A comparative study of the total β-glucan contents of some Australian barleys

Abstract

The total P-glucan contents of 13 barley cultivars and 12 experimental barley lines were measured using an enzymic technique. The average P-glucan content of barley cultivars grown in 1981 and 1982 at two different sites ranged from 4.03% for Clipper to 5.26% for Malebo. The average values for the experimental lines varied from 4.12 to 5.12%. Total P-glucan was more closely related to grain hardness than to malt extract. For individual varieties P-glucan content increased with increasing grain nitrogen but the magnitude of varietal differences meant that there was no overall relationship between P-glucan and nitrogen.