Screening of new sources of 'Hordeum vulgare' genes for adaptive breeding in Aral Sea basin, Kazakhstan, for diversification of agriculture

Abstract

The specifics of the soil and climatic conditions of the Aral sea region, Kazakhstan, primarily associated with salinization, various types of droughts, uneven distribution of precipitation during the growing season, and late spring frosts, make it necessary to create crop varieties with resistance to biotic and abiotic environmental factors. In this regard, the expansion of the area under crops of nontraditional salt-tolerant grain crops in the Kyzylorda region is one of the main directions of increasing the sustainability of agriculture in the region. Studies have shown that among the grain crops cultivated in the region, spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is a reliable crop that can make the most of the region's bioclimatic resources to form sustainable yields. The purpose of this study is to create a new promising source material of barley based on a comprehensive study of collection material of various ecological and geographical origin by applying various methods of classical breeding. Based on a comprehensive assessment of the collection material of barley, a working collection of 250 varieties with agronomic resistance to environmental stress factors of the Aral Sea region was created. The selected samples are recommended for use in practical breeding in order to increase the adaptive potential of modern barley varieties.