Role of Gibberellic Acid (GA3) in Improving Salt Stress Tolerance of Wheat (Triticum avestivum)

Salinity is a critical environmental factor that adversely affects crop growth and productivity. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of gibberellic acid (GA3) on germination, shoot length, root length, and biomass of two wheat cultivars (Demirhan and Fazılbey) under varying levels of salt stress (0, 5, and 10 dS/m NaCl). GA3 was applied at concentrations of 100 and 200 ppm to assess its potential in alleviating the adverse effects of salinity. The results revealed that GA3 significantly improved germination percentage, shoot length, and root length in both cultivars, with the Demirhan cultivar showing more pronounced responses under higher salt stress. A biplot analysis highlighted the interaction between GA3 treatment, salinity levels, and cultivar performance, confirming the positive role of GA3 in mitigating the detrimental effects of salinity. These findings suggest that GA3 can be an effective strategy for enhancing wheat growth in saline soils. Further studies are recommended to optimize GA3 concentrations and evaluate its long-term effects under field conditions.