The objective of this study was to examine the range of variation and correlation relationships of some grain physical traits of different barley types. Field experiments were carried out at the State Stende Cereal Breeding Institute from 2004 to 2006. Grain samples of 52 spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) genotypes were analysed for 1000 grain weight, test weight, relative hardness index and hull content. The mean value of 1000 grain weight and test weight for two-row barley was significantly higher than for six-row barley. Test weight for hull-less barley was significantly higher than for covered ones (mean values - 774.6 g lE-1 and 669.8 g lE-1 respectively). The hull content was higher for six-row barley type (10.4%) than for two-row (8.6%) barley. There was no significant difference in relative hardness index between different types of barley. The coefficient of variation for grain hardness ranged from 13.7% for six-row barley to 18.7% for hull-less barley. Among varieties bred in Latvia relative hardness index ranged from 47.1 for two-row variety ‘Sencis’ to 80.4 for only six-row variety ‘Druvis’. Significant (p is less than 0.05) positive correlation was detected between grain hardness index and β-glucans for covered two-row head types of barley (r2-row, covered =0.418 is greater than r25; 0.05=0.396).

The objectives of the investigation were to determine effect of hull-less gene on grain quality traits (crude protein, starch and β-glucans) and to evaluate the heritability of these traits in the F4 and F5 generations of six crosses between covered and hull-less barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). The trial was carried out at the State Stende Cereal Breeding Institute during the years 2007 and 2008. Mean value, range and the coefficient of variation of traits for covered and hull-less lines within each cross combination were calculated. Heritability of quality traits was estimated as intergeneration correlation (r) and linear regression coefficients (b). The highest intergeneration correlation values were observed for starch content within covered and hull-less barley populations (rF4:F5=0.609 and 0.635 respectively). Moderate intergeneration relationship was observed for crude protein content within covered barley population (r=0.582), and for β-glucans content within hull-less barley population (r=0.593). The regression estimates of heritability were higher for starch content for both covered and hull-less barleys (b=0.549 and 0.703 respectively). Due to effects of genotype and environment interactions the regression estimates of heritability for crude protein and β-glucans content for both covered and hull-less barley were low (b varied from 0.347 to 0.373).

The effect of dietary supplement with 17% high-amylose barley (Hordeum vulgare, HAB) 'Karmose' on boar taint was studied on 72 crossbred entire male pigs (Sus scrofa domestica) Swedish Yorkshire dams x Swedish Landrace sires). All pigs were fed the same commercial diet (12.4 MJ metabolised energy (ME) per kg, digestible crude protein (CP) 13.5%) twice a day until the average live weight (LW) in the pen reached 100 +- 11.8 kg. Then, 32 out of 72 pigs received an HAB diet. Half of these pigs received HAB for 14 days and the other half for 28 days. The pigs were slaughtered at an average LW of 122.3 +- 8.6 kg (age 167.2 +- 7.5 days). The HAB diet did not affect performance, carcass and meat quality characteristics, and puberty status, but reduced plasma skatole levels in the pigs (least squares means, 3.6 vs. 2.0 ng mlE-1, P = 0.037). However, this diet failed to reduce skatole, indole and androstenone levels in fat (P is greater than 0.10). Nevertheless, it is desirable to continue investigation of HAB to optimise the feeding procedure to improve efficiency of HAB effect on fat skatole levels. Additionally, validation of a greater amount of HAB in the diet should be performed.

