Analysis of the carbohydrates in an East African traditional beverage, togwa

In sub-Saharan Africa, togwa is a widely consumed beverage containing saccharified starch as a basis, being made from cereals and their malt flours. Togwa was prepared from maize flour and finger millet malt in a laboratory, and trace element and amino acid contents in the togwa were analyzed. The major constituents of togwa are carbohydrates, which are starch and starch hydrolysates that seem to be smoothly digested after ingestion. Carbohydrates in field and laboratory togwa were analyzed in detail by two different HPLC systems: normal phase chromatography and a gel permeation chromatography-multi angle laser light scattering system. Togwa was found to contain a very wide range of size distributions of molecules from glucose to starch that have molecular masses in the millions. It was concluded that togwa is an easily digestible and nutritious food.     

Development of Core Subset of Finger Millet Germplasm Using Geographical Origin and Data on 14 Quantitative Traits

Finger millet [Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.] is an important cereal food crop in Africa and South Asia. It is a hardy crop that can be grown in very diverse environments from almost at sea level to about 2400 m.a.s.l. Finger millet has an excellent food value as its seeds contain protein ranging from 7 to 14% and are particularly rich in methionine amino acid, iron, and calcium. Despite all these merits, this crop has been neglected from the main stream of crop improvement research. One of the means to boost its production and productivity is to enhance utilization of finger millet germplasm to breed superior varieties. Keeping this objective in view, a core subset of finger millet germplasm (622 accessions) based on origin and data on 14 quantitative traits was developed from the entire global collection of 5940 accessions held in the genebank at ICRISAT, Patancheru, India. The comparison of means, variances, frequency distribution, Shannon-Weaver diversity index (H′) and phenotypic correlations indicated that the core subset represents the entire collection. These tests indicated that sampling was optimal and the diversity has been captured very well in the core subset. The correlation analysis indicated that panicle exsertion and longest finger length could be given lower priority in the future germplasm evaluation work of finger millet.     

Assessment of Genetic Diversity among Finger Millet (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Eleusine coracana</Emphasis> (L.) Gaertn.) Accessions using Molecular Markers

Finger millet (Eleusine coracana), an allotetraploid cereal, is widely cultivated in the arid and semiarid regions of the world. Being rich in protein and calcium, finger millet serves as an important staple food for rural populations in developing tropical countries where calcium deficiency and anemia are wide spread. Thirty-two finger millet genotypes were fingerprinted using 50 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Out of the total 529 loci generated using the 50 RAPD primers, 479 loci (91%) were polymorphic and informative to differentiate the accessions. Cluster analysis grouped the 32 finger millet accessions into two major clusters. Among the 32 finger millet genotypes, GEC 182 and CO 12 were distantly related with a low similarity index of 0.315. These two accessions also differed considerably in days to flowering and grain weight; GEC 182 is early flowering and has bold grains, while CO 12 is late flowering and has smaller grains. These two accessions with higher diversity at molecular level, phenology and grain weight will be ideal as parents in hybridization programme, to develop improved finger millet varieties suitable for peninsular region of India.     

陕北黄土高原雨养区谷子棵间蒸发与田间蒸散规律

为了提高黄土高原雨养区谷子的降水利用效率,该文利用中型称重式蒸渗仪和微型蒸渗仪并结合谷子整个生育期内生物指标的动态变化过程,对神木六道沟流域谷子棵间蒸发与田间蒸散规律进行了研究。结果表明,Logistic模型可以很好地模拟谷子株高和盖度的变化,模型计算值与实测值的相关系数均达到0.99。神木六道沟流域的降水总量和谷子的耗水量基本持平,在谷子抽穗期到灌浆期出现了阶段性的缺水。在谷子整个生育期内谷子棵间蒸发占总耗水量的44%。叶面积指数、0～10 cm土层土壤含水率与棵间蒸发与田间蒸散比值间均呈指数函数关系,其决定系数均在0.8以上,且呈现出极显著的相关性。研究为当地合理利用有限水资源和提高水分利用效率提供理论支持。     

