The Response of Some Agronomic Traits in Barley Cultivars to Late-Season Heat Stress in Abarkouh Weather Conditions

Abstract

The effect of heat stress on yield, yield component and some agronomic traits of barley, was evaluated during the growing season of 2022-2023 using a randomized complete block design with three replications under normal and heat stress conditions. Eight barley cultivars including Nik, Mehr, Khatam, Reyhan, Nosrat, Fajr 30, Yoosef and Afzal were grown in Abarkouh, Yazd, central Iran. The results of combined analysis of variance revealed that cultivar effect was significant in all traits except 1000 grain weight and peduncle length. Heat stress × cultivar interaction was significant for spikes/m2, grains/spike, and grain yield. Heat stress led to a significant decrease in days from sowing to physiological maturity, plant height, peduncle and spike length, spikes/m2, grains/spike, and grain yield and a significant increase in days from sowing to tillering. Grain yield under both conditions had significant negative correlation with days from sowing to tillering. Grain yield had significant positive correlation with spikes/m2 under normal condition and with spikes/m2, and grains/spike under heat stress condition. Stepwise regression results showed that grains/spike and plant height could be used as criteria for increaseing grain yield under heat stress condition. Mean comparison of data for studied cultivars showed that Reyhan and Nosrat genotypes could be suggested for cultivation under both conditions.

Keywords

• barley
• combined analysis of variance
• correlation
• grain yield
• stepwise regression