Jolge, a new irrigated barley cultivar with wide adaptability in the cold agro-climate zone of Iran

Because of different biotic and abiotic stresses in the cold zone of Iran, especially winter coldness and occurrence of sudden cold in the late winter and early spring, release of new barley varieties possessing cold tolerance and resistance/tolerance to other stresses is the main objective of the barley breeding program in this zone. Newly released cultivar Jolge with pedigree of Makouee//Zarjow/80-5151was derived from the cross between cultivar “Makouee” and line “Zarjow/80-5151” as female and male parents, respectively, and subsequent selection among segregating populations till pure line stage at Cereal Research Department. Jolge is tolerant to winter cold and with average grain yield of 7361 kg per hectare which is 450 kg higher than check cultivar Bahman. Jolge mature earlier than other commercial varieties in the cold zone, and also its grain filling period is longer, and its thousand kernel weight is higher than check cultivar Bahman. Other advantages of this cultivar consist of high grain yield potential, high cold tolerance, resistance to yellow rust and powdery mildew, lodging resistance and non-shattering rachis. Jolge is the first released irrigated barley cultivar in the cold zone which its cross and all other breeding procedures is implemented in Iran.