Tawfiq Ali Nasser Al-Omari*⁽¹⁾, Abdulwahid Abdullah Saif⁽²⁾ and Ahmed Abdulhabib Malik⁽³⁾

(1). Regional Research Station for the Central Highlands, Agricultural Research and Extension Authority (AREA), Dhamar, Republic of Yemen.

(*Corresponding author: Tawfiq Ali Nasser Al-Omari, email: alomretawfiq@gmail.com, Tel.: 00967773820632)

Received: 19/8/2025           Accepted:  9/12/2025

Abstract

To address agricultural production challenges and the need for adapted varieties, a long-term study was conducted at the Central Highlands Research Station in Dhamar, Yemen, to evaluate induced mutations in the naked barley variety “Buhuth 2002” over four generations (M2-M5) during the 2022-2025 cropping seasons. Radiation doses of 150 and 200 Gy of gamma rays (a cobalt-60 source) were used to induce genetic variations, with the aim of selecting mutants that combine early maturity and high yield. The results showed clear and consistent variability across generations. In the M5 generation, the mutants reached maturity 15 days earlier than the control, with the average number of days to maturity decreasing from 115 days (control) to 100 days (mutants), with highly significant differences. A significant increase in the number of lateral branches was also observed, with the average number increasing from 11.40 (control) to 15.60 (200 Gy dose), with a significant difference at (P < 0.05), a trait associated with increased grain yield. Despite the inhibitory effect of radiation on plant height, the overall results confirm the success of mutation breeding in generating beneficial genetic variations and provide a solid foundation for developing new and improved early-maturing barley varieties, contributing to enhanced food security and adaptation to climate change.

Keywords: Barley, Gamma rays, Mutation breeding, Early maturity, Yield components, Genetic variability.
 Full paper in Arabic: PDF