A. A. Dontsova1, 2, E. S. Doroshenko, D. P. Dontsov, R. N. Bragin, I. M. Zasypkina
1 Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy”, Zernograd, Rostov region, Russia
2 Don State Technical University, Rostov-on-Don, Russia
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Volume 25 No. 12
Date of paper submission: 25.04.2025, date of review: 06.09.2025, date of acceptance: 30.10.2025
Published: 12/31/2025
Abstract. In the conditions of wide agroclimatic zonality of the North Caucasus region, in order to obtain sufficiently high and stable yields, new varieties of winter barley should have a wide range of adaptability, sometimes combining even negatively correlated traits in one genotype. Regular breeding work in this direction is carried out at the Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy”. In 2024, a new mid-early winter barley variety Step was zoned for the North Caucasus and Lower Volga regions of the Russian Federation. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the new highly productive winter barley variety Step for the main economically valuable traits, as well as indicators of environmental plasticity and stability. Methods. The studies were conducted from 2022 to 2024 in the fields of scientific crop rotation of the barley selection and seed production department of the Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy”. The predecessor was peas for grain. The plot area was 10 m², the number of repetitions was 6. The Timofey winter barley variety was used as a standard. Results. Over the years of study in the competitive test (2022-2024), it formed a yield of 8.8 t/ha on average, the excess over the Timofey standard was 0.6 t/ha. The Step variety has high biological and field winter hardiness. In terms of grain size, the new variety significantly exceeds the standard (weight of 1000 grains is 47.2 and 40.0 g, respectively). Resistance to lodging is high. In terms of resistance to powdery mildew, helminthosporium spotting and dwarf rust, the Step variety is more resistant than the standard. Calculation of the indicators of ecological plasticity and stability showed that the Step variety is capable of forming a stable yield under unfavorable environmental conditions, and being at the level of highly productive varieties under favorable conditions. The scientific novelty lies in the creation of a new large-grain mid-early winter barley variety with high productivity potential.
Keywords: winter barley, standard, yield, variety, resistance, ecological plasticity, stability Acknowledgements. The study was carried out as part of the state assignment No. 0505-2025-0006 “Create new high-yielding varieties of cereal crops that are resistant to stress factors based on a comprehensive study of the gene pool.”
For citation: Dontsova A. A., Doroshenko E. S., Dontsov D. P., Bragin R. N., Zasypkina I. M. New mid-early facultative barley variety Step. Agrarian Bulletin of the Urals. 2025; 25 (12): 2043‒2053. https://doi.org/10.32417/1997-4868-2025-25-12-2043-2053 (In Russ.)
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