Productivity structure of new genotypes and perspective lines of winter malting barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Abstract

The long phenological development of the cereals determines the great variety of factors, which influence the vegetative growth and the formation of their productivity. A priority of the contemporary agricultural practices is the better balance between the agro ecological, biological and technological elements and the higher profitability of production, while limiting the unfavorable effects on the environment. In this relation, breeding is faced with the problem of developing cultivars which can efficiently utilize the nutrients from soil and at a later stage convert them into grain yield. The aim of this investigation was to determine the productivity structure of new genotypes and perspective lines of winter malting barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), developed at Agricultural Institute - Karnobat and Dobrudzha Agricultural Institute - General Toshevo, as well as the correlation between grain yield and its components. The investigation was carried out during cropping seasons 2014 – 2016, which were very different with regard to the combination of meteorological factors. All investigated components of the formed shoot mass, which contributed to the realization of the biological yield potential of the malting barley cultivars, were influenced by the meteorological conditions of the respective year, by the specificity of the cultivar and by their interaction. It was found that the year conditions had determining role for the formation of the biological potential of the leaves, stems, spike and grain. The cultivar had a dominant role for the formation of the number of spikes per ha, the total shoot mass, 1000 kernel weight, the weight of the non-grain part of the spike and its percent from the weight of spike, respectively the weight of grain. By the grain yield formed, all tested materials exceeded the standard Kaskadyor 3. The exceeding varied from 9.02 % in cultivar Yaspis to 52.58 % in line 1015-127. Cultivars Asparuh, Deviniya and Ahat also had high mean productivity, exceeding the standard with 47.56 %, 45. 56% and 41.41%, respectively. High positive correlations were found between grain yield and spike yield, GHI, weight of grain per spike, weight of 1000 grain, NGPS and total mass. The investigated winter malting barley cultivars, regardless of their breeding location, possess high productivity potential and are suitable for growing in the region of Dobrudzha.