Genetic Analysis of Grain Yield in Barley. I. Components of Covariation Between Yield and Its Primary Components

The genetic basis of association between yield per plant, 1000-grain weight, number of grains per spike, spike length, number of tillers per plant and days to heading was studied in two crosses of barley namely, BR31 × BM4 and K69x Ratna, using the technique suggested by Nei and Syakudo (1956). Either coadditive or codominant or both the components were important for the association of different character pairs. Environmental component of association was also found to be significant in a number of cases. The genetic information regarding the nature of various components is discussed in formulating reliable selection indices, selecting suitable breeding methodologies and providing information about the best way of handling the segregating generations to combine desirable characters in barley.