Four experiments were carried out at Ras Sudr Agricultural Research Station
of Desert Research Center during the two successive seasons of1998/1999 and
1999/2000 to estimate the heritability values for yield and yield attributes for the four
exotic barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) genotypes i.e. 1) ICD-84-0838-IAP-OTR, 2) CD
29706-E-Sy-3M-IY-IB-OAP, 3) L93-6AP-IAP-IAP-OAP and 4) APM-Hc-ISIS-
41/Rabour/3 Arar. In addition, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis
was used for the assessment the genetic diversity and genetic similarity between the
studied barley genotypes. Heritability estimations under the two saline water irrigation
and salinity levels were generally high for all studied traits [No. of spikes 1 plant, No.
of grainsl spike, 1000-grain weight, grain yield 1 plant and harvest index (%) 1 which
ranged from 40% for No. of grains 1 spike to e4% for No. of spikes 1 plant at low
irrigation water salinity level. Six random 10-mer primers were used to amplify DNA
via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and 75 RAPDs were generated the six detected
polymorphism in all four barley genotypes. Out of the total amplified bands, 72% of
which were polymorphic. Cluster analysis by the unweighted pair group method of
arithmetic means (UPGMA) showed that the genotypes; 4 and 3 were grouped
together with similar coefficient 84%. Genotype 2 was the least similar barley
genotype that its similarity ranged from 49% -56% with the rest of all genotypes
studied, also, it attained the lowest heritability value. The results obtained could be
used for selection the promising parents to generate an effective breeding barley
program under saline condition.