Utility of pearl millet landraces in breeding dual-purpose hybrids for arid zone environments of India

In pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.), single cross hybrids based largely on exotic germplasm, have found very limited adoption in drought-prone arid regions mainly due to their inadequate adaptation to prevalent extremely harsh agro-climatic conditions. This study tested the hypothesis that the use of restorer parents derived from adapted landrace germplasm could be an alternative strategy in developing suitable hybrids for arid regions. Forty inbred restorer lines developed from two phenotypically diverse landraces were used to develop hybrids evaluated in this study for their performance in five typical arid zone environments between 2003 and 2007. Inbred lines from both landrace populations differed significantly in their combining ability for biomass, harvest index and grain and stover yields. A larger proportion of experimental hybrids, based on selected inbred lines, significantly outperformed the commercial checks for grain and stover yields. Increase in grain and stover yields was achieved primarily due to their higher biomass productivity, with no decline in harvest index. Choice of landrace determined the relative grain and stover productivity of their hybrids. Phenotypic differences observed in parental landraces in tillering and panicle length were also visible in their respective hybrids, indicating that characteristics of landrace parental populations were transmitted in their hybrids.     

Genomic regions associated with grain yield and aspects of post-flowering drought tolerance in pearl millet across stress environments and tester background

A pearl millet mapping population from a cross between ICMB841 and 863B was studied for DNA polymorphism to construct a genetic linkage map, and to map genomic regions associated with grain and stover yield, and aspects of drought tolerance. To identify genomic regions associated with these traits, mapping population testcrosses of 79 F₃ progenies were evaluated under post-flowering drought stress conditions over 2 years and in the background of two elite testers. A significant genotype × drought stress treatment interaction was evident in the expression of grain and stover yield in drought environments and in the background of testers over the 2 years. As a result of this, genomic regions associated with grain and stover yield and the aspects of drought tolerance were also affected: some regions were more affected by the changes in the environments (i.e. severity and duration of drought stress) while others were commonly identified across the drought stress environments and tester background used. In most instances, both harvest index and panicle harvest index co-mapped with grain yield suggesting that increased drought tolerance and yield of pearl millet that mapped to these regions was achieved by increased partitioning of dry matter from stover to the grains. Drought stress treatments, years and testers interactions on genomic regions associated with grain and stover yield of pearl millet are discussed, particularly, in reference to genetic improvement of drought tolerance of this crop using marker-assisted selection.     

Performance of landraces, exotic elite populations and their crosses in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) in drought and non-drought conditions

The crop cultivars targeted for drought prone areas need to combine drought tolerance and high yield. The present study was conducted to assess the performance of three selected pearl millet landraces, four exotic elite populations and their 12 crosses. They were evaluated for yield, yield components and a drought susceptibility index that was calculated using yield data from drought and non‐drought environments. In the non‐drought season, the exotic populations had significantly higher grain yield than landraces. However, in the severe drought season, the landraces produced significantly greater biomass, grain and stover yields than elite populations. There was a strong relation between panicle size and ability to produce panicles and delay in flowering under severe stress. The biomass and stover yield of crosses was significantly better than parental populations under both drought stress and near‐optimum conditions. The elite populations were most sensitive to drought while crosses were as drought tolerant as landraces because they combined larger panicle size of exotics and lesser delay in flowering of landraces. The results indicated that it is possible to combine drought adaptation with high yield potential through hybridization between adapted landraces and elite genetic materials.     

Stability analysis of yield and capsaicinoids content in chili (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Capsicum</Emphasis> spp<Emphasis Type="Italic">.</Emphasis>) grown across six environments

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) is the most important cereal in crop-livestock production systems in arid and drier semi-arid environments valued for its grain and dry stover. The conventional approach of improving grain yield through greater partitioning of biomass to the grain and decreased stover yield is not a viable strategy for arid regions where biomass also needs to be improved. The current research tested the hypothesis whether biomass can be improved without extending the crop duration. The 232 F₅ lines derived from a cross (J28 × RIB 335/18) were evaluated in their testcross form along with three commercial hybrids under arid zone conditions. Biomass, grain and stover yields, panicle number, grain size and grain number panicle⁻¹ varied 1.8 to 2.7 fold in progeny testcrosses. Variation in duration of flowering time accounted for only 2% of variation in biomass, indicating that considerable scope existed for selection of testcrosses, and by implication, of F₅ progenies with high biomass independent of crop duration. Stover yield accounted for 72% of differences in total biomass with remaining accounted for by grain yield. From among 92 and 132 testcrosses that had flowering time comparable to two early checks, most had significantly higher biomass, grain and stover yields than these early checks but none of the testcrosses had earliness on par with extra-early maturing hybrid HHB 67. Mean superiority of best 5% testcrosses over early checks was 58% for biomass, 68% for stover yield and 53% for grain yield. The results indicated that there are good prospects of improving biomass in arid zone pearl millet without significantly compromising crop duration.     

