Advanced backcross‐quantitative trait loci mapping of grain yield, heading date, and their stability parameters in barley across multienvironmental trials in Egypt.

Exploring the relationship between grain yield and heading date traits and their stability parameters at phenotypic, genetic, and molecular levels is the milestone for improving yield and adaptation in barley. We evaluated a mapping population comprising 298 doubled haploid lines in multienvironmental trials in Egypt. Composite interval mapping revealed 35 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) with four pleiotropic QTLs. A major QTL bPb‐9110 (140.3 cM on 3H) with a peak LOD greater than 24 was found to be associated with the stability statistics bi and R2 of heading date. Additionally, the marker bPb‐1213 on 1H was correlated to heading date, grain yield, and the statistic bi (GYP). We also found that the gene HvFT4 (2H, 66 cM) had a significant impact on the heading date due to the presence of exotic alleles. This gene was closely linked to the photoperiod Ppd‐H1 gene by 24.9 cM, and both genes play a major role in regulating flowering time in barley. Our results provide evidence that stability statistics pinpoint genetic control and appear promising for marker‐assisted selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]