Determination of Early Seedling Stage Salt Tolerance in Some Barley Cultivars Grown in Turkey

In this research, twelve cultivars of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) subjected to different NaCl concentrations (0, 100, 150 and 200 mM NaCl) were classified according to their salt tolerance at early seedling stage. To evaluate responses in salt tolerance of barley cultivars, the salt tolerance index (%), which is a function of root and shoot dry weights, was evaluated as a criterion. As a result, the most salt-tolerant barley cultivar, Avcı-2002, and the most saltsusceptible barley cultivar, Tokak 157/37, were selected. In order to evaluate whether Na^+/K^+ ratio could be used as an effective criterion for salt tolerance in barley cultivars, Avcı-2002 and Tokak 157/37 were subjected to control or increased concentrations of NaCl (100, 200 and 300 mM) for 6 days. Both barley cultivars accumulated more Na^+ and K^+ in their shoots than roots. The contents of Na^+ in the root and shoot of both cultivars increased significantly with increasing concentrations of NaCl, whereas the contents of K^+ decreased (P 0.05). In this sense, the increment in Na^+/K^+ ratio was found generally higher in Tokak 157/37 barley cultivar than Avcı-2002 barley cultivar (P 0.05). In conclusion, dry biomass and Na^+/K^+ ratio can be used as reliable index of salt tolerance of a genotype.