Quality Of Barley Research Articles

Quantitative Trait Loci and Candidate Loci for Heading Date in a Large Population of a Wide Barley Cross

ABSTRACTSpanish barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) landraces exhibit good adaptation to Mediterranean conditions. This study aims at revealing the genetic control of heading date on a large population of 464 doubled haploid lines from the cross between the Spanish line SBCC145 (a 6‐row barley with low vernalization requirement and good agronomics) and the German cultivar Beatrix (a 2‐row, spring‐type, short stature, high yield, malting quality barley). The population was evaluated using augmented designs in two field trials with contrasting sowing dates. The study was done in a two‐step process to optimize cost effectiveness of genotyping. First, a sample of 184 lines was genotyped with 1536 single nucleotide polymorphisms, which allowed building a map with 408 markers. Then the entire population was further genotyped with markers from flowering time genes VrnH1, VrnH2, VrnH3, and PpdH1 and a simple sequence repeat linked to Eam6. Quantitative trait loci were detected for growth habit, heading date, plant height, and individual grain weight on chromosome 3H in a region that possibly contains the denso gene. The effect of VrnH3 on heading date confirmed previous results from association mapping, and showed an interaction with PpdH1, to which it is linked in the photoperiod pathway. PpdH1 had an opposite effect on heading date at the two trials. Besides revealing interesting effects for particular alleles of the genes studied, this population demonstrates that it is possible to combine short stature with early heading date and good grain size in six‐row barley and shows good prospects for its use in breeding.

Impacts of temperature increase and change in precipitation pattern on crop yield and yield quality of barley

Spring barley was grown in a field experiment under moderately elevated soil temperature and changed summer precipitation (amount and frequency). Elevated temperature affected the performance and grain quality characteristics more significant than changes in rainfall. Except for the decrease in thousand grain weight, warming had no impacts on aboveground biomass and grain yield traits. In grains, several proteinogenic amino acids concentrations were increased, whereas their composition was only slightly altered. Concentration and yield of total protein remained unaffected under warming. The concentrations of total non-structural carbohydrates, starch, fructose and raffinose were lower in plants grown at high temperatures, whereas maltose was higher. Crude fibre remained unaffected by warming, whereas concentrations of lipids and aluminium were reduced. Manipulation of precipitation only marginally affected barley grains: amount reduction increased the concentrations of several minerals (sodium, copper) and amino acids (leucine). The projected climate changes may most likely affect grain quality traits of interest for different markets and utilisation requirements.

Malt-induced premature yeast flocculation: current perspectives

Premature yeast flocculation (PYF) is a sporadic problem for the malting and brewing industries which can have significant financial and logistical implications. The condition is characterised by abnormally heavy (and sometimes early) flocculation of yeast during brewery fermentations. The resulting low suspended yeast cell counts towards the end of the fermentation can result in flavour defects and incomplete attenuation (fermentation of sugars to alcohol). Despite several decades of research into the phenomenon, its precise nature and mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. In part this is because the term PYF has become a 'catch-all' syndrome which can have multiple origins. Furthermore, there are complex interactions in the malting and brewing processes which together mean that the PYF status of a malt sample is hard to predict at a generic level. Whether or not PYF is observed depends not only on barley quality, but on process factors in the maltings and to a substantial extent on the brewing yeast strain concerned. This article highlights the significance of PYF, and reviews current knowledge relating to the origins of this complex phenomenon.

The Advanced Approaches to Nutritional and Breadmaking Quality of Wheat, Barley and Rye Flour

This work is focused on the characterization and rapid analytical determination of cereal flour quality with regard to nutritional and breadmaking quality. Starch, protein and non-starch polysaccharides are the main components of cereals. The content and quality of proteins and content of damaged starch is important because of the technological quality of flours. The high content of high molecular weight proteins is substantial for bread technology especially, while soluble protein fractions and non-starch polysaccharides are important for nutrition. The set of wheat, barley and rye flours and their blends were analyzed and their properties and their qualitative parameters were determined. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used on Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectra in the 1,200-800 cm^(-1) wavenumber region and significant correlations of various nutritional and breadmaking parameters were observed. Results showed that the FT-IR spectroscopy and PCA can serve for rapid screening and classification of cereal flour quality.

