Research Article

Genotypic Variation in Coleoptile Length of Turkish Winter Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Varieties

Number: 1 September 10, 2026

Genotypic Variation in Coleoptile Length of Turkish Winter Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Varieties

Abstract

Coleoptile length (CL) plays a crucial role in seedling establishment and determining optimal sowing depth in cereals, particularly under environmental stress conditions. This study investigated CL in 51 Turkish winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) varieties to identify long-coleoptile sources for breeding programs and to guide optimal sowing depths. The experiment was carried out in the greenhouse of the Central Research Institute for Field Crops during the 2025 growing season, and coleoptile length variation was studied in eight-day-old seedlings on a sand-based growing medium. Statistically significant genotypic variation in CL was observed (P<0.05), ranging from 48.6 mm in Kıral-97 to 85.2 mm in Cacabey varieties. A substantial proportion of the evaluated varieties exhibited CL within the 60 to 80 mm range. Nine varieties exhibited long CL, exceeding 80 mm, indicating their potential as genetic resources for enhanced early vigor and improved drought tolerance. Conversely, short-coleoptile varieties, with CL less than 60 mm, necessitate careful sowing depth management to mitigate emergence failure. The varieties with the longest coleoptiles were the tall varieties developed for dry conditions, while the varieties with the shortest coleoptiles were the short varieties developed for the high-yielding areas. However, a direct correlation between plant height and coleoptile length was not consistently observed across all varieties. A significant and positive correlation was established between CL and thousand-grain weight (r=0.6033) and grain length (r=0.5931). Furthermore, the study demonstrated that the effect of genotype (85.7%) on CL was more pronounced than that of grain size, underscoring the strong genetic control of this important agronomic trait. Further field trials with varied sowing depths and emergence rates are needed to refine and validate these findings.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Central Research Institute for Field Crops (Ankara/Türkiye)

Ethical Statement

Ethical approval is not required for this study, because it was conducted only on plants; there is no specific experiment involving humans or animals.

Thanks

The author is grateful to the Central Research Institute for Field Crops (Ankara/Türkiye) for the provision of the research facilities and experimental greenhouse. The only abstract of this study was presented as an oral presentation at the 5th International Plant Breeding Congress (1-5 December 2025, Antalya/Türkiye).

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Cereals and Legumes

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

September 10, 2026

Submission Date

February 13, 2026

Acceptance Date

August 5, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Number: 1

APA
Ergün, N., Bilir, M., Karahan, E., & Sayim, İ. (2026). Genotypic Variation in Coleoptile Length of Turkish Winter Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Varieties. Yuzuncu Yıl University Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 1, 1888006. https://doi.org/10.29133/yyutbd.1888006
AMA
1.Ergün N, Bilir M, Karahan E, Sayim İ. Genotypic Variation in Coleoptile Length of Turkish Winter Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Varieties. YYU J AGR SCI. 2026;(1):1888006. doi:10.29133/yyutbd.1888006
Chicago
Ergün, Namuk, Melih Bilir, Emre Karahan, and İsmail Sayim. 2026. “Genotypic Variation in Coleoptile Length of Turkish Winter Barley (Hordeum Vulgare L.) Varieties”. Yuzuncu Yıl University Journal of Agricultural Sciences, no. 1: 1888006. https://doi.org/10.29133/yyutbd.1888006.
EndNote
Ergün N, Bilir M, Karahan E, Sayim İ (September 1, 2026) Genotypic Variation in Coleoptile Length of Turkish Winter Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Varieties. Yuzuncu Yıl University Journal of Agricultural Sciences 1 1888006.
IEEE
[1]N. Ergün, M. Bilir, E. Karahan, and İ. Sayim, “Genotypic Variation in Coleoptile Length of Turkish Winter Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Varieties”, YYU J AGR SCI, no. 1, p. 1888006, Sept. 2026, doi: 10.29133/yyutbd.1888006.
ISNAD
Ergün, Namuk - Bilir, Melih - Karahan, Emre - Sayim, İsmail. “Genotypic Variation in Coleoptile Length of Turkish Winter Barley (Hordeum Vulgare L.) Varieties”. Yuzuncu Yıl University Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 1 (September 1, 2026): 1888006. https://doi.org/10.29133/yyutbd.1888006.
JAMA
1.Ergün N, Bilir M, Karahan E, Sayim İ. Genotypic Variation in Coleoptile Length of Turkish Winter Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Varieties. YYU J AGR SCI. 2026;:1888006.
MLA
Ergün, Namuk, et al. “Genotypic Variation in Coleoptile Length of Turkish Winter Barley (Hordeum Vulgare L.) Varieties”. Yuzuncu Yıl University Journal of Agricultural Sciences, no. 1, Sept. 2026, p. 1888006, doi:10.29133/yyutbd.1888006.
Vancouver
1.Namuk Ergün, Melih Bilir, Emre Karahan, İsmail Sayim. Genotypic Variation in Coleoptile Length of Turkish Winter Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Varieties. YYU J AGR SCI. 2026 Sep. 1;(1):1888006. doi:10.29133/yyutbd.1888006
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