Analysis of the main agronomic characters of some barley varieties and the genetic characterization of their descendancy after a full diallel cross

Abstract

Abstract The experiment was conducted at the level of a pilot farm located in eastern Algeria under a humid bioclimatic stage, during two successive crop years. The study focused on a F1 generation of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) consisting of twelve hybrids from a complete diallel cross between the two locals varieties (Saida and Tichedrett) and two other introduced varieties (Nadawa and Fouara). The aim was to determine the value of parental genotypes as genitors and to analyze their descendants, while evaluating the phenotypic variability of ten quantitative variables. Analysis of the variance revealed a significant difference for the whole of parameters studied in the parents as in their descendants. Additive and non-additive effects are involved in the genetic control of the analyzed variables. The Hayman model (1954) seems acceptable for five variables on ten variables studied for which additive effects are more important than dominance effects. The analysis of the heterosis effect was significant for the characters tested. For the productivity of the plant, eight hybrids on twelve have expressed a positive heterosis compared to the mid- parent, six combinations on twelve have registered a positive heterosis compared to the over-batter parent and compared to the best variety with an overall heterosis of 17.53%.