Gamma irradiation of barley seeds and its effect on ionic contents in plants differing in salt tolerance

In a field experiment, seeds of two barley varieties Arabi Abiad (AA) and Pakistani PK 30163 (PK) were irradiated with a 15Gy dose of gamma irradiation, and sown on a saline soil (16.4-18.7 dS/m(-1)) and irrigated with a saline water (78 dS m(-1)). At physiological maturity stage, gamma irradiation increased shoots dry weight of AA variety. Dose of 15-Gy had a negative effect on K+ and Na+ contents in plants of the PK variety; however, Mg++ and K+ contents of AA variety were increased. Gamma irradiation decreased the Sigma cations and the Sigma cations-Na+ in plants of the PK variety, and increased the Sigma cations - Na+ of the AA variety. Moreover, it has positively affected both Ca++/Na+ ratio of PK variety and K+/Na+ ratio of AA variety. Ratio of Na+/Cl- of both varieties was smaller than one.