Barley genotypes satisfying different needs in drylands, marginal lands and uncultivated areas [Hordeum vulgare]
1993
Hadjichristodoulou, A. (Agricultural Research Inst., Nicosia (Cyprus))
In selecting barley genotypes for each agroclimatic region it is necessary to study the complex genotype x environment interactions, especially those environmental factors which are unpredictable in magnitude and nature. Long term studies showed that it is possible to select genotypes, the high performance of which is affected by environment less than that of other genotypes (consistently high-yielding genotypes). Also, an analytical procedure is proposed, through which such genotypes can be selected, on the basis of plasticity or stability of adaptive traits. Consistently high-yielding barley genotypes must have a high and stable number of tillers per m2, a heading date falling within the optimum range for each region, long awns, and stable disease resistance. The effects of important adaptive traits such as plant height and 1000-grain weight are under investigation. Barley can fit into different farming systems, as grain crop, grazing crop or hay crop. Special varieties can be developed for these uses. Also, unexploited pasture lands in dry zones (less than 250 mm rainfall), hilly or rocky areas could be put into economic production by the low-input self-regenerating pasture barley which has been developed by crossing wild barley, Hordeum spontaneum, with H. vulgare. Thus, in addition to tolerance to several stresses, special barley genotypes may be developed which make optimum use of the available resources and even exploit areas that cannot be used under traditional systems
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