Germinative Capacity, Vigour Index and Other Seed Traits in Barley and Their Utility in Future Crop Improvement

Abstract

Seed vigour is recognized as a component of seed quality distinct from germinability. The performance ofestablished genotypes shows variations often associated with differences in seed vigour that may be physical, physiological or genetic in nature. Assessment studies led to the following findings: The wide range for different characters and comparison of means of germplasm using least significant differences indicated existence of very high degree of variability for all characters studied. The genotypes RD-2592, RD-2503, RD-2035, F6 (S x S)-128, BH-492, K-560 25th IBON-IO, F6 (S x S)-102, 29 and K-603 showed high mean performance for grain yield coupled with other desirable seed traits. The genotypes 25'h IBON-106, 25th IBON-48 and 7th HBSN-2 were found better for grain hardness, appealing seed shape and low husk content, respectively. Studies indicated that these superior genotypes may be utilized as donors in barley hybridization programme for improving most ofthe present day genotypes showing deficiency for yield and quality components.