NIAB - National Institute of Agricultural Botany
Plant Science Into Practice
Barley-id system
The barley-id system has been designed to assist in the identification of barley grain samples, both by experienced grain handlers and as a training aid for staff new to the process.
The system is web-based and accessed via the NIAB web site. The variety database contains HGCA Recommended List varieties and other varieties that may be encountered. A range of 13 grain characters are presented and the user can select as few or as many characters as they wish to help identify a variety. The database is updated annually as new varieties are added to the HGCA Recommended List. For each character a help icon is available to illustrate the range of expression of the character.
As soon as a selection is made the barley-id system eliminates all varieties that do not conform to the specified criteria, for example selecting ‘short haired rachilla’ will eliminate all long-haired rachilla types from the list of possible varieties.
If a user is not completely sure of the state of expression of a character they can make multiple selections for expression. For example, if it is hard to determine whether or not pigmentation of a sample is weak or medium by holding down the ‘Ctrl’ button and clicking on the states ‘weak’, ‘weak-medium’ and ‘medium’ any variety showing any of those states of expression will be retained in the list. Other varieties will be eliminated.
The service is available on subscription for an annual fee of £275 (VAT free) for an individual site licence or £225 per user if five or more sites subscribe through the same company.
Please click here to subscribe online.
For more information or any queries please contact Tony Chapman.