Evaluation of source material of winter barley of different ecological and geographical origins

E. S. Doroshenko¹, A. A. Dontsova^{1, 2}, D. P. Dontsov¹ , R. N. Bragin¹ , I. M. Zasypkina¹

¹ Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy”, Zernograd, Rostov region, Russia

² Don State Technical University, Rostov-on-Don, Russia

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Volume 26 No. 7

Date of paper submission: 06.05.2026, date of review: 15.06.2026, date of acceptance: 25.06.2026.

Published: 07/31/2026

Abstract. The development of new high-yielding winter barley varieties best adapted to specific soil and climatic conditions remains a pressing issue. Intraspecific hybridization of ecologically and geographically distinct parental forms remains the primary method for obtaining new breeding material. The aim of this study was to identify the sources of economically valuable winter barley traits for subsequent application in breeding. From 2023 to 2025, the Barley Breeding and Seed Production Department of the Donskoy Scientific Research Center (Zernograd) conducted studies with winter barley accessions of varying ecological and geographical origins. The methodology for setting up the experiment, conducting surveys, and observing followed the recommendations of B. A. Dospekhov and the State Variety Testing Committee. As a result of a three-year research cycle (2023–2025) of winter barley varieties, carried out as part of inter-station variety testing, the following varieties were selected: Vivat, Alabay, Karrera (Russia), Explorer 4/2 (France), Explorer 6, KWS-Casino, KWS-Scala, Kalibr (Germany), Callao (USA), characterized by high productivity. Sources of early maturity are the varieties Foks 1, Agroferm, Kupets, Karrera (Russia), Odesskiy 167, Dostoynyy, Aborigen (Ukraine), Explorer 4/2 (France), Callao (USA) and KWS-Casino (Germany). During the research, varieties with a high weight of grains per ear were identified: Marusya, Yuriy, Karrera (Russia), Dostoynyy (Ukraine), KWS-Scala (Germany). Large-grained varieties were Explorer 5 and Explorer 7 (Germany). A high number of grains per ear was noted in the varieties Yuriy, Espada (Russia), Bezostyy (France), Dostoynyy, Trudivnik, Odesskiy 167, Aborigen (Ukraine), Callao (USA) and KWS-Scala (Germany). The use of the identified varieties as sources of economically valuable traits and properties is recommended. The scientific novelty of this study lies in the identification and characterization of sources of economically valuable traits and properties of winter barley of various ecological and geographical origins for their targeted use in breeding programs.

Keywords: winter barley, selection, 1000-grain weight, resistance, early maturity, number of grains per ear

Acknowledgments. This study was conducted within the framework of the State Assignment of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation No. FNFN-2025-0006 “Creating New High-Yielding Varieties of Grain Crops Resistant to Stress Factors Based on a Comprehensive Study of the Gene Pool.”

For citation: Doroshenko E. S., Dontsova A. A., Dontsov D. P., Bragin R. N., Zasypkina I. M. Evaluation of winter barley source material of different ecological and geographical origins. Agrarian Bulletin of the Urals. 2026; 26 (07): 1195‒1207. https://doi.org/10.32417/1997-4868-2026-26-07-1195-1207. (In Russ.)  

 

Download the full text of the article