Kernel colour varies with cultivars and environments in barley

Kernel colour is an important marketing trait for both malting and feed barleys. Therefore a study was initiated to investigate the kernel colour of 75 Canadian barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars at three locations (Charlottetown, Ottawa and Bentley) across Canada in 1991 and 1992. Kernel colour was measured by an Instrumar Colormet Spectrocolorimeter. Kernel colour was found to be brighter at the two locations in eastern Canada (Charlottetown and Ottawa) than at the location in western Canada (Bentley). Two-row cultivars on average were more discoloured than six-row cultivars; eastern two-row were more discoloured than western two-row. Covered barleys were less discoloured than hulless barleys in five of the six environments, but covered barleys at Bentley in 1992 were more discoloured than hulless barleys. Kernel discolouration appeared to be associated with susceptibility to net blotch for six-row cultivars. More studies are needed on kernel discolouration of barley.