Registration of ‘Transit’ High β‐Glucan Spring Barley

Abstract

Studies on the effects of β‐glucan on humans have shown that food containing high concentrations of β‐glucans from barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) reduced total cholesterol levels. β‐Glucan has been shown to be beneficial for the regulation of blood‐glucose levels, and high β‐glucan has been found to reduce glucose intolerance and insulin resistance. High β‐glucan barley varieties with good agronomic traits are few and have reduced yield potential compared with feed‐ and malting‐barley cultivars. ‘Transit’ (Reg. No. CV‐348, PI 660128), a two‐rowed, spring, high β‐glucan barley, was developed and submitted for release in 2009 by the USDA‐ARS, Aberdeen, ID in cooperation with the University of Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station. Transit is a selection from the cross 10/‘Azhul’//‘CDC Alamo’. 10 is a selection from composite cross XXXII. Azhul is a six‐rowed, high β‐glucan cultivar released by the ARS and Arizona Agricultural Experiment Station and is the progenitor of most high β‐glucan cultivars and germplasm. Azhul was developed by the mutation of line 76‐19‐7 with diethyl sulfate. Line 76‐19‐7 has the pedigree CCXXXII/‘Arimont’//‘Westbar’. CDC Alamo, tested as HB340, has the pedigree SB85750/Azhul. Transit has a reduced yield potential compared with the best feed and malting types, but its high level of β‐glucan provides enough added value to allow it to be economically competitive with current malting‐barley cultivars. The release of Transit will provide producers with a variety having improved yield potential and β‐glucan content compared with the current varieties CDC Alamo and Azhul. Transit is expected to be adapted to both irrigated and rainfed regions in Idaho.