Varietal Differences among Barley Seedlings Grown with Various Nutrient Solutions1

Abstract

AbstractSeedlings of 24 spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) varieties were grown in sand with continuous light and supplied with a complete nutrient solution or with a solution lacking nitrogen or phosphorus. Significant differences were found among varieties in necrosis of first leaf blades induced by a lack of phosphorus. Average necrotic area of first leaf blades of ‘Svaloef Pallas,’ ‘Svaloef Bonus,’ and ‘Svaloef Hellas’ was 70% or more. On the other hand, no more than 1% of the leaf blade areas of ‘Dickson,’ ‘Erie,’ and ‘Vaughn’ was necrotic.With all three nutrient solutions very obvious differences developed in color of lower leaf sheaths. These ranged from green to intense red. A few varieties contained a mixture of red and green plants but most were uniform for this characteristic.‘Carlsberg II’ seedlings grown without phosphorus developed purple color on about one‐third of the area of second leaf blades. Other varieties had little or no purple color.Varieties differed significantly in length of lower leaf sheaths when grown without nitrogen. Those of Calsberg II averaged three times as long as those of ‘Trebi.’