Genetic effects of embryo and endosperm for four malting quality traits ofbarley

Seed of seven cultivars of two-rowed barley (Hordeum Vulgare L.) and Fz see d from a half-diallel set of crosses among the cultivars were malted in two years to obtain data on diastatic power (DP), alpha-amylase activity (alph a AA), beta-amylase activity (beta AA) and malt nitrogen (N) content. Embry o and endosperm genetic effects on the traits were studied by using a genet ic model including genotype x environment interaction for malting quality c haracters. Variation of the four malting quality traits was affected by gen tic effects and environmental interaction. Performance of DP and beta AA wa s mainly controlled not only by endosperm dominance effects but also by emb ryo genotype x environment interaction and endosperm dominance x environmen t interaction. Variation of alpha AA and malt N content was controlled by b oth embryo and endosperm genetic effects, but the embryo dominance and endo sperm additive effects contributed a major part to the total genetic effect s. Significant interaction variances (embryo additive x environment and dom inance x environment and endosperm dominance x environment) were also obser ved for alpha AA and malt N content. Diastatic power was related positively to beta AA. Malt N content was associated positively with DP, largely beca use of the relationship between malt N and beta AA. No obvious phenotype as sociation between DP and alpha AA was found. General narrow-sense heritabil ities of alpha AA and malt N content were 26.1% and 27.8%, respectively.