Abstract: Soil salinization is becoming more and more serious. Since it is important to make full use of salinized soil to increase grain production, it is of great significance to study the effects of exogenous substances on winter wheat under salt stress. The effects of different concentrations of zinc sulfate on the germination of winter wheat were studied under salt stress. The results showed that the germination potential, germination index, vigor index, seedling fresh weight and seedling dry weight of winter wheat seeds treated with 0.2 g/L zinc sulfate were significantly increased compared with the control under 50 mmol/L and 90 mmol/L NaCl. At 50 mmol/L NaCl, these indicators compared with the control showed a greater increase than at 90 mmol/L NaCl. The seedling height and root length of winter wheat were significantly increased treated with 0.2 g/L zinc sulfate too. The vitality index and seedling fresh weight of winter wheat were significantly increased treated with 0.6 g/L zinc sulfate. The suitable concentration of zinc sulfate for treating winter wheat seeds is 0.2 g/L under low salt stress. The germination ability of winter wheat could be effectively improved by treating seed with 0.2 g/L zinc sulfate under low salt stress.

Key words: winter wheat, salt stress, zinc sulfate, seed viability, seedling weight