Hybridization between landrace varieties of Ethiopian barley (Hordeum vulgare ssp. vulgare) and the progenitor of barley (H. vulgare ssp. spontaneum)

Abstract

Representative landraces of Ethiopian barley (Hordeum w/,?are ssp. i,u/,qare) were reciprocally intercrossed with the wild progenitor (H. rw1gar.e ssp. spontaneum). Fertilization success, hybrid (F, and FZ) performances. and inheritance mechanisms were studied. Grains were obtained in combinations involving each dgnre parent and at least one of the spontaneum lines. The hybrids were vigorous and fertile. 21 % of the F, progeny gave less than 70 % seed-set while a similar proportion seeded fully. The average seed-set for vu1gare linesvaried betwen 65-90 YO, few plants having severe abortions. Some phenotypes segregated differently in different lines, indicating genotypic dissimilarity or varied effects of the genes under different genomic back- ground. Thus, sponturreum can be grown under natural conditions in Ethiopia and direct hybridization with indigenous landraces allows for utilization of its genes.