Mykotoxikologická kvalita ječmene sklizeného v ČR v letech 2005-2010.

Mykotoxikologická kvalita ječmene sklizeného v ČR v letech 2005-2010.

The effect of non-targeted application of propiconazole on the yield and quality of malt barley

Karamanos, R. E., Flore, N. A., Harapiak, J. T. and Stevenson, F. C. 2012. The effect of non-targeted application of propiconazole on the yield and quality of malt barley. Can. J. Plant Sci. 92: 341–349. There is a desire to use non-targeted applications of foliar fungicide to improve malting barley production under higher fertility situations. An experiment was conducted at 80 sites (location by year combinations) with a 12 combinations of N/P/K rate-placement to determine if applications of propiconazole improve malt barley yield and quality under high fertility conditions. Treatment differences for days to maturity were no greater than about 1 d. Fungicide by fertility treatment interactions were not significant (P>0.05). Applications of propiconazole improved yield by 305 kg ha−1 (6%) and plump kernels by 3 g kg−1 (3%) across all fertility treatments, which included N fertilizer rates ranging from 0 to 90 kg N ha−1. The effect of fungicide on yield was greatest at sites with highest yield potentials (ca. 8000 kg ha−1) and was not statistically significant at lower-yielding sites (ca. 3000 kg ha−1). Application of propiconazole also improved net returns [barley revenue – (N cost+propiconazole cost+other operating costs)] by $22 ha−1 with higher barley priced ($190 T−1) and high yield potentials. At sites with low yield potential, the application of propiconazole resulted in net losses of about $7 ha−1 compared with not applying propiconazole. Nitrogen fertilizer rates from 0 to 90 kg N ha−1 (15/30-0 P-K fertilizer treatment combinations) increased yield and protein concentration, and reduced plump kernels in a curvilinear fashion when averaged across fungicide treatments. Net returns were maximized at N fertilizer rates slightly less than 90 kg N ha−1, depending on the price/cost regime. Consequently, malt barley producers will have to consider tradeoffs regarding N fertilizer rate that optimizes yield/returns and kernel quality. Also, decisions regarding fungicide applications and N/P/K fertilizer rate-placement applications can be made independent of each other for malt barley production.

QTL associated with barley (Hordeum vulgare) feed quality traits measured through in situ digestion

Barley (Hordeum vulgare) is a major feed source for the intensive livestock industry. Competitiveness against other cereal grains depends largely on the price per unit of expressed feed quality. The traits which contribute to feed quality in barley are largely quantitative in nature but little is known about their genetic control. A study to identify the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with feed quality was performed using a F6-derived recombinant inbred barley population. Samples from each line were incubated in the rumen of fistulated cattle, recovered, washed and dried for determination of in situ dry matter digestibility. Additionally, both pre- and post-digestion samples were analysed to quantify the content of key quality components relating to acid detergent fibre, total starch and protein. The data was used to identify trait-associated QTLs. Genetic analysis identified significant QTLs on chromosomes 2H, 5H and 7H. Genetic markers linked to these QTL should provide an effective tool for the selection and improvement of feed barley in the future.

A putative role for amino acid permeases in sink-source communication of barley tissues uncovered by RNA-seq