Amino acid profiles after sprouting, autoclaving, and lactic acid fermentation of finger millet (Eleusine coracan) and kidney beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Seeds of finger millet (Eleucine coracan (L.) Gaertner) and kidney beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) were sprouted, autoclaved, and fermented during the processing of a weaning (complementary) food for children. Relative changes in individual amino acids with processing were evaluated. Finger millet and kidney beans both showed a good percentage of essential to total amino acids, with 44. 2-44.9% in finger millet and 44.2-45.1% in kidney beans, when compared to 33.9% for the FAO/WHO reference protein for 2-5 year old children. Sprouting resulted in a significant decrease in lysine in kidney beans. Autoclaving caused significant decreases in histidine, while fermentation significantly decreased phenylalanine and increased tryptophan in finger millet. The leucine-to-lysine ratio, which is an indicator of the pellagragenic character of a protein, was significantly improved in finger millet by both sprouting and fermentation.     

Impact of precursor crop and nitrogen fertilizer on the productivity of finger millet based cropping system and soil fertility in Lake Tana basin of Ethiopia

Abstract

Traditional short-term diversification of annual crops for the purpose of improving soil fertility and food security is a common practice in Ethiopia. However, the best cropping systems have not been selected yet though field research. Experiments were conducted for two years with an objective of establishing sustained finger millet based short term cropping sequence in two major finger millet producing areas of Ethiopia. The experiments were laid out in a split-plot arrangement with six precursor crops (haricot bean, maize, sweet lupine, niger seed, wheat, and teff) as a main plot factor, where determined residues were retained in the main plot after harvesting and two nitrogen fertilizer levels (30 and 60?kg ha^?1) applied for finger millet as sub-plots with three replications. Soil analysis result examined immediately after finger millet harvest showed a significant effect of precursor crops and nitrogen fertilizer rates on soil properties. Planting finger millet following lupine increased the soil organic carbon, total nitrogen and cation exchange capacity by 17.37%, 65.50%, 26.15%, respectively, over planting finger millet following teff. Use of different amount of nitrogen fertilizer likely contributed to observed differences in residual soil nutrients. Accordingly, finger millet following lupine with the addition of 60?kg ha^?1 nitrogen fertilizer gave significantly higher finger millet grain yield (3.24 tone ha^?1) and relative production (22.37%) and economic (40.7%) efficiency. This system with their high sustainability and multiple benefits can be readily accepted by the farming community.     

Finger millet (Eleucine corocana L. Gaertn.) as a cover crop on weed control, growth and yield of soybean under different tillage systems

Adoption of conservation tillage systems has become more popular in recent years due to erosion control and economics. Weed control is often identified as the limiting factor in the adoption of such systems. Although herbicides are efficient and convenient, the need to reduce herbicide use has been emphasized. Cover crops have become a viable option in this context, but the contribution of cover crops to weed control has not been clearly defined. A 2-year field experiment compared minimum tillage (MT), no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) for soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] following paddy rice (Oryza sativa L.) with finger millet (Eleucine corocana L. Gaertn.) as a cover crop. Weed emergence, cover crop biomass, main crop growth and yield were observed. Finger millet effectively controlled weeds but total weed biomass was greater with NT than other tillage methods and seeding method had no effect at early stage of growth. Neither crop growth nor leaf chlorophyll content was affected by finger millet under given tillage treatments. Weed biomass was almost half under MT than NT. Finger millet was able to effectively manage weed biomass under MT to a level achieved under CT without a cover crop at the early stage of growth. Number of seeds per pod and 100 seed weight were not affected by tillage treatments but number of pods per square meter was significantly higher with row seeding than broadcast seeding of finger millet cover crop in 2002. The absence of finger millet under MT in 2003, significantly reduced soybean grain yield. Finger millet can be managed with a single mechanical suppression as a cover crop under MT with no yield reduction.     

Occurrence and Location of Tannins in Finger Millet Grain and Antioxidant Activity of Different Grain Types

Grain of 22 finger millet types obtained from Southern and East Africa were analyzed to determine the influence of grain type on tannins, antioxidant properties, and tannin localization in the grain. Four grain types were creamy white and 18 were brown. A high proportion (80–100%) of kernels of all but two of the pigmented types stained black with the bleach test, while the light types did not stain black. There was a wide range of total phenolics, condensed tannin content, and antioxidant activity across the grain types. Light-colored grain types had much lower total phenolics and tannins relative to the pigmented types, and types that stained black with the bleach test had much higher tannin content and much higher antioxidant activity. Light microscopy revealed that kernels that stained black with the bleach test and had high tannin content had a dark-colored testa layer, indicating that the tannins were located in that layer as in sorghum. This is the first report that the bleach test can be used to detect tannin in finger millet types. The work demonstrates that occurrence of tannins in finger millet grain is a varietal property, as in sorghum.     

