The effects of competitive interactions on variances and on seed germination in spring barley (Hordeum vulgare)

Abstract

Competition in spring barley is shown to affect between plant variation and hence the observed heritability of characters. It is also shown that seed germination can be aifected by the competitive interactions experienced by the parents. Both of these features point to the complications of attempting early-generation selection in barley breeding programmes as well as with many other crop species. © 1986 The Genetical Society of Great Britain.