Validation of Molecular Markers Associated with Seed Dormancy Using Breeding Lines from US Malting Barley Breeding Programs.

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars with low seed dormancy may be susceptible to preharvest sprouting, which is germination on the plant prior to harvest.  Preharvest sprouting can result in reductions in yield and end-use quality, making the grain useless for malting and reducing its marketability.  Previous research at North Dakota State University (NDSU) identified 63 SNP markers that may be useful for marker-assisted selection (MAS) against lines with low seed dormancy.  The objective of this study is to validate the use of each of these molecular markers for MAS of seed dormancy using barley lines from the following breeding programs: NDSU two- and six-rowed, University of Minnesota six-rowed, Busch Agricultural Resources two- and six- rowed, and MillerCoors two-rowed barley. Seed dormancy is determined using a germination test approved by the American Society of Brewing Chemists (Barley-3). Results for the analyses of data from the first run will be presented.