Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms and Biochemical Markers As Complementary Tools To Characterize Hops ( Humulus lupulus...

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Biotechnology
• Food Science

Background:

• Hop varieties are crucial for consistent beer quality, but geographical cultivation differences cause biochemical variations impacting flavor and aroma.
• Understanding these hop variations is essential for brewers to maintain product consistency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the combined utility of genetic and biochemical fingerprinting for comprehensive hop batch characterization.
• To assess the effectiveness of genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) and biochemical markers in differentiating hop varieties and batches.

Main Methods:

• Genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) was employed to generate single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers.
• A panel of 56 commercial hop varieties was analyzed using 1,830 polymorphic SNP markers.
• Biochemical marker analysis was used to complement genetic data for geographical variations.

Main Results:

• GBS produced 48 unique genetic fingerprints for the hop varieties.
• Three groups of somaclonal variants were indistinguishable using the selected SNP markers.
• Biochemical markers provided additional discriminatory power for hop samples of the same variety from different locations.

Conclusions:

• The integration of genetic and biochemical fingerprinting offers a powerful tool for detailed hop batch characterization.
• This combined approach significantly enhances quality control capabilities within the brewing industry.
• Complementary fingerprinting methods are vital for managing hop variability and ensuring consistent beer production.