**Phenotypic Stability of Elite Barley Lines over Heterogeneous
Environments**

Nanak Chand^1^, S.R. Vishwakarma^1,\ 2^, O.P. Verma^1†^ and Manoj
Kumar^1,\ 3^

^1^Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, N.D. University of
Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Faizabad- 224229 (U.P), INDIA

^2^Correspondence address: Barley Breeder, Deptt. of Genetics and Plant
Breeding, Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology,
Kumarganj, Faizabad, UP, India; email- <vishwakarma_sr@rediffmail.com>,

^3^Present address: Research Scholar, PG 0614, Deptt. of Genetics and
Plant Breeding, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, BHU, Varanasi
221005, email- <manojsbhu07@gmail.com>

^†^ Additional author Email: <ompverma_2002@yahoo.co.in>

**ABSTRACT**

It is perceived that barley cultivation has flourished since 9000 years
ago. Due to versatile and hardy nature, barley is grown world wide for
staple food, industrial and medicinal uses. Barley is used in in form of
malt, beer, syrups, maltova, horlicks and delicious chocolates. Thirty
diverse elite lines of barley along with six checks were assessed in
three environments with two replications for three characters *i.e*.
1000-grain weight (g), harvest index (%) and grain yield per plant (g).
The genotypes x environment (G x E) interactions were significant for
all the traits studied. Among twenty three average yielding genotypes,
only sixteen genotypes showed suitability for wide adaptation. Better
phenotypic stability were observed in four genotypes *viz.,* RD2634,
RD2689, JB47 and RD2620 having high yield mean performance, bi=1 and
S^2^di=0. These were found promising for wide adaptation over sites
across environments. Twelve genotypes namely, JB42, NDB1401, Jyoti,
BH657, JB40, NDB1280, NDB1289, NDB1281, RD2552, RD2677, RD2683 and
Narendra Jau 3 had average mean performance with bi=1 and S^2^di=0
showing stability over wider range of environments. Only two genotypes
*viz.,* DWR51 and K792 associated with bi\<1 and S^2^di=0 was found
stability for poor environments. Thus, on the basis of mean performance
and stability parameters DWR51, JB42, NDB1401, NDB1289, RD2677, JB40,
RD2670, NDB1276, BH65, NDB1280, NDB1281, JB47, RD2552, RD2689, JB47 and
RD2634 were identified stable for most of the traits studied. These
genotypes may be utilized as a donor in barley improvement programme.

**Key words**: Barley (*Hordeum vulgare* L.), phenotypic stability, G x
E interaction, donors, heterogeneous environments.

**INTRODUCTION**

Barley (*Hordeum vulgare* L.) is grown under varying agro climatic
situations. It is an important crop grown worldwide for food, feed and
forage. Due to hardy nature, superior nutritional and medicinal
importance, barely is being considered as highly needed crop of present
era. It has superior nutritional qualities due to presence of
beta-glucan (an anticholesteral substance), acetylcholine (a substance
which nourishes our nervous system and recover memory loss), easy
digestibility (due to low gluten content) and high lysine, thiamin and
riboflavin. Barley food product provides cooling and soothering effect
in the body sustained for a longer time. Its alternate uses in malt and
beer industry and health tonics have proved that barley is an important
crop of present era. As breeders are developing new lines day by day but
their stability across sites over environments remains unknown. Thus,
some elite lines of barley collected from various coordinated units were
sorted out for their stability.

**MATERIALS AND METHODS**

The material used in this study included thirty diverse new advance
elite genotypes of barley with six checks. These elite lines of barley
were drawn from N.D. University of Agriculture & Technology, Kumarganj
(Faizabad), C.S.A. University of Agriculture & Technology (Kanpur),
Panjab Agriculture University (Ludhiana), Directorate of Wheat Research
(Karnal), C.C.S. Haryana Agriculture University (Hissar), Rajasthan
Agriculture University (Durgapura), J.N. Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (Rewa).
These genotypes, planted in randomized block design with two
replications during *rabi* 2006-07, were evaluated under three
environmental conditions *viz.,* rainfed, low fertility situation (E1),
and saline sodic and late sown condition (E2) at Genetics and Plant
Breeding Farm, Kumarganj, Faizabad; and normal fertile soil, irrigated,
timely sown condition (E3) at Crop Research Station, Masodha, Faizabad.
Each genotype was grown in 3 rows of 3 m long plots with spacing of 25
cm between the rows. An approximate distance of 10 cm was maintained
between plant to plant by hand thinning. Five competitive random plants
from the middle row of the experimental plots were taken for recording
the observations on 1000-grain weight (g), harvest index (%) and grain
yield per plant (g). Stability analysis was worked out following
Eberhart and Russel (1966).

