Retrospective analysis of adaptive properties of barley varieties bred by FRC «Nemchinovka»

Abstract

The article presents the results of six-year studies (2015-2020) of 19 varieties of spring barley belonging to different periods of variety changing bred by FRC “Nemchinovka". The research was aimed at comprehensive assessment of yield, adaptive features and other agronomic characters and properties of spring barley for determining the main tendencies of changing their properties during many years of breeding work in the conditions of the Central Non-Chernozem Zone. Due to high potential productivity, which was demonstrated in optimal conditions for barley and the ability of the crop to resist yield reduction during bad weather conditions, the high-intense barley varieties zoned during last 20 years, proved to be the best according to average yield indicators. Maximum average yield in these groups was 8.17 t/h, minimum one was 3.05 t/h that was higher than average yield among varieties in previous periods of breeding work by 19.3 % and 10.5 %, respectively. The retrospective analysis determined the direction of breeding shifts in adaptive properties and productivity elements associated with an increase in the economic and biological value of barley varieties in the process of selective breeding improvement. Judging by the average plasticity indices (V = 35.4 %; bi = 1.13; σ = 2.12) the varieties of the latest stages of breeding work were 18.8; 36.1 and 37.7 % more responsive to improving environmental conditions as compared to the varieties of the last century. The relative average value of the adaptability coefficient exceeding unity (KA = 1.02-1.19) indicated a stronger reaction of modern barley varieties to resist the action of factors that reduce their potential productivity. With yield growth and increase in adaptability, the architectonics of barley plants was changing and resistance to lodging and helminthosporiosis raised. There has been established a tendency to increase the most important element of the crop structure "the number of productive ears per 1 m2" and to decrease the indicator "weight of 1000 grains". The information obtained on the basis of a comprehensive assessment of varieties by economic and biological indicators makes it possible to determine the ways of selective breeding improvement of the crop.

Keywords

• spring barley
• variety
• yield
• adaptability
• resistance
• variety changing