RESPONSES OF GROWTH, MORPHOLOGY, AND ANATOMY TO SALINITY AND CALCIUM SUPPLY IN CULTIVATED AND WILD BARLEY

Growth, morphology, and anatomy were examined in cultivated barley (Ho rdeum vulgare L. cv. Harrington), and wild barley (Hordeum jubatum L.) collected from a wild population located in Saskatoon, Sask. Plants w ere grown in nutrient solution plus mixed sulphate salts with low or h igh calcium supply and in nutrient solution alone (control), using a h ydroponic system in a growth chamber. Salt stress had greater deleteri ous effects on growth, morphology, and anatomy of 'Harrington' than wi ld barley. Additional Ca supply markedly improved these parameters in 'Harrington' but not in wild barley, suggesting a greater responsivene ss to Ca in the cultivated species. The wild barley population had gre ater leaf and tiller numbers per plant but smaller leaf area and dry m ass than 'Harrington' in control solution. After 20 days of salt treat ment, 'Harrington' showed a greater reduction in tiller and leaf numbe r, shoot height and root length, and tissue dry mass than wild barley. Calcium-deficiency symptoms were found in 'Harrington' leaves in the low Ca salt treatment but not in wild barley. On the other hand, shoot height and dry mass growth were significantly increased in 'Harringto n' by high Ca salt treatment, suggesting that 'Harrington' was more re sponsive to supplemental Ca than wild barley. Salt stress induced thic ker roots with larger vessels in 'Harrington' but not in the wild barl ey population.