Spring Barley Cultivars Research Articles

Stability parameter and genotype mean estimates for drought stress effects on root and shoot growth of wild barley pre-introgression lines

The goal of the present study was to select BC2-lines from a cross between Hordeum vulgare and H. vulgare ssp. spontaneum and to identify introgressed candidate regions responsible for a superior pre-flowering development across environments including drought stress conditions by using stability parameter and genotype mean estimates. Three experiments were carried out under controlled environmental conditions. Drought stress was induced by permanent suboptimal water supply, stress cycles in continuously drying soils, and increased transpiration demands by reducing relative humidity of the air. The environmental effects on shoot dry weight, leaf area, tiller number, and root lengths of 36 lines and the recurrent parent, the spring barley cultivar ‘Scarlett’ was tested in ten different conditions. Results showed that 11 genotypes responded significantly (P = 0.05) different from the recurrent parent in at least one of the measured traits. The introgressions of those lines were assigned to five genome regions, which have been suggested as QTL regions for related traits before. Regions on chromosome 4H influence tillering and one region each on 2H, 5H, and 7H probably has effects on shoot dry weight and leaf area. Introgressions on the mentioned regions increased trait values in every case. Leaf area was highly correlated to shoot dry weight and tiller number while the correlation between shoot dry weight and tiller number was not significant. A weak correlation was observed between tiller number and root lengths. Slopes of response curves of lines to increasing water shortage did not significantly differ from the population mean and from the recurrent parent. Results give hint that superior genotypes within the population develop well under both well-watered and drought stress conditions.

The development of frost tolerance and DHN5 protein accumulation in barley ( Hordeum vulgare) doubled haploid lines derived from Atlas 68×Igri cross during cold acclimation

The dynamics of a long-term cold acclimation (CA) was studied in spring barley cultivar Atlas 68, winter barley cultivar Igri and a set of doubled haploid (DH) lines derived from an Atlas 68×Igri cross. The aim was to evaluate the effect of plant development on the ability to induce frost tolerance (FT) and to accumulate dehydrin 5 (DHN5) during CA. The plant developmental stage was evaluated by phenological development of the shoot apex and by determination of days to heading after a certain period of CA. FT was determined by direct frost tests. Plant winter survival was also determined. DHN5 was evaluated by densitometric analysis of protein gel blots. Cold led to the induction of increased FT and to the accumulation of DHN5 in both spring and winter lines. However, with the progression of CA, differences between the growth habits occurred as the winter lines were able to maintain increased FT and DHN5 levels for a significantly longer period of time than the spring lines. After vegetative/reproductive transition, a significant decrease in DHN5 accumulation was found in all lines; however, a discrepancy between the acquired FT level and DHN5 accumulation in vernalized winter barley plants was found. A correlation between DHN5 accumulation and plant winter survival was found when the studied lines were differentiated according to their developmental stage and DHN5 level. Possible explanations for these phenomena are provided.

Using NIRS To Predict Fiber and Nutrient Content of Dryland Cereal Cultivars

Residue from cultivars of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), winter wheat, and spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) was characterized for fiber and nutrient traits using reference methods and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Calibration models were developed for neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), carbon (C), sulfur (S), nitrogen (N), and C:N. When calibrations were tested against validation sets for each crop year, NIRS was an acceptable method for predicting NDF (standard error of prediction (SEP)<0.87; R2>0.90) and ADF (SEP< 0.81; R2>0.92) and moderately successful for ADL in 1 year of the study (SEP=0.44; R2=0.81) but less successful for C, S, N, and C:N (R2 all<0.57). These results indicate that NIRS can predict the NDF and ADF of cereal residue from dryland cropping systems and is a useful tool to estimate residue decomposition potential.

Coleoptile length of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars

Coleoptile length is related to maximum seeding depth. The coleoptile length of 44 spring barley cultivars (Hordeum vulgare L.) was determined by laying seeds on moistened filter paper and incubating at 15°C for 13 days. Significant differences in coleoptile length were noted between cultivars (P < 0.05). Most cultivars had a coleoptile length between 60 and 80 mm. Five cultivars (Buloke, Dash, Harrington, Morrell and Tallon) had a coleoptile length shorter than 60 mm. Seven cultivars (CM72, Doolup, Finniss, Fleet, Hannan, Haruna Nijo and Macumba) had a coleoptile length longer than 80 mm. No relationship was found between early growth habit or plant height and coleoptile length. The impact of different dwarfing genes on coleoptile length was discussed. Differences in coleoptile length observed should be exploited by breeders to improve the tolerance of barley to deep seeding and stubble retention. This would be a useful tool in managing climate variability and would assist barley growers to sow closer to the optimum sowing time in situations where moisture is present at depth but not on the soil surface.

