VL Barley 85 (HBL 348/VLB 49) is a barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) variety developed by Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan (VPKAS) Almora, Uttarakhand has been released by State Varietal Release Committee and notified vide Notification No. S.O. 1703(E), SI. No. 28, The Gazette of India dated 5th October 2007 for rainfed, timely sown organic conditions of Uttarakhand hills. The parents HBL 348 and VLB 49 were advance lines from CSK, HPKVV, Palampur (H.P.) and VPKAS respectively. The segregating generations were handled by typical pedigree method and the F6 bulk was tested for its yield performance and later it was included in IVT, Northern hill zone trials during 2002–03. VL Barley 85 has performed well in comparison to the checks, namely VLB 1 and HBL 276 in multi-location trials during 2003–04 to 2005–06. Barley 85 gave an average grain yield of 14.01q/ha which was 13.38 and 18.93% higher than the checks VLB 1 and HBL 276, respectively. The yield trials were conducted under organic conditions in organic block with 20 t/ha FYM only.
VL Barley 85 has intermediate growth habit during early phase. Its foliage colour is green. Plants are semi tall of about 82 cm in height. At the flowering stage the whole plant has a layer of wax. At maturity the 6 rowed ears become white in color and tapering in shape with intermediate density. It possesses normal awns and the ears incline downwards around 120–130° angle during maturity. It has an early heading at 117 days as compared to 119 and 122 days of VLB 1 and HBL 276, respectively. The average days to maturity are 161 days that is at par with VLB 1 (163 days) the earliest maturing variety. It possesses yellow oblong medium grains with 32 g weight of 1000 grains.
VLB 85 possesses high degree of resistance to yellow rust [10S(3.3ACI)] and exhibited immune reaction to brown rust under artificial epiphytotic conditions. This variety has also recorded 0 infection to stripe disease but low score to leaf spot under natural field conditions. Multiple disease resistance in VL B85 is a unique feature of the variety.