Purification and characterization of ferulic acid esterase from malted finger millet (Eleusine coracana, Indaf-15)

Ferulic acid esterase (EC 3.1.1.73) cleaves the feruloyl groups substituted at the 5'-OH group of arabinosyl residues of arabinoxylans and is known to modulate their functional properties. In this study, ferulic acid esterase from 96 h finger millet malt was purified to apparent homogeneity by three-step purification with a recovery of 3% and a fold purification of 22. The substrate p-nitrophenylferulate (PNPF) was synthesized and used to assay this enzyme spectrophotometrically. The products liberated from ragi and wheat water-soluble polysaccharides by the action of purified ragi ferulic acid esterase were identified by ESI-MS. The pH and temperature optima of the enzyme were found to be 6.0 and 45 degrees C, respectively. The pH and temperature stabilities of the enzyme were found to be in the range of 5.5-9.0 and 30 degrees C, respectively. The activation energy of the enzymatic reaction was found to be 4.08 kJ mol(-1). The apparent K m and V max of the purified ferulic acid esterase for PNPF were 0.053 microM and 0.085 unit mL(-1), respectively. The enzyme is a monomer with a molecular mass of 16.5 kDa. Metal ions such as Ni(2+), Zn(2+), Co(2+), and Cu(2+) and oxalic and citric acids enhanced the enzyme activity. The enzyme was completely inhibited by Fe(3+). Group specific reagents such as p-chloromercuric benzoate and iodoacetamide inhibited the enzyme, indicating the possible presence of cysteine residues in the active site pocket.     

Inhibitory activities of soluble and bound millet seed phenolics on free radicals and reactive oxygen species

Oxidative stress, caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS), is responsible for modulating several pathological conditions and aging. Soluble and bound phenolic extracts of commonly consumed millets, namely, kodo, finger (Ravi), finger (local), foxtail, proso, little, and pearl, were investigated for their phenolic content and inhibition of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and ROS, namely, hydroxyl radical, peroxyl radical, hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), hypochlorous acid (HOCl), and singlet oxygen ((1)O(2)). Inhibition of DPPH and hydroxyl radicals was detrmined using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The peroxyl radical inhibitory activity was measured using the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay. The scavenging of H(2)O(2), HOCl, and (1)O(2) was evaluated using colorimetric methods. The results were expressed as micromoles of ferulic acid equivalents (FAE) per gram of grain on a dry weight basis. In addition, major hydroxycinnamic acids were identified and quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and HPLC-mass spectrometry (MS). All millet varieties displayed effective radical and ROS inhibition activities, which generally positively correlated with phenolic contents, except for hydroxyl radical. HPLC analysis revealed the presence of ferulic and p-coumaric acids as major hydroxycinnamic acids in phenolic extract and responsible for the observed effects. Bound extracts of millet contributed 38-99% to ROS scavenging, depending on the variety and the test system employed. Hence, bound phenolics must be included in the evaluation of the antioxidant activity of millets and other cereals.     

Effect of germination temperatures on proteolysis of the gluten-free grains sorghum and millet during malting and mashing

