The effects of soil moisture stress on the growth of barley. IV. The response to presowing treatment

Abstract

The claim that a presowing treatment, consisting of two cycles of wetting and drying, reduces the susceptibility of barley to the effects of water stress during growth (Genkel 1946) was investigated. Barley grain of two varieties was treated by the techniques recommended by Genkel and was then subjected to water stress treatments of short or long duration. Apart from a 15% increase in grain size on plants subjected to water stress late in development, no persistent effects of the treatment were found, and no evidence to support Genkel's claims of increased yield under water stress conditions. Possible reasons for the evident difference between these data and those of Genkel are discussed.