The origin of six-rowed ‘wild’ barley from the western Himalaya

Summary Plants were grown from seed of two-rowed wild barley, Hordeum spontaneum, and six-rowed brittlerachised barley. H. agriocrithon, collected in Ladakh, north-western India. Whereas the H. spontaneum remained true to type, segregation for morphological characters was observed in progeny rows grown from heads of H. agriocrithon plants. The H. agriocrithon heads also showed segregation for a biochemical character, the polypeptide pattern of the endosperm storage protein fraction (hordein). The H. agriocrithon seed therefore originated from natural hybridization between cultivated H. vulgare and weedy H. spontaneum. Crosses of H. vulgare and H. spontaneum gave progeny which resembled H. agriocrithon and showed similar hordein polypeptide segregation patterns. The results indicate that six-rowed brittle-rach ised barleys from the Himalayas have a similar origin to forms found in the Middle East, and that H. agriocrithon does not play a direct role in the evolution of barley.     

A recurrent selection programme for grain yield in winter barley

Summary The effect of a recurrent selection procedure was evaluated in a winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) population. Cycle zero (C₀) was initiated by crossing six high yielding winter barley cultivars with the short straw cv Onice. The F₁'s were crossed according to a diallel scheme without reciprocals. A total of 750 S₀ plants were derived and evaluated; 329 S₀ plants were selected and their progenies (S₁ lines) tested. Fifteen S₁ lines were chosen and used as parents of cycle 1 (C₁), by producing 105 F₁ hybrids which simulated a random mating offspring. One hundred and three randomly chosen S₁ lines belonging to C₀, and 103 S₁ lines belonging to C₁, were evaluated at two locations.For grain yield a significant difference between cycles was observed. From C₀ to C₁ the grain yield increased with 307 g/m². This increase was due to a higher number of seeds per m². For plant height, heading date and 100-kernel weight no differences between cycles were observed.The positive results obtained in this study indicate the potential usefulness of recurrent selection for developing parents or lines superior for grain yield, with little change in other important agronomic traits.     

Relationship between barley grain yield measured in low- and high-yielding environments

Summary The paper addresses the general question of identifying the optimum environment for selection in plant breeding programs for low input agricultural systems. After defining low-yielding and high-yielding environments based on the average grain yield of large numbers of barley genotypes in different cropping seasons, we examined: 1) the phenotypic relationships between the highest yielding genotypes in low- and high-yielding environments, and 2) the genetic correlation coefficients between grain yield in low- and high-yielding environments. The results indicate that the alleles controlling high grain yield in low-yielding conditions are at least partially different from those controlling high grain yield in high-yielding conditions. Therefore, selection in high-yielding environments is expected to produce a negative response or no response in low-yielding environments. This may explain why crop varieties bred under high-yielding conditions failed to have an impact in low-yielding agricultural systems. The results may be extrapolated to systems where environmental concern suggests a reduction of inputs by raising the question of whether crop breeding programs based on selection under high inputs are likely to generate the right type of germplasm for an environmentally friendly agriculture.     

Selection environment and environmental sensitivity in barley

Summary Groups of 10 barley genotypes were selected for high grain yield under either high yielding (two groups) or low yielding conditions (two groups). The genotypes had a similar average grain yield across a wide range of yielding conditions, but differed in their linear response over environments (environmental sensitivity). The genotypes selected for high grain yield under low yielding conditions were less sensitive to changing environments than genotypes selected for high grain yield under high yielding conditions. The higher stability of genotypes selected under low yielding conditions was shown by both the linear regression analysis and the comparison of coefficients of variation. The use of a safety-first index showed that the probability of a crop failure of genotypes selected for high grain yield under high yielding conditions was between 1.8 and 2.7 times higher than for genotypes selected for high grain yield under low yielding conditions. The development of new cultivars for areas where a large proportion of the crop is grown by subsistence farmers should therefore be based on selection under low yielding conditions.     

Stability of 1000-grain weight and its relation with other traits of barley in dry areas

Summary The effects of 1000-grain weight, its stability and the correlation coefficients with other traits of 50 barley varieties were studied at 18–20 environments. Additional material was used to study genotypic correlations among traits. Significant differences in stability of 1000-grain weight were found among varieties. Two-row varieties were on average more stable than 6-row varieties. The 1000-grain weight was among the most stable and grain yield the most variable traits. This was discussed in connection with stem reserves translocation to the grain. Consistently high yielding varieties had around average stability of 1000-grain weight. Regression coefficient, b, for 1000-grain weight was positively correlated with variance of log transformed data, both valid estimates for stability of 1000-grain weight. The correlation coefficient of 1000-grain weight with grain yield was positive or non-significant, with number of grains per tiller mainly negative and with volume weight it was positive. In 6-row barley, 1000-grain weight was positively correlated with grain yield, straw yield, total biological yield, and plant height, and negatively with number of tillers per m² and number of grains per tiller.     

Pleiotropic effects on the ml-o mildew resistance gene in barley in different genetical backgrounds

Summary The effects on quantitative characters of the ml-o5 allele has been investigated by means of doubled haploid lines produced by the Hordeum bulbosum method. In one series of experiments the genetic background in each cross was found significantly to modify the negative pleiotropic effects. Doubled haploids were also produced from a F1 cross and tested in the field during two years, one with strong and one with weak mildew infections. In the first year only an insignificant reduction in grain yield was detected in the mlo lines, in the second it was significantly reduced with 5.9%. Thousand grain weights were, however, higher in the resistant lines. In both series of experiments the possibility to extract very high yielding mlo genotypes was demonstrated. The nature of the genetic background effect is discussed.     

