GENETIC STUDY OF BARLEY GERMINATION BEHAVIOUR I. GENETIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL VARIATION

A method of calculating a single numerical value as an index of germination behaviour is presented, based on germination under standard conditions after 24, 48 and 72 hr. This criterion is employed to obtain an estimate of the range of genetic and environmental variation in 800 barley varieties. A more detailed study has involved ten varieties chosen to represent the full range of available genetic variability. Further experiments on “time to germinate” and “percentage increase in weight” of individual seeds obtained as samples from a plot, a plant, and a single ear of the variety Research, demonstrate the effect of the environment on a uniform genetic background.