Water deficit is the major abiotic factor limiting plant growth and crop productivity around the world (Kramer, 1983). Approximately one third of the cultivated area of the world suffers from chronically inadequate supplies of water (Massacci et al., 2008). In all agricultural regions, yields of rain-fed crops are periodically reduced by drought (Kramer, 1983), and the severity of the problem m...

Two field experiments were carried out in order to investigate the effect of chemicalinducers [benzothiadiazole 0.9 mM l-1, oxalic acid 1.0 mM l-1, salicylic acid 0.2 mM l-1] onphysiological and technological traits as well as on yields and antioxidant enzyme activities ofbarley grown under abiotic stress (i.e. water surplus and deficit conditions). Results showed thatrelative water content, le...