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Relationship Between Alpha Acids, Beta Acids, and Lupulin Content of Hops 1
Author(s) -
Likens S. T.,
Nickerson G. B.,
Haunold A.,
Zimmermann C. E.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci1978.0011183x001800030007x
Subject(s) - humulus lupulus , biology , hop (telecommunications) , zoology , botany , horticulture , food science , computer network , pepper , computer science
The sum of (α+β) acids in lupulin glands of 112 female and 24 male genotypes of hop ( Humulus lupulus L.) averaged 73 ± 6% by weight. Alpha‐ and beta‐acid content in glands from male or female hops was inversely correlated (r = −0.78 for females; −0.85 for males). A significant change in the a‐acid content of lupulin was associated with a similar change of β‐acid content in the opposite direction. The α‐acid content of hop cones was related to the quantity and quality of lupulin in the cones. The lupulin quantity was proportional to the sum of (α+β). Lupulin quality was related to the ratio of α‐ and β‐acids (α/β). Six test crosses were made with parents having high or low α/β values, respectively. The average α/β value for progenies from each cross was nearly identical to the parental midpoint. Data presented in this paper led to formulation of a new working hypothesis for the relationship between hop acids and lupulin content. Lupulin analysis is simple, and a modest laboratory can screen several hundred genotypes each season.