Purpose. Identification of spring barley promising breeding lines with combination of adaptive traits under conditions of the central part of the Ukrainian Forest-Steppe. Methods. Field trial, laboratory-field analysis of drought tolerance, statistical and graphical analysis of experimental data. Results. The analysis of variance of the AMMI model showed that the largest contribution to the general variation (85.78%) had environmental conditions (years of research). The value of the genotype was 8.21%, and the genotype by environment interaction was 6.01%. The first and second principal components of both AMMI and GGE biplot explained more than 85% of the genotype-environment interaction. Spring barley breeding lines ‘Deficiens 5162’, ‘Nutans 5073’ and ‘Deficiens 5161’ had the superior combination of yield performance and relative stability through the years according to GGE biplot. With GYT biplot analysis it has been determined that the breeding lines ‘Deficiens 5162’ and ‘Nutans 5073’ also significantly predominated over the other genotypes in terms of combination of yield performance and a number of other traits – 1000 kernels weight, drought tolerance, resistance to pathogens. Breeding lines ‘Deficiens 5161’, ‘Nutans 4966’, ‘Nutans 4705’, ‘Nutans 4816’, ‘Nutans 5184’, ‘Nutans 5193’, which exceeded the mean value in the trial in terms of combination of yield performance and a number of adaptive traits may have practical significance in the breeding process for creation of new initial material. Conclusions. As a result of the complex evaluation when using AMMI, GGE biplot and GYT biplot graphical models the breeding lines ‘Deficiens 5162’ and ‘Nutans 5073’ with the optimal combination of yield, stability, thousand kernel weight and tolerance to abiotic and biotic environmental factors have been identified

In the ecological conditions of the central part of the Ukrainian Forest-Steppe (The V. M. Remeslo Myronivka Institute of Wheat, NAAS of Ukraine) the influence of growing season conditions (2016-17–2018-19), sowing dates (September 26, October 5, October 16) and different preceding crops (green manure, mustard, soybean, sunflower, corn) on variability of 1000 kernel weight of seventeen modern genotypes of winter wheat was investigated. Under environments of the central part of the Ukrainian Forest-Steppe, significant variability in the trait depending on the factors under study was revealed. Part of sum square for the growing season conditions in the variation of 1000 kernel weight of winter wheat was the most (63.2%). Part of sum square for genotype was 7.0%, for preceding crop it was 4.8%, for sowing dates it was 0.4%. In terms of growing season, the variation in part of sum square was 23.5–30.1% for genotype, 12.7–39.8% for preceding crop, 0.8–6.1% for sowing date, and 2.0–26.5% for interactions between them. During the period of the study, on average for all genotypes, the maximum 1000 kernel weight was obtained after green manure (42.6 g), the least one was after soybean (39.0 g). When changing the sowing dates from September 26 to October 16, it was revealed a general tendency of decrease 1000 kernel weight after the preceding crops mustard, sunflower, corn, and soybean. Significant differences in the response of genotypes under study on the sowing dates after different preceding crops were revealed. The most influence on 1000 kernel weight was established for preceding crops in the variety MIP Darunok and for sowing dates in the variety MIP Vidznaka. There were distinguished the varieties Trudivnytsia myronivska, Balada myronivska, MIP Dniprianka, Avrora myronivska, MIP Darunok which significantly exceeded the standard by 1000 kernel weight on average through the growing season conditions, sowing dates, and preceding crops.

The aim of the present study was to substantiate theoretically and to test in practice scheme of multi-environment trials at the final stage of spring barley breeding process and to distinguish the genotypes which combine superior yield performance and stability. In the first year of competitive testing (2015) nine promising spring barley breeding lines have been selected under condition of the Central part of Forest-Steppe of Ukraine (latitude 49°64′, longitude 31°08′, altitude 153 m). In 2016 and 2017, the genotypes were additionally tested in two other different agro-climatic zones of Ukraine: Polissia (latitude 50°93′, longitude 31°69′, altitude 126 m) and Northern Steppe (latitude 48°56′, longitude 32°32′, altitude 171 m). In addition to the standard variety Vzirets, the breeding lines were compared with ten widespread spring barley varieties in agricultural production. Significant total yield variability of the genotypes and cross-over genotype by environment interaction has been revealed. It confirmed the validity of proposed combination of spatial (zones) and temporal (years) gradients for more efficient evaluation of the genotype by environment interaction and differentiation of genotypes in terms of yield performance and stability. As a practical result, using additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) and genotype main effects plus genotype by environment interaction (GGE) models, four spring barley breeding lines with combination of superior yield performance and high stability have been identified.