**RESULTS AND DISCUSSION**

The phenotypic stability of each variety was expressed by two
parameters: the slope of regression line and sum of squares of deviation
from regression. A stable variety was defined as "one with unite
regression (bi=1) and low deviation from linearity (S^2^di=0)". Analysis
of variance showed that the mean sum of squares due to genotypes (G) and
environment (E) difference tested against the G x E interaction were
significant for all the traits studied, indicating the presence of wide
variability among the genotypes and environment. The significant
estimates of G x E interaction indicated that the characters were
unstable and may considerably fluctuate with change in environments. The
G x E (linear) interaction was significant against pooled deviation
suggesting the possibility of the variation for all characters (Table
1). These findings are in close agreement with those of Semin *et al*.
(1986), Afiash *et al*. (1999) and Mohamadi *et al*. (2005). The result
for grain yield per plant revealed that out of 36 genotypes, RD2634,
RD2689, JB47 and RD2670 had higher mean yield, bi=1 and S^2^di=0 were
promising for wide adaptation over sites across environments (Table 2).
Twelve genotypes *viz.*, JB42, NDB1401, Jyoti, BH657, JB40, NDB1280,
NDB1289, NDB1281, RD2552, RD2677, RD2683 and Narendra Jau 3 had average
mean performance associated with bi=1 and S^2^di=0 showing stability
over wider range of environments. For harvest index six genotypes
*viz*., DWR51, JB42, NDB1401, DWR54, NDB1289 and RD2677 with average
mean, bi=1 and S^2^di=0 showing stability over wider range of
environments. Only one genotype JB40 with higher mean, bi\<1 and
S^2^di=0 were stable and suitable for poor environmental conditions.
Three genotypes *viz.*, RD2696, RD2670, and NDB1276 had higher mean,
bi\>1 and S^2^di=0, indicating their stability for favourable
environment. Five genotypes, *viz*., BH657, NDB1280, NDB1281, RD2552 and
JB47 had average mean associated with bi \>1 and S^2^di =0, indicating
their stability for favourable environments. For 1000- grain weight,
only one genotype RD2634 had average mean associated with bi=1 and
S^2^di=0, identified for wider adaptation and stability over all sites
across environments. These results are in conformity with the findings
of Yadav and Rao (1985), Hadjichristodolon (1992), Shahmohamadi *et al.*
(2005) and Verma (2007). Two genotypes *viz.,* NDB1401 and RD2668,
possessing higher mean, bi=1 and S^2^di=0 showed wider stability over
all sites across environments. Three genotypes *viz*., RD2689, BH663 and
NDB1276 had higher mean performance, bi\<1 and S^2^di=0, thus, it may be
suitable for poor environmental conditions. These promising genotypes
may be utilized as a donor in barley improvement programme for target
ecosystems (E1, E2 and E3).

**REFERENCES**

Afiash S.A.N., Sallam H.A and Khattab S.A.M. 1999. Evaluation of
divergent barley (*Hordeum vulgare* L.) genotypes under certain
environments. *Annals of Agricultural Science*, Moshtohor, **37**(2):
973-988.

Eberhart S.A. and Russel W.L. 1966. Stability parameters for comparing
varieties. *Crop Sci.,* **6**: 36-40.

Hadjichristodolon A.1992. Stability of 1000-grain weight and its
relation with other traits of barley in dry areas. *Euphytica*,
**51**(1): 11-17.

Mohamadi M.S., Dehghani H., Uosefi A., Moeini A. and Omidi H. 2005.
Study of yield stability in barley (*Hordeum vulgare* L.) cultivars
through non-parametric measures. *Agricultural Science and Technology*,
**19**(2): 1-9.

