Evaluation of grain yield stability and two-steps screening for drought stress tolerance in barley genotypes

Twenty advanced barley lines, and two checks (Sararood-1, and local variety) were evaluated under three moisture regimes, i.e. rainfed, one irrigation at sowing, and two irrigations at sowing and flowering time. Three experiments were performed in randomized complete block design with four replications, for three years (2002-2005), at Sararood field station, Kermanshah, Iran. The barley genotypes were evaluated for drought stress tolerance by measuring different stress susceptibility/tolerance indices, using yield performances under rainfed and two irrigations conditions. Screening of tolerant genotypes for drought tolerance was carried out in two steps, first by selecting genotypes with highest sum for ranks of stress tolerance indices, and then eliminating ofthose with higher stress susceptibility indices. Grain yield stability analysis was also performed using Eberhart and Russel’s method. Considering grain yield under stress and non stress conditions, grain yield stability parameters, and values of stress tolerance/susceptibility indices, genotypes 11, 2, 9, 12, 13 along with the checksshowed outstanding performances that could be used in barley breeding programs as well as furher tested in onfarm trials.