Location: Cereal Crops Research
2016 Annual Report
Objectives
Objective 1. Identify, develop, validate, and implement new measurements of malting quality, especially those relating to protein mobilization during germination, in barley germplasm in order to identify those genotypes showing enhanced malting quality attributes. Objective 2. Apply standard malting quality assessments to germplasm submitted by collaborating public sector barley breeding programs, researchers, and other stakeholder organizations in order to identify new (barley) varieties with suitable malting quality attributes.
Approach
Surveying populations that have been extensively genotyped and mapped for malting
quality will allow us to generate datasets that include process (proteinase
activity), phenotype (malting quality), and genotype (>3000 SNP loci) information. Examining a range of barley genetic resources will enable us to use that genetic diversity to identify fundamental processes underlying malting quality. We will use this information to identify new targets and develop additional mechanisms to screen for improved malting barley genotypes. The new screening mechanisms may involve biochemical measurements that we could implement in our malting quality analysis program. Alternatively, the new tests could utilize genetic tools that breeders could incorporate into their own germplasm characterization, simplifying and streamlining their malting quality selection process.
Progress Report
Malting QA support. The ARS in Madison, WI met over 6,000 requests for malting quality analytical data from public-sector barley germplasm enhancement programs and collaborating barley researchers. Several hundred additional requests for malting quality analyses were provided to assist stakeholders conducting pilot scale malting and brewing trials to determine suitability of germplasm for release as an approved malting quality variety with the potential for value added payment. The reduced-scale methodologies developed for generating malts and for conducting many standard tests have been adopted by additional barley research programs. At the request of stakeholders, the novel assay, osmolyte concentration, of malting quality was used to prioritize some samples based upon likelihood of successful malting after exposure in the field to weather conditions conducive to kernel damage.
Accomplishments
1. New cultivar approved for malting. ARS researchers in Madison, Wisconsin provided quality analysis data to appropriate commodity technical committee which resulted in the addition of ND Genesis to the list of cultivars approved for malting purposes in the U.S. This cultivar provided growers and end product users a new barley with improved agronomic and quality traits compared to currently available malting barley cultivars.
Start-up and small business craft maltsters, brewers and distillers are a rapidly expanding sector in the malting and brewing industries whose needs for locally grown barley are the driving force behind expanded variety trials conducted by publically supported state agriculture experiment station extension agents. The ARS quality analysis scientific staff accommodated increased requests for support by providing data to state extension agents to make production recommendations for local growers.
