Performance and Stability of Agronomic and Grain Quality Traits of Latvian Spring Barley Varieties

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the performance and stability of agronomic and grain quality traits of 11 spring barley varieties from the Latvian breeding programme grown in two locations for four years. The study was carried out on 11 Latvian spring barley varieties: nine covered varieties ‘Abava’, ‘Ansis’, ‘Austris’, ‘Didzis’, ‘Gāte’, ‘Idumeja’, ‘Jumara’, ‘Kristaps’, and ‘Saule PR’ and two hull-less varieties ‘Irbe’ and ‘Kornelija’. Plants of the varieties were grown in field trials of the Institute of Agricultural Resources and Economics, at two sites (Priekuïi and Stende) during 2014–2017. Varieties ‘Didzis’, ‘Jumara’, and ‘Ansis’ yielded significantly above the grand mean in eight environments (5.70 t·ha−1; LSD = 0.476 t·ha−1). ‘Didzis’ showed relatively high dynamic yield stability and broad adaptability to all environments (bi = 0.90; b = 1; s2 d = 0.07). Grain yield for varieties ‘Jumara’ and ‘Ansis’ showed specific adaptability to unfavourable environments (bi = 0.48 and 0.55, respectively; bi < 1). Some covered spring barley varieties were considered to be the best in eight environments with stable and high 1000 grain weight (‘Austris’, ‘Idumeja’), test weight (‘Gāte’, ‘Jumara’, ‘Austris’), lodging resistance (‘Austris’, ‘Jumara’, ‘Didzis’), resistance to Pyrenophora teres (‘Didzis’, ‘Saule PR’) and Blumeria graminis (‘Saule PR’, ‘Didzis’). Both hull-less barley varieties ‘Irbe’ and ‘Kornelija’ were distinguished for high crude protein and ß-glucan content.