Amino acid composition of spring barley cultivars used in Norway

Samples of 16 spring barley cultivars grown in field trials on 5 different locations in south-eastern and central Norway during 2003 and 2004 were analysed for amino acids. The cultivars were chosen to represent a range of earliness, as well as different agronomic and morphological characteristics. The locations covered a geographic distance from approximately 59 to 64 N latitude, representing climatic differences in temperature, precipitation, and solar variation. Significant differences in amino acid composition were found, between both cultivars and localities. These differences were correlated to varying grain protein content, to a greater extent than to other cultivar properties or trial localization (latitude). Cultivars with high grain protein content generally had less favourable amino acid composition than did cultivars with low protein content. For early-maturing cultivars, ‘Olsok’ showed the most favourable amino acid composition and ‘Vilde’ the least favourable. For late-maturing cultivars, ‘Annabell’ had the most favourable amino acid composition, and the naked cultivar ‘Netto’ the least favourable. Localities representing trials with low mean protein content showed more favourable amino acid composition than did localities representing trials with high mean protein content. The protein content showed a positive correlation to fertilization (r 2=0.37), precipitation in June (r 2=0.70), and temperature in May (r 2=0.23). Other parameters were only weakly, or not at all, correlated to protein content.

IRH1–the first aromatic hybrid rice in Iran

Increasing rice production in Iran, a country with limited land and water resources, is a challenging task, especially with consumer demand largely favoring varieties with superior grain quality. In 2000, Iran imported 1.2 million t of rice. But, in recent years, with increased adoption of improved varieties and with favorable climatic conditions, importation has been reduced to 0.98 million t (FAO 2006). However, with recent fluctuations in the availability of surplus rice from rice-exporting countries and the increasing rice demand in Asia alone, Iran has to initiate a well-drawn plan to attain self-sufficiency and sustain its rice production in the long term. Among the available approaches, the most viable is to pursue hybrid rice technology for Iran, on the basis of success achieved in India, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Hybrid rice technology could easily deliver hybrids with medium quality in the short term, with a 1.5−2.0 t ha–1 advantage over improved check varieties (such as Khazar), while superior quality with high yield can be combined in the hybrids, provided a systematic approach is followed. A comparative yield trial in 2002 involving four promising hybrids and their parents and inbred check variety Khazar revealed exceptional performance of the hybrid combination IR58025A/IR42686R. This hybrid gave the highest standard heterosis (57.9%), heterobeltiosis (53.3%), and commercial heterosis (45.2%) over improved check variety Khazar (Table 1). Furthermore, the number of days to 50% flowering of the parents differed by only 3, with the R line flowering earlier and having a relatively better quality than Khazar (data not shown). A pooled analysis of variance for the adaptive yield trial conducted over two different sites for 2003-04 showed significant yield differences among genotypes and in site-by-genotype-by-year interaction. IR58025A/IR42686R gave an average yield of 9.2 t ha–1 with a yield advantage of 28% over Khazar (Table 1). It was named IRH1. On-farm trials conducted in 2005 at four locations gave an impressive yield of 12 t ha–1, which was 85% higher than Khazar’s 6.5 t ha–1 (Table 2). The hybrids planning breeding programs to control genetic erosion and vulnerability, which is a great possibility because of the observed genetic uniformity. Reshuffling the genetic constituents is also necessary to increase yield potential. References Delannax X, Todgers DM, Palmer RG. 1983. Relative genetic contribution among ancestral lines to North American soybean cultivars. Crop Sci. 23:944-949. Dilday RH. 1990. Contribution of ancestral lines in the development of new cultivars of rice. Crop Sci. 30:905-911. Martin JM, Balke TK, Hockett EA. 1991. Diversity among North American spring barley cultivars based on coefficients of parentage. Crop Sci. 31:1131-1137. St. Martin SK. 1982. Effective population size for the soybean improvement program in maturity groups 00 to IV. Crop Sci. 22:151152.

