In order to detect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) involved in the genetic of callus induction and in vitro predictors of drought tolerance and screening in vitro indicators of drought tolerance, wheat-barley disomic addition lines were used in a completely randomized design (CRD) with five and three replications for callus induction and drought experiments at the Agricultural College of Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran during 2010-2011. Highly significant differences (P<0.01) were observed among the genotypes for callus primary diameter (CPD), callus primary fresh weight (CPFW), callus growth rate (CGR), callus relative fresh weight growth (CRFWG), callus relative growth rate (CRGR), callus induction percentage (CIP) and in vitro tolerance (INTOL) indicating the presence of genetic variability, different responses of genotypes to callus induction and possible chromosomal localization of callus induction and in vitro indicators of drought tolerance using mature embryos. Mean comparison of the traits measured in callus induction showed that disomic addition line 7H had the highest amount of CPD, CPFW, CRFWG, CRGR and CIP, accordingly most of the QTLs controlling callus induction characteristics are located on chromosome 7H with the highest efficiency of added chromosome (EAC) and positive effect for improvement of wheat and barley tissue culture traits. Screening drought tolerant genotypes and in vitro indicators of drought tolerance using mean rank, standard deviation of ranks and biplot analysis, discriminated genotype 4H with maximum EAC as the chromosome carry QTLs monitoring drought tolerance in barley. Therefore it is recommended to be used as parents for genetic analysis, gene mapping and improvement of drought tolerance in common cereals using chromosome engineering.
