Abstract: A 8 day exposure to NaCl reduced the length of root apical meristem in Secale cereale (cv. K2) to a greater extent than Triticum aestivum (cv. Chinese Spring). NaCl induced also root hair formation much closer to the root cap boundary than in the control roots. Contrasting cultivars were differentially sensitive by NaCl in respect of distance of the first root hair from the root cap boundary in root meristem and this may be used as a character for screening genotypes at the seedling stage for variability in NaCl tolerance.