Malting revisited: Germination of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is inhibited by both oxygen deficiency and high carbon dioxide concentrations

During malting, barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) seeds are germinated to promote the mobilisation of storage compounds. Germination is strongly influenced by O2 and CO2; however, any distinction between the particular effects is missing. Since, in this study, the ambient O2 concentration was maintained when high CO2 concentrations were applied, for the first time the impacts of CO2 and of O2 deficiency could be distinguished unambiguously. Germination was inhibited by both O2 deficiency and high CO2 (80%) concentrations, documented by the lack of any growth of coleoptiles and any increase of α-amylase and β-glucanase activity. In contrast, the related impacts of O2 starvation and high CO2 on fermentation differ strongly, demonstrated by quite different patterns of ethanol emission. Additionally, the stress metabolism - monitored by the means of GABA accumulation - was also differently impacted. The elucidation of the underlying, so far unknown, mechanisms will provide novel opportunities to improve malting.