Genetic Impacts of the Hull on Barley Grain Quality
G.P. Fox1,5,6, A.M. Kelly2, M. Cakir3, G. Bloustein1, D.M.E. Poulsen4, P.A. Inkerman1 and R.J. Henry5
1 Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries, Plant Sciences, PO Box 2282, Toowoomba Queensland 4350, Australia.
2 Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries, Plant Sciences, POBox 102 Toowoomba Queensland 4350.
3 Western Australian State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre, Mur-doch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia.
4 Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries, Plant Sciences, MS508 Warwick, Queensland 4370 Australia
5 Grain Foods Cooperative Research Centre, Southern Cross Univer-sity PO Box 157 Lismore New South Wales 2480 Australia.
6 Corresponding author. E-mail: glen.fox@dpi.qld.gov.au
J. Inst. Brew. 112(2), 101–107, 2006 | VIEW ARTICLE
ABSTRACT
Barley hull plays an important role in malt and feed quality and processing. In this study we measured the variation in hull con-tent along with other grain quality traits namely, kernel discolouration and degree of pre-harvest sprouting, in a single map-ping population. There were significant (p < 0.05) genetic as well as environment effects. In addition, heritability was calculated for hull content to be 29% and 47% for two years’ data. From the analysis, major QTL markers were identified in con-trolling the expression of hull content on chromosomes 2 (2H), and 6 (6H) with significant (P < 0.05) LOD scores of 5.4 and 3.46 respectively. Minor QTLs were identified on 1 (7H), 4 (4H), 5 (1H) and 7 (5H). The region at marker Bmac310 on 4(4H) could be associated with dormancy gene SD4. A number of the QTLs also coincided with regions for either kernel discolouration or preharvest sprouting resistance (dormancy). The results indicate that variation exists for hull content, which is influenced by both growing environment as well as genetically, although the genetic variance explained less than half of the total variance. Further, hull content also impacts on other grain quality attributes including dormancy, sprouting resistance and kernel appearance.
Key words:
Barley, hull, husk, kernel discolouration, pre-harvest sprouting, QTL.
Publication no. G-2006-0626-435 ©2006 The Institute & Guild of Brewing