Barley Varieties Research Articles

Influence of sowing dates of winter barley for different precursors on yields

Up to 99 % of the gross harvest of winter barley grain in Russia falls on the Southern and North Caucasus federal districts. The Rostov region is the northernmost region in which this crop is cultivated on an industrial scale. Winter barley occupies one of the important places among grains in the Don region, having every prospect for a further increase in sown areas. Its cultivation allows not only to obtain early marketable products, but also to timely free up fields for other crops. Using the best predecessor in crop rotation and observing the optimal timing of sowing winter barley makes it possible to most effectively realize the adaptive and productive potential of the cultivated varieties of this crop, which is reflected in this work. The article presents the results of many years of field research and comparative analysis on the formation of yield and productivity elements of winter barley depending on sowing dates and predecessors. The research was carried out in 2018-2020 on the experimental fields of the Federal State Budgetary Institution «Agricultural Scientific Center “Donskoy”» in the southern zone of the Rostov region (Zernograd). Barley varieties Vivat, Marusya, Fox 1 were sown according to their predecessors: sunflower and maize on a grain at a depth of 4-6 cm with a seeding rate of 5 million/ ha of germinating grains in 4-fold repetition. Sowing dates: September 10-20-30 and October 10. Record plot area – 10 m2. Based on three years of data, it was established that the highest yield of the studied group of winter barley was given after the predecessor “maize on a grain” when sown in the first term (September 10): Vivat (6.93 t/ha), Marusya (6.84 t/ha) and Fox 1 (6.57 t/ha). The average yield for the three varieties was 6.78 t/ha. In addition, a pattern was identified for this predecessor – a gradual decrease in yield in later sowing periods: the second period (6.69 t/ha), the third (6.57 t/ha), the fourth (6.50 t/ha). According to the predecessor sunflower, the studied varieties on average formed a lower yield than after maize on a grain, however, as in the previous group of experiments, a tendency was noted towards a gradual decrease in the productivity of varieties depending on the sowing time. Thus, the average yield by variety at the first sowing date for sunflower was 6.23 t/ha. During the second period it decreased to 6.20 t/ha, the third and fourth – to 6,01 t/ha.

Grain and malt quality of selected winter barley genetic resources

The present study evaluated the agronomic and malting quality of 18 selected winter barley varieties. The varieties were obtained from the Gene Bank of the Crop Research Institute in Prague-Ruzyně. The varieties were tested under field conditions in three-year trials of basic evaluation. After the harvest, grain was malted and malting quality was determined according to international methods (EBC and MEBAK). The highest extract content was found in the Atlantick variety (80.6%). Proteolytic modification of the varieties Absolut, KWS Ariane and the line QK19/08030A_18 was at an optimal level. Values of diastatic power were high in all varieties, which is typical for winter barley varieties, similarly as low levels of cell wall degradation (friability) and high β-glucan content in the sweet wort. The lowest β-glucan content in the sweet wort was recorded in the two-row winter barley variety KWS Ariane (241 mg/l). Of the six-row varieties, the line QK19/08030A_18 had the lowest β-glucan content in the sweet wort (382 mg/l).

Genotypic and environmental effects on quality and nutritional attributes of Moroccan barley cultivars and elite breeding lines.

Although barley is mainly used for livestock feed and beverages, its use as human feed can enrich human diets with some health benefits. The development of new hulless varieties rich in β-glucans and micronutrients can enhance the use of barley as food, but little is known about the effects of the environment on these nutritional traits. In this study, we evaluated five Moroccan varieties and two elite breeding lines of barley at four locations in Morocco during the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 cropping seasons. The results showed highly significant differences between genotypes for β-glucan, protein, iron, and selenium contents, as well as 1000 kernel weight, but not zinc content; significant to highly significant differences between environments for all traits except β-glucan content; and significant to highly significant interactions for all traits. The highest level of β-glucan content has reached 11.57% observed at the Sidi El Aydi site during the growing season 2017-2018 for the hulless variety Chifaa. This variety has shown the highest content of β-glucan (6.2-11.57%) over all environments except at Tassaout during the 2016-2017 seasons. The breeding line M9V5 has achieved significantly higher protein content at all the locations during the two growing seasons, ranging from 12.38 to 20.14%. Most hulless lines had significantly higher β-glucan and protein contents, but lower 1000 kernel weight. For micronutrients, the content ranges were 28.94 to 38.23 ppm for Fe, 28.78 to 36.49 ppm for Zn, and 0.14 to 0.18 ppm for Se, with the highest content for Fe and Zn shown by the breeding line M9V5 and Chifaa showing average contents of 33.39 ppm, 35.34 ppm, and 0.18 ppm for Fe, Zn, and Se, respectively. The GGE biplot confirmed the high and relatively stable content of β-glucan and acceptable micronutrient contents of the Chifaa variety and identified Marchouch as the most discriminant site to breed for biofortified barley varieties.

