Evaluation of Germination Responses on the Some Barley Genotypes under Saline Conditions

Aims: The aim of this research was to determine the responses of some barley genotypes to salinity stress at the germination period. Methods and Results: Barley seeds provided from the Osman Tosun Gene Bank at Ankara University. Eight six-row barley genotypes (33, 64, 159, 184, 200, 202, 220 and 231) and two six-row barley cultivars (cv Avcı-2002 and cv Cetin-2000) were used in this study. Salinity stress was applied to the seeds in four different doses of NaCl (distilled water (0), 75 mM, 150 mM and 225 mM). The experiments were carried out at 25±1°C and dark conditions with triplicate according to completely randomized plot design. In order to determine the salinity tolerance of genotypes in the study; germination speed (%), germination power (%), root length (cm), shoot length (cm), shoot fresh weight (g), shoot dry weight (g), root fresh weight (g) and root dry weight (g) parameters were measured. Conclusions: As results of these measures, all parameters were found to be statistically significant (p≤0.01) except for germination power and shoot dry weight. Genotype × NaCl dose interaction was found significantly different at p≤0.01 level for germination speed and root fresh weight. Significance and Impact of the Study: Genotype 200 and 220 showed better performance under salinity stress than other genotypes. Also, it can be used as a parental genitor in future breeding studies.