Analysis of grain yield and cytolytic degradation of winter and spring barley cultivars under growing conditions in the Republic of Croatia

Six barley cultivars were grown in locations of Osijek and Nova Gradiska for three successive years. Our study included cultivars of different seasonal type. Zlatko, Barun and Vanessa are two- rowed winter type and Fran, Matej and Scarlett are spring barley cultivars. The results of grain yield and cytolytic degradation showed significant differences among cultivars of winter and spring type as well as specific interactions between cultivars and environmental conditions. Cultivars Zlatko and Barun showed significantly (P≤0.05) higher grain yield in comparison with other cultivars. Generally, spring barley cultivars when compared with winter cultivars had significantly higher malt extract content, lower malt extract fine-coarse difference, lower malt viscosity, higher β-glucanase activity and lower malt β- glucan content, higher friability together with specific interactions with growing conditions.