Effect of salinity on organic solutes contents in barley.

Salinity (NaCl stress) was applied with 50, 100, 200, 300 and 400 mM NaCl. The shoot and root water content and organic solutes contents of two barley varieties (Hordeum vulgare L. var. Afzal and var. EMB82-12) were determined in various concentrations of NaCl. Soluble sugar and proline contents were increased in two barley varieties in response to increased salt concentration, but this increase in Afzal var. were higher than EMB82-12. Soluble protein content was decreased in two barley varieties in response to different salt regimes and this decrease in Afzal var. was lower than EMB82-12 var. RWC decreased with increasing NaCl concentrations. Decrease of water content in EMB82-12 plants was higher than Afzal plants.