Genetic Diversity in the Batini Barley Landrace from Oman

Abstract

Understanding the diversity for salt tolerance in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) landraces will facilitate their use in genetic improvement. Our objectives were to screen a collection of 2308 accessions in seven subpopulations of the Omani Batini barley landrace under salinity stress, quantify genetic variation in germination and early seedling growth attributes, establish the forage yield‐salinity response functions for 10 families within each subpopulation, and select genotypes with high yield potential under salinity. Subpopulations displayed high levels of genetic diversity and differed significantly for seed germination and seedling growth attributes at 0.0 and 20.0 dS m−1, and at tillering stage for forage yield at 0.85, 10.0, and 20.0 dS m−1 A multivariate‐based selection criterion for high forage yield at tillering stage under salinity stress, based on simultaneous selection for low temporal variation in germination and high shoot dry weight under 20.0 dS m−1, identified highly salt tolerant accessions. Twenty‐five out of 70 families representing seven subpopulations were classified as salt tolerant on the basis of their salinity susceptibility indices at 20.0 dS m−1 Accessions with short rachilla or with high root number and root length under salinity stress ranked highest in salt tolerance. Forage yield at 10.0 and 20.0 dS m−1 can be predicted with high (R2 = 0.67, P < 0.0001) and moderate (R2 = 0.23, P < 0.01) accuracy by forage yield under 0.85 dS m−1 On average, forage yield was reduced by 2.4 and 7.9% per dS m−1 at 10.0 and 20.0 dS m−1, respectively. Although genetically not improved, the landrace, in general, and subpopulation Batini 4, in particular, contain diversity that remains to be exploited.

Genotypic differences in root and shoot growth of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) grown under different salinity levels

“…Indeed, barley is generally more salt‐tolerant than durum wheat ( Triticum turgidum ssp. durum ) and this is thought to be due to a more vigorous root growth (Jaradat et al 2004). Accordingly, most work on improving salt tolerance has focused on increasing root growth (Sayar et al 2007), although no commercial varieties based on this approach have been released (Flowers 2004; Munns et al 2006).…”

Salt tolerance in barley originating from harsh environment of North Africa

“…Assuming that genotypes living within unfavorable conditions are subject to selection based on genotypeenvironment interactions (Ceccarelli et al, 1996;Munns et al, 2002), we suspect that highly tolerant barley genotypes should appear in accessions originating from harsh environments, including salt-affected areas. Multivariate analyses were used to distinguish salt-tolerant genotypes in barley (Jaradat et al, 2004), wheat (El Hendawy et al, 2005;Ahmad et al, 2013;Sardouie-Nasab et al, 2014), and rice (Zeng et al, 2002). Cluster-and PCA-based analyses on STI were used to group salt-tolerant genotypes.…”

“…Success has already been achieved using multivariate analysis based on agro-morphological parameters intended for ranking genotypes for salt tolerance (Shannon, 1997;Zeng et al, 2002). Cluster and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) have been used in barley as a powerful tool for population grouping and screening of huge number of accessions in terms of salt (Jaradat et al, 2004) or drought tolerance (Eivazi et al, 2013). Such approaches were investigated on barley (Jaradat et al, 2004;Afuape et al, 2011), but to date no works report the use of Salt Tolerance Index (STI) of multiple morphological parameters to evaluate barley at reproductive stage against salt stress.…”

“…Cluster and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) have been used in barley as a powerful tool for population grouping and screening of huge number of accessions in terms of salt (Jaradat et al, 2004) or drought tolerance (Eivazi et al, 2013). Such approaches were investigated on barley (Jaradat et al, 2004;Afuape et al, 2011), but to date no works report the use of Salt Tolerance Index (STI) of multiple morphological parameters to evaluate barley at reproductive stage against salt stress. There are only a few reports of the application of biotic approaches to increase salt tolerance in barley (Shahbaz and Ashraf, 2013).…”

Genetic Divergence, Implication of Diversity, and Conservation of Silkworm,Bombyx mori

“…It results from the many genetic differences between individuals and may be manifest in differences in DNA sequence, in biochemical characteristics (e.g., in protein structure or isoenzyme properties), in physiological properties (e.g., abiotic stress 2 International Journal of Biodiversity resistance or growth rate), or in morphological characters [5]. Genetic diversity has been conventionally estimated on the basis of different biometrical techniques (Metroglyph, 2 divergence analysis, and principal component analysis) such as phenotypic diversity index ( ), or coefficient of parentage utilizing morphological, economical, and biochemical data [6][7][8][9].…”