Bibliography: leaves 148-160. A series of experiments was conducted to examine the growth and nutrient uptake of durum and bread wheat at a number of sites in South Australia. The experiments examined response to water stress, the pattern of root and shoot growth, soil water extraction and nutrient uptake among a range of adapted bread wheat and durum wheat cultivars.

Title page, table of contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University of Adelaide Library. / Transient salinity in soils is characterised by high concentrations of salts in the subsoil. Durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. Var. durum) is less tolerant of transient salinity than locally developed bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) varieties, and this results in reliable durum production being restricted to relatively unaffected soils. Field trials were conducted to assess the relative impact of transient salinity, boron toxicity and bicarbonate on crop production and highlighted the importance of combining tolerance to all three subsoil constraints into varieties intended for widespread adoption; and if the area of durum production is to be expanded. The Na exclusion locus from the landrace Na49 was found to improve the adaptation of durum to sites affected by transient salinity and is now being intogressed into a wide range of breeding material. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1152134 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Agriculture and Wine, 2005