Effect of water stress and ascorbic acid on yield components of Egyptian Barley cultivars

Water is one of the most important environmental factors that regulate plant growth and development. In order to study the interaction between water stresses with ascorbic acid on some yield components of some Egyptian barley cultivars experiment was investigated. The main treatments were three levels of water stress (75%, 60% and 40% of water holding capacity (WHC), sub main were two levels of ascorbic acid (zero and 10 ppm) under open field conditions. Significant decrease in grain yield parameters of barley cultivars observed with water stress whether with 60% or 40% of water holding capacity as compared to control (75% of WHC). Application of 10 ppm ascorbic acid improved yield parameter to some extent under water stress condition. Barley cultivars (Giza 125, Giza 126, Giza 128, Giza 129, Giza 133 and Giza 135) severely affected by increasing water stress. Barley Giza 123, Giza 124, Giza 131, Giza 132 and Giza 2000 showed slight decrease in grain yield with increasing water stress up to 40% of WHC. Grain yield of barley cultivars (Giza 125, Giza 131, Giza 132, Giza 135 and Giza 2000) improved due to spraying ascorbic acid. Results clouded that foliar spray of ascorbic acid improved barley production which will have benefits for human nutrition and possibly enhance their tolerance to drought stress.