Genetic and environmental variation of useful traits in a collection of naked barley I. Yield components and water use efficiency

Yield, yield components, morphological traits and earliness have been asses sed during three consecutive years in a collection of naked barley. This co llection was composed by 49 accessions originated from three genebanks. The variation of the assessed traits was described by taking into account the origin of accessions. Relationships among traits were studied. Carbon isoto pe discrimination in the grain was also analysed for one trial, correspondi ng to the driest year. Its relationship with the other characters was inves tigated and its potential use as a predictive criterion for yield under dro ught was discussed.