Enhancing Food Security Through Identification of Best Performing Barley Cultivars under Arid Conditions

Background: Plant genetic diversity is the key to the development of new crop varieties for enhanced crop production and improvement of food security. Barley is one of the most dependable cereal crop under saline and drought conditions and used majorly in feed, food and malting industry. The growth and yield of barley is highly influenced by the production environment and genotype. Methods: The study evaluated the growth and yield performance of fourteen barley genotypes under Kuwait’s environmental conditions. The field trials were conducted in Kuwait for two successive seasons 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Result: The combined analysis of variance has shown that plant height, number of tillers/m2, number of days to heading, hundred kernel weight, grain and biomass yield varied significantly between the fourteen different barley varieties. Similarly, all the parameters varied significantly between the years except hundred kernel weight. In addition, an interaction was observed between genotype and year, for all parameters except hundred kernel weight, biomass yield and number of tillers/m2. Taking into consideration the two growing seasons, the varieties Kuwait 3 and Kuwait 4 presented superior performance over other varieties in terms of grain and biomass yield under Kuwait’s harsh environmental conditions.

Response of salt stress resistance in highland barley (Hordeum vulgare L. var. nudum) through phenylpropane metabolic pathway.

Highland barley (Hordeum vulgare L. var. nudum) is a grain crop that grows on the plateau under poor and high salt conditions. Therefore, to cultivate high-quality highland barley varieties, it is necessary to study the molecular mechanism of strong resistance in highland barley, which has not been clearly explained. In this study, a high concentration of NaCl (240 mmol/L), simulating the unfavorable environment, was used to spray the treated highland barley seeds. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that the expression of more than 8,000 genes in highland barley seed cells was significantly altered, suggesting that the metabolic landscape of the cells was deeply changed under salt stress. Through the KEGG analysis, the phenylpropane metabolic pathway was significantly up-regulated under salt stress, resulting in the accumulation of polyphenols, flavonoids, and lignin, the metabolites for improving the stress resistance of highland barley seed cells, being increased 2.71, 1.22, and 1.17 times, respectively. This study discovered that the phenylpropane metabolic pathway was a significant step forward in understanding the stress resistance of highland barley, and provided new insights into the roles of molecular mechanisms in plant defense.

Effect of PEG induced drought stress on Genetic diversity using SDS-PAGE and ISSR markers for Egyptian barley varieties

Effect of PEG induced drought stress on Genetic diversity using SDS-PAGE and ISSR markers for Egyptian barley varieties

Substitution of Nitrogen and Phosphorous by Bio-Inoculants and Their Effect on Growth Parameters, Yield Attributes and Yield of Barley

A field experiment was conducted during Rabi season of 2022-2023 at Rajoula Agriculture farm, of Mahatma Gandhi Chitrakoot Gramodaya Vishwavidyalaya Chitrakoot, Satna (M.P.). The present experiment having 13 treatment combinations replicated thrice in randomized block design. Barley variety HUV-113 was grown with recommended agronomic practices. On the basis of the results emanated from present investigation, it could be concluded that application of T11 [100 % N & P + PSB + Azotobacter + 100 % K] significantly recorded maximum growth parameters of barley such as plant population plot-1 (41.56 m-2), plant height (91.78 cm), and number of tillers (87.74) and maximum yield attributing characters such as no. of spike (73.38 m-2), spike weight plant-1 (51.20), number of spikelet (256.19) and test weight (45.76 g). Similarly highest grain yield (40.19 q ha-1) and straw yield (62.71 q ha-1), with application of treatment T11 [100 % N & P + PSB + Azotobacter + 100 % K] in comparison to all the treatments. While minimum value of all the growth parameters, yield components and yield were associated with the treatment T1 [Control].