The frequency of natural cross-fertilisation in sequential sowings of winter barley

Summary Estimations of random mating frequency were computed for a series of sequential autumn sowings of populations of winter barley. The estimations were by means of the maximum likelihood scoring method and three varieties, each carrying a recessive genetic marker, provided three independent estimations for each population. High levels of out-crossing were found in sowings made early in September, and a trend towards absence of out-crossing in populations sown in late November was evident. Although fluctuations in this trend could be accounted for by fluctuations in meteorological factors, a more profound underlying effect was evident in that the three marker varieties behaved similarly, though to different degrees. It is postulated that the principle effect of sowing date, as it affects out-crossing, is upon the development of the flowering apex, and that environmental conditions at flowering time merely modify flowering behaviour.     

Responses of wheat and barley genotypes to toxic concentrations of soil boron

Summary The growth and yield of seven wheat and two barley cultivars or lines, previously found to show different degrees of boron tolerance under field conditions, were compared in a pot experiment at a range of soil boron treatments. Soil treatments ranged up to 150 mg/kg applied B. Extractable B in soils ranged up to 103 mg/kg.At the highest B treatment seedling emergence was delayed, but the percentage emergence was not reduced. The degree of boron toxicity symptom expression varied between the wheat cultivars and lines, with the two most tolerant, Halberd and (Wq^*KP)^*WmH)/6/12, displaying the least symptoms.The concentration of boron applied to the soil which produced a significant depression of growth and yield varied between cultivars. For example, the yield of (Wq^*KP)^*WmH)/6/12 was not affected at the 100 mg/kg applied boron treatment, while the grain yield for (Wl^*MMC)/W1/10 was significantly reduced at the 25 mg/kg treatment.There was a linear increase in boron concentration in tillers at the boot-stage with increasing concentration of boron in the soil. The most boron tolerant genotypes had the lowest tissue boron concentrations in each of the treatments. Halberd and (Wq^*KP)^*WmH)/6/12 had approximately half the boron concentrations of the more sensitive genotypes at the 25 and 50 mg/kg treatments. Differential tolerance of boron within the tissue was also observed. Both Stirling and (Wl^*MMC)/W1/10 had significantly reduced total dry matter and grain yields at the 25 mg/kg treatment, while the concentrations of boron in boot stage tillers at this treatment were 118 and 100 mg/kg, respectively. On the other hand, Halberd and (Wq^*KP)^*WmH)/6/12 had tissue boron concentrations of 144 and 131 mg/kg, respectively, at the 50 mg/kg treatment but yield was unaffected.The relative responses in the pot experiment, for wheat, were in close agreement with field results. Halberd and (Wq^*KP)^*WmH)/6/12 had the highest grain yields, with the lowest concentrations of boron in the grain when grown under high boron conditions in the field. In pots these two genotypes proved to be the most tolerant of boron. For barley the advantage in grain yield in the field, expressed by WI-2584 compared with Stirling, was not repeated in pots. WI-2584 was, however, more tolerant than Stirling on the basis of total dry matter production.The results show that useful variation in boron tolerance exists among wheat, and that breeding should be able to provide cultivars tolerant to high levels of boron.     

Partial resistance to Erysiphe graminis hordei in old European barley varieties

Summary A collection of 133 genotypes consisting mainly of old European barleys and land varieties was assessed for level of partial resistance to barley mildew at the adult plant stage. Identification of any known resistance factors conferring hypersensitive reactions to the mildew races present at various frequencies in N.W. Europe was ensured through seedling tests with an appropriate AO mildew isolate.Thirty-nine varieties with relatively high levels of adult (partial) resistance and lacking known race-specific resistance genes were tested over a period of three years in field disease nurseries. At least thirteen varieties showed significantly less percentage leaf area infected than the control variety Proctor. These constitute a useful reserve of non-hypersensitive resistance, probably under the control of genes with mainly additive effects. In combination, these genes give enhanced levels of resistance, which could be of a more stable nature.     

Race-specific effects in major genic and polygenic resistance of barley to barley leaf rust in the field: identification and distinction

Summary Six partially resistant spring barley cultivars were exposed to four barley leaf rust (Puccinia hordei) races in the field and in the greenhouse. The 24 cultivar-race combinations were tested in field plots of 1.5×1.5 m² in two replications over two years. To reduce the interplot exchange of urediospores each plot was surrounded by winter rye.The level of barley leaf rust varied among cultivars, races and years. In both years the variance for cultivar-race interactions was highly significant and originating largely from the cultivar-race combinations Berac-22. Armelle-22, Armelle-A and Tyra-A. The Berac-22 interaction was towards higher, the other three interactions towards a lower level of barley leaf rust. The reduced rust levels of these three combinations were not due to interactions between the partial resistance of these cultivars and the aggressiveness of the races but to major genes for hypersensitivity not effective to the races 1-2-1 and F, common in Western Europe, but effective against the rare races 22 and A. This was revealed in the greenhouse experiments where all combinations had a susceptible infection type except Armelle-22, Armelle-A and Tyra-A, which showed low infection types in both the seedling and adult plant stages. The urediosori present in the field plots of these three combinations apparently arose from spores derived from other plots; this interplot interchange suggesting partial resistance.The interaction of Berac with race 22 truly was a small race-specific effect within the polygenic, partial resistance of barley to barley leaf rust like the one reported before between Julia and race 18.