Ethiopian barley landraces show higher yield stability and comparable yield to improved varieties in multi-environment field trials

Abstract

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is a major food crop in Ethiopia. A high inter-annual rainfall variability, concomitant variable planting dates and unpredictable drought stress at any time during the rainy season are severe constraints to barley production in Ethiopia. To study genotype by environment (G x E) interactions and grain yield stability, 18 barley genotypes (three landraces and 15 improved cultivars) were evaluated for yield and flowering time in two locations (Ambo and Jimma) and four staggered sowing dates over two years (2012-2013) giving a total of 16 environments. It was observed a wide phenotypic variation over environments for both grain yield (677-2,944 kg ha-1) and days to 50% flowering (63-82 days). Considering the 18 genotypes and 16 environments, both genotype (G) and G x E interaction variance components were highly significant for grain yield, with a ratio of approximately 1:1. The G x E analysis revealed that the first two interaction principal component axes (IPCA1 and IPC2) in an additive main effect and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) model explained 66.1% of the total G x E interaction for grain yield (P < 0.001). Of the 16 environments, 12 grouped into two clusters which largely corresponded to test locations. The tested genotypes revealed a wide variation for both static and dynamic yield stability measures. Compared to improved cultivars, farmers' landraces displayed higher average static stability (e.g. IPCA1; P = 0.017) and similar superiority indices (dynamic stability). These landraces are therefore a source of germplasm for breeding resilient barley cultivars. Staggered planting proved to be a useful method for evaluating genotype stability across environmental factors beyond location and season.

Evaluation of Improved Food Barley (&lt;i&gt;Hordeum vulgare&lt;/i&gt; L.) Varieties in the Highland Areas of Kaffa Zone, Southwestern Ethiopia

“…The highest mean value from the averaged grain yield (Table 3) was also obtained from Diribe (4.6 tons ha -1 ) followed by HB-42 (3.5 tons ha -1 ) unlike the lowest average recorded for Ardu-1260B (2.1 tons ha -1 ). This result is supported by the finding of the same study which reported that genotypes differ in grain yield [11]. Var= variety, DH= days to 50% heading, DM= days to 95% physiological maturity, PH= plant height, GY=grain yield, TKW= 1000 kernel weight; Mean values within a column followed by the same letter (s) are not significantly different at 5% level of probability…”

“…However, the result of the averaged data of the two years (Table 3) revealed that Hb-42, Dimtu and Ardu-1260B took statistically similar longest duration (77.3, 75.3 and 74.7 days, respectively), unlike the shortest days exhibited by Dinsho (58.5 days) and Dafo (59.0 days). It was similarly reported that genotypes differ in days to 50% heading [11].…”

“…Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is a major cereal crop in Ethiopia and accounts for 8% of the total cereal production [11]. It is grown in a wide range of agro climatic regions under several production systems.…”

Phenotypic and Physiological Evaluation of Two and Six Rows Barley under Different Environmental Conditions

“…Barley is the fourth most important cereal crop after wheat, rice, and maize [ 2 ]. Barley can be used as a nutritional source for both humans and livestock [ 3 ]. Moreover, barley grain contains about 20% of dietary fiber and β-glucan, which varies between 3–7% [ 4 ].…”

Graphical analysis of adaptability of spring barley breeding lines in the Central Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine

“…Äëÿ îö³íêè ñòàá³ëüíîãî ð³âíÿ ïðîÿâó âðî-aeàéíîñò³ ñåëåêö³éíèé ìàòåð³àë òà ñîðòè âè-ïðîáîâóþòü ó êîíòðàñòíèõ ðîêàõ [1,2], ð³ç-íèõ åêîëîã³÷íèõ çîíàõ [3,4] àáî øòó÷íî ñòâîðåíèõ ïðîâîêàö³éíèõ óìîâàõ [5][6][7]. Íà îñíîâ³ ÷èñëåííèõ ë³òåðàòóðíèõ äaeåðåë òà âëàñíèõ åêñïåðèìåíòàëüíèõ äîñë³äaeåíü Â. Â. Ñþêîâ òà ³í.…”