Use of acid gel electrophoresis in the characterisation of 'B' hordein protein in relation to malting quality and mildew resistance of barley

The ‘B’ polypeptides of the storage protein (hordein) of barley were studied in 84 varieties. On the basis of acid gel electrophoresis the varieties were classified into 13 distinct groups. Contrary to the suggestion that varieties preferred for malting tend to show less intensity of staining of the faster moving bands of the ‘B’ fraction of hordein, no consistent association was found in this study. Thus the malting potential of some varieties may be less affected by protein composition than by other factors. The genetic linkage between the Hor‐2 locus, specifying the ‘B’ group of polypeptides, and the Mlalocus, determining resistance to powdery mildew (Erysiphe graminis), was illustrated by the similar groupings of varieties carrying the same resistance alleles, but exceptions were observed. Examples of the inheritance of hordein patterns are illustrated and discussed.