolerance index (STI), was calculated for each trait by dividing trait values of each accession from salt-treated tanks by the that from control tanks. Raw data was subjected to mixed linear analysis to derive best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP). BLUP values were used for Pearson’s correlation coefficient analysis and principal component analysis (PCA), which gives intrinsic relationship among various seedling traits. Dataset presented here is a valuable source for identifying source of tolerant lines for salt stress environment. Moreover, researchers can utilize this information to identify potential genomic regions associated with salt stress tolerance and can be utilize in developing salt resilient wheat cultivars.