Use of a water stress index to identify barley genotypes adapted to rainfed and irrigated conditions

THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION OF EUROPE is particularly sensitive to want of rain and potentially very vulnerable to subsequent time climate changes. Even if rainfall does not change, increased risks for dryness will result from an increased atmospheric evaporative demand in a warmer time to come climate. As a consequence, soils will dried out faster and prolonged summer drouths might become more frequent (Bolle 2003)

Breeding for drouth resistance is therefore required for one as well as the other mild and severe stress conditions. This implies a ne for a better characterization of the biodiversity available for dryness and a deeper comprehension of the physiological mechanisms, which are crucial to assure