A physiological and genetic analysis of growth characteristics in Hordeum spontaneum

Abstract

The aim of this project was to determine to what extent physiological, morphological and chemical growth characteristics are genetically linked and/or caused by common factors. First, 84 accessions of H. spontaneum from different habitats in Israel were screened for their variation in growth traits. A cross was made between contrasting genotypes and the F3 offspring were grown under close to optimal conditions and analysed for their growth characteristics. A map was constructed using AFLP markers. On chromosome 1 two QTLs for relative growth rate and specific leaf area were found at the same location. On chromosome 4 two QTLs for photosynthesis per unit leaf area and stomatal conductance were found at the same position. These traits are probably genetically linked or controlled by a common factor.