Small Grain Research Menu

Results of Funded Research

Dr. Carl A. Griffey - Small Grains Breeder
Robert L. Paris - Research Associate
Virginia Tech

Project Abstract and Background
Summer 1998 Report
Summer 1999 Report

Project Abstract and Background

The primary object of this project is to implement a program to develop barley varieties with greater marketability in both domestic and foreign markets and, thereby, make barley an economical cash crop. The proposed research is designed to improve the feed value of barley by developing hull-less varieties that will have a lower concentration of fiber and higher metabolizable energy content. This transformation should bring the feed value of barley closer to that of wheat and triticale with the added advantage of earlier maturity.

Winter barley is very well suited to the mid-Atlantic region fitting well with the cropping systems and potentially providing grain for the poultry and swine industries in addition to current uses. Hulled barleys have not generally been fed due to the high fiber content, and hull-less barley has not be utilized due to the lack of varieties for the mid-Atlantic region. Six hull-less barley lines from South Carolina, which were derived from a single cross, have been evaluated in yield trials with two hulled-barley cultivars during the past two years. Yield evaluations over the past two years have determined that these initial lines yield within 1700 lbs/A of hulled barley, and 665 lbs/A of wheat. Test weights of hulless barley generally are similar to that of wheat. These six hull-less lines, two hulled checks, triticale, and wheat are analyzed for true metabolizable energy, protein, fat, and fiber content. Analysis of the data indicated that hull-less barley possesses a combination of the desirable nutritive traits of wheat and hulled barley. It is high in true metabolizable energy and fat (similar to the hulled checks), and is high in protein and low in fiber (similar to the wheat checks). Also examined was the effect of substituting 20% barley (hulled vs. hull-less) in the standard corn/soybean diet of broiler chicks. The ration including hull-less barley did not significantly differ from the standard diet for rate of gain, while the hulled barley yielded a significantly lower rate of gain when compared to the standard and hull-less supplemented diets. The results of the study indicate that hull-less barley has the potential to produce yields similar to wheat with a combination of positive nutritional qualities from hulled barley and wheat, and when fed to broiler chicks, may provide an advantage in the cost per pound of gain.

This past year the barley breeding program selected nearly 450 hull-less barley headrows; these pure lines will be evaluated in replicated yield trials for the first time this coming year. We are confident that the yield potential and agronomic performance of these newer lines will be superior to the six hull-less lines from the South Carolina program, and following adequate yield testing in cooperating states (KY, NC, MD, VA, SC) we propose to release a winter hull-less barley cultivar.

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Summer 1998 Report

The Virginia Tech Barley Breeding program has completed the second season (97 -98) of the hulless barley project. We are continuing to evaluate six hulless barley lines acquired from South Carolina for yield and test weight. The hulless lines, along with two hulled checks were evaluated at seven locations (four locations in Virginia, one location in Kentucky, one location in South Carolina, and one location in North Carolina). Table 1 shows the average for yield, test weight, lodging, heading date, height, and disease scores. Tables 2 through 5 show the scores for each location in Virginia. Over locations, the hulless barley yielded 36 - 50 bu/ac less that the hulled checks. However, it is important to note that hulless barley yield is calculated on a 60 lb/bu test weight and hulled barley yield is calculated on a 48 lb/bu test weight.

We have had the six hulless lines, two hulled checks, triticale, and wheat analyzed for true metabolizable energy, protein, fat, and fiber content. Table 6 shows the results of these laboratory analyses.

This spring (1998) we made 450 crosses in the greenhouse involving hulless barley, and have recently harvested the progeny (F1’s) from the 100 crosses made in 1997. The most advanced hulless materials were the F5 headrows from which we harvested 86 rows which will be planted into observation plots this fall.

We also harvested increases of two hulless South Carolina lines and Callao which will be used by the University of Maryland in a poultry feeding study this fall. This study will primarily examine the effects of hulled versus hulless barley in poultry diets.

We feel that the hulless barley project has gone very well this year and we are encouraged by the results of the advanced generations as well as the potential of the new crosses. Next summer (1999) we hope to have yield data from the hulless lines we have developed.

Table 1. Summary of performance of entries in the Hulless Barley Test, 1998.

*Yields for hulless entries calculated using 60 lb/bu test weight and yields for hulled entries calculated using 48 lb/bu test weight.
†Belgian lodging scale = area x intensity x 0.2. Area is rated on a scale from 1 (plot unaffected) to 10 (entire plot affected). Intensity is rated on a scale from 1 (plants standing upright) to 5 (plants lying totally flat).
§ All 0 - 9 ratings indicate relative disease severity: 0 = no disease present; 9 = total plant infection.

Table 2. Summary of performance of entries in the Hulless Barley Nursery at Blacksburg, Virginia, 1998.

