EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENT AND CULTIVAR ON TOTAL MIXED-LINKAGE BETA-GLUCAN CONTENT IN EASTERN AND WESTERN CANADIAN BARLEYS (HORDEUM-VULGARE L)

Two-row and six-row barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars, originating from eastern and western Canada were grown in six environments across Canada, The grain was studied for the effects of environment and cult ivar on the total mixed-linkage P-glucan content (TBG, g hg(-1) DM). E nvironment significantly affected TBG content in barley. TBG content d iffered among the 32 eastern or 43 western Canadian cultivars but the mean TBG for the eastern cultivars was not different from the mean of western cultivars. All eastern cultivars were hulled-feed types, and t heir TBG ranged from 3.31 in Micmac to 4.09 in Birka for two-row barle ys, and from 3.78 in OAC Kippen to 4.41 in Maskot for six-row barleys. Western hulled cultivars which included feed and malt types, containe d TBG ranging from 3.37 in Manley to 4.14 in Betzes for two-row barley s, and from 3.71 in Heartland to 4.42 in Tankard for six-row barleys. The two-row hulless cultivar, Condor, contained more TBG (4.69) than t he other two hulless cultivars, CDC Richard (3.91) and Scout (3.85). T he six-row hulless cultivars, CDC Buck and Tupper, were equal in TBG ( 4.35). The mean TBG was lower for the two- than six-row barleys (3.7 v s. 4.0), and a broader range for TBG in the two- (3.31-4.55) than six- row barleys (3.71-4.42) suggested the greater possibility of producing low and high TBG barleys from the two-row cultivars. Canadian cultiva rs contained between 3.31 and 4.55 g TBG hg(-1) DM, and there is a nee d to develop feed-type barleys containing a third less than the minimu m TBG, and food-type barleys containing a third more than the maximum TBG.