Variations of Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) of Hordoindoline a Gene (hina) and Its Relationships with Kernel Hardness in 92 North American Barley Varieties (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Grain texture in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is an important quality character. The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in Hordoindoline a (hina) gene and its relationship with hardness index among North American barley cultivars were investigated. The hina genes in 36 cultivars were sequenced for the SNP analyses, and 17 sets of SNP primers were designed to detect the SNP variations of hina locus in 92 North American barley cultivars. SNP detection indicated that there were four haplotypes in the hina genes of 92 barley cultivars, and haplotype 01 and 02 were shared by 68 and 14 cultivars, respectively, suggesting that there was a very limited diversity in hina genes among North American barley cultivars. Despite the wide range in hardness exists in 92 barley cultivars, however, unlike wheat, where a clear relationship has been demonstrated between a number of SNPs in the wheat hardness genes and quality (soft or hard wheat), there was no such relationship for barley. The genotypes used in this study demonstrated that there was a low level of polymorphism in hina gene in North American barley cultivars and these polymorphisms had no impact on grain hardness.