Molecular and chemical analysis of β-amylase-less mutant barley in Tibet

The molecular and biochemical aspects of Tibetan β‐amylase‐less mutant barley were investigated. An enzyme assay showed that there were eight β‐amylase‐less mutant lines in the Tibetan landrace barley. Following Southern analysis and polymerase chain reaction, it is suggested that these mutants result from the same insert mutation in the latter part of the β‐amylase structural gene. The α‐glucosidase activity level of the mutant line was high in the initial period of germination, and the glucose ratio in the sugar conformation was remarkably high in the germinated seed of the mutant line. These results suggest that this β‐amylase‐less mutant line could be a new breeding material for beer production.