Spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivation mainly is for food, technical, and fodder crop. Drought is the major limiting factor in gross grain harvest, and the development of drought-resistant cultivars is the primary solution. The presented research aimed to assess the barley genotypes for abiotic stress caused by lack of moisture under laboratory and field conditions. The 100 genotypes of spring barley, belonging to various ecological groups, incurred evaluation under both conditions. In the laboratory setup, the drought resistance assessment of barley seedlings was in an osmotic solution of polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG-6000). Six drought resistance indices related to germination and growth rates received calculations. In the field experiment, probing drought resistance ensued through the obtained grain yield. It is necessary to add indicators for measuring the drought resistance indices of seedlings and correlation (%). The barley genotypes with various parameters showed significantly (P ≤ 0.05) varied response under the influence of moisture stress conditions. The Eastern European barley group with osmotic solution had a significantly higher root length than the control treatment. The correlation analysis proceeded between the drought resistance of barley seedlings in situ and their yield reduction intensity under field conditions. The positive and direct relationship was notable between the drought resistance indices and yield reduction in barley genotypes. The results showed the correspondence between the diagnosis of drought resistance of spring barley cultivars under laboratory and field conditions.
Spring barley (H. vulgare L.), abiotic stress, drought resistance, polyethylene glycol 6000, drought resistance indices, grain yield
The study comprised evaluation of spring barley (H. vulgare L.) genotypes for drought resistance under field and laboratory conditions. A positive correlation emerged between the crop drought tolerance index and root mass drought tolerance index.