Variation in duration of pre-anthesis phases of development in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Abstract

Phenology of small cereals as a complex trait, which provides matching plant development with growing conditions, is important factor that influence plant adaptation to particular environment and finally yield. Scales of growth based on plant phenology and scales of development based on apical morphology are very precise, but relationships between them are not always clear. Some morphogenetic features of cereals growth can be predicted on the basis of leaf appearance. That means shoot apex development is coordinated with leaf appearance and total number of formed leaves. The objective of this research was to study relationships among apical development and plant phenology and the variability in phenological development of diverse winter barley cultivars under field conditions. The twelve barley cultivars differed in origin, pedigree and agronomic traits were used in this study over six growing seasons at the Novi Sad location (45o20’N, 15o51’E, altitude 86 m) and under rainfed conditions.