Isolates of Cochliobolus sativus, the cause of common root rot of barley, were collected from different regions of Syria, and exposed in the laboratory to ultraviolet‐C (UV‐C) light (254 nm) during periods of 40 or 60 h with a dose rate of 2.52 × 10–3 W/cm2. Significant increases (P < 0.001) in mycelial growth and sporulation were detected in comparison with the non‐ irradiated control, and these increased with increasing exposure to UV‐C. This exposure increased the mycelial growth by 89 and 100% in the isolates CR9 and CR19, respectively, and the number of spores by 10‐ and 13‐fold, respectively. Some of the isolates retained and some increased in virulence. These data demonstrate that variation occurred in the virulence level and the resistance level of isolates and among accessions, respectively.