Genetic Variability and Correlation Studies in Yield and Yield Related Characters of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Genotypes

Abstract

Twelve genotypes of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) were evaluated for two years in the field in a randomized complete block design and replicated three times. The results showed year effect to be significant for plant height, grain yield, heading time and greenness of flag leaf, and genotype effect was significant for all the characters. Also, genotype x year interaction was significant for all the characters except for plant height, spike length and kernel weight. The maximum yield among advanced lines studied was obtained from A71-1 (4091.8 kg ha^-1) and A74-1 (3926.1 kg ha^-1) which were developed through crossing of H. vulgare v. nudum with Bülbül 89 and Karatay 94 cultivars, respectively. Close resemblance between genotypic correlation coefficient (GCV) and phenotypic correlation coefficient (PCV) was observed for grain yield indicating that selection for this character would be effective. Heritability estimates in general were high for all the nine characters studied. Characters studied showed significant positive correlation with grain yield except for plant height and greenness of flag leaf which showed significant positive genotypic correlation only in the second year. Highest heritability couple with high genetic advance was observed for plant height, spike length, number of spikelets per spike, number of kernels per spike, kernel weight per spike, thousand kernel-weight and heading time. Thus, these traits could be used as selection criteria for yield in barley