Identifying Six-Row Barley Genotypes for Specific Brewer Needs Using a DNA Fingerprint
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Abstract
Six-rowed barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) malt is an important raw material of beer. Each barley cultivar has its own unique malt profile for specific traits. The two biggest brewers in the United States, Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABI) and MillerCoors Brewing Company (MillerCoors), have different malt profiles for their ideal malt. MillerCoors wants moderate levels of protein and enzymatic activity while ABI wants higher levels of protein and enzymatic activity. Two cultivars that have the ideal malt profile for each company are Robust for MillerCoors and Stander for ABI. The pedigree of these two cultivars is very narrow; thus, understanding the genetic basis for the differences observed between Robust and Stander may help us in developing new cultivars that meet specific brewers’ needs. The objectives of this investigation is to use the Robust x Stander doubled-haploid population to develop a genetic haplotype that helps distinguish six-rowed barley lines for ABI and MillerCoors.