Evaluation of yield and stability of spring barley mutants of M5-M7 generations

Abstract

Yield is an important indicator when creating new varieties of crops. Seeking high and stable yields is considered essential in barley breeding. The stability of the studied genotypes was analyzed using various statistical indicators, namely, bᵢ, S²dᵢ, Wi2, σ2i, CV. The experiment was conducted to evaluate yield and stability of barley mutants of M5-M7 generations by parametric statistics. The experiment involved 40 mutants of spring barley belonging to the two-row subsp. distichon L. and six-row subsp. vulgare obtained after mutagenic treatment with phosphemide in two concentrations. The research was carried out in 2020‒2022 on the experimental plot of Federal Horticultural Center for Breeding, Agrotechnology and Nursery (Moscow region, Russia). Phenotypic manifestation of the considered traits and yield varied depending on the year of the experiment. Mutants G3, G5, G7, G16, G19, G20, G22, G23, G24, G27, G29, G33, G34, G40 were characterized by a statistically significant excess of control samples on the weight of 1000 grains. The yield of the studied mutants obtained from the Zernogradsky 813 sample was noted in the range of 282.0– 317.9 g/m2, Dz02-129 had 137.2–201.5 g/m2, C.I.10995 had 90.9–282.7 g/m2, a high variability of this trait was observed with the coefficient of variation equal to 71.02 – 152.42%. The highest value of pair correlation of yield was registered with grain weight per plant (r=0.370) and weight of 1000 grains (r=0.371). Strong conjugation was found between bi and CV (r=0.659); S²di and Wi 2 (r=0.885), σ2i (r=0.885); σ2i and Wi 2 (r=1.000). In addition, a close correlation of yield was noted with bᵢ (r=0.459), S²di (r=0.462), Wi2 (r=0.470), σ2 (r=0.470). Mutants G4, G28, G29 were characterized by relatively stable yields. The complex of economic traits combined with high yield potential was possessed by two-row G1, G2, G40 and multi-row G16, G23 to be recommended for use in the breeding process for high productivity.