Shahmohamadi M., Dehghani H. and Youself A. 2005. Stability analysis of
barley (*Hordeum vulgare* L.) genotypes in regional trial in cold zone.
*J. Science and Technology of Agricultural and Natural Resources*.
**9**(1): 143 -- 155.

Simin E.A., Servart V.I. and Udovenko G.V. 1986. Change in yield
structure element of barley under saline condition and role of
individual selection in increasing salt tolerance. *Agrokhimiya*, **8**:
56-57.

Verma A.K. 2007. Combining ability, gene action and heterosis for yield
and quality components in barley. Ph.D. Thesis, N.D.U.A. & T.,
Kumarganj, Faizabad, Pp 184.

Yadav H.S. and Rao S.K. 1985. Stability analysis of grain yield in
barley. *Agric. Science Digest*, India. **5:** 29-32.

**TABLE 1.** Pooled analysis of variance for grain yield and its
components in barley over three environments (Eberhart and Russell's
1966 model)

  --------------- ---------- ----------------- -------------- -------------------
  **Source of     **d.f.**   **Mean of                        
  variance**                 Square**                         

                             **1000-grains     **Harvest      **Grain yield per
                             weight (g)**      index (%)**    plant (g)**

  Genotypes (G)   35         27.98\*\*         48.63          35.1\*\*

  Environment (E) 2          228.14\*\*        254.52\*\*     1909.62\*\*

  G ×E            70         15.38\*\*         46.90\*\*      22.80\*\*

  E+ (G×E)        72         21.29\*\*         52.67\*\*      75.21\*\*

  E (linear)      1          456.24\*\*        509.13\*\*     3819.26\*\*

  G×E (linear)    35         30.27\*\*         54.69\*\*      29.33\*\*

  Pooled          36         0.47\*\*          38.05\*\*      15.82\*\*
  deviation                                                   

  Pooled error    105        0.02              3.74           1.98
  --------------- ---------- ----------------- -------------- -------------------

\*, \*\* Significant at 5 % and 1% probability levels, respectively

**TABLE 2.** Estimates of stability parameters for 1000-grain weight
(g), harvest index (%) and grain yield per plant (g)

  ----------- --------------- -------------- ----------- ------------ ----------- ---------- ------------ ----------- ---------- ------------
  **S.No.**   **Genotypes**   **1000-grain                            **Harvest                           **Grain                
                              weight (g)**                            index (%)**                         yield per              
                                                                                                          plant (g)**            

                              **X~i~**       **bi**      **S^2^di**   **X~i~**    **bi**     **S^2^di**   **X~i~**    **bi**     **S^2^di**

  1           DWR 61          45.06          3.31\*\*    0.43\*\*     39.57       -0.57      -1.36        19.91       1.23       5.57\*

  2           RD 2634         44.00          0.55\*      -0.01        49.85\*\*   3.44       13.85\*\*    23.11       1.12       1.49

  3           BH 855          44.64          1.95\*\*    11.67\*\*    42.61       1.80       83.39\*\*    17.00       0.87       54.54\*\*

  4           RD 2689         48.43\*\*      0.35\*\*    0.01         47.31\*\*   2.81       0.42         22.94       0.62       -0.78

  5           NDB 1173        41.01          2.49\*\*    0.15\*\*     40.85       1.28       30.07\*\*    17.22       0.97       16.64\*\*

  6           BH 646          44.97          -1.66\*\*   0.18\*\*     37.20       1.62       27.58\*\*    19.39       1.11       44.18\*\*

  7           JB 42           41.36          -0.09\*\*   0.37\*\*     40.28       1.44       5.68         21.16       0.95       2.46

  8           NDB 1245        41.35          -0.28\*\*   0.06\*       31.81       5.63\*\*   6.46         17.00       1.13       3.65

  9           Lakhan          44.79          1.55\*\*    0.04\*       39.59       -0.09      80.98\*\*    21.50       1.34       117.35\*\*

  10          K 792           42.79          -0.78\*\*   0.11\*\*     38.88       0.20       2.03         23.00       0.09\*     -0.87