Our study showed that sorghum and millet followed a similar pattern of changes when they were malted under similar conditions. When the malt from these cereals was mashed, both cereal types produced wide spectra of substrates (sugars and amino acids) that are required for yeast fermentation when malted at either lower or higher temperatures. At the germination temperatures of 20, 25, and 30 °C used in malting both cereal types, production of reducing sugars and that of free amino nitrogen (FAN) were similar. This is an important quality attribute for both cereals because it implies that variation in temperature during the malting of sorghum and millet, especially when malting temperature is difficult to control, and also reflecting temperature variations, experienced in different countries, will not have an adverse effect on the production and release of amino acids and sugars required by yeast during fermentation. Such consistency in the availability of yeast food (substrates) for metabolism during fermentation when sorghum and millet are malted at various temperatures is likely to reduce processing issues when their malts are used for brewing. Although sorghum has gained wide application in the brewing industry, and has been used extensively in brewing gluten-free beer on industrial scale, this is not the case with millet. The work described here provides novel information regarding the potential of millet for brewing. When both cereals were malted, the results obtained for millet in this study followed patterns similar to those of sorghum. This suggests that millet, in terms of sugars and amino acids, can play a role similar to that of sorghum in the brewing industry. This further suggests that millet, like sorghum, would be a good raw material for brewing gluten-free beer. Inclusion of millet as a brewing raw material will increase the availability of suitable materials (raw material sustainability) for use in the production of gluten-free beer, beverages, and other products. The availability of wider range of raw materials will not only help to reduce costs of beer production, but by extension, the benefit of reduced cost of production can be gained by consumers of gluten-free beer as the product would be cheaper and more widely available.     

Drought-Tolerant Pseudomonas spp. Improve the Growth Performance of Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.) Under Non-Stressed and Drought-Stressed Conditions

Application of plant growth-promoting bacteria(PGPB)is an environmentally sustainable option to reduce the effects of abiotic and biotic stresses on plant growth and productivity.Three 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid(ACC)deaminase-producing drought-tolerant bacteria were isolated from a rain-fed agriculture field in the Central Himalaya of Kumaun region,Uttarakhand,India and evaluated for their efficiency in improving finger millet(Eleusine coracana(L.)Gaertn.)plant growth under non-stressed and drought-stressed conditions.These bacteria withstood a substrate metric potential of -1.0 MPa(30% polyethylene glycol 8000)and therefore were considered drought-tolerant.These strains were identified as Pseudomonas spp.by fatty acid methyl ester analysis and 16S rRNA gene sequencing.The ACC deaminase activity of these strains was characterized at the biochemical level,and the presence of acd S gene,the structural gene for ACC deaminase,was confirmed by the polymerase chain reaction.Two sets of pot trials in glass house were set up,one for normal(non-stressed)and the other for drought-stressed conditions.After 5 weeks,one set of plants was subjected to drought stress for 5 d,while the other set continued to be watered.The same growth parameters were recorded for both sets of plants after 40 d of plant growth.The results of pot trials showed that treatments inoculated with ACC deaminase-producing bacterial strains significantly improved the growth performance of finger millet plants and foliar nutrient content as compared to uninoculated treatments under both non-stressed and drought-stressed conditions.In addition,a significant increase in antioxidant activity was observed,wherein bacterial stain inoculation improved plant fitness by protecting it from oxidative damage induced by drought.     

不同生态区骨干谷子品种表型鉴定与遗传分析

骨干谷子品种对谷子产业发展发挥了重要的作用,为了解其优异性状遗传基础及利用价值,选用来源于不同生态区的12个骨干谷子品种,进行表型鉴定和遗传差异分析。结果表明,12个来源于不同生态区的骨干品种在株高、穗长、穗粗、穗下节间长、单穗重、生育期以及黄色素含量等方面差异较大。79对SSR多态性标记共检测到258个多态性变异位点,平均3.265 8个;SSR标记多态性(PIC)的变幅为0.141 1~0.711 6,平均为0.510 1;其中PIC>0.5的SSR标记有50对,占多态性标记的63.3%。12份材料的遗传距离变幅为0.140 2~0.801 1,平均为0.473 7;来自华北夏谷区的豫谷1号和沧谷4号遗传距离最近,而沧谷4号和来自内蒙高原的地方品种金香玉距离最远;总体而言,华北夏谷区品种和西北早熟春谷区品种遗传距离相对较大。相似性系数为0.594时,12个品种可聚为两类,华北夏谷区的豫谷1号、矮88、冀谷19号、沧谷4号和济谷12聚为一类,来自西北春谷早熟区、晚熟区和东北春谷区的7个品种聚为一类,聚类分析结果和品种的生态类型具有较高的一致性。群体结构分析和聚类分析的结果相似,华北夏谷区品种和春谷区品种之间存在基因交流。总之,不同生态区来源品种间遗传差异较大,同一生态区来源品种遗传差异较小;华北夏谷区骨干品种之间遗传差异较春谷区品种遗传差异相对较小;华北夏谷区品种和西北早熟春谷区品种间遗传差异较大,丰富华北夏谷区遗传变异,应加强与西北早熟春谷区品种之间的交流。本研究结果为优异谷子品种培育及种质资源利用提供了一定依据。     