Relationship between grain yield and grain nitrogen concentration in winter triticale

Summary Ten hexaploid winter triticale lines were grown for two cropping periods at three locations in western Switzerland. Averaged across the six environments, the differences between lines were statistically significant (P=0.05) for grain yield, above-ground biomass, N uptake, grain N yield, nitrogen harvest index, grain N concentration and straw N concentration. There were significant line x environment interactions for all traits. Grain yield and grain N concentration were inversely related (r=–0.74^**). Diagrams in which grain yields were plotted against grain N concentration were used to identify lines with a consistently unusual combination of grain yield and grain N concentration. Despite comparable grain yields, Line 3 had a high grain N concentration, while that of Line 7 was low. Line 3 was superior to Line 7 in both N uptake and N harvest index. Averaged across environments and lines, the N harvest index was 0.73 which corresponds to N harvest indices reported for bread wheat in the same region. We considered the feasibility of developing triticale lines which would outperform the best recent ones in N uptake and partitioning. However, we doubted that this would bring about a marked increase in grain N concentration, because, in the long run, the expected genetic progress in grain yield will lead to a dilution of grain protein by grain carbohydrate increments.Abbreviations GNC grain N concentration - GNY grain N yield - GY grain yield - HI above-ground dry matter harvest index - NHI nitrogen harvest index - SNC straw N concentration - TB total above-ground biomass - TPN total plant N     

Evaluation of landrace topcross hybrids of pearl millet for arid zone environments

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) cultivars for marginal, arid environments need to combine the adaptation to stress conditions of indigenous landraces with an improved yield potential and disease resistance, to allow them to both perform well in farmers fields and to meet the requirements for cultivar release. This paper evaluates landrace-based topcross hybrids (adapted landraces crossed on high-yielding male-sterile lines), as a quick and efficient way of achieving this objective. Topcross hybrids showed a consistent increase in biomass production across all test environments, including the harsh arid zone environments. Depending upon the plant type of the male-sterile used to make the hybrid, this was expressed as increased grain yield only, or increased grain and fodder yields. The downy mildew (Sclerospora graminicola) reaction of the topcross hybrids was determined by the reaction of the male-sterile line used, with the resistant male-sterile producing resistant topcross hybrids and vice-versa. Topcrossing adapted landraces on high-yielding male-sterile lines thus provides an opportunity to improve disease resistance and grain and/or fodder yields, with no apparent loss of adaptation to the marginal environments in which the landraces have evolved.ICRISAT Journal Article no. 1575     

The drought response of landraces of wheat from the northern Negev Desert in Israel

Summary Diverse landraces of wheat, collected from the semi-arid (150 to 250 mm of total annual rainfall) Northern Negev desert in Israel were considered as a potential genetic resource of drought resistance for wheat breeding. These materials were therefore evaluated for their reponses to drought stress in agronomical and physiological terms. Up to 68 landraces, comprising of Triticum durum, T. aestivum, and T. compactum were tested in two field drought environments, in one favourable field environment, under post-anthesis chemical plant desiccation which revealed the capacity for grain filling from mobilized stem reserves, under a controlled drought stress in a rainout shelter and in the growth chamber under polyethylene glycol (PEG)-induced water stress. Biomass, grain yield and its components, harvest index, plant phenology, canopy temperatures, kernel weight loss by chemical plant desiccation, growth reduction by PEG-induced drought stress and osmotic adjustment were evaluated in the various experiments.Landraces varied significantly for all parameters of drought response as measured in the different experiments, which was in accordance to their documented large morphological diversity. Variation in grain yield among landraces under an increasing drought stress after tillering was largely affected by spike number per unit area. Kernel weight contributed very little to yield variation among landraces under stress, probably because these tall (average of 131 cm) landraces generally excelled in their capacity to support kernel growth by stem reserve mobilization under stress. Yield under stress was reduced with a longer growth duration of landraces only under early planting but not under late planting. Landraces were generally late flowering but they were still considered well adapted phenologically to their native region where they were always planted late.Landraces differed significantly in canopy temperature under drought stress. Canopy temperature under stress in the rainout shelter was negatively correlated across landraces with grain yield (r=0.67^**) and biomass (r=0.64^**) under stress. Canopy temperature under stress in the rainout shelter was also positively correlated across landraces (r=0.50^**) with canopy temperature in one stress field environment. Osmotic adjustment in PEG-stressed plants was negatively correlated (r=–0.60^**) with percent growth reduction by PEG-induced water stress. It was not correlated with yield under stress in any of the experiments. In terms of yield under stress, canopy temperatures and stem reserve utilization for grain filling, the most drought resistant landrace was the Juljuli population of T.durum.     

