Kirkuk University Journal for Agricultural Sciences (KUJAS)

Resistance to Net-Form Net Blotch and Yield Performance of Local Barley Varieties under Rain-Fed Conditions in Iraqi Kurdistan Region

10.58928/ku26.17313
Volume 17, Issue 3
Summer 2026
Page 115-125
Kirkuk University Journal for Agricultural Sciences (KUJAS)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Sarkawt Hama Salih Ali 1
Shang Haseeb Abdulqadr 2
Shwana Ahmad hussain 2
Kazhal Hassan Rahim 3
Bakhtyar Abdallah Hama Saeed 3
Soran Othman Hama 4
Ari Omar Ali 5
Hoshyar M Ameen Mohammed 5
Gelas Hassan Ahmad 5

1 قسم وقاية النبات، كلية العلوم الهندسية الزراعية، جامعة السليمانية، السليمانية، العراق

2 قسم التكنولوجيا الحيوية وعلوم المحاصيل، كلية علوم الهندسة الزراعية، جامعة السليمانية، السليمانية، العراق

3 قسم وقاية النبات، مركز البحوث الزراعية في السليمانية، السليمانية، العراق

4 قسم وقاية النبات، محطة أبحاث كانيبانكا / مديرية أبحاث الزراعة في السليمانية، السليمانية، العراق

5 قسم وقاية النبات، محطة أبحاث كانيبانكا / مديرية أبحاث الزراعة في السليمانية، السليمانية، العراق.

Abstract
Net blotch, resulting from Pyrenophora teres, is the most significant disease affecting barley in numerous areas where this crop is grown. This study investigated the host-parasite interactions between several barley varieties and net-form net blotch (NFNB) at the adult plant stage. It evaluated the effects on yield and its components under rain-fed conditions across two distinct locations in the Iraqi Kurdistan region. The eleven local barley varieties were sown, with rigorous assessment of disease severity, infection types, and coefficients of infection. The results revealed significant differences in net-form net blotch resistance among varieties and between locations, Barely varieties could be divided into six groups according to infection type from resistance group contain Rafidain and Qalla varieties with mean disease severity and coefficient of infection were very low, 5% and 1 to susceptible group represents the biggest groups of this study, containing five barely varieties, Movialis, Iba 265, Iba 99, Rihana 02 and N.S. 313, with mean coefficient of infection ranging from 87.50 to 38.33 and 87.50-38.33 % disease severity. Differential responses were also observed in Yields and yield components, including spike length, grain weight, spike density, and thousand-grain weight. Varieties with high resistance consistently maintained superior yield and grain quality, whereas susceptible varieties suffered substantial reductions in yield, spike weight, and grain weight. These findings underscore the significance of genetic diversity and local adaptation in breeding programs, reinforcing the value of resistant varieties as an environmentally friendly approach to enhance barley production and mitigate NFNB outbreaks in variable rain-fed agroecosystems.

Keywords

Barley
Net-form net blotch
foliar disease
Mycology
Grain yield
Subjects
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