Genetic Diversity Analysis of Some Barley Genotypes for Salt Tolerance Using SSR Markers

The aim of the present work was to evaluate the performance of 20 barley genotypes and find out the genetic diversity of these genotypes for salt tolerance using simple sequence repeats during two consecutive seasons; 2009-2010 and 2010-2011. Twenty barley genotypes differed in their tolerance potentiality against salinity were planted in two screening field experiments at two locations; Sakha, North Egypt and El-Serw to detect their tolerance to salt stress. All the salt tolerant genotypes and some moderately salt tolerant genotypes were found in two closely related clusters, while all the sensitive genotypes and moderate ones were closely related in the other two clusters. It was concluded that those barley genotypes which showed salt tolerance could serve as potentially novel germplasm that could be exploited for the development of new breeding lines with high level of salinity tolerance and to accelerate genetic advancement in barley and better cost efficient compared to conventional and tedious screening procedures under saline field conditions.