Yielding ability, yield stability, and quality of exotic durum wheat germplasm in Sicily

A set of 20 accessions of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L., durum group), which mostly included exotic landraces from various Mediterranean countries, and four Italian improved varieties were evaluated for grain yield in five environments and for quality traits in two environments of Sicily. Glutenin composition was also assessed electro-phoretically on six seeds per entry. The cultivars differed (P ≤ 0.01) for yield, protein content and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS-sed) sedimentation volume, in the presence of significant (P ≥ 0.001) genotype-environment interaction effects. These effects were large for yield and moderately large for protein content relative to genotype main effects following estimation of variance components. Most exotic cultivars yielded comparably with, and some of them showed greater stability than, the best yielding Italian variety 'Simeto. Some exotic cultivars combined outstanding yield, protein content and SDS-sedimentation values and represent therefore extremely valuable germplasm sources to broaden the local genetic base. The glutenin composition LMW-2 and HMW 7 + 8 was positively associated with gluten quality. Six entries showed heterogeneous electrophoretic patterns, suggesting the presence of different genotypes within the cultivar.     

Evaluation of Near Infra-red Reflectance Spectroscopy for Predicting Grain and Stover Quality Traits in Maize

The prediction of grain and stover quality parameters in maize {Zea mays L.) by near infra-red reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) was studied. A total of 110 grain and 135 stover samples originating from different genotypes and environments were assayed. Calibration equations for content of crude protein (CP), crude fat (CF), starch (ST), and water soluble carbohydrates (WSC) in grain were obtained by multiple linear regression of known manual values on NIRS data from the odd numbered samples. Calibrations for CP, acid detergent fibre (ADF), in vitro digestible organic matter according to the Tilley & Terry (IVDOM-T & T) and the gas production (IVDOM-Gp) method, respectively, and metabolizable energy (ME) in stover were developed analogously. Equations were validated with the evennumbered .samples and for ME additionally with the 1584 stover samples from an experiment with 66 F₁ hybrids tested in six environments. The coefficients of multiple determination (R²) of the prediction equations ranged from 0.80 for IVDOM-Gp and ME in stover to 0.94 for CP in grain. Standard errors of calibration (SEC) and prediction (SEP) were in most cases not higher than commonly reported for conventional manual assays. With regard to the correct ranking of hybrids, prediction equations for ME applied well to stover samples from other environments with one exception. We concluded that NIRS can evaluate the quality traits investigated to a similar degree to that of conventional methods of analysis. Since NIRS is simple and safe to operate and allows rapid screening of several quality traits simultaneously, it should be particularly attractive for breeding purposes.     

