Project Number: 3655-21000-052-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Oct 01, 2010
End Date: Dec 31, 2013

Objective:
Objective 1: To assess allelic variation in Agl1, the gene encoding a-glucosidase, in barley (Hordeum vulgare ssp. vulgare) germplasm adapted to North America and in selected Hordeum vulgare ssp. spontaneaum accessions currently being used to introgress disease resistance genes into North American barley germplasm. Objective 2: To determine the potential contributions of isoamylase to the production of fermentable sugars during mashing and, if isoamylase contributes to fermentable sugar production, assess allelic variation in selected barley populations. Objective 3: To determine metabolic profiles of worts or 20ºC water extracts to determine which metabolites distinguish the best malting barleys from those of lesser malting quality.

Approach:
Metabolic profiling of malts will be conducted using standard methods of derivatization, gas chromatography and mass spectral detection/ identification of sample components followed by multivariate analysis of data to identify metabolites that best define the trait "malting quality". Metabolite identification will be done using several mass spectra databases including the 7th edition of Wiley, Essential Oils/Flavor and Fragrance and my lab's personal database. Examination of enzyme contributions to fermentable sugar production will be by use of an immunological probe and by characterizing the recombinant enzyme in a heterologous expression system. Assessment of allelic variation of carbohydrases will be via PCR amplification of expressed mRNA followed by sequence analysis and exploration of functional consequences of documented polymorphisms.