Yield and Agronomic Performance of Food Barley Varieties in Southern Ethiopia Highlands

Yield and Agronomic Performance of Food Barley Varieties in Southern Ethiopia Highlands

Performances and nutritional values of a new hooded barley (cv. Mochona) and a high yield triticale (cv. Titania) as hay or silage for sheep under Mediterranean conditions

The hooded barley phenotype produces an extra sterile flower in spikelets instead of awns. Hence, it might improve the nutritive value of the whole plant. The aim of this work was to evaluate a new variety of hooded barley (cv. Mochona) and a high yield triticale (cv. Titania) harvested and processed as hay and silage during 2 consecutive years for sheep. Digestibility was determined using 32 ewes which were distributed in 2 balanced groups by treatment, and fed with hay and silage sequentially. Results showed differences in the chemical composition of hay and silage according to harvesting year, but no differences were found on voluntary intake by year, species, or their interaction. Both forages showed high sheep fill values (sFV) either as hay or as silage (2.65 ± 0.030 and 3.09 ± 0.042 sFV/kg DM, on average, respectively). Impact on apparent nutrient digestibility coefficients varied according to preservation method, the digestibility of hays being mainly affected by the harvesting year, and that of silages by species. Digestible undegradable protein values were greater in hooded barley than in triticale for silages. In conclusion, marked compositional differences between years, but slight differences between species, were observed. Consequently, intake was similar, although triticale revealed slightly greater nutritive values than hooded barley. The obtained values for hooded barley as forage were greater than those reported in the literature for common fodder barley.

Photosynthetic activity of winter barley crops (Hordeum vulgare L.) depending on mineral nutrition and biostimulators

Barley in Ukraine has always been and is the leading fodder crop, the grain of which is the most balanced in terms of amino acid composition. The use of mineral fertilizers remains the most influential and necessary factor in increasing plant productivity and an effective means of preserving soil fertility. The goal is to determine the indicators of the leaf surface area of barley plants and the photosynthetic activity of winter barley varieties depending on the complex application of doses of mineral fertilizers and biological preparations in the conditions of Right-Bank Forest Steppe. The highest indicators of the leaf surface area of winter barley plants were recorded in the areas where mineral fertilizers were applied; foliar top dressing with nitrogen fertilizers was carried out, and the biological preparation Agrinos B was applied. With the introduction of mineral fertilizers and biological preparation N10P26K26 + N46 + N8 + Agrinos B, 1.0 l/ha in the phase of the beginning of emergence into the tube, the leaf surface area of plants in the earing phase was the highest, in Atlant Myronivskyi variety — 58.30 thousand m2/ha, which is by 25.68 thousand m2/ha more than the control plots, PASO barley variety — 61.13 thousand m2/ha, which is more than the control plots by 27.71 thousand m2/ha. On average, during the three years of research, when applying a dose of N10P26K26 + N34 fertilizers in top dressing in the phase of the beginning of tillering, the photosynthetic potential of the Atlant Myronivsky winter barley variety was 1.76 million g/m2 per day, the PASO variety, respectively, 1.90 million g/m2 per day, which is more than the control areas by 0.58– 0.69 million g/m2 per day. The highest indicators of net productivity were noted on the plots where mineral fertilizers and biopreparation N10P26K26 + N46 + N8 + Agrinos B were applied, 1.0 l/ha in the phase of the beginning of emergence into the tube, variety Atlant Myronivskyi — 3.04 g/m2 per day, variety PASO 3.12 g/m2 per day.

Economic efficiency of growing winter barley in the Southern Steppe zone of Ukraine under the influence of variety and biological preparations

The relevance of the article lies in the determination of the most optimal varieties and biopreparations that ensure high yield and profitability of growing winter barley. The purpose of the research was to determine the main indicators of the economic efficiency of the elements of the technology of growing winter barley for foliar fertilizing of plants in the main periods of vegetation with biological preparations. When conducting research, generally accepted methods were used: systematic approach and systematic analysis, field and statistical. The article provides data on the economic efficiency of the elements of winter barley cultivation technology based on the results of research conducted with four varieties of the crop in the conditions of the Educational and Scientific Practical Center of the Mykolaiv National Agrarian University in 2016-2019. The impact of variety selection, foliar fertilizing with modern bacterial preparations on the main indicators of the economic efficiency of growing winter barley was analysed. It was established that the cost of the grown grain depended on and changed under the influence of the features of the variety, biological preparation and the number of fertilizing. Obtaining the maximum cost of grain ensured the cultivation of winter barley varieties Valkyrie and Oscar for carrying out foliar feeding in the phase of tillering and emergence of plants in the tube with the biological preparation Organic Balance: 26.5 and 26.3 thousand hryvnias/ha, respectively. The same varieties, in case of two-time fertilization with Azotophyt, formed the value of grain at 25 thousand UAH/ha, and in controls – 20.1 and 21.1 thousand UAH/ha, respectively. Indicators of conditional net profit and level of profitability also changed with a similar dependence. Values of the cost of growing a unit of production of winter barley had the opposite dependence. The obtained scientific research results and definitions will contribute to the cultivation of winter barley on the basis of resource conservation with the use of biological preparations to increase productivity and the main factors of economic efficiency

