RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COLEOPTILE LENGTH AND CULM LENGTH IN BARLEY

Abstract

Coleoptile length and culm length in barley (Hordeum sativum Jess.) appeared to be strictly associated in a number of F6 lines derived from a two-way selection experiment for culm length. When the relationship between the two characters was studied in six cultivars and six F2 populations, the degree of association was variable depending upon the parental cultivars. In one F2 population, the two traits were largely independent while in the two F2 populations used in the selection experiment, coleoptile length and culm length were associated, though a small number of plants with new combinations of the two traits were recovered. The presence of a major gene with pleiotropic effect on culm and coleoptile length and closely associated to the genetic system for culm length is suggested to explain the observed results.