In order to observe the degree and response of drought-resistance and its physiological mechanism in barley and wheat, 5 species (16 cultivars) were tested for changes in plant height, seedling dry weight, chlorophyll content, leaf relative turgidity, soluble protein, reducing sugar and growth of seedling subjected to water stress by withholding watering for 8 days at 10 days (at the 3rd leaf stage) after emergence. The average rate of decrease of all cultivars was 15% in plant height, 24% in seedling dry weight, 32% in chlorophyll content, 27% in leaf relative turgidity, and 27% in protein. But reducing sugar content of control was increased 4 folds more than that of water stress. In the decreased rate of seedling dry weight of each cultivar, rye was shown to be lowest rate, and Baegdong, Mokpo #55, and 3 two-row barley were shown to be the highest rate. The degree of the decreased rate in 5 species was in the order of rye < < wheat < covered barley < naked barley < two-row barley. in the decreased rate of chlorophyll content, rye, Cheonggaemil and Olmil are the lowest group, and the highest one are Milyang #12, Bangsa #6, Hyangmaeg and Sacheon #4. In the decreased rate of leaf relative turgidity, the lowest group (22-25%) were rye, Cheonggaemil and Dongbori #1, and, on the other hand, the highest group (30-33%) were Baegdong and 3 two-row barley. In the decreased rate of soulble protein, the lowest group (14-17%) were Chogwang, Geurumil, Dongbori #1, and Mokpo #55, and the highest one was 3 two-row barley. The increased ratio of reducing sugar of water stress to control was 4 to 5 folds in rye and wheat, and about 2 folds in naked barley and 3 two-row barley. The degree of the increased ratio of 5 species was in the order of rye > wheat > covered barley > naked barley > two-row barley. In terms of the physiological and adaptive metabolism during the processing leading to drought-resistance, the degree of drought-resistance of 5 species to water stress at seedling stage was shown to be in the order of rye > wheat > covered barley > naked barley > two-row-barley.