Phenotypic diversity in families derived from cross between Badia and Komino barley cultivars

To study phenotypic diversity and relationship among agronomical traits of 100 barley F3 generation families derived from cross between Badia × Komino barely cultivars, an experiment was conducted based on randomized complete block design with three replications at research field of Gonbad Kavous University during 2014-2015. Barley families had significantly high diversity in terms of awn length, spikelet no/spike. Grain yield was positive significantly correlated with total spike weight, seedlings number, plant height, awn length and biological yield and the highest correlation was observed between grain yield and total spike weight. In stepwise regression analysis, traits of seedlings number, days to heading, grain diameter, grains per spike, awn length had high contributed to grain yield. In path analysis the trait that had the most direct effect on yield was seedlings number. Barely families were classified into three groups regarding cluster analysis using Ward method and the third group was chosen as desirable one. On the whole, The most important factors influencing on yield increment of barley families was seedlings number and days to heading and these traits could be suitable choices to be used in barley breeding improvement programs.