Trait-Based Characterization Of Barley Genotypes Under Simulated Early Drought Stress Conditions

This study was carried out to determine the barley varieties that can be used as parents in drought resistance breeding and can be grown in regions where drought is experienced during the early growth and development periods. Seedling survival after drought, coleoptile length, seedling vigor, cell membrane damage and germination parameters at low water potential were measured. The seedling survival after drought rates of the varieties ranged from 8.0% to 76.0%, the coleoptile lengths ranged from 45.47 mm to 94.60 mm, the specific leaf area ranged from 100.1 cm2 g-1 to 255.8 cm2 g-1, the first leaf width ranged from 3.11 mm to 8.93 mm, and the cell membrane damage rates ranged from 2.34% to 37.79%. In our study, the germination rate, root length, shoot length and seed vigor index decreased as the osmotic potential increased. The 74 barley varieties used in the study were divided into four groups, resistant, medium resistant, medium sensitive and sensitive, according to the rank total values calculated over 6 selection criteria. Accordingly, the Konevi, İnce-04 and Fahrettinbey varieties were determined to be resistant to early drought. Twenty-six varieties of medium hardness with a rank total ranging from 29.1 to 40.3 were identified. Thirty-two varieties with a rank total between 40.4 and 51.6 were determined to be moderately sensitive, and 13 varieties with a rank total between 51.7 and 62.8 were determined to be sensitive.