HORDEIN POLYPEPTIDE PATTERN IN RELATION TO MALTING QUALITY AND THE VARIETAL IDENTIFICATION OF MALTED BARLEY GRAIN

Abstract

A procedure is described for the extraction of hordein fractions from single seeds of barley and determination of their polypeptide composition by SDS-PAGE. Varietal differences in the hordein polypeptide pattern occur, and on the basis of this character the 28 varieties which are most widely grown in the U.K. can be divided into 11 groups. Whereas several of these groups contain varieties with similar malting quality, other groups contain both good and poor quality varieties. Examination of pilot scale malts and germinating seeds showed little change in the hordein polypeptide pattern during malting or the early stages of germination. Thus the procedure is suitable for use in the identification of malted grain as well as dry seed.