BackgroundThe majority of nitrogen accumulating in cereal grains originates from proteins remobilised from vegetative organs. However, interactions between grain filling and remobilisation are poorly understood. We used transcriptome large-scale pyrosequencing of flag leaves, glumes and developing grains to identify cysteine peptidase and N transporter genes playing a role in remobilisation and accumulation of nitrogen in barley.ResultsCombination of already known and newly derived sequence information reduced redundancy, increased contig length and identified new members of cysteine peptidase and N transporter gene families. The dataset for N transporter genes was aligned with N transporter amino acid sequences of rice and Arabidopsis derived from Aramemnon database. 57 AAT, 45 NRT1/PTR and 22 OPT unigenes identified by this approach cluster to defined subgroups in the respective phylogenetic trees, among them 25 AAT, 8 NRT1/PTR and 5 OPT full-length sequences. Besides, 59 unigenes encoding cysteine peptidases were identified and subdivided into different families of the papain cysteine peptidase clade. Expression profiling of full-length AAT genes highlighted amino acid permeases as the group showing highest transcriptional activity. HvAAP2 and HvAAP6 are highly expressed in vegetative organs whereas HvAAP3 is grain-specific. Sequence similarities cluster HvAAP2 and the putative transporter HvAAP6 together with Arabidopsis transporters, which are involved in long-distance transfer of amino acids. HvAAP3 is closely related to AtAAP1 and AtAAP8 playing a role in supplying N to developing seeds. An important role in amino acid re-translocation can be considered for HvLHT1 and HvLHT2 which are specifically expressed in glumes and flag leaves, respectively. PCA and K-means clustering of AAT transcript data revealed coordinate developmental stages in flag leaves, glumes and grains. Phloem-specific metabolic compounds are proposed that might signal high grain demands for N to distantly located plant organs.ConclusionsThe approach identified cysteine peptidases and specific N transporters of the AAT family as obviously relevant for grain filling and thus, grain yield and quality in barley. Up to now, information is based only on transcript data. To make it relevant for application, the role of identified candidates in sink-source communication has to be analysed in more detail.

Grain quality traits important in feed barley

Grain quality traits important in feed barley Spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) traditionally has been a major cereal crop for animal feed especially in Northern areas and also in Latvia. It is complicated to define what the ideal feed barley should be, as the requirements widely differ not only for different species, but even for different age groups of the same species of animals. Therefore, the breeding of feed barley has been developing very slowly and building on the basis of agronomic and beer barley quality parameters. Targeted breeding of barley varieties for a definite application purpose of the grain is connected with selection according to different criteria. The present article shows that the feed quality of barley is influenced both by physical grain quality indicators (colour, grain weight and size, hull content, 1000 grain weight, volume weight and grain hardness) and by the chemical composition (carbohydrates, non-starch polysaccharides, amino acids, fibre, protein, fat, minerals and vitamins). On the basis of the information collected, a profile of a high quality feed barley variety for different groups of animals is defined.

2011 U.S. Barley Production and Quality Updates

According to the November 9 United States Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA-NASS) Crop Production Report, U.S. 2011 barley production is 155,780 thousand bushels* from 2,239 thousand harvested acres. This is an increase from the September USDA <i>Small Grains 2011 Summary,</i> which reported production at 155.0 million bushels. The revised report was prepared because the wet growing season delayed small grain harvest nationwide. Although the reported number of harvested acres remained steady in the second report, yields in Idaho and Washington increased, and the average U.S yield increased from 69.2 to 69.6 bu/acre. However, 2011 production was the lowest of the last 10 years. Quality surveys conducted by the Institute of Barley and Malt Sciences (IBMS) in Montana, Minnesota, and North Dakota were completed in November. Sample collection was coordinated by the USDA-NASS, Fargo, ND. Grain quality evaluations were performed by the Department of Plant Sciences at North Dakota State University (NSDU) and grade determinations were completed by the North Dakota Grain Inspection Service in Fargo, ND. An evaluation of Idaho barley quality coordinated by the Idaho Barley Commission was completed in October. Idaho barley samples were graded at the Idaho Grain Inspection Service in Pocatello, ID. Seventy-six percent of 2011 U.S. barley was produced in Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Colorado, Washington, and Wyoming. Except for Washington, which produces mostly feed varieties, the majority of production in these states is malting varieties.

