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Two differentially adapted populations of Leptothrium senegalense KUNTH (Poaceae) collected from non-saline and saline habitat of Cholistan in Bahawalpur District (Pakistan) were subjected to hydroponic conditions to investigate the physiological and biochemical response under salt stress. Both populations were exposed in Hoagland’s nutrient solution with four levels of NaCl treatments. Salt tolerant population from saline area of Cholistan desert performed better than the other population from non-saline area, in terms of shoot fresh weight, increased net assimilation rate, high water use efficiency, maintenance of leaf turgor, organic osmolytes accumulation (particularly free proline) and restricted accumulation of toxic Na. and Cl at high salt level. Malondialdehyde (MDA) showed negative correlation with other enzymes revealing a direct link with the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) etc. Due to increase in these enzymes, MDA activities were reduced and net result was enhanced oxidative stress tolerance in plants.