Chemical Composition of Residue from Cereal Crops and Cultivars in Dryland Ecosystems

Cropping systems in the dryland farming region of eastern Washington State are dominated by winter and spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Excessive levels of residue may be an obstacle in the adoption of conservation farming systems. Decomposition of cereal crop residues is associated with fiber and nutrient content, and growers have observed differences in decomposition among cultivars; however, little information exists on their residue characteristics. Cultivars of spring barley (SB), spring wheat (SW), and winter wheat (WW) grown at four locations over two crop years were analyzed for neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), C, and N contents, and winter wheat decomposition was tested in a laboratory incubation study. Acid detergent lignin was highest in spring barley (9.9%), and least in winter wheat (9.2%) and hard white spring wheat (9.5%). Fiber components and nutrient content varied by location, precipitation zone, and cultivar. Residue in the drier year of the study had lower NDF, ADF, ADL, C, and C/N ratio. Foot rot (Fusarium spp.)–resistant winter wheat cultivars had higher NDF, ADF, and ADL than susceptible cultivars. Laboratory incubation studies showed decomposition of winter wheat straw in soil was correlated with ADF (R2 &gt; 0.66, P = 0.002) and total N (R2 &gt; 0.67, P = 0.04). Fiber and nutrient characteristics of residue from wheat and barley cultivars currently produced in the Pacific Northwest can be used to predict residue decomposition in cropping systems that conserve soil and water, and enhance build‐up of organic matter.

Detection and verification of malting quality QTLs using wild barley introgression lines

A malting quality quantitative trait locus (QTL) study was conducted using a set of 39 wild barley introgression lines (hereafter abbreviated with S42ILs). Each S42IL harbors a single marker-defined chromosomal segment from the wild barley accession ‘ISR 42-8’ (Hordeum vulgare ssp. spontaneum) within the genetic background of the elite spring barley cultivar ‘Scarlett’ (Hordeum vulgare ssp. vulgare). The aim of the study was (1) to verify genetic effects previously identified in the advanced backcross population S42, (2) to detect new QTLs, and (3) to identify S42ILs exhibiting multiple QTL effects. For this, grain samples from field tests in three different environments were subjected to micro malting. Subsequently, a line × phenotype association study was performed with the S42ILs in order to localize putative QTL effects. A QTL was accepted if the trait value of a particular S42IL was significantly (P < 0.05) different from the recurrent parent as a control, either across all tested environments or in a particular environment. For eight malting quality traits, altogether 40 QTLs were localized, among which 35 QTLs (87.5%) were stable across all environments. Six QTLs (15.0%) revealed a trait improving wild barley effect. Out of 36 QTLs detected in a previous advanced backcross QTL study with the parent BC2DH population S42, 18 QTLs (50.0%) could be verified with the S42IL set. For the quality parameters α-amylase activity and Hartong 45°C, all QTLs assessed in population S42 were verified by S42ILs. In addition, eight new QTL effects and 17 QTLs affecting two newly investigated traits were localized. Two QTL clusters harboring simultaneous effects on eight and six traits, respectively, were mapped to chromosomes 1H and 4H. In future, fine-mapping of these QTL regions will be conducted in order to shed further light on the genetic basis of the most interesting QTLs.

Exploring associations between agronomic and chemical composition traits for barley improvement

A selection strategy based on agronomic traits was assessed to improve chemical composition of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Two multi-environment datasets were investigated. They consisted of 190 doubled-haploid lines of the Leger/CI9831 cross and of 70 covered spike spring barley cultivars. Phenotypic correlations were assessed for four agronomic traits (test weight, seed weight, plant height and grain yield) and three chemical components [starch, acid detergent fibre (ADF), and total β -glucans]. A selection method is proposed on the basis of principal components analyses using genotype × trait (GT) biplots. Heavier test weight (>67 g hL −1) was a better predictor than kernel weight for the selection for lower ADF (<55 g kg −1) which is a desirable quality trait in feed barley. The negative correlation measured between test weight and ADF in both datasets has never been reported before in barley. Two-row barley genotypes suitable for improving the quality of feed barley were identified using the GT Biplot method.

