Selection of barley genotypes using morpho-phenological traits under non-stress and terminal drought stress conditions

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Ph.D. Student, Department of Plant Production and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

2 Professor, Department of Plant Production and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

3 Research Assistant Professor, Department of Crop and Horticultural Science Research, Fars Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Darab, Iran

4 Research Assistant Professor, Seed and Plant Improvement Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran

Abstract

Introduction
Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is one of the world’s most important cereal crops adapted to a range of abiotic stresses, particularly drought, salinity, and cold. Because barley varieties are widley cultivated under arid and semi-arid regions, the selection and introduction of superior high-yielding drought-tolerant barley cultivars under these stressful conditions is important. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare promising barley genotypes based on morpho-phenological traits under non-stress and terminal drought stress conditions and select high-yielding drought-tolerant genotypes.

Materials and methods
In this study, 17 promising barley genotypes and four control genotypes (Including varieties of Auxin, Golchin and Norooz and promising line WB-99-10) were evaluated under two irrigation regimes (non-stress and terminal drought stress conditions) in a randomized complete block design with three replications over two cropping seasons (2002-2024) at the Darab Agricultural Research Station. Drought stress was applied by stopping irrigation at the spike emergence stage. The measured traits included of grain yield, number of spikes per square meter, number of grains per spike, grain weight per spike, thousand grains weight, length of grain filling period, spike length, awn length, plant height, number of days to heading, number of days to maturity, grain filling rate, the number of rows of spikes, type of awn, spike harvest index and spike fertility index. Principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis were used to grouping of genotypes, and the silhouette index was used to evaluate the optimal number of groups.
 
Research findings
Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among genotypes for all studied traits in both conditions, indicating substantial genetic diversity. Under non-stress conditions, genotypes 4, 21, and 20 yielded the highest grain yields (6406, 6343, and 6310 kg.ha-1, respectively), whereas under drought stress, genotypes 4, 20, and 16 led with 5122, 4849, and 4717 kg.ha-1. Drought stress caused the greatest relative declines in grain yield (24.6%), grain filling rate (22.6%), thousand grain weight (13.7%) grain weight per spike (13.5%), and spike weight (12.5%). Correlation analysis showed positive, significant associations between grain yield and days to maturity, grain-filling rate, spike harvest index and spike fertility index under both irrigation regimes, identifying them as reliable selection indices for drought tolerance. PCA grouped genotypes into three main clusters in each environment. However, silhouette index diagram classified all genotypes into two and four groups under non-stress and stress conditions, respectively. Based on cluster analysis under non-stress conditions, genotypes 9, 12, 13, 17, 18 and 19 were placed in group one and the other genotypes in group two, while under drought stress conditions, genotypes 12, 13 and 19 were placed in group one, genotypes 9, 17 and 18 in group two, genotypes 11 and 21 in group three and the other genotypes in group four.

Conclusion
In summary, PCA results were similar in the two irrigation regimes and most of the superior genotypes were in group two. PCA identified traits of days to maturity, grain-filling rate, grain yield, spike harvest index and spike fertility index as robust selection criteria under both stress and non-stress conditions. Based on cluster analysis under stress conditions, genotypes in group four were among the superior genotypes and had higher values than the total mean in terms of grain yield, grain filling rate, grain filling period, days to maturity, number of grains per spike and spike fertility index. Comparison of the selected genotypes in both cluster analysis and PCA methods showed strong agreement in grouping the studied genotypes. Overall, based on the results of this experiment, genotype number 4 can be recommended as a superior candidate for developing drought-tolerant genotypes in barley breeding programs.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Cereal Research
Volume 15, Issue 3 - Serial Number 56
October 2025
Pages 285-301

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