Efficiency of farmers' selection in a participatory barley breeding programme in Jordan

P>The study assessed farmers' and breeders' selection efficiencies in one cycle of selection in a participatory barley breeding program. The selectors were compared with each other for objectively measured agronomic traits and for their selection scores. Farmers' scores were positively correlated with grain yield in all locations while breeders' scores not always. The selection criteria of farmers varied with location; those in low-moisture areas selected for tall plants while those in high rainfall area for short. Breeders' gave high scores to tall entries regardless of the selection environment. The results showed that in all locations farmers were at least as efficient as or, in most cases, more efficient than breeders in identifying high yielding genotypes with desirable traits for their specific environment indicating their competence in selection. Breeders appeared to select for their wide geographic mandate area while farmers focused on their specific locality. The finding indicates that decentralized participatory plant breeding is important to increase and stabilize productivity and maintain genetic diversity as each pocket area is occupied by the best and different genotypes.