Long-time storage effect on the seed health of spring barley grains

Long-time storage effect on the seed health of spring barley grains Seeds of 5 cultivars of spring barley, originated from field experiments conducted in 2000 at Radzików, were tested immediately after harvest and after three, four and five years of storage in uncontrolled conditions, for incidence of seed-borne fungi with special regard to "field fungi" (Bipolaris sorokiniana and Fusarium spp.) and "storage fungi" (species of Penicillium and Aspergillus). The studies showed that barley seeds were infected before storage by numerous fungi as well as the saprophytes: Alternaria alternata, Acremonium spp,Acremoniella atra and the pathogens: Bipolaris sorokiniana and ten Fusarium species. The analysis after storage showed that the frequency of fungal infection had changed. The occurrence of some fungi was significantly affected by the period of storage. An increase of infection by species of Penicillium and Aspergillus known as "storage fungi" was detected on seeds after storage, especially after four years. At the same time, isolation of species of Fusarium and Bipolaris sorokiniana from these seeds decreased. Differences in number of ‘field’ and ‘storage’ fungi were found in dependence on period of storage, also. The smallest infection by Bipolaris sorokiniana and Fusarium was observed on seed after five years of storage.

Seed quality effects on seedling emergence, plant stand establishment and grain yield in two-row barley

Seed viability and vigour play important roles in seedling emergence, plant stand establishment and yield potential. The majority of cereal fields in Finland are typically sown with farm saved seed (FSS). If the quality of the seed is not known, there can be insidious yield reduction. This research was conducted to study the effects of seed quality on seedling emergence rate, seedling number and yielding capacity. The study comprised three-year field experiments conducted during 2007–2009, established at three sites: Jokioinen, Nousiainen and Ylistaro. Spring barley cultivars Saana (2007) and Annabell (2008-2009) were sown at rate of 500 germinating seeds m-2. Five seed lots were included as treatments: farm saved seed (FSS); downgraded seed 2.7 mm); upgraded seed &gt;2.7 mm with disinfection (FSS&gt;2.7 mm + dis); and commercial certified seed with disinfection (CCS). Up- and down-graded seed lots (FSS2.7 mm, and FSS&gt;2.7 mm + dis) all originated from the FSS. Seedling emergence rate was measured from the time when coleoptiles started to break through the soil surface. The number of seedlings (3 × 1 m row per plot) was recorded at five-day intervals four times from the same rows. Plots were harvested at physiological maturity and grain yield (kg ha-1), hectolitre weight (HLW, kg) single grain weight (SGW, mg) and grain protein content (%) were recorded. Seed lots of CCS and FSS&gt;2.7 mm + dis enhanced seedling emergence rate and increased the number of plants compared with other treatments. These two seed lots also produced the highest grain yield and had the lowest grain protein. Seed quality had an apparent effect on plant stand establishment and grain yield. A seed lot effect was evident despite identical targeted sowing rates that took into account germination rate and seed weight. Therefore, differences in seedling emergence and yielding capacity were likely outcomes of variation in seed vigour among the five treatments.;

Efficiency of nitrogen and phosphorus utilization in progenies of factorial crosses between European and exotic cultivars of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Previous observations suggested that some landraces, primitive cultivars and other barleys originating from the harsh conditions of the Middle East, North Africa and Tibet might serve as interesting sources of adaptation to low-input agriculture. This opportunity was verified in field experiments performed under reduced rates of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilization. Genetic variation in major components of the efficiency of N and P utilization was examined among F2 and F3 generations of crosses between four European female and seven exotic male lines of spring barley. Preponderance of general combining ability effects was found for most efficiency components, suggesting that the characters are mainly controlled by additive gene action. Non-additive effects appeared to be less or non-significant. Under reduced fertilization, hybrid progenies of the Syrian cv. M.Dingo/D.Alla 106 and the Moroccan cv. Moroc 9-75 exhibit an enhanced yielding and the highest capacity to utilize N and P efficiently in grain mass formation. The results proved that the exotic barleys appear to be particularly useful for breeding programs aiming at improved barley adaptation to less favourable fertilization regimes.

