Annual Progress Report on Malting Barley Research March, 2002

72
Varieties and Variety Tests
Conlon was released in 1996 by NDSU for production in western ND and was
recommended as a two-rowed malting barley by AMBA in May 2000. In 2001, Conlon
was the second most popular barley cultivar in ND, sown on 5.7% of the 1.8 million
acres of barley. Conlon heads more than one day earlier than Bowman and retains test
weight well compared to other cultivars. It has shown some resistance to FHB and the
accumulation of the toxin deoxynivalenol (DON). Conlon is resistant to net blotch and
has the genes Mlg and Mlk for resistance to powdery mildew. It is susceptible to spot
blotch and septoria leaf blotch. As a result, it is better adapted for production in western
ND. The yields of Conlon are about 10 to 15% lower than the best six-rowed cultivars in
most ND yield trials. Several growers reported that in 2001 Conlon grain frequently had
much lower DON readings than that of Robust.
Advanced and Intermediate Yield Trials
2ND18365 (2B91-4947/ND15403) was most promising line in advanced yield trials.
2ND19012 (Logan//ND16463/ND15409) and 2ND19121 (ND15468/ND16092//
ND16461) were the most promising lines in intermediate yield trials. The number of
promising lines is low because few lines had low grain protein values combined with
high yields. Differential stunting of plants in the Carrington trial by the herbicide Puma
further reduced the number of promising lines. ND16092 (ND13297/ND14701) and
some of its derivatives showed a level of tolerance to Puma similar to that observed of
six-rowed barley cultivars. ND15403 (Logan sib/ND13297) and ND16461 (ND13296/
ND14760) are the low grain protein parents of several promising lines.
Lines entered in advanced and intermediate yield trials were screened for field response
to spot blotch and grown in the Fusarium head blight nursery at Osnabrock. The best
lines in 2001 yield trials were tested for seedling responses to net blotch. Researchers in
the Department of Plant Pathology conducted field and seedling tests for disease
reactions. Seed lots of the best lines in the advanced and intermediate trials were
submitted to the USDA-ARS Cereal Crops Research Unit at Madison, WI for malt
quality tests.
Yield and agronomic comparisons of 2ND18365 with Conlon indicate that it yields more,
has lower lodging readings, and is more resistant to leaf spot diseases (Table 1). It is
slightly later and taller than Conlon. Malt quality tests indicate that 2ND18365 has
higher values for malt extract, soluble protein, and alpha-amylase activity than Conlon
(Table 2). It also has slightly lower grain protein values. Its diastatic power values are
lower than those of Conlon and its kernels were not quite as plump.
Line 2ND19119 (ND15403/ND15368//ND16453) was identified as a high yielding line
with large, plump kernels in 2000. It had high extract values and very low grain protein
values. Data from 2001 trials indicate that 2ND19119 has high yield potential and
adequate resistance to leaf spot diseases. However, 2ND19119 was very susceptible to
Puma injury in 2001 and its kernels showed poor hull adherence. This brief history of
2ND19119 demonstrates that low grain protein and large seed size can be combined in
Midwest two-rowed barley, but also that numerous other agronomic traits are difficult to
control in the breeding program.