2011 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416) To determine malting quality and metabolic profiles of winter barley germplasm segregating for both winter hardiness and malting quality with the ultimate goal of developing winter hardy barley cultivars with sufficient malt quality to receive recommendation for malting by the approriate trade organization. 1b.Approach (from AD-416) Micromalts will be generated following standard procedures to resulting in modification levels comparable to those obtained under commercial conditions. 3.Progress Report Determination of components required for phenotypic expression of both malting quality and winter hardiness in barley. Metabolic components of these two very different traits is being determined through gas chromatography mass spectrometry profiling of lines resulting from crosses between winter hardy non-malting quality germplasm from Nebraska with malting quality but not winter hardy lines from Oregon. Growth conditions providing tissue for gene expression studies conducted by collaborators have been replicated by ARS scientists in Madison, Wisconsin in order to produce tissue for metabolic profiling. The acclimation stages of the protocol are successfully replicated but the selection pressure imposed by the freezing conditions has been excessively stringent and is being refined accordingly to accommodate growth conditions in the upper Midwest and to incorporate new knowledge gained in parallel studies. Profiling of surviving plants from two Nebraska genotypes at three stages of acclimation has been conducted and profiling of the susceptible line from Oregon at the same stages of acclimation is ongoing. Seed of parental lines, their progeny segregating for these two important phenotypes have been grown for standard malting quality analysis, which is being initiated. Objectives: The stated objectives and deliverables detailed in this grant proposal directly related to Obj. 3(3655-21000-052-00D)-To determine metabolic profiles of worts or 20C water extracts to determine which metabolites distinguish the best malting barleys from those of lesser malting quality and Obj. 3(3655-43440-005-00D)-Determine the malting quality attributes of early and advanced breeding lines being developed for potential use as malting barley, of experimental barley lines or populations developed for research on the fundamental nature of factors contributing to malting performance, and explore novel applications of malting and brewing technology. The project coordination and monitoring is done through frequent emails, phone calls and 1-2 meetings per year.