Genetic Analysis of Hulless Barley Genotypes for Various Quantitative Traits

The subject of the present study was to assess hulless barley genotypes for various quantitative traits evaluated under timely sown irrigated conditions. The experimental material included thirty six genotypes, planted in lattice design with two replications during 2024-25 at Barley Experimental Area of Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar (Haryana). The results revealed high estimates of GCV and PCV for number of grains per spike while, grain yield per plot, number of effective tillers per meter row, spike length and peduncle length exhibited moderate estimates of GCV and PCV. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance was observed for number of grains per spike, number of effective tillers per meter row, grain yield per plot and spike length. Correlation among traits indicated significant positive association of grain yield per plot with number of effective tillers per meter row, number of grains per spike, biological yield per plot and harvest index, exhibiting the significance of these traits for deciding the selection criterion for yield enhancement in hulless barley. Path coefficient analysis exhibited highest positive direct effect of harvest index on grain yield, followed by biological yield per plot. PCA identified four components with eigen value more than one that explained about 80.02 % of the total variation. PC 1 elucidated 31.29 % of the total variance and showed strong correlation with days to heading and maturity, number of grains per spike, harvest index and grain yield per plot.Cluster analysis based on 11 quantitative traits categorized the genotypes into six distinct clusters of which cluster IV contained high yielding genotypesi.e. RD 3121, DWRB 2427, DWRB 2428, DWRB 2436, PL 976 and DWRB 2442. The genotypes of this group could be utilized as promising breeding material intended to develop new hulless barley varieties.