MALT CYTOLYTIC ACTIVITY OF BARLEYS OF DIVERSE ORIGINS AND ITS RELATION TO MALTABILITY

The inter‐relations of malt cytolytic activity, barley β‐glucan (gum) content and two wort properties were studied for 12 two‐row varieties. Although barley gum contents differed considerably, these differences were not correlated with wort viscosity of green malt, and the positive association with extract yield of green malt was only significant (r =0·83**) if one variety was omitted from the calculation. Cytolytic activity was directly correlated with extract yield (r = 0·77**) if another anomalous variety was excluded. The inverse relation (r =‐0·57) between cytolytic activity and wort viscosity was not quite significant at the 5% level. The present study provides additional evidence of the importance of cytolytic activity in malting and it is suggested that testing for this character could be of importance in selection for potential malt extract and general maltability in breeding programmes involving barleys of diverse origins. 1969 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling