THE AUSTRALIAN barley industry continues to weigh up whether to continue its exclusion of blue aleurone layer barley.
The topic was a hot point of conversation at last month’s Barley Australia Forum in Adelaide where the debate centered on whether the advantages of potentially favourable European genetics from lines with a blue aleurone layer would outweigh a potentially negative reaction from some buyers.
Australia has not used barley with this “blue” characteristic for many years but industry leaders are discussing whether it could be re-introduced into breeding programs.
Barley with a blue aleurone layer may show a visible blue colouring, coming from the aleurone layer immediately below the husk in the grain, which may be a potential negative for some buyers due to its appearance in spite of having no impact on the grain’s end performance.
Stalwart barley breeder David Moody, Intergrain, said it was important the Australian industry did not have a binary approach to the issue.
“It is not as simple as being a black and white issue, where a variety either has a blue aleurone layer or it doesn’t,” Dr Moody said.
“Aleurone colour is continuum and there will be varieties that get released that have a slight blue layer even though they are categorised as having a white aleurone layer.”
“This can create some issues at the receival centres, as we can notice a supposedly white aleurone barley with a distinct blue tinge being delivered.”
Dr Moody used the example of the variety Henley which went successfully through malt accreditation process but it was noted in later seasons that some deliveries of the variety had a distinct blue tinge in spite of its breeding suggesting it should have a white aleurone layer.
Barley Australia director John Stuart said it was an issue the industry had to think carefully about in terms of future market access.
“The last time Australia grew blue aleurone barley China was not even a player in terms of our malt barley exports, now it is the major buyer,” he said.
“We don’t yet know what China thinks about blue barley, its important we find out market opinions before making a decision on whether to end the ban.”
“It is also important we work with our buyers to educate them on the appearance of our products and how they perform.”