Characterization and selection of new awnless forage barley genotypes for northern and central mexico

Abstract

Dry matter yield and its fractions (stems, leaves and spikes), leaf/stem ratio, plant height and phenological stage of 36 awnless barley F7 lines, plus two commercial controls (triticale cv Eronga 83 and barley cv Cerro prieto), were evaluated in three environments (Torreón, Coahuila, Navidad, Nuevo León, and Celaya, Guanajuato) in central and northern Mexico. Experimental design was a randomly complete block design with three replicates. Data generated by locations and cycles (i.e. environments) were analyzed as a randomly block combined over environments. The genotype averages were used in a principal components analysis and a cluster analysis. The genotype x environment interaction had no effect on dry matter yield, and was different (P<0.05) between genotypes. The multivariate analyses effectively separated the awnless from the awned genotypes mainly based on dry matter yield and precocity, which favored the barleys. The awnless barley genotypes were clustered into three groups with potential for forage production, with genotypes 33, 19, 10 and 34 outyielding others with production greater than 12 t ha-1. The evaluated new awnless forage barley genotypes constitute a feasible alternative for winter forage production. Their precocity and productivity are important in areas with restricted water use, and allow barley to be included in annual forage crop rotation schemes.