BARLEY BETA-AMYLASE AND BETA-GLUCANASE ACTIVITIES AT GERMINATION IN VULGARE-TYPE LINES FROM BACKCROSSES OF WILD, SPONTANEUM STRAINS WITH CV ADORRA

Two hundred and nineteen lines derived from the backcross progenies of eight different Hordeum spontaneum strains were evaluated for beta-amylase and beta-glucanase activity five days after germination under aseptic conditions. The activities were determined on the basis of soluble protein or grain mass. The recurrent parent cultivar, Adorra, served as the standard. Putative recombinants with high beta-amylase activity were relatively easily achieved from high-activity strains of H. spontaneum. Recombinants with high beta-glucanase were rare. They appear to be eliminated, possibly due to the strong selection for the domesticated phenotype during the derivation process.