*Yields for hulless entries calculated using 60 lb/bu test weight and yields for hulled entries calculated using 48 lb/bu test weight.
† Belgian lodging scale = area x intensity x 0.2. Area is rated on a scale from 1 (plot unaffected) to 10 (entire plot affected). Intensity is rated on a scale from 1 (plants standing upright) to 5 (plants lying totally flat).

Table 3. Summary of performance of entries in the Hulless Barley Nursery at Warsaw, Virginia, 1998.

Table 4. Summary of performance of entries in the Hulless Barley Nursery at Painter, Virginia, 1998.

Table 5. Summary of performance of entries in the Hulless Barley Nursery at Orange, Virginia, 1998.

Table 6. True Metabolizable Energy Study - May, 1998

Summer 1999 Progress Report

The Virginia Tech Barley Breeding program has completed the third season (98 - 99) of the hulless barley project. We are continuing to evaluate six hulless barley lines acquired from South Carolina for yield and test weight. The hulless lines, along with two hulled checks were evaluated at seven locations (four locations in Virginia, one location in Kentucky, one location in Maryland, and one location in North Carolina) in the 1997-98 season. Table 1 shows the average for yield, test weight, lodging, heading date, height, and disease scores for the four locations in Virginia. Tables 2 through 6 show the scores for individual location in Virginia and North Carolina. We calculated yield on a lbs/A basis for ease of comparison. Over locations, the hulless barley yielded 1582 lbs/A less than the hulled checks.

We have had the six hulless lines, two hulled checks, triticale, and wheat from the 1997 - 98 season analyzed for true metabolizable energy, protein, fat, fiber, and beta glucan content. Table 7 shows the results of these laboratory analyses. Currently, we are working on obtaining nutrient analysis for the grain from the 1998 - 99 season.

This spring (1999) we made 140 crosses in the greenhouse involving hulless barley. In the field, we have harvested the progeny (F1’s) from the 450 crosses made in 1998, and the F2’s from the 100 crosses made in 1997. We have also harvested 12 hulless populations in 1600 headrows, along with the most advanced hulless materials, the 34 F7 lines that were in observation plots this year.

The poultry feeding study conducted in cooperation with the University of Maryland, in the fall of 1998, primarily examined the effects of hulled versus hulless barley in poultry diets (Table 7). We are planning to conduct this study for a second year (Fall 1999) in order to verify these results.

The hulless barley project continues to be progressing as planned, and we are encouraged by the performance of the advanced generations in the field this year, as well as the potential demonstrated by the new crosses.

Table 1. Summary of performance of entries in the 1998 - 99 Hulless Barley Yield Test in Virginia and North Carolina.

1 Yield calculated using a conversion factor based on moisture readings determined using a 48# (six-row barley) setting on the grain analysis computer.
2 Number of locations upon which data are based.
3 Test weight determined using a 48# setting on the grain analysis computer.
4 All disease ratings are based on a 0 - 9 scale: o indicated absence of disease; 9 indicated total infestation of the plant by disease.
5 Belgian Lodging Scale = Area x Intensity x 0.2. Area is rated on a scale from 1 (plot unaffected) to 10 (entire plot affected). Intensity is rated on a scale from 1 (plants standing upright) to 5 (plants lying totally flat).
6 Barley yellow dwarf virus.

Table 2. Summary of performance of entries in the 1998 - 99 Hulless Barley Yield Test at Blacksburg, Virginia.

¹Yield calculated using a conversion factor based on moisture readings determined using a 48# (six-row barley) setting on the grain analyisi computer.
²Test weight determined using a 48# setting on the grain analysis computer.
³All disease ratings are based on a 0 - 9 scale: 0 indicates absence of disease; 9 indicated total infestation of the plant by disease.
⁴Belgian Lodging Scale = Area x Intensity x 0.2. Area is rated on a scale from 1 (plants unaffected) to 10 (entire plot affected).  Intensity is rated on a scale from 1 (plants standing upright) to 5 (plants lying totally flat).

Table 3. Summary of performance of entries in the 1998 - 99 Hulless Barley Yield at Warsaw, Virginia.

¹Yield calculated using a conversion factor based on moisture readings determined using a 48# (six-row barley) setting on the grain analysis computer.
²Test weight determined using a 48# setting on the grain analysis computer.
³All disease ratings are based on a 0 - 9 scale: 0 indicates absence of disease; 9 indicates total infestation of the plant by disease.
⁴Barley yellow dwarf virus.

Table 4. Summary of performance of entries in the 1998 - 99 Hulless Barley Yield Test at Painter, Virginia.

¹Yield calculated using a conversion factor based on moisture readings determined using a 48# (six-row barley) setting on the grain analysis computer.
²Test weight determined using a 48# setting on the grain analysis computer.

Table 5. Summary of performance of entries in the 1998 - 99 Hulless Barley Yield Test at Orange, Virginia.

Table 6. Summary of performance of entries in the 1998-99 Hulless Barley Yield Test at Kinston, North Carolina.

Table 7. Nutrient Anaylsis of seed from 1997-98 growing season.

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