Registration of Orchardgrass Germplasms KY 07G23‐334 and KY 07G23‐336

Abstract

Winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) selection 88Ab536-B (Reg. no. GP-133, PI 595789) was developed cooperatively by the USDA-ARS and the Idaho Agric. Exp. Stn. It was approved for release as germplasm by the Univ. of Idaho Foundation Seed Stocks Committee in December 1995 on the basis of its superior malting quality compared with existing six-rowed winter barleys. The six-rowed winter barley selection 88Ab536 originated at Aberdeen, ID, as an Fe head row from the cross NE 76129/2* 'Morex' (made at Beltsville, MD). The FI through Fe generations were grown at the Univ. of Idaho Aberdeen Res. & Ext. Or. and selections were made in the FI through Fe generations. 88Ab536 has been tested in replicated trials in Idaho since 1989, and in the Western Winter Barley Nursery and the Uniform Barley Winterhardiness Nursery over a wide range of U.S. environments. Selection 88Ab536-B is a breeder seed composite of 36 reselections from 88Ab536 that were grown in a nonreplicated trial at Aberdeen and selected for morphological uniformity, maintaining favorable malting quality. 88Ab536-B is more uniform than 88AB536, and it has only lax spikes with rough awns, whereas 88Ab536 has a low frequency of dense spikes. It is relatively early maturing. Kernels have a white aleurone and long rachilla hairs. In four station-years of testing in irrigated trials at Aberdeen from 1989-1990 to 1993-1994, the yield of 88Ab536 (or 88Ab536-B) averaged 8364 kg ha~', or 78% of 'Eight-Twelve' and 87% of 'Schuyler'; the three barleys were similar in test weight and lodging resistance. Selection 88Ab536 averaged 5 cm taller than Schuyler and 10 cm taller than Eight-Twelve. It headed 5 d earlier than Eight-Twelve and 10 d earlier than Schuyler. EightTwelve and Schuyler are important feed barley varieties, but not suitable for malting and brewing. In irrigated trials at Aberdeen in 1993-1994 and 1995-1996, 88Ab536-B averaged 104% of the yield of the European six-rowed malting barley 'Plaisant'. 88Ab536-B has superior malting quality compared with other six-rowed winter cultivars such as Plaisant and Wintermalt, with an overall malting quality pattern similar to that of the recurrent spring parent, Morex (Table 1). Morex is the designated malting quality standard for six-rowed malting barley in the USA. Compared with other winter malting types, 88Ab536-B is markedly improved in having higher malt extract percentage, higher diastatic power and a-amylase activity, and lower fine-coarse (F/C) difference. Seed is available in small quantities for breeding and research purposes from the USDA-ARS National Small Grains Germplasm Research Facility, P.O. Box 307, Aberdeen, ID 83210.