Characterization of improved barley germplasm under desert environments using agro-morphological and SSR markers

Authors: GHAZY, ABDELHALIM - King Saud University; ALI, MOHAMED - King Saud University; IBRAHIM, EID - King Saud University; SALLAM, MOHAMED - King Saud University; AL ATEEQ, TALAL - King Saud University; AL-ASHKAR, IBRAHIM - King Saud University; MOTAWEI, MOHAMED - Qassim University; Abdel-Haleem, Hussein; AL-DOSS, ABDULLAH - King Saud University

Submitted to: Agronomy
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/1/2024
Publication Date: 8/4/2024
Citation: Ghazy, A., Ali, M., Ibrahim, E., Sallam, M., Al Ateeq, T., Al-Ashkar, I., Motawei, M., Abdel-Haleem, H.A., Al-Doss, A. 2024. Characterization of improved barley germplasm under desert environments using agro-morphological and SSR markers. Agronomy. 14(8). Article 1716. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081716.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14081716

Interpretive Summary: Barley is a major cereal widely grown and used for food and feed. There is growing interest to develop new barley genotypes with multifunctional properties and are adapted for different environments. It is necessary to evaluate those germplasm responses and stabilities under agricultural practices of respected geographical regions before. A set of 32 new barley genotypes were evaluated under desert environments to identify superior genotypes based on their agro-morphological characters and molecular markers diversity. The inbred lines revealed a considerable diversity level based on genotypic and phenotypic data indicating the possibility to improve for semi-arid conditions. The introduction of novel barley lines and more comprehensive use of genetic resources could be important tool to increase the genetic variability within barley breeding programs.

Technical Abstract: Barley is indeed a versatile cereal crop, valued for its uses in food, animal feed, and increasingly in biofuel production. As interest grows in developing new barley genotypes that are better adapted to diverse environmental conditions and production systems, integrating agro-morphological evaluations with molecular marker analyses in barley breeding programs is essential for developing new genotypes. It is necessary to explore the genetic diversity of those germplasm to predicate their responses to targeted environments and regions. The current study explored the phenotypic and genotypic relations among Saudi advanced germplasm to facilitate the development of superior barley cultivars suitable for desert environments. Molecular microsatellites (SSR) markers revealed considerable wide genetic variation among Saudi germplasm and checks. Population structure analyses revealed four main groups. Those groups that received funding were validated using similarity analyses and coefficients. As well, principal components analysis (PCA) and heat map analyses separated the studied genotypes into four main groups. The improved Saudi germplasm, selected from the barley breeding program, revealed considerably wide genetic and phenotypic diversities, indicating the feasibility of selection to improve for semi-arid conditions. The improved line KSU-BR-C/G-2 had the highest grain yield and harvest index in the first season. Rihana/Lignee was followed by the KSU-BR-C/G-2 genotype, with a grain yield averaging 6734.07 (kg ha-1), in the first season. KSU-BR-88-29-10 yielded 20,000 kg ha-1 for biomass yield. In the second year, KSU-BR-30-7 had the highest biomass yield, with 27,037.04 kg ha-1.