A study on the differential response of malting barley genotypes to boron toxicity

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out to study the differential response of eight malting barley genotypes to boron toxicity in Aydın, Turkey. Genotypes were grown with and without the application of 40 kg B ha-1. Total dry matter yield, grain yield and boron concentration of roots, stems, leaves and ears were determined. Boron application resulted in toxicity symptoms at the flag leaves and reduced total dry matter and grain yield as 12.2% and 30.5%. Line 7 gave both the lowest yield reduction and toxicity reading score. In soils both with and without added boron, boron concentrations from the lowest to the highest were determined as ear, stem root and leaf, respectively. When boron was added to the soils, boron concentration of root, stem and leaf were found to be different from each. Applying excess amount of B to the soil resulted in dramatic increases in B concentration of plant parts, demonstrating that cultivars have different abilities to accumulate B if the supply in the soil is too high. In general, line 7 was found as the most tolerant to B toxicity. Another conclusion drown leaf symptom scoring for B tolerance was more reliable than measuring plant boron concentrations.