Old but still good – Comparison of malting and brewing characteristics of current and historical malting barley varieties

Historical Czech malting barley varieties Chlumecký, Stupický staročeský, Opavský Kneifel, and Diamant were tested in pilot malting and brewing tests (50 L) of 12% pale lager and compared with five Czech barley varieties recommended for the production of the beer with the protected geographical indication ‘České pivo’. The grain yield of the historical varieties (6.00–7.83 t/ha) was lower compared to the current varieties (8.23–9.39 t/ha). The malts from the historical varieties had high nitrogen content (12.45–13.89%), and low extract (75.2–78.6%, proteolytic (Kolbach index 37.4–40.9%) and cytolytic modification (friability 46.2–57.7%) was also low. Apart from lower extract yield and lower beer filtration rate, the experimental malts from the historical varieties were well processable in the pilot brewery. The sensory quality of the beers was very good (overall impression 3.3–3.8 points), fully comparable to beers made from malts from current barley varieties (3.4–3.9 points). Cluster analysis clearly differentiated the sensory profile of beers of historical and current barley varieties. The historical malting barley varieties under study may find their use mainly in the production of regional microbreweries

Využití prebreedingu ke tvorbě nových genetických zdrojů pro šlechtění nesladovnického typu ječmene

This dissertation describes the development of new genetic resources of spring barley in a process called prebreeding. Suitable genotypes were detected by using appropriate methods of selection (greenhouse tests, molecular markers, filed tests in provocative conditions). They could be used directly in the next breeding programmes for increased resistance to pathogen Pyrenophora teres f. teres causing net form of net blotch or for improved grain quality usable in the food industry and in nutrition of farm animals

The composition of barley grain in regards to food technology.

Barley is a very versatile cereal. It is one of the basic raw materials for beer production, it is used as livestock feed and partly in human nutrition. Presently, the qualitative parameters for brewing barley grains are very well specified. Nevertheless, some of the substances in barley grain which, in terms of beer production and livestock feed are undesirable have scientifically proven benefits for the human body. The present study describes the components in barley grain with positive effects in human nutritioBarley is a very versatile cereal. It is one of the basic raw materials for beer production, it is used as livestock feed and partly in human nutrition. Presently, the qualitative parameters for brewing barley grains are very well specified. Nevertheless, some of the substances in barley grain which, in terms of beer production and livestock feed are undesirable have scientifically proven benefits for the human body. The present study describes the components in barley grain with positive effects in human nutriti

Identification of barley powdery mildew resistances in gene bank accessions and the use of gene diversity for verifying seed purity and authenticity.

Human activities including those in crop gene banks are subject to errors, especially during seed multiplication and maintenance of seed germination. Therefore, the most serious problem of gene banks is authenticity of the accessions and their genotypic purity. There are many methods for determining the identity of varieties, but comparisons between current data and past records are not easy since the latter are often missing. Breeding barley resistant to powdery mildew caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei (Bgh) was traditionally based on incorporating major genes into new varieties and the results have been published. Our goal was to identify resistance genes to powdery mildew in accessions of the Czech spring barley core collection and compare these data with earlier information to establish the authenticity of the accessions. Two hundred and twenty-three accessions of the collection including 665 single plant progenies were tested. Sixty-four selected reference isolates of Bgh representing the world diversity of the pathogen were used for resistance tests. Twenty-two known resistance genes were postulated either separately or in combinations. In the collection, 151 homogeneous accessions were found, but the resistances of nine of them were inconsistent with published data and in 12 accessions their authenticity is doubtful. The remaining 72 accessions were heterogeneous and comprised 176 resistance genotypes, 54 of which were probably mechanical admixtures of other varieties. There are several pathogens of cereals, e.g. rusts and mildews, against which many resistance genes in host crops have also been exploited. Knowledge of these resistances can assist in maintaining pure and genuine stocks in gene banks. Seed purity and the authenticity of accessions can subsequently be checked with more advanced methods