Modification of the Malting Process of Barley Grains of Different Varieties by Vacuum Impregnation and Its Effect on Selected Wort Parameters

This study used the process of vacuum impregnation of seeds at the soaking stage. The barley varieties used were Kangoo and Xanadu. The raw material was used for the production of light malt. The effect of vacuum impregnation on the rate of water uptake by the seeds at different temperature conditions, i.e., 12, 14 and 16 °C, was also analyzed. Grain destined for malt was soaked in a water–air system. The germination (malting) stage lasted 8 days at temperatures of 12, 14 and 16 °C. Each sample was then dried using the traditional convection method. After a 3-month resting period, congress wort was produced from the malt. The wort parameters studied were the viscosity index and the wort extract content. The malt extract difference was also defined. Based on the results, it was concluded that the vacuum impregnation process significantly increases the absorption of water by the grain and thus shortens the soaking and germination stage of the seeds. Grain variety has a strong influence on extract content and wort viscosity. Malting temperature only affects the viscosity index. The most important correlations of the parameters studied were noted for the number of days the grains were malted.

Barley and Malt as Base Ingredients for the Production of New Bio-Functional Foods

This work aimed to evaluate the chemical composition, bioactive compounds (phenolics and γ-aminobutyric acid, GABA), and antioxidant properties of different barley varieties (Overture, Charles, Sinfonía, Montoya, and Andreia) and their malts to weigh up them as potential ingredients for producing new bio-functional foods. For this, five barleys and five malts obtained from them were studied. Regarding chemical composition, total starch was the main component (≈62%) of barleys followed by total dietary fiber (≈22.6%) and proteins (≈9.5%). Potassium and phosphorus were the most abundant elements, with mean values being 3746.1 and 3679.1 g 100g<sup>-1</sup>d.w., respectively. Regarding the free amino acid profile, the proportion of hydrophobic free amino acids was higher than that of branched-chain amino acids or sulfur-containing amino acids and the mean value of GABA was 8.8 mg 100g<sup>-1</sup>. Ferulic acid was the most abundant free phenolic acid detected in the different barleys, followed by coumaric acid. All barley extracts showed ABTS and DPPH inhibitory activities and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). As expected, total starch, total dietary fiber, and crude fat contents of malts were lower than those found for barley. However, the malting process increased GABA, ferulic acid, hydrophobic free amino acids, branched-chain amino acids, and sulfur amino acid contents. Additionally, the antioxidant properties of malts were higher than those obtained for barleys. Barley flour could be successfully used as a bio-functional ingredient in many foods. Furthermore, given the high content of soluble solids (mainly carbohydrates, antioxidant compounds such as free phenolic acids and free amino acids, and GABA), malted flours would be novel ingredients for preparing beverages with bio-functional properties.

Polyamines in Canadian barley grains: Determination of their content and relationship with protein level

Barley is one of the important crops with diverse end-use purposes. In every use of barley grains, the protein fraction plays an important function impacting the quality of final products. Polyamines, having multiple nitrogen atoms in their chemical structure (e.g., putrescine, spermidine, and spermine), may be linked to the levels of protein and nitrogen reserves. In this study, thirteen Canadian barley varieties were characterized for their total polyamines and protein content. The effects of extractants on the extractability of polyamines were considered, and HCl (1 M) was found to be more effective than trichloroacetic acid (5% w/v) in extracting free polyamines from whole barley flour. The total polyamines content of barley grains varied from 6.46 to 11.47 mg/100 g dry basis and spermidine was the most abundant. Polyamine represented 0.045–0.071% w/w grain protein. Significant and positive correlations were found between protein content and levels of total polyamines (r = 0.798), putrescine (r = 0.771), and spermine (r = 0.668). Principal Component Analysis and K-Means Cluster Analysis divided the barley samples into one cluster (hulless barley for food) differentiated from the other (hulled barley for malting and feed) by their superiority in polyamine and protein content.

