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Comparative Response of Cultivated and Wild Barley Species to Salinity Stress and Calcium Supply

Dep. of Crop Science and Plant Ecology, Univ. of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 0W0, Canada

^* Corresponding author.

Foxtail barley (Hordeum jubatum L.), a wild species that can inhabit highly saline environments, may have more potent salt-tolerance genes than commercial barley (H. vulgare L.). The objective of this study was to compare the growth and ion relations of the commercial cultivar Harrington with foxtail barley under saline conditions, to determine whether a differential response to salinity stress exists between these species. Seedling performance was evaluated as a function of increasing concentrations of Na₂SO₄, MgSO₄, and CaCl₂ (within the electrolyte conductivity range of 0.26 to 1.38 S m^–1) and the Ca mole fraction (Ca_mf) of salt treatments in solution culture experiments. The Ca_mf of the salt treatments, defined as the molar ratio of Ca/(Ca + Na + Mg), was maintained at 0.02 or 0.09. Salt treatments at a Ca_mfr of 0.02 significantly reduced leaf area, shoot growth, root growth, and the root-to-shoot ratio (R/S) of Harrington seedlings relative to foxtail barley. Growth of Harrington seedlings improved substantially when the Ca_mf was increased from 0.02 to 0.09. The two genotypes differed significantly in root weight and R/S under saline conditions; these differences were independent of the Ca_mf. Evaluation of root and shoot tissue ion contents revealed that H. jubatum seedlings accumulated less Na from the medium than Harrington and preferentially compartmentalized Na in root rather than shoot tissue. The wild species maintained higher levels of Ca, had more favorable K/Na ratios, and maintained higher R/S levels of SO₄ than Harrington. Differences between H. jubatum and Harrington in root and shoot ion accumulation suggest that membrane permeability and selectivity properties are controlled by both genotype and Ca supply.

Received for publication November 6, 1990.

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