Assessment of Barley Genotypes for Salinity Tolerance based on Various Indices under Field Condition

Abstract

The subject of the current study was to assess the stress indices with the aim to identify the salt tolerant genotypes, in addition to recognize the selection criterion for salinity tolerance. A set of fourteen barley genotypes were screened under two environments as non-stress (Normal) and stress (Salinity) conditions. The experimental material was evaluated in Randomized Block Design during 2021-22 at Research Area of Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar. The genotypes namely RD 2794, BH 19-49, BH 946 and BH 19-52 were identified salt tolerant based on average rank of SSI of different traits. Further, results based on overall rank of stress indices employed on grain yield, BH 19-13, BH 20-40, BH 393, BH 19-15, BH 20-02 and BH 946 were found most promising exhibiting tolerant to salinity. Correlation analysis discerned significant negative association of grain yield (Ys) with SSI, TOL, SSPI, RSI and RED and significant positive correlation with the indices viz., STI, YI, YSI, MP, GMP, HM and MRP. These indices, therefore, could be considered as the best selection criteria for salinity breeding. PCA indicated first principal component (PC 1) as salt tolerant component based on strong correlation with grain yield (Ys) and STI, YI, YSI, MP, GMP, HM, MRP indices under stress condition. The genotypes of cluster I portrayed better performance under salinity for grain yield (Ys) and SSI, TOL, SSPI, RSI, RED, YI, YSI, and MRP. The genotypes from this cluster could be utilized for salinity tolerance as elite breeding material.