Agronomic traits of exotic barley germplasms resistant to soil-borne mosaic-inducing viruses

Summary In order to obtain information on agronomic performance and potential use of yellow mosaic virus resistant barley germplasms (Hordeum vulgare L.) in breeding programmes, twenty-six varieties were tested for agronomic traits in two years trials. The varieties tested differ in their reaction to the soil-borne mosaic-inducing viruses (BaMMV, BaYMV, BaYMV-2) and their genetic base of BaMMV-resistance. All of the exotic varieties tested are of inferior agronomic performance as compared to resistant German cultivars. Grain yield ranged from 77% to 33% in comparison to the highest yielding German winter barley cultivar Franka. Furthermore, a large variation was also observed in thousand grain weight, number of grains per spike, height, lodging, winterkilling and susceptibility to scald (Rhynchosporium secalis (Oudem) Davis).