Abstract

A study was conducted to characterize a world collection of hull-less barley using multivariate traits. Significant variations were observed among genotypes in grain yield and grain physical characteristics. Genotypic as well as environmental effects were important for the variations occurred in chemical contents. Total phenolic content ranged from 166.0 to 295.0 mg/100 g ferulic acid equivalent. The total anthocyanin ranged from 3.0 to 284.5 ppm cyanidin glucoside equivalent. Yellow pigment content ranged from 3.9 to 8.7 ppm and protein content from 12.3 to 17.3%. Beta-glucan ranged from 3.5 - 7.4% for barley genotypes. Purple pigmented barley found to have high total anthocyanin content whereas the black pigmented barleys were superior in their total phenolics and yellow pigments. Waxy barleys contained higher levels of beta-glucan.

Key words: Hordeum, hull-less, barley, pigments, Ethiopia.