Multi-environment trials of spring barley genotypes (Hordeum vulgare L.) in the final stage of breeding process

Abstract

Spring barley genotypes (cultivars and advanced breeding lines) have been tested in three environmental zones of Ukraine (Central Forest-Steppe, Northern Steppe and Polissia). The ANOVA has revealed reliable contributions from all three source of variation: genotype, environment and genotype-environment interaction, but with their different ratio depending on test conditions and studied genotypes. For spring barley cultivars contribution of genotype-environment interaction was 22.55%, but for advanced breeding lines it was only 10.56%. To establish patterns of genotype-environment interaction and genotypes ranking GGE biplot model has been used. Both change in contribution of genotype to total variation depending on environmental conditions and dependence of characteristics of test environments on genotypes studied have been revealed that in general, combination of different ecological and year conditions of trial contributed to identification of the of best genotypes in final stage of breeding work. Spring barley cultivar MIP Bohun and breeding lines Deficiens 5005, Nutans 4855, and Nutans 4941 with optimal combination of yield performance and stability have been selected.