Integration of the barley genetic and seed proteome maps for chromosome 1H, 2H, 3H, 5H and 7H

Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis was used to screen spring barley cultivars for differences in seed protein profiles. In parallel, 72 microsatellite (simple sequence repeat (SSR)) markers and 11 malting quality parameters were analysed for each cultivar. Over 60 protein spots displayed cultivar variation, including peroxidases, serpins and proteins with unknown functions. Cultivars were clustered based on the spot variation matrix. Cultivars with superior malting quality grouped together, indicating malting quality to be more closely correlated with seed proteomes than with SSR profiles. Mass spectrometry showed that some spot variations were caused by amino acid differences encoded by single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Coding SNPs were validated by mass spectrometry, expressed sequence tag and 2D gel data. Coding SNPs can alter function of affected proteins and may thus represent a link between cultivar traits, proteome and genome. Proteome analysis of doubled haploid lines derived from a cross between a malting (Scarlett) and a feed cultivar (Meltan) enabled genetic localisation of protein phenotypes represented by 48 spot variations, involving e.g. peroxidases, serpins, alpha-amylase/trypsin inhibitors, peroxiredoxin and a small heat shock protein, in relation to markers on the chromosome map.

Image analysis and quality attributes of malting barley grain dried with infrared radiation and in a spouted bed

SummaryThe impact of drying two spring barley cultivars (Mauritia and Prestige) in a spouted‐bed and in infrared radiation (IR) dryers on grain dimensions, colour, pigment content, vitality and malt quality was investigated. The results indicate that the investigated drying methods led to kernel dimension changes. Kernel shrinkage was typical of spouted bed drying, while kernel expansion was observed after IR drying at the intensity of 900 W m−2. An increase in the intensity of yellowness (b*) on the surface of dried grain and a decrease in the yellowness intensity of kernel cross‐section were also observed. The aforementioned changes were associated with the decomposition of carotenoids (endosperm colour) and reduction of soluble proanthocyanidin and total phenolic compounds (surface colour). The drying processes also lowered germination energy and capacity, in addition to susceptibility to moisture diffusion into the endosperm. These adverse results were cultivar dependent and affected the quality of malt and wort only to a limited extent. The main changes were an increase in the Kolbach index in malt from Mauritia cv., and a fluctuation of the diastatic power of malt that did not exceed ±3%. Generally, drying of barley grain in spouted bed should be conducted at an inlet air temperature of 40 °C and using an IR drier at a radiation intensity of 600 W m−2.

Association of haplotype diversity in the α-amylase gene amy1 with malting quality parameters in barley

Amylases play an essential role in the germination and malting process. Therefore, these genes are interesting candidates for marker development in order to improve malting quality as an important breeding aim. The intervarietal diversity of the α-amylase gene amy1 mapping to chromosome 6H was investigated. A total of six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected which defined four haplotypes. Associations between SNP-markers and important malting parameters were discovered in a collection of 117 European spring and winter barley cultivars, representing the current commercial germplasm. Haplotype amy1_H2 was significantly associated with a number of malting related traits and explained 19% of the phenotypic variation of the malting quality index (MQI) for all varieties and 35% in a subset of 72 winter barleys. The diagnostic SNP3 was associated with a 45% difference in the MQI. Within the spring barleys, the average value of haplotype amy1_H1 for friability was significantly higher than that of amy1_H4. All discovered SNPs were converted into high-throughput markers for pyrosequencing and can be used for marker assisted selection.

Selection proposal of cultivars of spring barley in the years from 2001 to 2004, using Joint Regression Analysis

AbstractJoint Regression Analysis is a widely used technique in the analysis of series of experiments for cultivar comparison. We show how this technique may be used in the selection of recommended cultivars. We apply this technique to a series of experiments on spring barley cultivars carried out from 2001 to 2004. The data in these designs were kindly made available by the Central Institute for Supervising and Testing in Agriculture in Brno, Czech Republic.

Relationship of Ethanol Yield to Agronomic and Seed Quality Characteristics of Small Grains

