MOLECULAR AND FIELD ANALYSIS OF SOME BARLEY GENO-TYPES FOR WATER STRESS TOLERANCE

Abstract

Water stress effects on three barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) genotypes in field and lab were studied. The genotypic responses varied among growth stages according to water stress. Lab experiments showed that germination percentage, shoot length, root length and total dry mater were the most effective traits between sensitive and tolerant genotypes. Giza 126 and California Marriott were tolerant and stable under different stress levels, while the sensitive variety Giza 129 showed sharp decrease in germination percentage, shoot length and total dry mater. Giza 126 recorded the highest yield and yield component values under stress condition as well as in well-irrigated condition, followed by California Marriott under the stress condition. Giza 129 ranked last under stress condition. Our results showed that the HVB23D SSR primer and the specific primer LEA generated specific bands occurred in the studied drought tolerant barley genotypes (Giza 126 and California Marriott), while they were absent in the sensitive genotype Giza 129.