GENETIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL VARIATION OF BARLEY CHARACTERISTICS AND THE POTENTIAL OF LOCAL ORIGIN GENOTYPES FOR FOOD PRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to evaluate the genetic and environmental variation of yield and food quality characteristics (protein, starch, _β-glucan and husk content, test weight and thousand grain weight) of covered and hulless barley genotypes in organic management conditions. Two different field experiments were carried out. In the first experiment, hulless barley genotypes Kornelija , Irbe , 1165 , 1185 and the covered varieties Ansis and Maali were studied in two locations in Latvia and in one location in Estonia during 2014. Ansis , ‘Kornelija , 1165 and 1185 were included in the second experiment carried out at Stende during three sequential years (2011–2013). The effect of genotype, environment (location and year) and co-effect of these factors contributed significantly to the variation in yield and grain quality traits of the barley genotypes. As a result of experimental treatments grain yield and quality traits varied by all tested factors. There were considerable differences in impact of studied sources of variation. Grain yield was influenced more by environmental factors than by genotype. Impact of genotype was highest for husk content and test weight. Integral evaluation method was carried out for comparison of barley genotypes to identify the best ones by the lowest deviation from the desired value. The covered barley variety Maali showed good adaptation to different environmental conditions, having good yield, _β-glucan content and high thousand grain weight. The line 1165 and variety Kornelija showed best results among hulless barley varieties.