Golshan, new salt tolerant barley variety suitable for cultivation in the temperate regions of Iran

Salinity stress is one of the major problems for crop production. Barley is one of the best salt tolerant plants and is widely cultivated in the saline soils, but all stages of its growth as well as its grain yield are affected by salt stress. Golshan  was resulted from the cross between Nik cultivar as female parent and an Iranian landrace with 1-BC-80320 collection code, as male parent. Crossing and selection processes of this variety were carried out in experimental farm of Seed and Plant Improvement Institute (SPII), Karaj, Iran. Yield trials were performed under salinity stress in Yazd, Isfahan and Birjand research stations (EC of soil and water: 10-14 dsm-1). The result showed that Golshan with grain yield of 4392 kgha-1 had 17% higher yield performance compared to check cultivar Khatam with grain yield of 3752 kgha-1. Evaluation of salt tolerance related traits such as chlorophyll content, plant height, number of yellow leaves, root length, root weight, shoots to root ratio, biomass and potassium to sodium ratio under hydroponic controlled condition showed that Golshan had high tolerance to salinity stress. This new variety has spring growth habit and its average plant height under salinity condition was 65 cm. Golshan has semi-susceptible to susceptible reaction to the barley leaf diseases. Golshan has six-rowed spike with average of 12.3% protein content and is recommended for cultivation in the saline areas in the temperate regions of the country.