Variaţii fenotipice la orzul de toamnă (M0) prin iradierea cu raze X şi stres hidric la stadiul de germinare [Articol]

Abstract

This study investigated the phenotypic variations in three winter barley varieties (Igri, Ciuluc, Strălucitor) and two hybrid lines (Ciuluc x Igri - 5As, Strălucitor x Igri - 9B). Seeds were subjected to various X-ray doses (200 Gy, 250 Gy) and 10% polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000) for drought stress, applied individually or in combination. During early development, im- portant indicators such as germination rate and plant viability were assessed, revealing a great impact of both X-rays and drought stress. Combined treatments often caused a more pronounced reduction, particularly in the Ciuluc x Igri hybrid. Notably, X-ray irradiation alone or combined with drought stress induced diverse phenotypic deviations across all genotypes. The spectrum of these deviations varied depending on the genotype and treatment. The combined application of X-rays and drought stress at the germination stage proved an effective strategy for inducing broad phenotypic variability in M0 barley, confirming the mutagenic potential of the applied treatments. These findings offer promising prospects for selecting new drought-tolerant forms in subsequent generations.