Malting quality is composed of numerous interacting traits with a high
complexity concerning their biochemical and genetic basis. Malt extract is
key indicator of barley malting quality and it is a mega-trait since it is
influenced by a number of independent component traits. Understanding genetic
and non-genetic factors that effects grain quality and grain yield is crucial
in developing new cultivars, seed and mercantile production. Path analysis is
one of the reliable statistical techniques which allow separation of the
direct effect of each component trait on malt quality from the indirect
effects caused by the interdependence component trait. The aim of this study
was to investigate spring two-row barley quality as mega-trait depending on
the component traits in the conditions of the Pannonian environments.
Regression analysis with extract (EXT) as dependant and other traits
(yield-YIL, test weight-TW, grain weight-GW, grading-GRA, grain protein
concentration-GPC, viscosity-VIS, Kolbach index-KOL, Hartong number-HAR) as
independent traits was performed out. Simple coefficient of correlations were
calculated between independent traits and EXT in all pair combination and
then used as inputs for path coefficient analysis. The quadratic curve fitted
the best relationship between EXT and the independent traits. EXT was in
positive (P<0.01) relationship with GW, GRA, KOL, and HAR with simple
correlation coefficient of 0.47, 0.42, 0.39 and 0.50, respectively and in
negative (P<0.01) relationship with GPC and VIS with simple correlation
coefficient of -0.72 and -0.51, respectively. Path analysis explained more
than 70% of the variation in EXT of which 34.3% was determined by direct
negative path coefficient (P<0.01) of GPC without significant any indirect
path effect. VIS negatively directly, (P<0.01) and negatively indirectly via
GPC effected EXT. KOL did not have significant direct effect on EXT, but had
rather prominent indirect effect via GPC, VIS and HAR. HAR positively
directly (P<0.01) and positively indirectly via GPC effected EXT. The direct
effect of VIS and HAR determined 13.0% and 14.1% of the variation,
respectively.