Tests for Selection of Malting Quality Using Unmodified Barley

Various tests for malting potential based on unmodified barley were evaluated. These were based on NearInfraRed Reflectance Spectrophotometry (NIR), sedimentation of meals in cold alcohol or Lactic Acid/Sodium dodecyl sulphate solution, the content of total β glucan as measured by the viscosity of acidic extracts. NIR and sedimentation in Lactic Acid/SDS were found to be the most applicable to the breeding programme at this Institute, whereas the methods based on total β glucan or sedimentation in cold alcohol were unsuitable. The method based on soluble β glucan was only suitable to a breeding programme in which parents with known high β glucan content were used. An hypothesis for the contribution of total β glucan to malting quality is presented. None of the tests investigated were affected by declining dormancy or water sensitivity in the grain.