The relationship between root and leaf infection in 11 cultivars of barley (Hordeum vulgare) by different isolates of Bipolaris sorokiniana was investigated in young plants. Roots of 10‐day‐old seedlings, grown in filterpaper rolls, and the third leaf of 17‐day‐old seedlings were inoculated with the different isolates and a Disease Development Index (DDI) was calculated. The rate of lesion development in leaves was higher than in roots, indicated by generally higher DDI after leaf inoculation than after root inoculation. Significant differences in resistance were found among the barley cultivars. Inoculation with different isolates of B. sorokiniana caused significant differences in DDI for both roots and leaves. In the leaves, but not in the roots, a significant cultivar–isolate interaction was found. No significant correlations, neither in isolate aggressiveness nor in cultivar reaction between root and leaf, were observed.