ABSTRACT
Barley research in Chile. II. Grain plumpness variability in barley cultivars

Edmundo Beratto M.1
 

A study was conducted from 1979 to 1981 to determine grain plumpness (over 2.5 mm sieve) variability in barley cultivars in Chile. One thousand and seventy eight two-row and six-row spring and winter barley cultivars, with hulled grains, were studied. These cultivars represented a broad range, used in malting, human consumption and animal feeding. Main conclusions were:
a. Barley mechanical selection for grain size increased annual average grain plumpness values, mainly in two-row and six-row winter varieties.
b. Two-row winter varieties showed higher average plumpness values than six-row winter varieties, but this difference decreased from 1979 to 1981.
c. Two-row spring varieties also showed higher average plumpness values than six-row spring varieties.
d. The lower grain plumpness values were obtained at the La Platina Experiment Station (Santiago), due to management and diseases problems.

Keywords:
1 Estación Experimental Carillanca (INIA), Casilla 58-D, Temuco, Chile.