Heterosis and mixing effects in barley under drought stress

Yield stability is one of the main breeding objectives in breeding for stress environments, such as the semi‐arid areas of Syria. The objectives of this study were to measure the effects of heterogeneity and heterozygosity on yield and yield stability by comparing doubled haploid lines (DHL) in mixed vs. pure stand (influence of heterogeneity) and F₂ populations vs. corresponding DHL mixtures (influence of heterozygosity). Six barley lines from two gene pools (LR = landraces, EL = experimental lines) were used to produce nine crosses (two LR × LR, three EL × EL, four LR × EL). The F₂ generation and eight DHL per cross were produced from each cross. The six parental DHL, nine F₂ populations, nine 8‐line mixtures and 72 DHL in pure stands were tested in five environments under drought stress in north Syria. The mean superiority of F₂ populations over DHL mixtures for yield traits across environments and cross combinations ranged between 7.5 and 10%. The effect of heterogeneity was small throughout. For grain yield, harvest index, 1000‐grain weight and plant height significant interactions between heterozygosity levels and environments were observed. The effect of heterozygosity for grain yield increased substantially from ‐1.2% in the highest‐yielding environment to 45.6% in the most stressful environment. Interactions between levels of heterozygosity and cross combinations were significant for most traits. F₂ populations were considerably more stable than DHL in pure stands, yet not as stable as DHL mixtures. It is concluded that heterozygosity is more important than heterogeneity in breeding for improved yield and yield stability under drought stress.     

Association of Vertical Root-Pulling Resistance with Root Lodging and Grain Yield in Selected S1 Maize Lines Derived from a Tropical Low-Nitrogen Population

Root lodging and poor soil fertility are major constraints to maize production in the Guinea savannah of West Africa. Vertical root‐pulling resistance is an indicator of the rooting characteristics of maize cultivars and could be used to select cultivars which have higher resistance to root lodging, take up nitrogen efficiently and have high yield. Twenty maize breeding lines were evaluated in the southern Guinea savannah of Nigeria for vertical root‐pulling resistance, yield and root lodging in the 2000 and 2001 cropping seasons. There were significant differences amongst the breeding lines for all the characteristics measured. Vertical root‐pulling resistance correlated positively with grain yield (r = 0.71, P < 0.01). There was a moderate negative correlation between vertical root‐pulling resistance and root lodging (r = ?0.46, P < 0.05). This suggested that selecting for high root‐pulling resistance will improve grain yield and reduce root lodging. There was no significant association between root lodging and grain yield (r = ?0.14, P < 0.22). This was attributed to two factors; weak root systems and high cob weight, both of which caused significant lodging.     

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] landrace variation and classification in North Shewa and South Welo, Ethiopia

Fourteen phenotypic characters were chosen for the purpose of obtaining taxonomic evidence on the resemblances of 177 accessions of sorghum from North Shewa and South Welo regions of Ethiopia. Canonical Discriminant Analysis (CDA) and Modeclus cluster analysis were conducted to see if the 177 accessions could form clusters based on their morphological characters, and to test the consistency of farmers’ naming of the five most common Sorghum landraces represented by 44 accessions. Multivariate analyses grouped the 177 accessions into three clusters linked by a few phenotypic intermediate landraces. A botanical key was established for easy classification of the Sorghum crop plants grown in the study area. The number of accessions of the five most common landraces named by the farmers formed dissimilar groups, suggesting that farmers’ naming of these Sorghum landraces are consistent. Midrib color, grain color, grain size, glume color, glume hairiness, and grain shape were the leading morphological characters used by the farmers in naming these Sorghum landraces. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Protein yield of oats as determined by protein percentage and grain yield

Summary Relationships among the traits protein percentage, grain yield, and protein yield of oats were studied with F₂-derived lines in F₃ and F₄ from 27 matings obtained by crossing high-protein with high-yield oat lines. High-protein parents were (a) selections from an Avena sativa bulk, (b) selections from three-way matings in which an initial parent was A. sterilss, and (c) cultivars. High-yield parents were derived from backcross populations involving A. sterilis accessions as donor parents.Significnnt genetic variation existed among F₂-derived lines for grain and protein yield in all matings and for protein percentage in all but one mating.Protein percentage had a highly significant negative correlation with grain yield (r=–0.33^**) when pooled over all matings, but in five, these two traits were not correlated. Overall, protein percentage showed a small negative correlation with protein yield (r=–0.09^*), and protein and grain yields had a high positive association (r=0.98^**). F₂-derived lines with both high protein percentage and high grain yield were obtained.High transgressive segregates for protein percentage occurred in two matings, for grain yield in nine, and for protein yield in 14. Most high transgressive segregates for protein yield were high because of high grain yield only, but in four matings, lines were found where protein yield was increased by concurrent increases in both protein percentage and grain yield.Only a few specific parental combinations between high-protein and high-yield parents produced segregates in which increased protein percentage contributed materially to high-protein yields.Journal Paper No. J-11264 of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Stn., Ames, Iowa 50011. Project 2447.     

