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Plants show varied cellular responses to salinity that are partly associated with maintaining low cytosolic Na⁺ levels and a high K⁺/Na⁺ ratio. Plant metabolites change with elevated Na⁺, some changes are likely to help restore osmotic balance while others protect Na⁺-sensitive proteins. Metabolic responses to salt stress are described for two barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars, Sahara and Clipper, which differed in salinity tolerance under the experimental conditions used. After 3 weeks of salt treatment, Clipper ceased growing whereas Sahara resumed growth similar to the control plants. Compared with Clipper, Sahara had significantly higher leaf Na⁺ levels and less leaf necrosis, suggesting they are more tolerant to accumulated Na⁺. Metabolite changes in response to the salt treatment also differed between the two cultivars. Clipper plants had elevated levels of amino acids, including proline and GABA …