Estimation of productivity, protein percentage in grain and hoodness of spring barley varieties in the conditions of the middle Volga region

Taking into account the main purposes of barley use (food, feed, brewing), one of the main tasks is to develop highly productive and high-quality varieties with specified grain protein parameters that meet Russian and international standards for targeted use, since the requirements for protein percentage in grain are different. The purpose of the current study was to estimate the productivity and protein percentage in grain of spring barley varieties, to identify correlations between productivity, protein percentage and grain hoodness. There has been established that, depending on the weather conditions of the vegetation period, the yield decrease of spring barley grain from 3.96 t/ha to 1.56 t/ha during the years of study was due to a decrease in productive tillering, grain weight per head, and number of grains per head. According to the results of the correlation analysis, barley productivity did not depend on 1000-grain weight. On average, in 2018–2022, the largest productivity was formed by the barley varieties ‘Kholzan’ with 2.93 t/ha and ‘Sarych’ with 2.88 t/ha. There has been identified a group of such varieties with an increased amount of protein, regardless of the weather conditions of the vegetation period as ‘Lun’, ‘Prairiya’, ‘Bezenchuksky 2’, ‘Kholzan’, ‘Orlan’, with the maximum protein percentage of 14.5 % formed by the variety ‘Lun’. These spring barley varieties are suitable for food (cereals) and feed purposes. There has been established that the maximum percentage of protein substances was formed in very dry years (17.0 % by the variety ‘Lun’). There has been found a significant inverse correlation between grain productivity and protein content only in years with contrasting weather conditions, namely in the extremely dry 2021 (–0.65*) and in the favorable for plant growth and development 2022 (–0.60*). There was seen a similar situation between protein percentage and grain hoodness with –0.66* in 2021 and –0.73** in 2022. On average, over the years of study, there was no significant correlation between these indicators, which demonstrates the possibility of breeding highly productive spring barley varieties with protein percentage in grain at the level of existing standards.

New spring barley variety ‘Stepnyak’

The purpose of the current study was to develop a new spring barley variety that can form consistently large productivity in different soil and climatic conditions, including regions with frequent droughts. As a result of breeding work at the experimental breeding station ‘Prikumskaya’, a branch of the FSBRI “North Caucasus FRAC”, there was developed a new spring barley variety ‘Stepnyak’ in 2009–2020. The new genotype was obtained as a result of intraspecific hybridization, followed by individual selection from the hybrid population of Nutans g-74840 (EBS ‘Prikumskaya’, a branch of the FSBRI “North Caucasus FRAC”) and Special (ICARDA, Syria). According to maturation terms, the variety belongs to the group of middle maturing varieties. The vegetation period lasts from 75 to 87 days. The new variety has high drought and heat resistance, resistance to lodging and damage by net blotch. During 2020–2022 at the EBS ‘Prikumskaya’, the new variety ‘Stepnyak’, in comparison with the standard, was characterized by a higher productive stem stand with 353 pcs/m2 (+9 pcs. to the standard), number of grain peer head with 21 pcs. (+6 pieces to the standard) and grain yield per total mass of a plant 39.1% (+4.5 % to the standard). The mean variety productivity in the Competitive Variety Testing was 2.42 t/ha and was higher than that of the standard variety ‘Strannik’ on 0.32 t/ ha (15.2 %). The high adaptation of the new variety to changing environmental conditions makes it possible to form a stable productivity increase to the standard variety ‘Strannik’. In 2020, at the EBS ‘Prikumskaya’, with a significant moisture deficit, the variety ‘Stepnyak’ exceeded productivity of the standard variety on 0.30 t/ha. In a more favorable 2021 and 2022 the yield increase varied from 0.24 to 0.43 t/ha. When studying the variety in the Kalmyk Research Institute of Agriculture (in 2021 and 2022), the yield increase to the standard variety ‘Strannik’ was 0.25 t/ha (12.8 %). During the years of the State Variety Testing (2021 and 2022) in the North Caucasus and Low Volga regions, the new variety ‘Stepnyak’ exceeded productivity of the standard on 0.17–0.18 t/ha, respectively. In 2023, the variety ‘Stepnyak’ was included in the State List of Breeding Achievements and recommended for cultivation in the North Caucasus and Lower Volga regions.