The Grain Quality of Landraces of Wheat as Compared with Modern Cultivars

Landraces of tetraploid and hexaploid wheat from the Northern Negev in Israel were evaluated over two years for their grain quality attributes. Twenty-one populations of tetraploid wheat (Triticum durum, represented by 56 accessions) and 8 populations of hexaploid wheat (T. aestivum and T. compactum, represented by 13 accessions) were compared with 3 and 4 modern improved Israeli cultivars of tetraploid and hexaploid reheat, respectively. This comparison allowed to estimate the progress made in the improvement of gram quality m present-day cultivars. Except for grain protein content in the hexaploids, significant variation was revealed among landraces in kernel weight, protein content (tetraploids), sedimentation, mixograph score and carotin content. The best modern cultivars were comparable to the best landraces in kernel weight and carotin content (tetraploids), indicating that modern wheat breeding maximized kernel weight and carotin content, as compared with the tested landraces. Gram protein content and/or quality was not maximized in modern cultivars and its improvement was deemed possible by introgression from the best landraces in this respect.     

Effect of Phosphorus Fertilizer on Soya Bean Residue Turnover in the Tropical Moist Savanna

The contributions of soya bean (Glycine max) to the maintenance of soil N, organic matter and physical properties in any cropping system is dependent on the amount of the crop residue returned after grain harvest. This amount of residue is a function of the dry matter accumulated during growth. In the topical moist savanna (MS) of West Africa where soya bean production has increased especially due to the cultivation of more hectarage of land, increase in soya bean dry matter with the resulting residue is limited by P deficiencies. In this study, the effect of P application on residue turnover by soya bean varieties of different maturity classes was evaluated across the MS. The amount of root residue in the late varieties was double that of the early and medium varieties. The effect of P application on root residue was also greater in the late varieties. Although root residue was 0.35–0.72 Mg ha^?1, this was about 17–21 % of total dry matter at harvest. Among the varieties, litter residue averaged less than 1 Mg ha^?1 in the early and medium varieties, and was 32 % higher in the late varieties. Litter residue increased by 42–46 % with P application. The total amount of soya bean residue that is a potential source of organic material in a cropping system after the export of grain is small and averaged 2.88 Mg ha^?1 . Of this, root residue constituted 18 %, litter residue 41 % and stover residue 40 %. In this study C/N ratio averaged 17.1, 34.8 and 32.2 for root, litter and stover, respectively. The amount of total residue obtained in this study shows that the benefit of the effect of soya beans on soil organic matter and physical properties derivable from a single soya bean crop is small.     

Resistance and tolerance to leaf rust in Ethiopian tetraploid wheat landraces

Infection type to leaf rust (Puccinia recondita f. sp. tritici) in Ethiopian tetraploid wheat (Triticum turgidum L.) landraces is almost invariably susceptible and disease severity is usually high. However, such wheats produce a stable yield and seeds are less shrivelled, relative to disease severity. Using 10‘pure-line’genotypes, the effect of the disease on kernel weight and grain yield was studied to detect whether some form of incomplete resistance or tolerance was involved. Genotypes exhibited significant differences for mean disease severity. Percentage losses varied from 3.9 to 14.4% for kernel weight and from 2.8 to 31.3% for grain yield. Regression analysis revealed a significant linear relationship (r = 0.66, P < 0.05) between mean percentage loss and mean disease severity for kernel weight but not for grain yield. Only one genotype sustained significant losses of both kernel weight and grain yield, and was therefore classified as susceptible. Genotypic differences for both traits and the negative correlation (r = -0.87, P < 0.01) between them complicated interpretation of the data. Generally, however, the results indicated that incomplete resistance, possibly partial resistance, is present when one considers kernel weight. For grain yield, tolerance was also implicated since the variation could not be explained by differences in disease severity, and percentage loss did not appear to be a function of disease severity.     

