Effect of salinity stress on some morphophysiological and biochemical traits of two barley cultivars

Considering the increasing trend of salinity development and the lack of suitable arable lands for agriculture in the world, the use of saline resistant species that reduce the effects of salinity stress in plants is very important. The aim of the present study was, investigation and comparison of morphophysiological and biochemical traits in leaf tissue of two barley cultivars (Aklyl and Zahak) under Salinity stress (0 (control), 150 and 300 mm NaCl). This experiment was performed as a factorial in a completely randomized design with three replications, conducted at the Institute for Biotechnological Research in the University of Zabol in 2021. According to the results of interactions, it was found that salinity stress in both barley cultivars reduced morphophysiological traits such as fresh weight (68%) and dry weight (69%), height (43%), Chlorophyll a (74%), b (78%), total (76%), relative water content of leaves (35%), protein (49%) but increased in soluble carbohydrates (58%), proline (8%), carotenoids (62%) and the activity of antioxidant enzymes catalase (73%), polyphenol oxidase (24%) and ascorbate peroxidase (78%) compared with the control treatment. In normal conditions and salt stress (300 mM), Aklyl cultivar compared to Zahak cultivar had the highest amount of chlorophyll a, b, total and carotenoids, relative content of leaf water, carbohydrates, proline and catalase, while the highest amount of protein and activity of antioxidant enzymes of ascorbate, polyphenol oxidase was related to Zahak cultivar at salinity of 300 mM. As a result, based on the results of the present study, it can be stated that Aklyl cultivar was less affected by salinity stress and had a better reaction than Zahak cultivar.