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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Aberdeen, Idaho » Small Grains and Potato Germplasm Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #403244
Research Project: Improvement of Barley and Oat for Enhanced Productivity, Quality, and Stress Resistance

Location: Small Grains and Potato Germplasm Research

Title: Registration of Gemcraft spring malting barley variety

Author
item Hu, Gongshe
item Evans, Christopher - Chris
item Satterfield, Kathy
item Ellberg, Sherry
item MARSHALL, JULIET - University Of Idaho
item SCHROEDER, KURT - University Of Idaho
item OBERT, DON - Weaver Popcorn Hybrids, Llc

Submitted to: Journal of Plant Registrations
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2023
Publication Date: 10/26/2023
Citation: Hu, G., Evans, C.P., Satterfield, K.L., Ellberg, S., Marshall, J.M., Schroeder, K.L., Obert, D.E. 2023. Registration of Gemcraft spring malting barley variety. Journal of Plant Registrations. 18/11-16. https://doi.org/10.1002/plr2.20331.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/plr2.20331

Interpretive Summary: Craft brewing is a relatively new industry. Marketing of craft has been increasing in the past decade and new varieties are needed to support this industry. Barley quality used for craft brewing is different from the traditional requirements. To meet the marketing demand, we developed a barley variety specifically for craft brewing, named “Gemcraft”. The new variety has lower protein, lower free-amino acid-nitrogen, and more importantly good flavor. Agronomic evaluations showed that Gemcraft has been the top yield performer compared to all the spring malting barley varieties commercially used. All the agronomic traits evaluated in Gemcraft are competitive to the commercial varieties. This new variety should contribute to the malting industry development and local economy improvement.

Technical Abstract: ‘Gemcraft’ (Reg. No CV-379. PI 701910), is a two-rowed spring malt barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) developed by the USDA-ARS, Aberdeen, ID, in cooperation with the University of Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station, in 2023. The release is derived from the cross of ‘2B98-5312 / 98Ab11993’ and was advanced through the bulk pedigree method F1 – F5. Gemcraft has been tested at the USDA-ARS and all other cooperative trials, as line 2Ab08-X05M010-65. This variety has been tested across 32 location years under irrigated conditions and 13 location years in dryland conditions. Gemcraft has shown similar yield to the current malting barley cultivar checks ‘Voyager’, ‘Merit 57’, ‘M69’, ‘Conrad’, and ‘AC Metcalfe’, but has higher yield potential than CDC Copeland, M69, and Harrington under irrigated conditions. In dryland trials, Gemcraft has similar yield to the checks of Voyager and Conrad, but higher yield than other checks. Malting quality evaluation results showed Gemcraft has high extract, low protein, and competent values in other traits. In addition, beer flavor assessment from the Brewers Association showed top-ranking score for Gemcraft as a public line. All the evaluations suggested that Gemcraft would be a good choice as a malting cultivar for craft brewers.