In this study, 82 Bromus danthoniae genotypes originated from West (non-saline) and Northwest (saline) Iran were investigated in four experiments. Genetic variation of 82 genotypes was evaluated using morphological traits. Cytogenetic variation of 14 genotypes was assessed in the second experiment. According to our results the mitotic chromosome size of this species was medium to large and all of the karyotypes possessed one two two pairof satellited chromosomes. In the third experiment, salinity tolerance of 80 genotypes was evaluated under control and 350 mM NaCl conditions using physiological traits. Results showed a significant genotypic (G) variation for all traits as well as significant salinity stress (S) and G × S effects for most of the traits. In addition, a coincidence of low concentrations of Na + in the leaf tissues and the excretion of salt crystals on the sheath leaves/leaf blades was observed in the hyper-salinity tolerant genotypes. Eight important salinity tolerance genes, NHX1, NHX3, SOS1, HKT1;5, AKT1, SAT32, SnRK2.3 and DREB2 were characterized by sequencing in the fourth experiment. The results indicated that the partial sequences of coding regions of these genes were same in both salt tolerant and salt sensitive genotypes. The phylogenic trees for the studied genes showed that B. danthoniae was included in a common group with other grass species and possessed the highest similarities with Triticum ., Aegilopes . and Hordeum vulgare . Key words : Salt stress, Bromus danthoniae , salt excretion, salt tolerant genes