Varietal Differences in Response to Excess Soil Moisture at Internode Elongation Stage in Barley

Abstract

The response of barley cultivars to excess soil molsture was studied in 1979-1981. Number of cultivars used was 103 in 1978/l979, 19 in 1979/l980 and 76 in 1980/1981 growing season, respectively. Cultivars were grown under excess soil moisture condition (irrigated condition) at the internode elongation stage. Excess soil moisture reduced culm length and all of the yield components investigated in comparison with nonirrigated condition. The reduction was especially evident in the number of ears and seed fertility. Degree of toleran.ce to excess soil moisture was estimated from the mean value of excess soil moisture plots/that of control plots×1OO for six characters. There were significant varietal differences in the response to excess soil moisture. The reduction of seed fertility was considered to be a reliable index for tolerance of barley cultivars, since it showed larger varietal difference than any other characters. Further, it may be useful for rough screening of tolerant genotypes from a number of cultivars or from bulk populations, because the evaluation of tolerance based on seed fertility does not always need control plots. In case of lesser effect of excess soil moisture, like in 1978/1979 growing season, highly tolerant cultivars tailed to be discriminated from medium ones.