Potential of grain hardness of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) as a selection trait in breeding programme

Abstract

The study presents the results of research on the use of barley caryopses hardness for prediction of the malting quality. Grain hardness was determined by three methods: Particle size index (PSI), hardness according to Brabender (BRA) and grain milling energy (GME). The correlations among methods for determining the kernel hardness were estimated as well among selected technological traits of barley and malt and kernel hardness. Significant correlations were found among PSI values and Final attenuation of laboratory wort from malt (0.73*) a Glycidic extract (0.70*). Values of kernel hardness measured by BRA significantly correlated with Final attenuation of laboratory wort from malt (–0.80*) and Soluble nitrogen of malt (0.64*). Grain milling energy values were statistically significant correlated with Nitrogen content in malt (0.64*). The preliminary results confirmed the possibility to use kernel hardness for prediction of some malting quality traits. Further studies will be done on larger number of samples.

Keywords

• hardness
• milling energy
• quality
• particle size index
• Do-Corder
• barley