A method is given for determining the content of beta-glucan in grain of barley varieties, and polymorphism of the species in this trait, including collection and breeding accessions, is shown. Within the breeding nurseries of Kazakhstan, the beta-glucan content varies from 2.6 to 6.2% in spring and from 2.2 to 5.7% in winter barley grain, increasing under dry-farming conditions. For brewing purposes, accessions with a value of this index lower than 4%, some of which displayed relative stability across reseedings, are singled out. The need for purposeful breeding for the given trait, for which it is necessary to introduce it into the selection scheme, and use of identification methods are substantiated.
