ABSTRACT
Salinity, the second major factor that limits crop yields after drought, is now a global threat posing several challenges to the crop breeders. Breeding for introgression of increased salt tolerance into existing crop varieties is more energy efficient and cost effective than other available temporary curative and managerial hydrochemical measures commonly adopted to reduce soil salinity. Fundamental understanding of crop response to salinity is required for breeding crops against abiotic stresses. Germplasm collection from widely varying agro-conditions including problem environments and their quick and accurate screening for salt tolerance is considered as an essential prerequisite of any breeding strategy. Comprehensive screening of plants for diverse morphological, biochemical, physiological, and molecular traits will enhance the understanding of relative contribution of different attributes underlying salt tolerance. This chapter emphasizes the importance of appropriate techniques as well as descriptors for screening the crop germplasm under saline conditions to identify elite lines to be utilized for future breeding for salinity tolerance. The pros and cons of each category of descriptors are outlined in the present chapter. Marker linked with quantitative trait locis for salt tolerance and their possible utilization in marker-assisted breeding along with robust phenotyping of germplasm will help to develop salt tolerant varieties of different crops leading to a food secure globe.
