Identification of spring barley varieties according to the degree of manifestation of qualitative morphological features by year in the conditions of the Central region of the Non-Chernozem zone

Relevance. Protection of intellectual property rights for selection achievements is important for maintaining selection. To obtain the right, a variety must meet the criteria of distinctiveness, uniformity, and stability. In this case, new varieties are compared by morphological characteristics with standard varieties, varieties with a clearly expressed manifestation of the characteristics by which the assessment is carried out. Many countries strive to create collections of standard varieties of domestic selection. The purpose of our study: evaluation of a collection of spring barley by qualitative morphological characteristics (bush type, anthocyanin coloration of flag leaf auricles, awn tips, nerves of the outer flower scale, position of the ear and flag leaf, pubescence of the lower leaf sheath, waxy coating of the flag leaf sheath) and identification of varieties with stable manifestations of characteristics as candidates for standard varieties of the domestic collection. Methods and Materials. The study was conducted in 2022-2024 in the central region of the non-chernozem zone on 66 varieties of spring barley. The characteristics were taken into account in accordance with the Methodology for conducting tests on environmental protection. RESULTS. The following varieties were identified that can serve as candidates for standards: 1601 410 2C, Anna, Blagodar, Buyan, Byyan, Vladimir, Getman, Gris, Granal 32, Dina, Zeus, KVS Irina, KVS Jessie, Kornet Stoykiy, Krasnoyaruzhsky 6, Medikum 157, Odesky 22, Povolzhsky 49, Elf, Nadezhny. Among them are varieties with a unique manifestation of gradations of characteristics: Byyan and Buyan, KVS Jessie, Odesky 22, Anna, Gris, Elf, Medikum 157, Nadezhny. No gradations were found for the characteristic "wax coating on the sheath of the flag leaf". No varieties were found that exhibited gradations of the following characteristics: erect, semi-creeping, creeping bush type; presence of pubescence of leaf sheaths of lower leaves; very strong anthocyanin coloration of ears; bent flag leaf; very strong anthocyanin coloration of awn tips; semi-bent and drooping position of the spike; very strong anthocyanin coloration of nerves of the outer flower scale.