A RAPID,SIMPLE VISCOMETRIC TECHNIQUE FOR INDIRECT ESTIMATION OF SOLUBLE β-GLUCAN CONTENT OF RAW BARLEY

A Simple, rapid method of estimating the viscosity of raw barley extract is presented which involves measurement of the time of passage of a ball falling between two points in a precision bore tube filled with the extract. This value for falling time is directly related with β-glucan. The technique requires only 0·6 g of ground grain which means that it is now practicable to test material from a single plant. In view of the considerable number of samples involved in a breeding programme the high testing rate of up to 144 samples a day is of considerable practical importance.