Genetic Dissection of Spike Productivity Traits in the Siberian Collection of Spring Barley

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is one of the most commonly cultivated cereals worldwide. Its local varieties can represent a valuable source of unique genetic variants useful for crop improvement. The aim of this study was to reveal loci contributing to spike productivity traits in Siberian spring barley and to develop diagnostic DNA markers for marker-assisted breeding programs. For this purpose we conducted a genome-wide association study using a panel of 94 barley varieties. In total, 64 SNPs significantly associated with productivity traits were revealed. Twenty-three SNP markers were validated by genotyping in an independent sample set using competitive allele-specific PCR (KASP). Finally, fourteen markers associated with spike productivity traits on chromosomes 2H, 4H and 5H can be suggested for use in breeding programs.