Barley is a key ingredient in beer production. The aim of the current research was to study the dynamics of vitamin C and vitamin E in flaky and hull-less barley grains during steeping, germinating, and kilning. The research was accomplished on hull-less barley (two lines – '3528' and '3537') and flaky barley selected in Latvia in 2009 with a germination capacity above 95%. The grains were steeped, germinated and kilned using traditional malt production technology. During research the vitamin content was analysed using standard methods: vitamin C by EN 14130:2003, and vitamin E by AOAC 971.30. The content of vitamin C increased during steeping in flaky barley grains till 0.23 mg 100 gE-1, but in hull-less barley grains: line '3537' till 0.47 mg 100 gE-1, and line '3528' till 0.30 mg 100 gE-1. During germination vitamin C content in flaky barley increased by 68%, in hull-less barley: line '3528' – by 82%, and line '3537' – by 57%. The content of vitamin C in the analysed malt samples was 0.35-0.38 mg 100 gE-1. The content of vitamin E in all barley samples was similar after grain steeping. The content of vitamin E was 3.9 times higher in flaky barley, but in hull-less barley lines: '3528' – 4.1, and '3537' – 4.5 times higher compared with its initial content after germination. After grain kilning, the content of vitamin E decreased in all barley grain samples. The results show that using some cultivars of hull-less barley for malt production, it is possible to obtain a higher content of vitamins C and E in the end-product.

Growing interest of consumers in healthy eating has provided the development of new range of food. Therefore the task of research was to determine the nutritional value, calculate energy value and investigate the sensory properties of yoghurt samples enriched with flakes from biologically activated hull-less barley grains and malt extract. Results showed that by adding flakes from biologically activated hull-less barley grain and malt extract it was possible to improve the nutritional value of yoghurt, i.e., increased protein, carbohydrate and decreased fat content. The energy value of yoghurt samples enriched with flakes from biologically activated hull-less barley grain and malt extract ranged between 65.96 and 75.72 kcal 100 gE-1, which is significantly lower comparing with mean energy value of commercial yoghurts. The changes of sensory properties were affected by the amount of added malt extract in yoghurt samples. The optimal amount of added malt extract for sensory evaluation in yoghurt samples was determined as 2%. The content of carbohydrate in yoghurt sample enriched with 5% of biologically activated hull-less barley grain and 2% of malt extract was two times lower than commercial yoghurts therefore its energy value was significantly lower. Yoghurt enriched with flakes from biologically activated hull-less barley grain and malt extract could be competitive.

Triticale is an amphidiploid hybrid between wheat and rye having protein-rich grain. For expanding the range of bakery and pastry production in the world there are being developed various recipes for product enriching with fibre, especially b-glucan, proteins, vitamins and other nutrients for a healthier diet. It can be done making a flour blend from whole grain triticale, rye, hull-less barley, rice and maize flour. The aim of research was to evaluate the rheological properties of dough made from different cereals flour and flour blends. Whole grain flour of triticale, rye, hull-less barley, rice, maize and flour blends were used in this research. Flour blends were made from triticale in a combination with other flour (whole grain rye, hull-less barley flour, rice and maize flour) in various proportions. Wheat flour (Type 405) was used as a control. Rheological properties of mixed flour dough were studied using Farinograph (Brabender Farinograph-AT, GmbH and Co. KG, Germany). Moisture content of flour and flour blends was determined using AACC method 44-15A. Water absorption and dough development time decrease, but dough stability, time of breakdown and farinograph quality number increases, increasing proportion of other flour in triticale flour. The flour blends need less time for dough development comparing with triticale flour. Enriching triticale flour with whole grain rye, whole grain barley, rice and maize flour in various proportions made triticale flour dough more rheologically stable during mixing.

Cereal grains have long been thought to be less important sources of antioxidants than fruits and vegetables although they contain many antioxidants and are major dietary components worldwide. The aim of the current research was to study and compare an antioxidant activity (AOA) and total phenolic content (TPC) of different barley varieties and malt types as well as to evaluate possible interconnection between TPC and AOA of barley and malt samples. The research was carried out on four lines of hull-less barley ‘3528’; ’L-400’; ’3475’; ‘3537’ and one variety of flaky barley ‘Klass’ grains, which were cultivated in Latvia in 2010, and their corresponding malt. Commercial sorts of malt - Pilsener, Munich, Caramel and Dark were used in the research to compare with the malt produced in the laboratory scale. The antioxidant potential of barley and their products is analyzed by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays. Total phenolic content of barley and malt samples was determined according to the Folin-Ciocalteu spectrophotometric methods. The values of DPPH radical scavenging activity for 5 barley samples ranged from 4.57 to 5.89 μmol TE gE-1 DW. The total amount of phenols ranged from 1.96 to 2.43 mg GAE gE-1 DW for unprocessed barley samples and from 2.5 to 3.4 mg GAE gE-1 DW for their corresponding malt. TPC of malt commercial sort ranged from 3.5 to 6.7 GAE gE-1 DW. The increase of TPC for commercial malts is strongly related with Maillard reaction products.