Purpose. To reveal the breeding and genetic peculiarities for spring barley 1000 kernel weight and to identify genetic sources for breeding under conditions of the central part of the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. Methods. Investigations were carried out at the V. M. Remeslo Myronivka Institute of Wheat of the NAAS of Ukraine. Spring barley F1 of two comp­lete (6 ´ 6) diallel crossing schemes was investigated. The first scheme included modern both domestic and foreign spring barley malting varieties (‘MIP Tytul’, ‘Avhur’, ‘Datcha’, ‘Quench’, ‘Gladys’, ‘Beatrix’), the second – classic covered awned (‘MIP Myroslav’, ‘Sebastian’), awnless (‘Kozyr’, ‘Vitrazh’) and naked (‘Condor’, ‘CDC Rattan’) varieties. Results. Various types of inheritance of 1000 kernel weight were revealed, with the exception of negative dominance. The proportion of combinations with corresponding values ​​of the degree of phenotypic dominance varied depending on the genotypes involved in the crossing and the years of testing. In both crossing schemes, both in 2019 and in 2020, positive overdominance was found in most combinations. The grea­test number of combinations with the manifestation of hete­rosis under different growing conditions was noted when varieties ‘Gladys’ and ‘MIP Myroslav’ were used in crossing. According to the parameters of genetic variation, it was revealed that the trait was determined mainly by the additive-dominant system. The dominance was aimed at increasing the 1000 kernel weight. Only in the second crossing scheme in 2019 the value of the directional dominance indicator was unreliable. In the loci, incomplete dominance in 2019 and over-dominance in 2020 were revealed. Reliably high effects of the general combining ability in both years were noted for varieties ‘Datcha’, ‘Gladys’, ‘MIP Myroslav’, ‘Kozyr’ and ‘Vitrazh’. Conclusions. The revealed breeding and genetic peculiarities indicate that for the overwhelming majority of created hybrid combinations will be required the final selection in later generations, when the dominant alleles are homozygous. Spring barley awned varieties ‘Gladys’, ‘MIP Myroslav’ and ‘Datcha’, as well as awnless varieties ‘Kozyr’ and ‘Vitrage’ can be used as effective genetic sources for increa­sing the 1000 kernel weight

In modern conditions it is necessary to create varieties of spring barley with combination of high grain yield and stability. For this purpose, multienvironment trials of nine advanced breeding lines and the standard variety Vzirets were carried out in three different ecological zones in Ukraine: Central Forest-Steppe, Polissia and Northern Steppe. High yield variability of spring barley breeding lines has been established. The ANOVA revealed reliable contributions from all three source of the variation: genotype, environment and genotype-environment interaction. The part of influence for environment was the highest -90.42 %. A set of statistical indices (regression coefficient (b i ), deviation mean squares (S 2 d i ), variety superiority measure (P i ), nonparametric stability indices (S i (1) and S i (2) ), homeostaticity (Hom i ), breeding value (Sc i )) and GGE biplot were used to interpret the multi-environment trial data. The applied statistical indices in different ways characterized the investigated barley breeding lines. Some indices estimated the stability only, without considering yield level (S 2 d i, S i (2) ). Other indices were related with the mean yield (P i ), with the maximum (b i ) or minimum (S i (1) , Hom i , Sc i ) its value. The combination of statistical indices and graphic model was effective for comprehensive evaluation of the genotype-environment data from multi-environment trials. This approach allows identify the best of the best breeding lines at the final stage of breeding work. The breeding lines Deficiens 5005, Nutans 4855, Nutans 4941 and Nutans 4890 have been submitted to the State Strain Testing of Ukraine as new varieties MIP Visnyk, MIP Ekspert, MIP Myroslav, MIP Vdiachnyi, respectively.