Genomic Prediction Enables Same-Season Selection for Reduced Glycosidic Nitrile in Eastern U.S. Winter Barley
Perry, A. D.; Sabadin, F.; Brooks, W.; Brown-Guedira, G.; Uhlmann, H.; Bettenhausen, H.; Santantonio, N.
Crop Improvement
If you brew beer or distill whiskey at home, the barley malt in your grain bill quietly carries compounds that can become carcinogens during heating — and this research is the first step toward varieties bred to have less of them.
Barley used for making beer and whiskey contains natural compounds that can turn into harmful substances during the brewing or distilling process. Until now, breeders had to wait for a slow, multi-step test before they could pick which barley plants to keep — too slow to be useful in the same growing season. Scientists showed that by reading the barley's DNA, they can predict which plants will have lower levels of these compounds and make those breeding choices right away, speeding up the development of safer barley varieties.
Key Findings
All 176 elite barley breeding lines tested in 2023 produced glycosidic nitriles, confirming the trait is widespread in current germplasm.
Genomic selection successfully separated high and low glycosidic nitrile groups with a statistically significant mean difference of 0.8 ppm (P = 0.003), validating same-season selection as feasible.
Glycosidic nitrile content showed moderate heritability (h² = 0.42) and strong year-to-year genetic correlation (r = 0.79), indicating the trait is stable and genetically tractable despite being controlled by many genes.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Researchers found they can use DNA-based prediction to select barley breeding lines with lower levels of a carcinogen precursor called glycosidic nitrile — and do it in the same season the plants grow, without waiting for a slow lab process that normally delays decisions.
Abstract Preview
Glycosidic nitriles (GN) in barley are precursors to carcinogens formed during distillation, making GN reduction a critical breeding objective for malting and distilling industries. Measurement of ...
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