Spring barley performances in the Pannonian zone

Environmental conditions in the Pannonian zone can be characterized with moderate high temperature and partially water deficit during grain filling of spring barley, although low temperature and water deficit are possible also in period till anthesis. This study was conducted to evaluate the variation of the duration of the period from emergence to anthesis (VP), duration of grain filling period (GFP), plant height (PH), spikes number m-2 (SN), grains number spike-1 (GN), thousand grains weight (GW) and yield (YIL) in spring two-rowed barley in conditions of the Pannonian zone. All three factors; genotype, environment and the interaction GxY affected the studied traits. Average VP was 777 GDD, GFP 782 GDD, PH 78 cm, SN 523, GN 28.2, GW 43.2 g and YIL 6.26 t ha-1. Variation across varieties was higher than across growing seasons. Heritability varied from 0.66 for YIL to 0.94 for VP and GFP. This study confirmed that a sufficiently large genetic variability must be base for selecting appropriate varieties for the Pannonian zone conditions. In order to determine high yielding and quality barley extensive research in relation to breeding, variety choice for production and growing practice must be done.

‘Tocol‐omic’ Diversity in Wild Barley, Short Communication

Hordeum spontaneum, wild barley, is the direct progenitor of domestic barley, Hordeum vulgare, an economically important ingredient of animal feed, beer, soy sauce, and more recently, of nutraceuticals. Domestic barley has also been used in the past as a medicine. Barley is a rich source of tocotrienols, with α-tocotrienol being the most prevalent. Wild barley seeds were harvested from ecogeographically diverse areas across the Fertile Crescent, and the tocopherol (α-δ) and tocotrienol (α-δ) contents were determined. Diversity differences in individual and total 'tocol' values were significant between and within specific countries, and were significantly correlated with temperature. Wild barley may be used in the future to improve functional qualities of domestic barley. 'Tocolome' and 'tocolomics' are proposed to encompass all tocols and potentially synergy-enhancing 'entourage' compounds that may occur in tocols' 'metabolomic neighborhoods', aiding the standardized manufacture of complex barley derivatives for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical functions.

Mutagenesis of barley malting quality QTLs with Ds transposons

Various functional genomic tools are being used to identify and characterize genes in plants. The Activator/Dissociation (Ac/Ds) transposon-based approach offers great potential, especially in barley, due to its limited success of genetic transformation and its large genome size. The bias of the Ac/Ds system towards genic regions and its tendency toward localized transpositions can greatly enhance the discovery and tagging of genes linked to Ds. Barley is a key ingredient in malting and brewing industry; therefore, gene discovery in relation to malting has an industrial perspective. Malting quality in barley is a complex and quantitatively inherited trait. Two major quantitative trait loci (QTLs) affecting malting quality traits have been located on chromosome 4H. In this study, Ds was reactivated from parent transposants (TNP) lines, TNP-29 and TNP-79, where Ds was mapped in the vicinity of important malting QTLs. Reactivation of Ds was carried out both by conventional breeding and in vitro approaches. A threefold increase in reactivation frequency through the in vitro approach enabled the development of a new genomic resource for the dissection of malting QTL and gene discovery in barley. Identification of unique flanking sequences, using high-efficiency thermal asymmetric interlaced PCR and inverse PCR from these populations, has further emphasized the new location of Ds in the barley genome and provided new transposon mutants especially in β-GAL1, β-amylase-like gene and ABC transporter for functional genomic studies.

Effect of barley and oat flour types and sourdoughs on dough rheology and bread quality of composite wheat bread

The potential of sourdough to improve bread quality of barley and oat enriched wheat breads may depend on the characteristics of the added flour (cereal type, variety, extraction rate). We compared the effect of different barley flours and oat bran (substitution level 40%), unfermented and as sourdoughs (20% of total flour), on composite wheat dough and bread characteristics by combining empirical rheological analyses (DoughLab, SMS/Kieffer Dough and Gluten Extensibility Rig) with small-scale baking of hearth loaves. Whole grain barley flour sourdough increased resistance to extension (Rmax) of the dough and improved the form ratio of hearth loaves compared to unfermented whole grain barley flour. However, sourdough showed little effect on the breads prepared with sifted barley flour or oat bran. The breads made with oat bran showed highest bread volume, lowest crumb firmness and highest β-glucan calcofluor weight average molecular weight (MW). The heat treatment of oat bran inactivated endogenous enzymes resulting in less β-glucan degradation. High MW β-glucans will increase the viscosity of the doughs water phase, which in turn may stabilise gas cells and may therefore be the reason for the higher bread volume of the oat bran breads observed in our study.

