Morphological Trait based Genetic Divergence and Correlation in Barley Genotypes for Drought Tolerance

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to explore the genetic diversity for the selection and utilization of drought-tolerant barley genotypes in future breeding approaches for yield enhancement. The experimental material comprised thirty barley genotypes planted at the Barley Research Area, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, under drought conditions during 2015-16 and 2016-17. All the genotypes were classified into four distinct clusters. Cluster IV occupied the maximum number of genotypes, i.e. 17, followed by cluster I with eight genotypes. Cluster II and III possessed three and two genotypes, respectively. The average inter-cluster distance was found to be highest between clusters II and III (261.7), followed by clusters III and IV (188.1), while the lowest inter-cluster distance was observed between clusters II and IV (73.8). Cluster I, comprised of eight genotypes, exhibited maximum germination per cent. Cluster II consisted of three genotypes, characterized by high initial vigour, early heading and minimum plant height. Two genotypes from cluster III exhibited minimum internode length, longest spike, and maximum number of tillers per meter and were also found promising for the traits viz., culm thickness, number of grains per spike, 1000-grain weight and grain yield per plot. Cluster IV, being the largest one, had 17 genotypes with the characteristic features of early maturity. Number of effective tillers per meter showed significant positive correlation with grain yield per plot. This trait could be used as a key component in the screening and selection of drought-tolerant genotypes. The improvement in barley could be achieved through the use of genotypes namely JB 481 and Lakhan assigned in clusters III. These genotypes might be considered as potential parents to obtain high heterotic response and accordingly better segregant for grain yield under drought condition.