Question

Malting Barley should have % germinative capacity in the range of

• A. 98-100
• B. 95-96
• C. 90-94
• D. 80-90

Hint:

Germinative capacity represents the percentage of grains that are physiologically alive and capable of germinating, which is often evaluated using chemical viability tests like the Tetrazolium test.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Malting is the controlled germination of cereal grains (mostly barley) to activate hydrolytic enzymes (amylases, proteases) that convert starches into fermentable sugars, which are then used in brewing and distilling.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
For successful industrial malting, the barley must exhibit high, rapid, and completely uniform germination.
If germination is low or uneven, the enzymatic modification of the endosperm will be incomplete, resulting in poor extract yield and processing difficulties.
Consequently, commercial malting specifications demand a very high germinative capacity, typically in the range of \(98\%\) to \(100\%\) (with a strict minimum threshold of \(95\%\)).

Step 3: Final Answer:
The required germinative capacity range is 98-100%, which corresponds to option (A).