Screening of Tolerant Genotypes of Spring Barley for Terminal Drought Stress Based on Grain Yield and Yield Components

The pot experiment with spring barley was carried on in 2011 and 2013-2014 years. The total number of 263 genotypes was tested against short-term drought stresses introduced at the tillering stage for 11 days or at full flag leaf stage for 14 days. At the control treatment, plants were grown at the optimal soil moisture level of 13-15% weight by weight for the whole vegetation period and in the stress treatments, the moisture was maintained at the level of 5-6% weight by weight. Spring barley showed a higher tolerance to the drought stress at tillering stage than at flag leaf stage. Barley genotypes differed in their response to terminal drought stresses due to diverse ability for regenerating after the stress removal. The resistance and tolerance of the genotypes to the drought stress imposed at tillering stage resulted from their ability to produce additional fertile tillers and to the stress at flag leaf stage by compensation of the reduced grain number per spike through increasing the weight of 1000 grains. The grain yield of tolerant genotypes named as MCAM: 85, 86, 102, 128 and 129 was stable independent on water supply and the most suitable for breeders in Poland.