Ethyl carbamate (EC), a genotoxic and carcinogenic compound, is an undesirable trace component in spirits and whisky. The precursor of EC produced from barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) malt is primarily a cyanogenic glycosidic nitrile (GN) known as epiheterodendrin (EPH). EPH production is genetically controlled in barley, low or non-GN varieties exist and EPH production can be controlled by using low or non-GN barley varieties for malt production. Here, we report on a rapid and inexpensive colorimetric assay modified from Cook and Oliver (in: European Brewery Convention (eds) Proceedings of the 23rd Congress, Lisbon. European Brewery Convention, Zoeterwoude, Netherlands, 1991). The new low-volume, high-throughput, semi-quantitative test method can be used for the selection of low or non-GN breeding lines through samples of acrospires. This method is based on the detection of cyanide by the reaction with chloramine-T followed by the addition of the reagent (pyridine-barbituric acid) to form a soluble violet-blue product measured at 590 nm. Absorbance measurements and the visual color are used to estimate the presence of EPH production in acrospires. In this report, the level of EPH production was compared among some commercial European non-GN lines, Canadian malt varieties and advanced barley breeding lines.

氨基甲酸乙酯 (EC) 是一种具有遗传毒性和致癌性的化合物，是烈酒和威士忌中不受欢迎的微量成分。大麦（ Hordeum vulgare）生产的乳油前体L.) 麦芽主要是一种氰糖苷腈 (GN)，称为表异树胶 (EPH)。EPH 生产在大麦中受到基因控制，存在低 GN 或非 GN 品种，并且可以通过使用低 GN 或非 GN 大麦品种生产麦芽来控制 EPH 生产。在这里，我们报告了一种从 Cook 和 Oliver 修改的快速且廉价的比色测定法（在：欧洲啤酒厂大会 (eds) 第 23 届大会论文集，里斯本。欧洲啤酒厂大会，Zoeterwoude，荷兰，1991 年）。新的小批量、高通量、半定量测试方法可用于通过顶针样品选择低或非GN育种系。该方法基于通过与氯胺-T 反应检测氰化物，然后加入试剂（吡啶-巴比妥酸）形成可溶性紫蓝色产物，在 590 nm 处测量。吸光度测量和视觉颜色用于估计 EPH 产生在 acrospires 中的存在。在本报告中，比较了一些商业欧洲非 GN 品系、加拿大麦芽品种和先进的大麦育种品系的 EPH 产量水平。