Cultivar and Environmental Effects on (1→3,1→4)-β-D-Glucan and Protein Content in Malting Barley

Abstract

A low β-glucan and protein content is desirable for malting barley. In China high β-glucan content has been considered a major factor contributing to the inferior malting quality of local barleys. In this study 10 barley cultivars were planted in multi-location trials in the southern winter-barley zone to determine genotypic and environmental effects on β-glucan and protein content. There were highly significant differences in both β-glucan and protein content between the 10 barleys, the eight locations and the 2 planting years. The average β-glucan content over the 2 years for the 10 cultivars in the eight locations ranged from 3·91% for Gangpi 1 to 4·95% for Xiumei 3, and from 3·76% for Hangzhou to 4·75% for Taian in eight locations. Correspondingly, the protein contents of the 10 cultivars ranged from 11·37% for Yanyin 1 to 12·52% for ZAU, and of the eight locations from 9·5% for Hangzhou to 14·69% for Taian. Environmental factors contributed the largest component of the variation in both β-glucan and protein content. Five climatic factors, namely the total accumulated temperature, accumulated temperature to 25 °C and to 30 °C, precipitation and days with rain during seed development were included in a regression equation relating climatic factors and β-glucan content. In the regression equation relating climatic factors and protein content, two other factors, days from heading to maturity and accumulated temperature to 20 °C were included, in addition to the five climatic factors that significantly affected β-glucan content.