Impact of varied NPK fertilizer application rates and seed quantities on barley yield and soil nutrient availability in chestnut soil of Azerbaijan

In the Gobustan district of Azerbaijan, the cultivation of barley is influenced by a complex interplay of soil properties, climate change effects, and agricultural practices. This study explores the impact of varying NPK fertilizer application rates and seed quantities, under natural climatic conditions, on barley yield and soil nutrient availability within Chestnut soils. The district's unique Chestnut soils, combined with evolving precipitation patterns due to climate change and the role of agricultural irrigation, create intricate challenges for successful barley farming. The experiment, conducted from 2016 to 2019, utilized a randomized complete block design with four replications to investigate the "Celilabad-19" barley variety. The results reveal a significant positive correlation between nitrogen application and grain yield. Notably, treatment 140-N60P45K45 (140 kg seed rate, 60 kg N/ha, 45 kg P/ha and 45 kg K/ha) demonstrated the highest average grain yield of 5.14 t/ha. The years 2017-2018 exhibited higher yields, possibly due to favorable climate conditions. Soil analyses indicated that higher NPK application rates led to elevated soil nutrient levels. However, nutrient content declined as plants progressed through growth stages, emphasizing the dynamic nutrient exchange between plants and soil. This study underscores the importance of adaptive agricultural strategies that consider climate variability and changing environmental conditions. The findings offer insights into sustainable cultivation practices essential for food security and crop production in the evolving climate of the Gobustan district.

Evaluation of Improved Malt Barley Varieties in North Shewa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

Malting barley is barley that will produce high quality malt. It is a specialty crop for which a premium price is paid by domestic maltters and exporters. Quality requirements for malting barley are reasonably strict and are directly related to processing efficiency and product quality in the malting and brewing industries. Many of the characteristics required are under the control of the producer. Others are determined by weather conditions during the growing and harvesting season. So this trial was conducted on eleven improved malt barley varieties at Fitche Agricultural Research Center for two consecutive years with the objective to identify adaptable, stable, high yielding and its malting potential. The experiment was layout in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Nine agronomic traits data and four major malt quality parameters were evaluated. Analysis of variance detected significant difference among varieties for most observed traits both separated and combined analysis. Observation attained significant differences over years and locations for most traits. The combine ANOVA and the AMMI analysis for grain yield across environments revealed significantly affected by environments that hold 40.42% of the total variation. Genotype and genotype by environmental interaction were significant and accounted 38.11 % and 19.10 % respectively. Principal component 1 and 2 accounted 10. 9 % and 4.19 % of the GEI respectively with a total of 15.09 % variation, the interaction effect of variety by year and variety by location imposed significant effect on most traits. Among evaluated varieties; Singiten and EH1847 had significantly higher mean value of grain yield. Malt quality parameters were conducted in the laboratory of Food Technology and Process Engineering at Holleta Agricultural research center. The mean values of malt quality parameter had malt hot water extract, malt Friability, malt protein content and malt beta-glucan, 78.32%, 58.42%, 10.27% and 492.13mg/L respectively. The results obtained showed that most malt quality had differences among the varieties and some of the results found were within the acceptable limit of EBC (European Brewery Convention) standard even if a single variety may not fulfill all the quality requirements. Based on these findings, the Traveler and the HB1963 varieties fulfill some of the quality parameters that are specified in the EBC range.

Composition and Functional Properties of Ice Cream Made From Two Barley Varieties

Composition and Functional Properties of Ice Cream Made From Two Barley Varieties

Androgenic response of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) varieties and lines – sources of high grain protein content

Aim. Protein content is known to be one of the most important characters of grain quality. Investigation was aimed to determine the capability to haploid production in anther culture in vitro of spring barley accessions which are the sources of high protein content in grain. Methods. Infrared spectroscopy was used for evaluation of variability of barley genotypes in protein content. Anthers isolated from cold-pretreated spikes were cultivated on agar solidified nutrient medium containing N6 macro-and MS micronutrients, physiologically active substances and maltose (9.0 %). Results. Three years testing showed that mean grain protein contents in six spring barley accessions varied from 12.6 to 19.1 %. Commercial variety Yavir, accessions IR06605 and DD-21 from germplasm collection of the National Plant Gene Pool of Ukraine were selected as genotypes with a stable expression of this char-acter. Response to androgenesis in vitro varied from 6.9 to 45.9 % of morphogenic anthers and from 0.64 до 14.7 green plants per 100 cultivated anthers in dependence of genotype and donor plant growth conditions. Conclusions. Because of association between high protein content in grains and a relatively high androgenic response, varieties Velikan and Yavir were considered to be the most valuable ones for use in spring barley breeding for improvement of protein content via anther culture in vitro.