Investigation of responses of some two and six-rowed barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) varieties to salinity stress at germination and early seedling growth stages

This study was conducted to determine the effect of 5 different salt stresses (0, 4, 8, 12 and 16 dS m-1) created with NaCl on germination and early seedling growth of 2 (Tarm-92, Bülbül-89, Sladoran, Orak22, Orione, Seymen) and 6-rowed (Çetin-2000, Erginel-90, Kıral-97, Hazar, Ramata, Scarpia) barley varieties. The experiment was established in petri dishes according to the split plots design with 3 replications, with varieties as main plots and salt solutions as sub-plots. No germination was observed in any variety at 16 dS m-1 salt stress. In the study, germination rate (%), mean germination time (days), seed vigor index, salt tolerance index, number of roots (number), root length (cm), shoot length (cm), root fresh weight (mg), root dry weight (mg), shoot fresh weight (mg), shoot dry weight (mg) and leaf water content (%) of barley varieties under salt stress were investigated. According to the results of the study, the increase in salt stress caused a significant decrease in all traits except mean germination time. Mean germination time increased significantly with increasing salt stress. As a result, it was observed that 2-rowed barley cultivars were more tolerant to salt stress than 6-rowed barley cultivars for all examined traits. Among the varieties examined in the study, Tarm-92 had the highest tolerance to salt stress and Ramata had the lowest tolerance to salt stress.