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Determination of ontogenetic selection criteria for grain yield in spring barley (<i>Hordeum vulgare</i>) by pathcoefficient analysis


B Deniz
Z Kavurmaci
M Topal

Abstract

Path-coefficient analysis was performed to determine the interrelationships among grain yield, yield components (spike number per m-2, kernel number per spike, average kernel weight) and some
phenological characteristics (duration and growing degree-days of vegetative and grain-filling periods) in spring barley genotypes in 2004-2005. Grain yield depended mainly on spike number per m-2 and
kernel number per spike; average kernel weight had a negligible effect on grain yield in spring barley genotypes. Grain yield was significantly and positively associated with the spike number per m-2 and
negatively correlated with other characteristics studied. Spike number per m-2 had considerable negative effect on the average kernel weight. A lengthening of the grain-filling period induced an increase in the average kernel weight and a positive and significant correlation was found between the two characteristics. Spike number per m-2 and kernel number had positive direct effects on grain yield in spring barley genotypes. The growing degree-days (GDD) for vegetative period had significant positive direct effect on kernel number, and the GDD for grain-filling period had significant positive direct effect on kernel weight. The results indicated that spike number per m-2, kernel number per spike and the GDD for vegetative and grain filling period were the most reliable selection criteria for improving grain yield in spring barley in cool and short-season environments.

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eISSN: 1684-5315