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The study aims to compare three methods used for the evaluation of water absorption of wheat flour: a) a direct method consisting of a standard procedure on a Farinograph-E device and b) two indirect methods, namely NIR spectroscopy and centrifugation. Forty-four samples of Czech food wheat were collected from the harvest year 2021. Namely, 23 samples of food wheat from the standard maturity collection ‘SM2’ and 21 samples from the early maturity collection ‘EM2’. All wheat samples were ground to obtain wheat flour of fine granulation. The flour samples were characterised by protein and ash content of 10.55-14.75% and of 0,59-0.63%, respectively. The water absorption ranged from 55.7% to 63.2% flour weight (Farinograph standard procedure), 60.1-67.1% flour weight (NIR spectroscopy), and 67.6-77.2% flour weight (centrifugation). Based on the results obtained by ANOVA statistical analysis, no significant difference was found for all qualitative parameters of SM2 and EM2 (p = 95%). According to the mentioned methods for both indirect determinations of water absorption in the sets SM2 and EM2, the prediction of the standard farinograph water absorption was more accurate using the NIR technique (minimal and maximal pair differences of 1.01 and 6.86 percentage points, in contrast to 1.78 and 14.87 percentage points for the centrifugation method). Linear regression confirmed the primary importance of protein content for the water absorption values. Also, the ash content should be considered because it reflects the dietary fibre level, and the fibre influences the water absorption values as well.

The following updates have been proposed for the XYZ system for the production of hybrid wheat: The waxy characteristics of the grain were used as a classifying mark. The candidate pollen sterility gene TIP2 was detected in silico based on similarity to known pollen sterility genes in rice. In order to maintain a sterile maternal component, the addition chromosome 7H was proposed, carrying wild-type alleles Waxy-H and TIP2-H. The concept of practical production of the commercial F1 seed was designed.

This paper describes a rapid and cost-effective assay for identifying economically important barley resistance genes based on multiplex PCR. A newly created reaction mixture is used for detecting the resistance genes rym4, rym5, rym11-b and Ryd2 conferring resistance to barley yellow mosaic viruses and Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV). It is possible to identify all these genes using only a single PCR reaction without the necessity for subsequent cutting with restriction endonucleases. This is important for developing resistant barley genotypes inasmuch as it can increase work productivity and reduce costs.

A set of 43 microsatellite loci was used to characterise the malting barley varieties and breeding lines used for the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) "České pivo" ("Czech beer") and for other beer types. Genotype data were compared with technological malting quality parameters. The analysis of variance showed significant differences between varieties used for the given PGI and varieties used for other beer types in six variables. Three clusters of varieties specific to the PGI and three clusters specific to malting barley genotypes for other beer types were identified using a Bayesian approach. The remaining four clusters expressed effects of parent lines. The discrimination analysis based on malting quality and molecular variables identified only one barley breeding line suitable for the PGI "České pivo".

The Lancelot variety is a late to semi-late six-row feeding winter barley. It was developed at the Breeding Station, Lužany, SELGEN a.s. and registered in the Czech Republic in 2013. Lancelot has very good resistance to winter stresses in combination with resistance to BaMMV/BaYMV (Barley mild mosaic virus/Barley yellow mosaic virus) based on the gene rym4.

To determine wheat quality, an experimental 80 g variant (mini-RMT) of the standard 1050 g Rapid Mix Test (RMT) was developed. Ten samples of wheat flour with known RMT values were analysed using the method. Results showed a strong correlation between RMT and mini-RMT values (r = 0.96). Mini-RMT bread volumes were smaller on average by 47.4 ml. A regression equation was constructed allowing the mini-RMT to be used in place of the RMT in wheat breeder laboratories. Anyway, these results are of limited plausibility due to the limited sample numbers and have to be verified on a larger sample set.

Annie is a medium-early winter wheat developed at the Plant Breeding Station, Stupice, SELGEN, a.s., Czech Republic and registered in the Czech Republic in 2014. In the Official Variety Trials this variety showed very high baking quality class E combined with higher grain yield than in the check variety Akteur with similar grain quality. It carries Pch1 gene conferring resistance to eyespot and possesses combined resistance to most diseases together with excellent frost resistance.

In barley, soil-borne viruses of the barley mosaic virus complex (BaYMV, BaMMV, BaYMV-2) are of high importance due to their increased spread, yield losses, and the fact that protection with chemicals is not possible. Concerning resistance breeding, simple, cheap, and robust selection methods are required. Markerassisted selection (MAS) has a great potential to meet this demand. A CAPS marker designed directly for SNPs causing mutations responsible for resistance of rym4/rym5 alleles of the Hv-eIF4E gene was developed in this study. Results showed perfect correspondence between the CAPS marker and the allele identified indirectly on the basis of field tests.

The reaction of winter and spring wheat to infection with barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV-PAV) was evaluated in three-year small-plot field trials on 71 wheat varieties registered in the Czech Republic and at two locations for two years on 63 selected potential sources of resistance. Disease symptoms (VSS) were visually recorded using a 0-9 scale and the percent reduction of grain weight per spike (GWS-R) was measured on twenty plants per plot. The evaluation showed that among the registered varieties of winter and spring wheat no variety had a high resistance to BYDV (with VSS lower than 3.5). GWS-R ranged between 24% and 60%. Higher variability in VSS was detected for the registered varieties of spring wheat compared to winter wheat. Among the registered varieties of winter wheat, Saskia, Rialto, Meritto, Rexia, and Svitava, as well as the spring wheat Leguan, received the best long-term evaluations. The highest level of resistance was detected for the PSR 3628 line (a hybrid of wheat and couch-grass), but in connection with a low agronomic value. The WKL91-138 line of spring wheat and some varieties (lines) with the detected moderate level of resistance, in particular, could offer good prospects for use in breeding. The presence of the Bdv2 gene was expressed only in the reduction of virus content on the 11th day after inoculation. Nevertheless, genotypes carrying this gene were evaluated in field trials as susceptible or very susceptible to infection with the Czech PAV isolate. Similarly, the presence of the Bdv1 gene detected with the help of WMS130 marker was no assurance of an increased level of resistance to BYDV. Hybridological analyses of crosses with the WKL91-138 line showed a polygenic nature of inheritance. Thus, the marker-assisted selection does not obviously promise success without a focus on detecting a larger number of QTLs.

Awarding of the Protected Geographical Indication “České pivo“ (i.e. Czech Beer) led to the necessity of targeted breeding of barley varieties. This study investigated the effect of varieties and growing sites on the key indicators of malting quality with the aim to identify the most suitable selection criteria. Relative extract at 45 °C, β-glucan content in wort, and Kolbach Index were identifi ed as the most suitable parameters. As these parameters are also signifi cantly affected by the environment and residual infl uences, a classifi cation function using discriminant analysis was developed. The function classifi ed successfully 94% of samples regardless of the growing site and thus it may be used as a suitable tool for selection of barley lines that meet the qualitative requirements for the varieties recommended for production of beer with the Protected Geographical Indication “České pivo”.