국내 개발 이탈리안 라이그라스와 청보리 주요 품종의 생산성과 사료가치 비교

본 연구는 국내 개발 이탈리안 라이그라스(IRG)와 청보리 품종의 생산성과 사료가치를 비교분석하여 영농현장에 필요한 기술정보를 제공하고자 국립축산과학원 수원 시험포장에서 2009년 9월부터 '10년 6월까지 수행하였다. 처리내용은 IRG 2품종(조생종 Kowinearly, 중생종 Kowinmaster), 청보리 5품종(영양, 우호, 유연, 다미, 유호) 및 혼파구(Kowinearly + 유연, Kowinmaster + 유연) 등 9처리였다. IRG의 출수기는 Kowin early 5월 14일, Kowinmaster 5월 18일이었다. 5월 22일 조사한 청보리의 숙기는 영양과 우호는 유숙후기, 다미는 호숙초기, 유연과 유호는 호숙초 중기로 품종간 약간의 차이가 있었다. IRG에서 도복이 다소 있었으나 혼파구에서는 관찰되지 않았고, 혼파구에서 IRG의 초장은 117~118 cm로 IRG나 청보리 단파구에 비해 길었다. 수확 시 건물률은 20.7~25.4%였으며, 혼파구에서 시기별로 조사한 IRG의 식생비율은 평균 43.1%였다. 청보리의 이삭비율은 성숙이 진행될수록 높아지는 경향으로 유숙후기, 호숙기, 황숙기, 완숙기에서 각각 35.7%, 44.1%, 54.8%, 57.2%였으며, 품종별로는 영양과 우호에서 다소 높은 경향이었다. 조단백질 함량은 IRG에서 9.0~10.0%로 높은 경향이었으며 청보리는 7.0~8.5%, 혼파구는 7.3~9.1%였고, NDF와 ADF 함량은 청보리구에서 낮은 경향이었다. 건물 소화율은 Kowinearly 64.4%, Kowinmaster 64.1%, Kowinmaster + 유연 혼파구는 64.5%였으며, 청보리는 60.2 (유호)~66.4% (우호) 범위로 우호에서 높은 경향이었다. 건물수량, 조단백질 수량, 가소화 건물수량은 Kowinmaster + 유연 혼파구에서 ha당 각각 11,508 kg, 1,046 kg, 7,422 kg으로 가장 많았으며(p<0.05), IRG와 청보리 품종별 생산성 차이는 크지 않아 지역 특성과 재배 목적에 맞는 초종 및 품종선택과 함께 IRG (Kowinmaster) + 청보리 혼파이용이 권장되었다. This study was carried out to determine the forage production and quality of Italian ryegrass (IRG) and forage barley developed by Korea in Suwon, 2009~'10. The nine treatments were two IRG varieties (Kowinearly with early maturity and Kowinmaster with medium maturity), five barley varieties (Youngyang, Wooho, Yuyeon, Dami and Youho), and two mixtures (Kowinearly + Yuyeon and Kowinmaster + Yuyeon). The heading dates of Kowinearly and Kowinmaster were 14 May and 18 May, respectively. The growth stage of barley investigated at 22 May were late milk in Youngyang and Wooho, early dough in Dami and early to medium dough in Yuyeon and Youho. Plant length of IRG in IRG + barley mixtures was 117~118 cm, which was longer than those of IRG monoculture of 98~101 cm, and no lodging was found in mixtures. The dry matter (DM) percentage at harvest was 20.7~25.4% in all treatments. The botanical composition of IRG in mixtures was 43.1%. The percentage of spike per barley plant was become high according to progressed maturity, as a 35.7%, 44.1%, 54.8% and 57.2% in late milk, dough, yellowish and full ripeness stage, respectively, and the spike percentages of Youngyang and Wooho were tends to high. The crude protein (CP) content of IRG as 9.0~10.0% was higher than that of barley (7.0~8.5%), and the contents of NDF and ADF of barley were lower than those of IRG, and in vitro DM digestibility were 64.4% in Kowinearly, 64.1% in Kowinmaster, 64.5% in mixture, and 60.2% (Youho) to 66.4% (Wooho) in barley. The yields of DM, CP and in vitro digestible DM were high in Kowinmaster+barley mixture as a 11,508 kg, 1,046 kg and 7,422 kg per ha, respectively (p<0.05). However, no significant differences in forage yield were observed among cultivar of IRG, and barley, although Wooho was tends to high in digestibility and forage yield among five barley varieties. In conclusion, the mixture cultivation of IRG Kowinmaster + forage barley was recommended, because of preventing of IRG lodging, higher plant length of IRG, increasing of forage yield, and stable production. Selection of suitable winter forage species and variety for district, climate environment, and utilization type of farm was also important.

