Evaluation of Compatibility and Yield Potential of Barley Elite Lines under Full Irrigation and Low Water Stress Conditions in West Azerbaijan Province

Identification and introduce of high potential and water deficit stress tolerant is one of effective methods that caused to economic production beside other methods of water deficit management. In order to identification of barley lines, 9 barley elite lines and Bahman variety (check) studied under full irrigation and water deficit stress conditions in season cropping years 2013-2015. The results of combined variance analysis showed that the interaction effect, line × year was significant for grain yield. Under full irrigation condition, in first year, significant difference between Bahman (check) variety with other assessed lines was not seen, but in second year, the highest grain yield was belong to line no. 5 (6.81 t.ha-1), that showed significant difference with Bahman variety. Under water deficit stress, in first year, Bahman variety showed the highest grain yield (4.80 t.ha-1) that was situated in same statistical group with lines no. 2, 3, 4, 5. 7 and 8. But in second year, the highest grain yield was belong to line no. 9 (Jolgeh) with 5.18 t.ha-1. Results of two years mean for grain yield showed under full irrigation condition, lines no. 3, 4, 5, 7, 9 (Jolgeh) and 10 (Mahtab variety) had grain yield by 10-35% greater than Bahman variety. Under water deficit stress comparison with the full irrigation condition, promising lines no. 2 and 7 by 15% and 19% respectively, had atleast reduction grain yield among studied barley genotypes. The path analysis result showed that under full irrigation condition, traits flag leaf photosynthesis and biomass had a positive and significant direct effect on grain yield, while traits spike weight and grain number per spike had a negative and significant direct effect on grain yield. On the other hand, traits 1000 grain weight and grain number per spike had a positive and negative significant direct effect on grain yield under water deficit stress condition, respectively. Finally, based on the ranking of assessed lines, we can recommend the elite lines no. 5 and 10 (Mahtab variety) for full irrigation condition, line no. 7 for water deficit stress condition and line no. 9 (Jolgeh) for both conditions.