Improvement of salinity tolerance of barley by heterosis exploitation

In order to improve the salinity tolerance of barley through hybridization, two spring barley cultivars namely Reyhan (susceptible) and Afzal (tolerant) and their F1 hybrid were planted at three salinity levels (0, 10 and 20 dsm-1) in greenhouse under a Factorial experiment with randomized complete block design with three replications. Proline content, quantitative activity of proxidase and catalase enzymes, sodium, potassium and sodium to potassium ratio and vice versa were measured for all of the treatments. Heterobeltiosis (superior parent heterosis) was observed for sodium content, potassium content and potassium to sodium ratio, and for catalase enzyme there was an average of parents-based heterosis. For sodium to potassium ratio, proline and proxidase no heterosis was detected. Ultimately, the third salinity level was the most desirable level for heterosis status assessment of hybrid plants derived from the crossing between the susceptible and resistant cultivars. Given the observed heterosis, it is expected that the improvement of plants for salinity tolerance is possible through targeted crosses.