Land suitability evaluation for irrigated barley in Damghan plain, Iran

The aim of this study is evaluating of accuracy of FAO methods for qualitative land suitability of barley in Damghan plain and make easy farmers' choice for planting the best crop in the land. This study was carried out in an area including 5400 ha in the southern part of Damghan city in the form of semi-detailed surveying level. The results showed that the climatic characteristics of the region were suitable for irrigated barley plantation. Lack of suitable water for irrigation, soil salinity and alkalinity, some soil physics properties and poor soil fertility were the most serious problems influencing yield and quality of barley. Assessment results showed Square Root method (SL) and Simple limitation method (SR) had close correlation. This study suggested to use SL method and SR for evaluation of the land suitability. According to the obtained results of SR and SL methods cultivation of barely with moderately and marginally suitable class are recommended. Proper land management practices, leaching, drainage, land preparation crop rotation, specific irrigation methods and using resistant crop help to increase crop yield in this area.

Managing crop losses from plant diseases with foliar fungicides, rotation and tillage on a Black Chernozem in Saskatchewan, Canada

The impact of tillage system, rotation sequence and foliar fungicides on diseases and seed yield and quality of wheat, barley, pea, canola and flax was determined in the second cycle of three, 4-year rotations from 1998 to 2001 on a Black Chernozem (Udic Boroll) at Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada. The objective of the study was to evaluate the impact of reduced-tillage production systems, broadleaf cropping intensity and fungicide use on cereal, oilseed and pulse crops in northeastern Saskatchewan, a sub-humid region of the northern Great Plains. A split–split plot design was used with three tillage systems (conventional, minimum and no-till) as main plots, three rotations of increasing broadleaf crop intensity (1. canola–wheat–barley–barley; 2. canola–barley–pea–wheat; and 3. canola–pea–flax–barley) as sub-plots, and fungicide treatments (treated or untreated) as sub-sub-plots. Fungicides appropriate for the diseases of concern were applied at recommended crop development stages and application rates, followed by assessment of diseases. Tillage system had little impact on diseases of any crop, although seed yield was usually greater under no-till for most crops under dry conditions. Rotation was not a major factor in disease severity of most of the crops, except barley in the rotation where it was grown for two consecutive years. Under dry conditions, barley yield was reduced when it followed flax compared with other crops, most likely due to less available soil moisture after flax. Fungicide application had the greatest impact on disease control and seed yield increase, although results varied among crops and years. In conclusion, the findings indicate that tillage system had little effect on disease severity, rotation contributed to greater disease severity only when a crop was grown intensively, such as on its own stubble, and fungicide application had variable effects on both disease control and seed yield.