Phosphate rock and a phosphate rock/superphosphate mixture as fertilizers for crops grown on a calcareous soil

Abstract

The agronomic effectiveness of Mussoorie phosphate rock (MPR) from India and a 2:1 mixture of MPR and single superphosphate (SSP) was compared against SSP as phosphate fertilizers for crops. The experiment was conducted for three seasons and was designed to study the response of crops to current application as well as residual effects of the various P fertilizers. Three crops were grown in sequence: finger millet (Eleusine coracana), maize (Zea mays L.), and blackgram (Phaseolus mungo) on a calcareous soil under irrigated conditions. The phosphate fertilizers were applied to finger millet and/or maize but not to the blackgram. Soil samples were collected at intervals and analysed for Olsen bicarbonate‐extractable P. The agronomic effectiveness of fertilizers relative to SSP (RAE) were calculated from the fertilizer substitution ratios. When used on finger millet, the RAE of MPR, calculated at a yield which corresponded to 90% of calculated maximum yield on applying SSP, was 42%. For the mixture of MPR and SSP the RAE was 68%. On maize, yield in MPR treatment plateaued at too low a level (about 80% of calculated maximum yield for SSP) to calculate RAE but for MPR/SSP the RAE was 80%. The residual effectiveness of fertilizers on the second crop, compared against freshly applied SSP was 41% for SSP, 49% for MPR, and 73% for MPR/SSP. Olsen bicarbonate‐extractable P values determined one month after fertilizer application increased over control by about 55% in MPR and 86% in MPR/SSP treatments relative to SSP. Economic calculations indicated that, application of MPR is of equal value to SSP for the cropping sequence whereas MPR/SSP for the cropping sequence as well as for individual crops.     

Geographical variation of foxtail millet, Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv. based on rDNA PCR–RFLP

The rDNA PCR–RFLP of foxtail millet (Setaria italica) germ-plasm collected throughout Eurasia and from a part of Africa was investigated with five restriction enzymes according to our previous study. Foxtail millet germ-plasms were classified by length of the rDNA IGS and RFLP; clear geographical differentiation was observed between East Asia, the Nansei Islands of Japan-Taiwan-the Philippines area, South Asia and Afghanistan-Pakistan. We also found evidence of migration of foxtail millet landraces between the areas. We calculated diversity index (D) for each region and found that center of diversity of this millet is East Asia such as China, Korea and Japan.     

Effect of cropping sequence,fertilizers and farmyard manure on vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in different crops over three consecutive seasons

Summary The influence of cropping sequence with and without fertilizer and farmyard manure application on vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae was studied over three consecutive seasons. In the first season maize was grown on all the plots. In the second season cowpea, groundnut and finger millet were raised on the same plots and in the third season, sunflower was grown on all the plots. The groundnut grown in the second season stimulated mycorrhizal root colonization, sporulation and infective propagules in the soil, and these effects were carried over to the next season. The plots cropped to finger millet in the second season had the lowest number of mycorrhizal spores. The application of farmyard manure stimulated vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae while fertilizers at the recommended level decreased the mycorrhizal propagules.     

沟垄覆膜集水模式提高糜子光合作用和产量

探讨沟垄覆膜集水模式对糜子增产效应的机制,为干旱半干旱地区糜子高产栽培提供理论支持。本文采用3a大田定位试验数据,研究沟垄覆膜集水模式对陕北半干旱区糜子光合特性和产量的影响。试验设置了垄宽:沟宽为40 cm∶40 cm(P40)、60 cm∶60 cm(P60)、80 cm∶80 cm(P80)和100 cm∶100 cm(P100)等4种不同的沟垄宽度带型,以露地平播(CK)为对照。在晴朗、无风的气象条件下于上午9:00-11:00测定功能叶净光合速率、气孔导度和胞间CO2浓度,成熟期实测称产。试验结果表明:沟垄覆膜集水模式可以明显提高糜子各生育期的净光合速率和气孔导度,降低胞间CO2浓度;随处理沟垄宽度的增加,同一生长时期糜子的光合速率、气孔导度先升高后降低,胞间CO2浓度先降低后升高;沟垄覆膜集水模式对糜子的主茎节数、穗长、穗分枝和千粒重的影响较小,但可以明显提高糜子的株高和产量;糜子各生育期的光合作用受非气孔因素影响,沟垄覆膜集水模式可以降低非气孔因素对糜子功能叶片光合作用的限制。总之,沟垄覆膜集水模式可以提高糜子功能叶片的光合能力,促进产量形成,其中以处理P60影响最为显著。     

