Genetic analyses of malting quality attributes and SREG biplot study of high input-north western Indian environments in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Abstract

15 advance barley genotypes were evaluated at 9 different agro-ecologies of north western India to assess the genotype by environment crossovers, identify discriminating and representative environments for malt barley and vis-a-vis study of variation, effectiveness and inter-relationship among malting quality traits. Average diastatic power and β-glucan were exhibited as 109.45^oL and 4.51%, which ranged from 102.30-114.00^oL and 3.10-6.30%, respectively. Hot water extract, Kolbach index and grain protein content were ranged from 79.30-81.70%, 39.00-41.00 and 9.40-12.00%, respectively. Diastatic power, β-glucan, grain protein content, hot water extract, hectolitre weight and 1000 grain weight were revealed effective in different principal components. The highest correlation coefficient was depicted r=0.85 (hectolitre weight and germinative energy) followed by r=0.83 (hectolitre weight and malt friability), r=0.70 (malt friability and germinative energy) etc. The pooled mean grain yield across the locations was exhibited as 45.38 q/ha., which ranged from 35.58 q/ha to 62.20 q/ha. The 9 locations were grouped into four mega environments and Durgapura location depicted the separate mega environment. The environments Navgaon and Modipuram were discriminating and representative, while the locations Karnal, Bawal, Durgapura and Bhatinda were also informative under high input agro-ecologies of north western Indian plains.