II.12. High lysine barley -- Progress Report.
J. H. Helm and M. F. Mederick. Maple Leaf Mills Limited, Research Center, R. R. #2, Georgetown, Ontario, Canada.
Significant progress is being made on the development of high lysine barley. The linkage has been broken between the recessive starch binding gene (stb, stb) and the recessive gene for high lysine (lys, lys). This has significantly improved the kernel characteristics and the energy content of the kernel while increasing the protein quality. The map distance between the two genes was found to be 22.45 units. A dosage effect for both the starch binding gene (stb) and the lysine gene (lys) was also indicated. Lysine content increased with each dose of the gene in the endosperm. The increase between O and 1, as well as 1 and 2 genes, was approximately equal, while the jump between 2 and 3 genes in the endosperm showed an increase twice that of the 1 and 2 gene increasments.
Work is being carried out on both two row and six row types, however, at this time progress in the two row types is decisively ahead of the six row program. Concentration now is on putting suitable disease resistance into the lysine types. Yield data indicates no negative association exists in the high lysine barleys.
Feed trials on day old chicks is now underway to determine the actual biological value of the high lysine barley. Our chemical determinations show a calculated biological value ranging from 135 to 186% of the normal two and six row barley cultivars. The calculated biological value is a weighted value of lysine as a percent of protein multiplied by the percent protein and takes into account the different soluble protein fractions. By using this procedure we have also been able to select parents which will complement the lysine gene thus giving better calculated biological values.
Our chemical screening techniques will enable us to screen some 5,000 lines this year.
The authors want to recognize contributions from Dr. W. E. Kronstad and Dr. R. J. Metzger, O.S.U., Corvallis, Oregon.
References:
Helm, J. H. 1971. Chemical and genetic evaluation of high lysine and
protein in selected barley crosses. Thesis, Oregon State University,
1971.
Helm, J. H.,R. J. Metzger, W. E. Kronstad. Inheritance of high lysine in Hiproly barley and its association with the Hiproly endosperm gene. Crop Science (Has been submitted for the editor).