Characterization of fall and spring plantings of Galician cabbage germplasm for agronomic, nutritional, and sensory traits

Twenty one landraces of cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.) and two of Tronchuda cabbage (B. oleracea var. tronchuda Bailey) from Galicia (north–western Spain) along with five commercial hybrids of cabbage and one commercial variety of Tronchuda cabbage were evaluated in this study in two planting dates, autumn/winter for an early harvest and spring/summer for a late harvest. Data were recorded on morphologic, agronomic, nutritional, and sensory traits. The objectives were to assess the characteristics of the Galician cabbage landraces and to compare their agronomic value with that of the commercial hybrids available in local markets, at two planting dates. Four cabbage landraces and the two Tronchuda cabbage landraces showed no head formation. At the autumn/winter season, commercial hybrids showed poor adaptation, with more plants lost after transplanting, less early vigor, and yield than the head forming landraces. However, for characters related to crop uniformity (head appearance, days to harvest, and synchrony of production), commercial hybrids did better than landraces. Regarding the sensory and nutritional values, in the autumn/winter season, accessions were tenderer, sweeter, had a better flavour, and showed higher levels of crude protein and less of crude fibre than in the spring/summer season. Landraces had higher calcium contents compared to commercial varieties. Local landraces MBG-BRS0425, MBG-BRS0452, MBG-BRS0536, and MBG-BRS0537 stood out for the most interesting traits in the autumn/winter season growing period and they could be included in breeding programs to obtain hybrids suitable to grow in this planting period.     

Effect of powdery mildew (Erysiphe graminis f.sp. hordei) on photosynthesis and grain yield of partially resistant genotypes of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

The effect of powdery mildew on the photosynthesis and grain yield of partially resistant spring barley was investigated. The effect of powdery mildew on the CO₂ exchange rate (CER) of inoculated and non-inoculated leaves was measured in several glasshouse experiments. Grain yield reduction by powdery mildew was determined in three field experiments. The CER of the inoculated leaves was reduced by infection but that of the non-inoculated leaves was not significantly different from that of the corresponding leaves of the control plants. The reduction in CER of the different genotypes was closely related to the percentage leaf area infected with powdery mildew. The correlation between degree of mildew infection and grain yield reduction varied between r = 0.84 (significant at P = 0.01) and r = 0.41 (not significant). Differences in greenness of the crop were correlated better with grain yield reduction (r = 0.66, P = 0.01) than powdery-mildew infection itself. Low percentages of powdery-mildew infection did not lead to significant reduction in grain yield. Partial resistance to powdery mildew could thus be a valuable attribute of future barley varieties.     

Variation in Relative Amounts of Isolectins in Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Landraces from Northern Nigeria and Chad

Wheat germ agglutin (WGA) present in the embryo of a bread wheat grain is a mixture of three isolectins, viz CL_A, CL_B and CL_D which are coded by genes located on die chromosomes 1A, 1B and 1D. Their respective absolute amounts were determined in 62 Nigerian and five Chad landraces. Added was the Madagascar variety ‘Kanem’ which is stated to be selected from Chad material. Some of the Nigerian landraces were formerly identified as derived from Indian Pakistani wheat varieties/landraces introduced into Northern Nigeria before 1940. These had relatively high CL_D/GL_A and CL_B/CL_A ratios. Other Nigerian landraces with such high ratios were postulated to come from India/Pakistan, too. The Chad wheats, except ‘Kanem’, have WGA amounts and-ratios similar to those native to Northern Nigeria. This may point to a common history. ‘Kanem’ is said to be bred in Madagascar from Chad wheats. Apparently it has a different origin. So the determination of the WGA amount and its isolectin composition is a helpful means to identify the history of a land race or of an improved variety.     

Barley adaptation and improvement in the Mediterranean basin

To study barley adaptation and improvement in the Mediterranean basin, a collection of 188 entries comprising landraces and old genotypes and current modern varieties from the Mediterranean basin and elsewhere was tested on moisture‐contrasted environments in seven Mediterranean countries, during 2004 and 2005 harvest seasons. The experimental design consisted of an unreplicated trial for all entries, augmented by four repeated checks to which a partial replicate containing a quarter of the entries was added. Best Linear Unbiased Predictions (BLUPs) representing adjusted genotypic means were generated for individual trials using a mixed model. BLUPs were used for genotype by environment interaction analysis using main effect plus genotype by environment interaction (GGE) biplots of yield ranked data and for comparisons of landraces, old and modern genotypes using analysis of variance. Mean yields ranged from near crop failure to 6 t/ha. Local landraces were better adapted to environments yielding below 2 t/ha, thus breeding has mostly benefited environments yielding above 2 t/ha where modern genotypes out yielded landraces and old cultivars by 15%. Current barley selection is leading to specifically adapted genotypes.