  11          NDB 1401        46.99\*\*      0.50\*      -0.01        39.29       0.63       -1.42        20.67       0.58       -0.98

  12          K 625           39.67          2.85\*\*    0.28\*\*     38.32       0.58       10.76\*      16.78       0.57       0.29

  13          DWR 51          47.65\*\*      1.52\*\*    0.05\*       42.74       0.05       2.83         20.11       0.39       0.13

  14          Jyoti           48.16\*\*      0.98        0.06\*       34.51       -0.83      24.20\*\*    21.89       1.12       -0.84

  15          BH 657          41.36          0.74        0.04\*       41.85       2.44       0.78         19.44       1.15       2.28

  16          RD 2696         48.00\*\*      3.46\*\*    0.43\*\*     43.27       1.98       -0.63        18.17       0.67       -0.74

  17          DWR 52          48.20\*\*      1.72\*\*    0.16\*\*     41.24       -0.43      25.71\*\*    19.28       0.99       21.74\*\*

  18          JB 40           42.40          1.27        0.03         47.16\*\*   -0.25      -1.83        19.77       0.50       -0.82

  19          NDB 1280        41.81          -1.82\*\*   0.23\*\*     39.73       3.10       -1.63        20.00       0.97       -0.84

  20          DWR 54          47.77\*\*      2.17\*\*    0.12\*\*     40.84       1.35       -1.79        17.94       0.84       0.17

  21          Narendra Jau -1 47.67\*\*      -0.29\*\*   -0.01        39.88       -0.25      18.37\*\*    18.33       0.36       28.08\*\*

  22          NDB 1289        40.17          -1.52\*\*   0.33\*\*     39.41       1.41       -0.87        18.50       0.76       -0.99

  23          RD 2668         46.07\*\*      1.08        -0.01        41.09       1.93       988.96\*\*   27.78\*\*   2.17\*\*   192.69\*\*

  24          NDB 1281        39.54          -0.73\*\*   0.10\*\*     40.01       1.75       0.13         20.39       0.81       -0.95

  25          RD 2683         43.65          0.82        0.09\*\*     36.06       -0.05      -1.78        20.39       1.21       0.42

  26          RD 2552         41.17          1.09        0.01         41.55       1.59       -1.60        20.27       1.45       2.62

  27          RD 2677         49.94\*\*      2.53\*\*    0.15\*\*     40.26       0.98       0.13         15.33       0.52       -0.98

  28          JB 47           47.49\*\*      2.54\*\*    0.29\*\*     40.14       1.51       -1.87        25.05\*\*   1.47       0.55

  29          BH 673          43.88          1.74\*\*    0.05\*       36.90       -2.01      0.91         15.33       0.26       6.89

  30          RD 2620         44.12          4.01\*\*    0.53\*\*     33.73       0.63       -1.87        16.05       1.07       1.43

  31          PL 762          47.65\*\*      2.82\*\*    0.36\*\*     37.71       -1.09      -1.02        22.72       1.22       18.64\*\*

  32          RD 2670         47.59\*\*      2.70\*\*    0.36\*\*     42.39       2.25       -1.85        27.22\*\*   2.26\*\*   5.14\*

  33          BH 663          50.26\*\*      0.25        -0.01        47.69\*\*   1.20       -1.62        25.94\*\*   1.70       6.13\*

  34          Narendra Jau-3  43.51          -0.67\*\*   0.04\*       48.10\*\*   2.54       -1.74        25.44\*\*   1.08       -0.02

  35          NDB1252         43.70          -1.38\*\*   0.07\*\*     39.87       -6.31      3.47         18.89       0.24       -0.65

  36          NDB1276         47.17\*\*      0.27        -0.01        46.47\*\*   3.73       -1.47        28.17\*\*   2.22\*\*   10.35\*\*

              Mean            44.83          1.00                     40.78       0.99                    20.61       1.00       

              SEm±            0.48           0.19                     4.36        1.64                    2.81        0.38       
  ----------- --------------- -------------- ----------- ------------ ----------- ---------- ------------ ----------- ---------- ------------