Estimation of Breeding Parameters from Phenotypic Data of F4:5 RIL in Ethiopian Malt Barley (Hordeum distichum L.) Breeding Population

The critical stage for any breeder is the selection of crossing parents to drive improved inbred for subsequent breeding cycles. In our study, we estimate breeding parameters such as mid-parent value (MPV), variances among and within crosses, the heritability of relevant traits and their correlations, the usefulness of crosses, and regression of cross means on MPV. 900 F4:5 Recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from 30 crosses were tested together with their parental lines in a modified split-plot p-rep design at two locations. The analysis revealed significant genetic variation among parents, crosses, and RIL for almost all traits. Heritability for parents ranged from 49.50% (malt extract) to 93.60% (plant height) and heritability for crosses ranged from 29.52% (grain protein concentration) to 87.0% (days to maturity), whereas heritability for RIL was the lowest with 27.40% for beta-glucan and the highest to 73.60% for thousand kernel weight, respectively. Significant ( P   <  0 . 01 ) genotypic correlations with high impact for practical breeding were found between malting traits. Accordingly, the genotypic correlation ranged from −0.73 to 0.78 whereas the phenotypic correlation ranged from −0.60 to 0.65, respectively. Significant ( P   <  0 . 01 ) regression of cross-mean on MPV where R2 ranges from 0.27 to 0.70 and is higher than 0.5 for most of the traits demonstrates that cross means can accurately be predicted from MPV and selection among crosses at an early stage is highly effective. Based on the usefulness criterion, 16 superior crosses were identified compared to the planet as the actual leading malt variety. Starting from a simple additive genetic model with random mating, we discuss deviations from the initial model and their impact on the actual estimates implying how to design a state-of-the-art cereal breeding program.