BGN 5: Improvement of barley grain quality by chemical mutagenesis BARLEY GENETICS NEWSLETTER, VOL. 5, II. RESEARCH NOTES
Shevtsov, pp. 53-54

II.29 Improvement of barley grain quality by chemical mutagenesis.

Shevtsov, V. M., Ryadchikov, V. G., and Gruntsev, Yu. A. Krasnodar Research Institute of Agriculture, 350012 Krasnodar, USSR.

Mutants with better protein content in grain resulted from treatment of winter barley seeds with the chemical mutagens, NEU (N-nitrosoethylurea) and EI (ethylene imine). Variation of the character in M3 was within the range of 10.5-19.3% and in the standard it was 11.25-12.25%. Variation ratios were 9.6% and 3.7%, respectively. Half-lethal and high doses of mutagens when 30-50% plants survived proved to be the best in inducing mutants having the highest protein level. The best mutants were tested in test trials. The results of four year trials under summer conditions are given in the table.

Most of the high level protein mutants were inferior to the original variety in grain size and plumpness. Negative correlation between protein content and grain size was found. However, we managed to induce 33M8 mutant producing a very large grain with better protein content (13.5-14%) than the control. This mutant is near the best standards in yield.

When feeding pigs with the grain of 33M8 mutant, weight gain was 18% more and food consumption was 12% less than that of the control. This mutant as our new variety Prizyv was included into the State Test Trials.

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