IDENTIFICATION OF BARLEY VARIETIES USING THE POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with oligonucleotide primer sequen ces from alpha-amylase genes was used to distinguish between morpholog ically similar malting and feed barley varieties. The varieties ''Cheb ec'' (feed) and ''Schooner'' (malting) could be separated and the vari eties ''Skiff'' (feed) and ''Franklin'' (malting) were identified by u sing two sets of primers. Primer BSW3 (5'-CAGCTTGGCCTCCGGGCAAGTC-3') a nd BAS2 (5'-CACCTTGCCGTCGATCTC-3') gave a 215 bp product that distingu ished ''Chebec'' from ''Schooner'' and a 1230 bp fragment that disting uished ''Skiff'' from ''Franklin''. Primer BSW5 (5'-GGAGCTGGAATTGATGTT G-3') with primer BAS2 gave markers at 735 bp and 730 bp respectively to allow unique identification in comparisons of these pairs of variet ies. DNA extracted from grain could be used for these analyses, but DN A from leaves gave clearer results.