Department of Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
†Present address: Fodder Research Station, H.P.U., Palampur, H. P.
*Based on a thesis submitted by L. N. Singh to the Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Alberta, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
A composite of 105 crosses, involving a diallel of 15 parental barley varieties was grown for five years (F4 to F8) at nine stations located at latitudes ranging from 38° to 62°N. Resulting samples of seed were recovered from each station and grown with original seed (F3) for comparative study at Edmonton. Significant differences were observed for spike and awn types among the plants grown from seed from different stations. In general, poor adaptability of two-rowed barley types was found at the stations of North America particularly at those of northern latitudes. Rough-awned types, on the other hand, proved to be progressively more adapted in successively more northern stations. Since these spike and awn types are considered to be neutral characters, the differences in adaptability are presumably due to linkages with characters of differing competitive ability.
