R.D. Horsley, B.J. Steffenson, P.B. Schwarz, and J.D. Franckowiak

North Dakota State University

Drummond is an F₄ selection from the cross ND9712//Stander/ND12200 that has kernels with a white aleurone, long rachilla hairs, and a semi-smooth awn. F₄ rows from this cross were grown at Fargo and Prosper, North Dakota in 1993 and selected rows were harvested for barley prediction tests. Two head selections from each harvested row were increased in 1993-94 at the winter nursery site near Yuma, Arizona. Drummond was first was entered in yield trials at two North Dakota locations in 1994 and was tested as ND15477. Based on agronomic and quality attributes, Drummond was advanced to yield trials at four locations in 1995 and the Mississippi Valley Regional Barley Nursery in 1997, 1998, and 1999.

Drummond has an average yield potential better than ‘Morex’, ‘Robust’, and ‘Foster’, and similar to ‘Stander’ (Tables 1and 2). Drummond has greater straw strength than currently grown six-rowed cultivars (Table 3). Heading date of Drummond and Robust are similar and plant height of Drummond is similar to Stander (Table 3).

Drummond is resistant to spot blotch (data not presented) and moderately susceptible to net blotch; however, Drummond has better net blotch resistance than currently grown six-rowed barley cultivars (Table 4). Fusarium head blight susceptibility of Drummond and Robust are similar. Accumulation of deoxynivalenol (DON) on Drummond is similar to that on Stander and Foster, and greater than that on Robust. Drummond is resistant to races of wheat stem rust prevalent in North Dakota before 1989, but is susceptible to pathotype Pgt-QCC.

Malt quality comparisons of Drummond to currently recommended six-rowed malting barley cultivars are presented in Table 5. Drummond has greater kernel plumpness than the malting and brewing industry six-rowed barley check, Morex. Percent barley protein of Drummond is similar to that of Robust and about one-half percentage points higher than that of Stander and Foster. Malt extract of Drummond is greater than that of Morex, Robust, and Foster. Wort protein and S/T levels of Drummond fall within the acceptable range set by the malting and brewing industry. Most importantly, Drummond has wort protein and S/T values less than those of Stander. Diastatic power of Drummond and Morex are similar. Drummond has an alpha-amylase activity similar to Foster and slightly less than that of Morex.

Drummond is being evaluated in the American Malting Barley Association (AMBA) plant scale evaluation program. In its first year of evaluation (1998 crop), Drummond was found to have satisfactory malt quality as compared to the check. Brewing evaluations currently are being conducted using this malt. Barley of Drummond grown in 1999 plant scale growouts was not purchased by AMBA for malting because of excessive DON concentrations. About 600 acres of ND15477 will be contracted by AMBA for the 2000-plant scale evaluation.

Drummond is widely adapted to the six-rowed malting barley growing regions of the upper Midwest United States. Because of its good agronomics and excellent malt quality profile, we view Drummond as a replacement for Robust and Foster if it is recommended by AMBA for malting and brewing.