Comparison of Seed Germination Characteristics Between Cultivated and Wild Barley

The purpose is to elucidate the reasons responsible for the difference in seed dormancy of wild and cultivated barley. Seed germination, water content, MDA content, ion leakage, soluble protein and phytohormones were determined in cultivated barley Baudin, Barke as well as wild barley WB01 and WB02 during germination at 28 °C and 1 °C. Wild barley exhibited deep dormancy when germinated at 28 °C, which may result from low water content, slow absorption of water, lower soluble protein, MDA content and ion leakage. The results showed that 1 °C could break the deep dormancy of wild barley by increasing the activity of antioxidative enzymes, elevating seed germination-promoting phytohormones (JA, TZ, TZR) and decreasing seed germination-inhabiting phytohormones (ABA, IAA, SA) in cultivated barley. Large genetic variance in genes related to phytohormones metabolism and antioxidative enzymes between wild and cultivated barley may be responsible for the germination difference.