Variation within and between F2-derived families for grain yield and barley malting quality

Abstract

Variation within and between F2-derived families for grain yield and malting quality was investigated using F4 breeding lines derived from F2 families of 4 barley crosses. The variation between F2-derived families was greater than within F2-derived families for grain yield and all malting quality attributes. Superior segregates almost exclusively came from the best performing families. The greater similarity of lines eventually drawn from an F2-derived family has significant implications for selection strategies in barley breeding programs as it facilitates the early discard of F2-derived families. To maximise the exploitation of genetic variation as early as possible, selection for malting quality could start in the F2 generation using near infrared transmittance (NIT) spectroscopy and for grain yield in the F3 generation.