The main purpose of the research was to investigate the physically-chemical parameters of organic and conventional hull-less barley (Hordeum vulgare) harvested in Latvia. In the experiment the following hull-less barley harvested in 2012 from the State Priekuli Plant Breeding Institute (Latvia) was used: ‘Irbe’, PR4651, PR3808.21 and PR5099. The following quality parameters of grain – protein, starch, the bulk density and β-glucan content – were measured by standard methods – Infratec™ 1241 Grain Analyser (Denmark) corresponding to ISO 12099; thousand-grain weight (TGW) (ISO 520:2010); the falling number (ISO 3093:2009); moisture content (LVS 272:2000) were also determined. In the present experiments no significant differences in protein, moisture, starch, β-glucan content and TGW were detected, however, significant differences in the bulk density of all analyzed hull-less barley samples were established. The lower analyzed parameter value of 780 ± 1 g LE-1 was obtained for the conventional and organic hull-less barley PR 5099. However, the higher bulk density value of 821 ± 1 g LE-1 was obtained in the conventional hull-less barley variety ‘Irbe’. No significant differences in the bulk density of conventional and organic hull-less barley ‘Irbe’, PR4651 and PR3808.21 were found. Significant differences in the falling number were detected in the analyzed hull-less barley samples harvested in the conventional and organic farming. The lower falling number value was obtained in the organic hull-less barley line PR 5009 – 81 ± 4 s, the higher in the conventional and organic hull-less barley line PR 3808.21 as 362 ± 5 s and 373 ± 2 s, respectively.

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) grain is the main raw material in brewing industry, because beer taste and production process depend on barley grain qualitative indices. One of the barley grain’s qualitative indices is grain sprouting activity. There have been numerous researches that showed the effects of selenium (Se) on hull-less barley sprouting activity and positive influence on biologically active substances and high vitamins concentration in grain (Dūma et al., 2002), but hull-less barley is not widely used. The aim of this study was to explore the influence of different selenium concentrations on the barley grains sprouting activity and content of total phenols. Barley with grain viability of 92% have been soaked in diverse solutions (Se concentration 0.5 mg LE-1 – 10 mg LE-1) for 12 hours, then the grain sprouted at the temperature of +18±2 °C for 5 days and dried in the oven for 48 hours at a temperature of +50 °C. After sprouting, the sprouting activity of the grain was determined, but total phenols amount was determined after grain desiccation. The obtained results showed that the increase in selenium concentration in a solution increased barley grain sprouting activity from 16.3% (0.5 mg LE-1) to 27.9% (10 mg LE-1), but the amount of total phenols decreased.

The purpose of the current research was to investigate the total protein content and amino acid composition of flour blend made from several types of whole grain flour for pasta production. Conventional rye, hull-less barley, triticale and wheat grain was used in the experiments. For the flour blend obtaining white wheat flour type 550 was used. Using standard methods the following quality parameters were analysed: protein content in grain and flour samples by using InfratecTM model 1241 Grain Analyzer, in flour blend – by AACC 46–20, amino acid content by LVS ISO 13903:2005. In the present research it was determined that it is possible to increase the total protein content in wheat flour type 550 by 11% if adding whole wheat or whole triticale flour, and by 7% if adding whole grain flour of hull-less barley. Higher total amino acid content was obtained for whole wheat flour sample; lower – for whole rye flour sample. Significantly lower total amino acid content was obtained in whole rye, hull-less barley and triticale flour comparing with whole grain wheat flour. No significant differences (p=0.779) were found in the analysed essential amino acid content made of different flour blend – the content of essential amino acids in the analysed flour blend samples was very similar.