CHARACTERISTIC OF GRAIN PHYSICAL TRAITS OF SPRING BARLEY

The objective of this study was to examine the range of variation and correlation relationships of some grain physical traits of different barley types. Field experiments were carried out at the State Stende Cereal Breeding Institute from 2004 to 2006. Grain samples of 52 spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) genotypes were analysed for 1000 grain weight, test weight, relative hardness index and hull content. The mean value of 1000 grain weight and test weight for two-row barley was significantly higher than for six-row barley. Test weight for hulless barley was significantly higher than for covered ones (mean values -774.6 g l(-1) and 669.8 g l(-1) respectively). The hull content was higher for six-row barley type (10.4%) than for two-row (8.6%) barley. There was not significant difference in relative hardness index between different types of barley. The coefficient of variation for grain hardness ranged from 13.7% for six-row barley to 18.7% for hulless barley. Among varieties bred in Latvia relative hardness index ranged from 47.1 for two-row variety 'Sencis' to 80.4 for only six-row variety 'Druvis'. Significant (p<0.05) positive correlation was detected between grain hardness index and beta-glucans for covered two-row head types of barley (r(2-row,covered) = 0.418 > r(25;0.05) = 0.396).