Effect of pre-treatment of grain with pyridoxins on the test weight, carbohydrate and protein contents of five varieties of barley

The grains of five barley varieties, namely NP₁₃, NP₃₁, K_573/10, K_573/26 and Clipper were soaked in 0.0%, 0.02%, 0.1% and 0.5% aqueous pyridoxine solution for 24h. Soaked seeds were sown in the field in a factorial randomised block design. At harvest, varietal variation was found in grain quality. K_573/26, gave the highest 1,000 grain weight, grain carbohydrate and protein percentage while NP₁₃ was the lowest yielder. Treatment effect was also significant but the differences were not marked. 1,000 grain weight and grain protein percentage were enhanced over the control, albeit equally, in all treatments. Per cent carbohydrate was slightly higher in control than 0.02% and 0.5%. pyridoxine treatment. Treatment x variety interactions were significant for 1,000 grain weight and grain protein percentage.