Progress made in the genetic conversion of feed barley varieties to malting types

Abstract

Recent advances in the genetics of malt quality and in marker assisted selection (MAS) have opened the possibility of the “conversion” of feed varieties to malting types. The aim of the current project is to introduce key malt quality genes from the malting varieties via MAS, while maintaining the superior adaptation and agronomic profile of the feed barley. This strategy involves using Keel, a well adapted Australian feed variety as the recurrent parent to produce backcross lines from three international malting varieties, Alexis, Haruna Nijo and AC Metcalfe. The BC1 and BC2 generations for each of three introgression streams (one for each donor parent) have been screened using molecular markers to select for malt quality loci from the donor. Selected materials were evaluated for agronomic and malt quality traits in double row trials in the 2002 and 2003 season. Preliminary results for the BC1 materials suggest that this breeding strategy successfully introgressed a range of malt quality QTL alleles and largely retained the agronomic profile of the recurrent parent (7). Elite lines were promoted for further agronomic and malt quality evaluation. The current paper presents the progress of these lines after entering field trials in 2004 including a detailed yield analysis.