β-glucans are natural gum polysaccharides occurring in the bran of cereal grains. Their negative effect consists in blocking enzymes entering the cells whereby they negatively influence the speed of grain degradation during process of malting. Aim of this work was to investigate to what extent post-harvest maturation influences β-glucan degradation with regard to malt quality. Results revealed that post-harvest maturation significantly influenced β-glucan degradation in malt. In barley grains that were stored six weeks after harvest, degradation of β-glucan in malt represented 99 % while using barley grains two weeks after harvest, β-glucan degradation represented only 50 %. Statistically significant was the effect of genotype on β-glucan content in grain as well as on β-glucan degradation level in malt
