Physiological Response of Winter Barley to Salt Stress at Seedling Stage

Some physiological characteristics and cultivar differences of winter barley to salt stress were studied during seedling stage. Salt stress was caused by adding NaCl solution to the pot culture soil. Measurements of the responses to salt stress and of the responses after relief from stress were done in terms of leaf water potential, chlorophyll and free proline contents, seedling height and seedling dry weight, and survival rate of leaves. Under salt stress ( =-20bar) seedling height and seedling weight were decreased by 2~22% and by 25~39% respectively, showing some differences among cultivars. Chlorophyll contents was decreased by 33~49%, and free proline content was remarkably increased from control 0.2~0.3mg to salt stress 9.6~14.7mg. The leaf water potential of seedling grown under salt stress with NaCl solution( =-10 or -20bar) was decreased from control -3.3bar to salt stress -9.0bar or -16.2bar respectively but there were no large differences among cultivars with time after relief from salt stress. Leaf survival rate was high in order of Baegdong, Milyang12, Olbori, Durubori and Hyangmaeg, and decrease rate of seedling dry weight was low in the order of Baegdong, Olbori, Hyangmaeg, Milyang12, Durubori. The increase in free proline contents was high in the order of Milyang12, Hyangmaeg, Baegdong, Durubori and Olbori.