ABSTRACTProduction of fuel ethanol hinges on the availability of carbohydrate sources, with corn being the crop of choice in most areas. However, in some climatic regions, it is not feasible to grow adequate volumes of corn so other starch sources must be utilized. Here we examined various small grain crops commonly grown in the Northern Great Plains for suitability for ethanol production. Four cultivars each of the hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) classes hard red spring (HRS), hard white spring (HWS), soft white spring (SWS), along with durum wheat (Triticum durum L.), and four spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars were grown in replicated plots in two environments in 2006. Agronomic and seed quality traits, along with starch content and ethanol yield over a period of 72 hr were measured on all cultivars. Agronomic yield was highest for the barley cultivars and lowest for HRS and HWS. Seed size was greatest for the durum and barley cultivars. The SWS group had the lowest protein content and the highest starch content. Starch content was highly correlated with final ethanol yield and the SWS group was highest in absolute ethanol yield. However, ethanol yield per hectare was highest for barley, with SWS ranking second, while the HRS and HWS groups had the lowest ethanol yields per hectare. The results indicate that selection for small grain ethanol yield should focus primarily upon agronomic yield at the expense of protein content. Traditional selection for high HRS and HWS milling and baking quality is not consistent with maximal ethanol yield per hectare.

Reduction of drought stress effect in spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) by nitrogen fertilization

An effect of nitrogen rates (0.0 g, 1.0 g, 2.0 g N per pot) on NRA (nitrate reductase activity) in leaves of spring barley (cultivar Kompakt) was investigated in a pot experiment. Plants were grown under optimum moisture regime and drought stress was induced during the growth stages of tillering, shooting and earing. Before and after respective stress period plants were grown under optimal water regime. In all the fertilized and unfertilized treatments, NRA was significantly higher under optimal water regime than in drought stress conditions. Nitrogen fertilization alleviated adverse effects of drought stress on the yields of grain; the rate of 1 g N per pot increased the grain yield of plants stressed during tillering 3.73 times compared to unfertilized and stressed treatment. When the stress was induced during shooting or earing grain yields declined by over 50% compared to optimal water regime; when compared with stressed and unfertilized treatment, the rate of 1 g N however increased yield by 29% (stress at shooting) and 55% (stress at earing). NRA values were significantly higher when plants were grown under optimum water regime than under stress conditions as well as when fertilized with nitrogen compared to unfertilized control both under optimum water regime and drought stress.

Genealogical analysis of the diversity of spring barley cultivars released in former Czechoslovakia and modern Czech Republic

Genealogical analysis was employed in studying the time course of changes in genetic diversity of spring barley cultivars released in former Czechoslovakia and the modem Czech Republic. Cultivars from different regions proved to significantly differ in the distribution of dominant ancestor contributions, suggesting a specificity of original ancestors to different cultivation conditions. A comparison of cultivar groups differing in end use showed that the genetic diversity of malting cultivars was significantly lower than that of feed cultivars, although modern malting and feed cultivars of Czechia and Slovakia have virtually the same genetic basis. Temporal analysis showed that diversity tended to increase through decades. While new original ancestors were introduced in pedigrees, especially in the past 30 years, the number of local landraces and old cultivars gradually decreased. The losses accounted for about two-thirds of the local germplasm. Thus, a substantial increase in genetic diversity was accompanied by genetic erosion of the local spring barley gene pool of former Czechoslovakia. A cluster structure was observed for the set of spring barley cultivars released in the postwar period. The coefficient of parentage averaged overall possible pairs of cultivars introduced in the Czech National List was estimated at 0.11. It was concluded that the genetic diversity of modern spring barley cultivars in the Czech Republic is at an acceptable level.

Effects of Genotype and Picloram Concentrations on Callus Induction and Plant Regeneration from Immature Inflorescence of Spring Barley Cultivars (Hordeum Vulgare L.)

ABSTRACTThe effects of different picloram (4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid) concentrations (2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 mg. l−ι) in the LS (Linsmaier and Skoog, 8) medium of immature inflorescences taken from four barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars were investigated.The result of the study showed that callus induction rate, shoot induction rate, callus weight and plant regeneration from the immature inflorescence were significantly affected by the genotypes. There was a significant interaction between genotype and picloram concentrations. Depending on the genotypes, mean callus induction rate, mean shoot induction, mean callus weight (mg/petri dishes) and number of regenerates (per inflorescence segment) varied from 0.0–39.1%, 12.5–29.7%, 0.0–150.3 mg and 0.2–1.5 respectively.Mean callus and mean shoot induction rates, mean callus weight and mean regeneration rate were also significantly influenced by the picloram concentrations. The segments cultured on the LS medium containing 7.5 mg. l−ι of picloram gave the highest values of callus induction rate (31.3 %), shoot induction rate (40.6%) and plant regeneration (1.2 regenerates per segment). In this study, only albino plantlets were obtained.