**1. Introduction**

Worldwide, more than 20% of the cultivable land is affected by salinity. Due to climate change and anthropogenic activities, the salt affected area is tended to increase day by day [1]. Abiotic stresses (including salinity) are accountable for more than 50% yield reduction [2]. In contrary, due to rapid increase of global population, food production should be increased by more than 70% by 2050 [3]. Wheat (*Triticum* spp.) ranks first in the world's grain production. Wheat is consumed as staple food by more than 36% of world population. Wheat provides nearly 55% of the carbohydrates and 20% of the food calories consumed globally [4, 5]. The productivity of wheat is often adversely affected by salt stress. The yield of wheat starts to decline at 6–8 dS m−1 [6]. Under salt stress, hyperosmotic and hyperionic (ion toxicity) stresses occur due to low water potential of soil and excess sodium ion accumulation within the plant. Ionic stress is also associated with nutritional imbalance [7, 8]. Decreased germination percentage, reduced growth, altered reproductive behavior, and reduced yield are general effects on plants under salt stress [9]. Altered enzymatic activity, disrupted photosynthesis, oxidative stress, disrupted biomembrane structure and function, damage of ultrastructural cellular components, and hormonal imbalance are some reasons for decreasing overall growth and development of plants under salt stress [10–12].

Salt stress tolerance is a polygenic trait regulated by multiple factors/genes. Exclusion of Na+ , cytosolic K+ retention and maintenance of K+ /Na+ homeostasis, osmotic adjustment, transpiration efficiency, and enhanced antioxidant defense system are vital for better plant performance under salt stress [13–15]. Different approaches have been adopted to improve plant performance under salt stress; introduction of genes, screening of better performing genotypes, and crop improvement through conventional breeding methods which are often not so successful and not suitable due to time consuming or reduction of plant vigor with the succession of time. Uses of exogenous phytoprotectants, seed priming, nutrient management, and application of plant hormones are convenient for improving plant performances. These approaches are being also popular for stress management practices including the salt stress [16–25]. In this chapter, we will review the recent research works on different approaches of salt stress tolerance in wheat plants emphasizing the use of exogenous phytoprotectants.
