Impact of cereal diseases on the qualitative traits of spring barley breeding lines

The differences between individual breeding lines of spring barley and a control variety were tested in terms of several measured (continuous) and qualitative traits. The impact of the qualitative traits (diseases) on the quantitative traits, especially yield, was assessed on the basis of the significance of differences for both qualitative traits and yield. Depending on the type of trait, either a logistic model or analysis of variance was used as a statistical tool. The statistically significant differences between some breeding lines and the control variety were shown. It was observed that in fodder barley both infection by mildew and lodging influenced yield. The results of analyses obtained in the so-called pre-preliminary trials and preliminary trials were different. This fact confirmed the necessity of repeating trials over several years.