ALPHA AMYLASE DISTRIBUTION AND DDT RESPONSE IN CANADIAN BARLEY CULTIVARS

Abstract

The heat-stable alpha amylase zymotype was studied by agar gel electrophoresis in 55 Canadian barley cultivars and most of their parents. A DC zymotype was found in 41 cultivars, DC1 in four, DC2C-DC polymorphism in nine and DC1-DC polymorphism in one. All cultivars were subjected to a foliar spray of DDT and all were found to be susceptible and monomorphic for this trait. These results are discussed in terms of cultivar identification, differences in frequency distribution of zymotypes between the European and Canadian material, and the introduction of these zymotypes into Canada.