Variation and selection of protein and lysine mutants in spring barley

The range of variability for protein and lysine content was tested in 1971 and 1972. Starting from different mother varieties, induced mutations were divided into micro-mutants and macro-mutants. A number of tetraploid strains was included. As regards protein and lysine content, induced variability of both characters was comparable to the spontaneous variation in conventional breeding programmes. In addition, some superior lines were selected. A scheme for simultaneous and/or separate selection of ''% protein in dry matter'', ''% lysine in dry matter'', and ''% lysine in protein'' is described. In 1972 the DBC method was used in the pre-screening for high protein and high lysine mutants. The 10% best lines were selected, and then checked by Kjeldahl tests for protein, and by an enzymatic-colorimetric test for lysine content. (author)