Genetic studies of salinity tolerance in barley in field conditions

Adapted from the project website

Problem Overview

Soil salinity has a considerable negative effect on agriculture worldwide, including the GCC. Salinity has already affected over 20% of the area of irrigated lands, and this is increasing. Barley (Hordeum vulgare ssp. vulgare) is the most salt-tolerant cereal crop and development of salinity-tolerant barley lines will help to cope with this problem.

Project Description

The project will study the agronomic and morphological characteristics of 1,847 barley lines under normal and saline conditions. The barley lines will be compared in saline and non-saline environments. In particular, the following will be done:

• Mapping salinity tolerance, as measured by yield under saline conditions:
  • Mapping traits that can only be measured in field conditions and which are hypothesized to contribute to salinity tolerance in field conditions
  • Correlating salinity tolerance in the field with a range of traits that are hypothesized to contribute to the maintenance of yield under saline conditions

Duration

November 2013 - December 2017