Microstructure of hard and soft kernels of barley

Kernel hardness, an important quality trait of cereal grains, is known to influence pearling properties and malting quality of barley. To understand the endosperm micro-structural features of kernels and their relationship to kernel hardness, endosperms of three hard and three soft hulled spring barley lines based on single kernel characterization system hardness index were observed under light (LM) and scanning electron (SEM) microscopy. Under LM, endosperm cell wall of the three hard kernel lines was significantly thicker than that of the three soft kernel lines. Hard and soft lines showed differences in the degree of starch-protein association and continuity of protein matrix under the SEM. Hard kernel lines with a continuous protein matrix exhibited greater starch-protein adhesion than the soft kernel lines, suggesting that starch-protein binding may be one of the factors influencing barley kernel hardness. SEM of flour particles of soft kernel lines showed numerous well defined individual A and B-type starch granules, while, flour of hard kernel lines mostly showed small flour aggregates with few individual starch granules.

Relationship of physicochemical characteristics and hydrolyzed hydroxycinnamic acid profile of barley varieties and nutrient availability in ruminants

The objectives of this study were to (1) investigate the relationship between physicochemical characteristics (mean/median particle sizes, physical hull content) and hydrolyzed hydroxycinnamic acid profile (ferulic acid (FA), para-coumaric acid (pCA), and their ratio) of barley varieties and in situ rumen degradability in dairy cattle; and (2) investigate rumen degradation kinetics of FA and pCA of CDC barley varieties grown in western Canada. Barley variety had a significant effect (P<0.05) on rumen undegradable fraction of DM, FA, pCA, neutral (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) at 12 and/or 24h of rumen incubation. FA in barley grain was more degradable than the pCA (P<0.05). There were no differences (P>0.05) in effective degradability of DM (EDDM) and EDFA, but significant differences in EDpCA (P<0.05). Barley hull was strongly correlated to NDF, ADF, ADL, hemicellulose and cellulose (R>0.78, P<0.001) and correlated to FA (R=0.57, P<0.05) but not to pCA (R=0.42, P>0.05) in original samples. FA and pCA were highly and positively correlated to NDF, ADF, ADL, hemicellulose, cellulose, mean/median particle sizes, and rumen indigestible DM, NDF and ADF at either 12 or 24h (P<0.05). Mean/median particle size of barley grain positively influenced the rumen indigestible DM, but not others (FA, pCA). The results implied that reduction of barley hull, FA and pCA contents could increase the degradability of barley grain in rumen. Multi-regression with best model variable selection analysis revealed that FA was the factor most inhibiting to DM degradability of barley in rumen, and was the most effective factor to predict DM degradability, while hull was the most effective factor to determine NDF degradability in rumen. Both hull and FA affected ADF degradability in the rumen. The results indicate that breeding or identifying barley varieties with lower hull and FA contents would result in higher degradability, higher energy density and higher quality barley and improve nutrient availability of barley.

Reduced Phytate Barley Malt to Improve Fermentation Efficiency

ABSTRACT J. Inst. Brew. 117(3), 401–410, 2011 Brewery fermentations require continuous yeast growth to effi-ciently convert fermentable sugars to ethanol. Yeast growth is dependent on an adequate supply of nutrients, including miner-als. Minerals are generally assured in the brewery with addition of nutrient supplements but reduced phytate barley malts could reduce the need for supplements. The present study used bulked segregant analysis to determine effects of the reduced phytate trait in barley on field performance, barley quality, malting qual-ity and brewing performance. Two bulks from a doubled haploid population, along with a series of normal and reduced phytate controls, were grown at 3 to 5 western Canadian sites in 2006, 2007 and 2008. The normal and reduced phytate barley bulks had similar yields, but the reduced phytate barley had signifi-cantly lower test weight. Rates of endosperm modification were similar between the two phytate types, although, reduced phytate malt was significantly more friable. Malt extract and α-amylase levels were significantly lower in the reduced phytate bulk. Zinc and magnesium levels were significantly higher in reduced phy-tate worts and these worts produced better yeast growth as indi-cated by greater amino acid use during fermentation. Brewing performance tended to be better with reduced phytate worts, but not consistently so, likely due to the lower levels of malt extract and α-amylase. Results supported the incorporation of the re-duced phytate trait into malting barley varieties, but with atten-tion to breeding for improved test weight and levels of α-amylase.