The present study aimed to investigate different responses of some wheat cultivars under salinity conditions. Accordingly, two experiments were performed as Petri and farm studies. Therefore, the effects of different salinity levels (control, 4, 8, and 12 dS.cm− 1) were firstly studied on seed germination indices and some growth traits of six bread wheat cultivars (Chamran-2, Mehrgan, Marvdasht, Narin, MS-89-13, and MS-90-13) using a factorial based on the completely randomized design in the Petri experiment for ten days in three replications. Then, responses of the best cultivars selected were compared in both normal and saline farms as combined analysis based on the randomized complete block design during two 2020–2021 and 2021–2022 growing seasons in three replications. The Petri data showed that germination responses against salinity levels were negatively concentration-dependent. The best germination prcentage, T50, shoot length, and leaf protein for all cultivars were obtained under the control treatment. Among cultivars, the highest germination percentage, shoot length, and leaf protein and the lowest T50 of all cultivars were achieved for the Chamran-2 and the minimum values of root length and root length stress tolerance index traits for the MS-89-13 × 12dS.m− 1 salinity interaction. Farm experiment data showed that maximum values for the plant height, 1000-grain weight, grain and biological yields, pigments, grain protein, wet gluten, and gluten index were achieved for plants grown under normal conditions and second year of the experiment. Chamran-2, and then Mehregan, had more proper conditions and had longer plants, heavier grain weight, and higher grain and biological yields. However, the maxium values for wet gluten and gluten index indices were obtained for Mehregan and Narin cultivars, respectively. The highest straw yield was obtained under Chamran-2 cultivar×Normal farm×Second year interaction. The highest catalase activity were recorded for saline conditions and first year of the experiment and the highest superoxide dismutase activity was observed for the Narin cultivar×Saline conditions×Second year interaction. Eventually, considering the predominant characteristics of the farm experiments, Chamran-2 and Mehrgan cultivars can be cultivated in the southern regions of Iran and similar areas as a reference.