Phenotypic Diversity for Qualitative Characters of Some Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Germplasm

Abstract

Barley is believed to have originated in Abyssinia (Ethiopia) and Southeast Asia .Sixty four barley genotypes were tested in 8x8 simple lattice design at Atsbi, Ofla and Quiha environments in Tigray region, in 2009/10. The overall objective was to determine the nature and degree of variability in morpho- agronomic traits of barley germplasm. Three types of seed/kernel colors, as quality criteria observed were white, tan/red and black in the percentage of 96.87%, except the genotypes Eritrea07 1, and ISEBON 14 with a seed color of tan red and black respectively added to the variability of 1.56% each. From this study, 60.69 % found as two-row type, 31.26% six-row types and 7.81% irregular type across locations. It was observed that from these barley genotypes had a spike density of which 6.25% were lax, 64.06% intermediate and 29.69% dense. All the testing entries were awnletted and the caryopsis or kernel covering with a percentage of the genotypes were, 21.88%, 10.94% and 65.64% stands for naked, semi-covered and covered types respectively across locations. The phenotypic diversity index values for qualitative traits ranged from 0.0 (monomorphic) for lemma/ hood to 0.86 high polymorphic for row number, for awn color (H’= 0.71), kernel covering (H’=0.84) and spike density (H’=0.82) revealed the highest diversity. Glume color (H’=0.34) and gain color (H’=0.16), relatively showed the lowest diversity