Descriptors for barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is a revision of the original IPGRI ’Barley Descriptors’ (1982). An updated and slightly modified list was prepared by JD. Franckowiak and T. Konishi, as recommended by the International Workshop on Barley Genetic Resources held 20-21 July, 1991, in conjunction with the Sixth International Barley Genetics Symposium, Helsingborg, Sweden. A draft version prepared in the IPGRI internationally accepted format for descriptor lists was subsequently sent to a number of experts for their comments and amendments. A full list of the names and addresses of those involved is given in ’Contributors’. The descriptors from the 1982 list are cross-referenced with the current list with the descriptor numbers in parentheses beside the current descriptor.
(IPGRI), I. P. G. R. I. (1994). Descriptors for barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Rome: Bioversity.
| Code | Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Winter | |
| 2 | Facultative | Intermediate |
| 3 | Spring |
Subject to environmental factors
Legend:
Prostrate
Intermediate
Erect
At maturity, measured from the groumd level to the top of spike excluding awns
| Code | Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Green | |
| 2 | Purple | Basal only |
| 3 | Purple | Half or more |
Very subject to environmental factors
| Code | Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Green | |
| 2 | Pale Purple | |
| 3 | Purple | |
| 4 | Dark Purple |
Legend:
Very low or no visible sign of sensitivity
Low sensitivity
Intermediate
High Sensitivity
From sowing to when 50% of plants have started flowering. However, in dryland areas when planting in dry soils, it is counted from the first day of rainfall or irrigation, which is sufficient for germination. (Highly dependent on temeprature-photoperiod interactions)
| Code | Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Two rowed, large or small sterile lateral florets | |
| 2 | Two rowed, deficient | |
| 3 | Irregular, variable lateral florets development | |
| 4 | Six rowed, awnless or awnleted lateral florets | |
| 5 | Six rowed, long awns on lateral florets | |
| 6 | Others |
A subjective observation, see fig: 4
Legend:
Lax
Intermediate
Dense
An average of five spikes selected from a growing accession. (Trait subject to fertility and photoperiod factors)
See Fig: 5
| Code | Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Awnless | |
| 2 | Awnleted | |
| 3 | Awned | |
| 4 | Sessile hoods | |
| 5 | Elevated hoods |
See Fig: 6
Legend:
Smooth Few barbs at tip
Intermediate Small barbs on upper half
Rough
See Fig: 7
| Code | Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Length of glume and awn shorter than kernel | |
| 2 | Length of glume and awn as long as kernel | |
| 3 | Glume plus awn longer than kernel | |
| 4 | Glume plus awn nearly twice as long as kernel | |
| 5 | Lemma-like | |
| 6 | Others |
| Code | Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | White | |
| 2 | Yellow | |
| 3 | Brown | |
| 4 | Black |
See Fig: 8
| Code | Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No lemma teeth | |
| 2 | Lemma teeth | Barbs on lateral nerves |
| 3 | Lemma hair |
Recorded on fresh seeds
| Code | Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amber/white | |
| 2 | Yellow | |
| 3 | Brown | |
| 4 | Reddish | |
| 5 | Black | |
| 6 | Other |
See Fig: 9
| Code | Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Short | |
| 2 | Long |
Whether or not the lemma and palea adhere to the caryopsis
| Code | Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Naked grain | |
| 2 | Semi-covered grain | |
| 3 | Covered grain |
Precentage of kernels remaining on a 2.38 mm slotted screen
| Code | Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amber | =Normal |
| 2 | Tan/Red | |
| 3 | Purple | |
| 4 | Balck/grey | |
| 5 | Other |
| Code | Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | White | |
| 2 | Tan/red | |
| 3 | Purple | |
| 4 | Black | |
| 5 | Other |
Although this trait is difficult to observe, it os used for market type classification in several countries
| Code | Term | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | White | |
| 2 | Blue |
Even though this trait is environment dependent, most growouts will occur in favorable environments. Converted from weighing a lot of 250 kernels or more