植物粟对模拟封存CO2泄漏的生理响应

碳捕集与封存（Carbon Capture and Storage,CCS）技术是近年来迅速发展的温室气体减排措施,是以煤为主的中国重要的战略性减排技术之一,减排量巨大。但是,CCS发展备受争议,其泄漏有可能会对周围生态系统尤其是结构单一的农田生态系统造成严重影响。本研究以北方地区主要粮食作物粟为试验对象,自主设计模拟地质封存CO₂泄漏盆栽试验,通过对植物生育期SPAD（叶绿素相对含量）、株高、根系以及产量、穗部特征等指标的观测,分析粟对CCS泄漏的响应。结果表明：（1）受CCS泄漏的影响,植物粟SPAD值显著降低,植株叶片叶绿素含量极显著下降（P＜0.01）。（2）CCS泄漏发生30d后粟的株高显著下降,根分支显著增加,植株受泄漏影响明显。（3）CCS泄漏显著降低了植株地上部干重和鲜重,但是泄漏对地下部鲜重无显著影响,地下部干重较地上部降幅偏小。（4）CCS泄漏影响下,植株粟产量下降34.92%。此外,CCS泄漏下植株穗长、穗粗、总粒重等农艺性状下降显著。     

Influence of Oxalate,Phytate, Tannin,Dietary Fiber,and Cooking on Calcium Bioavailability of Commonly Consumed Cereals and Millets in India

The objectives of this research were to study the bioavailable calcium from widely used cereals and millets by an in vitro method and to provide data on the role of calcium inhibitors. The average total calcium content of the analyzed raw cereals and millets ranged from 10.2 to 324.6 mg/100 g (the lowest and highest values correspond to maize and finger millet, respectively), whereas the rest of the raw cereals and millets had calcium content in the range of 26.3–50.4 mg/100 g, except for rice samples (10.4 mg/100 g). Soluble percentage of calcium is the highest in maize (45.1%), and dialyzable calcium percentage is the highest in wheat (34.9%). The cooking process did not significantly affect calcium bioavailability and the contents of phytate and tannin. However, cooking reduced the oxalate content, and in the case of dietary fiber significant increase was observed. The order of oxalate content in the cereals and millets studied was found to be pearl millet > finger millet > wheat > maize > sorghum > rice. Multiple regression analysis carried out to explain the influence of oxalate, phytate, tannin, and dietary fiber on calcium bioavailability showed greater inhibitory effect of oxalate.     

The influence of barley malt protein modification on beer foam stability and their relationship to the barley dimeric alpha-amylase inhibitor-I (BDAI-I) as a possible foam-promoting protein

The foam stability of beer is one of the important key factors in evaluating the quality of beer. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the level of malt modification (degradation of protein, starch, and so on) and the beer foam stability. This was achieved by examining foam-promoting proteins using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE). We found that the foam stability of beer samples brewed from the barley malts of cultivars B and C decreased as the level of malt modification increased; however, the foam stability of cultivar A did not change. To identify the property providing the increased foam stability of cultivar A, we analyzed beer proteins using 2DE. We analyzed three fractions that could contain beer foam-promoting proteins, namely, beer whole proteins, salt-precipitated proteins, and the proteins concentrated from beer foam. As a result, we found that in cultivar A, some protein spots did not change in any of these three protein fractions even when the level of malt modification increased, although the corresponding protein spots in cultivars B and C decreased. We analyzed these protein spots by peptide mass finger printing using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. As a result, all of these spots were identified as barley dimeric alpha-amylase inhibitor-I (BDAI-I). These results suggest that BDAI-I is an important contributor to beer foam stability.