Abstract: | Barley varieties are known to differ in the extent of Na+ andCl accumulation in leaves when grown in saline soil orhydroponic culture. In particular, the cv. Chevron accumulatesmore Na+ than the more salt-tolerant cv. CM67, and has lowerleaf K+ concentrations. When salt was applied as a spray tothe leaves, CM67 accumulated more Na+ than Chevron, and theselection Sinis 27 (from a landrace collected on the Sinis Peninsulaof Sardinia) accumulated more Na+ than Sinis 28. In some casesleaf K+ concentrations decreased in response to high concentrationsof salt sprayed on to the leaves. Accumulation of Na+ was greaterin the 4th leaf than in the flag leaf. Added CaCI2 had oppositeeffects when added to the salt applied to the soil or to thesaline spray. In the soil, CaCI2 reduced Na+ uptake; appliedto the leaf it increased Na+ uptake. Pre-wetting the leavesbefore the salt spray, or washing the leaves with non-salinewater 1 h after the salt spray, reduced the uptake of Na+ andCl. It is clear that tolerance to salt applied as saltspray or in the soil are different characteristics. Key words: Barley, salt, foliar uptake, calcium |