Culm anatomy in barley (Hordeum vulgare)

Abstract

Four barley varieties and four F8 lines derived by divergent selection for culm length were studied for a number of anatomical characteristics of the culm. Significant differences were observed in length and width of epidermal cells, culm thickness, thickness of sclerenchyma, and thickness of sclerenchyma cell walls. Except for the thickness of the sclerenchyma cell walls, the differences in the anatomical characteristics of the culm were not correlated with those in culm length caused by selection. Although it was not possible to determine the genetic basis of the association between culm length and thickness of the sclerenchyma cell walls because of the type of material used, this result does have implications in relation to breeding for lodging resistance. It is suggested that a higher lodging resistance could be obtained by combining in the same genotype a short culm with thick-walled sclerenchyma cells.