Determination of effects of α-tocopherol against salt stress in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) mature embryo culture

Wheat, one of the cool climate cereals, is an indispensable plant for both our country and the world because it forms the basic nutrient source for humans diatery and grows under the extreme conditions. Although wheat can be grown under many biotic and abiotic stress conditions, its yield is seriously reduced and even no yield is obtanied under stress. Salinity is one of the abiotic stress conditions that significantly reduce the yield of wheat. In this study, the effect of α-tocopherol application (0, 50 and 100 mg/l) against saline stress induced by NaCl (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mM) was investigated using mature embryos of the Kırik wheat cultivar which is sensitive to salinity in vitro conditions. Data related to callus relative water content (%), callus relative development rate (%), embryogenic callus ratio (%), responsive embryogenic callus ratio (%) and number of plants per explant (number) were obtained in this study. As a result of the study, callus relative water content, callus relative development rate, embryogenic callus ratio, responsive embryogenic callus ratio and number of plants per explant decreased considerably depending on the increase in NaCl concentration, and no plant was obtained at 200 mM NaCl concentration. With α-tocopherol application, however, all these parameters were improved, and the best results under salt stress were observed with 100 mg/l α-tocopherol application. Also, the plants were obtained in calli at a NaCl concentration of 200 mM applied to α-tocopherol.