Cereal Chem. 77(2):140-144Nine hull-less barley (HB) containing waxy (0-7% amylose), normal (≈25% amylose), or high amylose (≈42% amylose) starch with normal or fractured granule make-up and 4-9% (1→3)(1→4)-β-D-glucans (βglucan) were pearled to remove 70% of the original grain weight in 10% intervals. The pearled fractions were analyzed for β-glucan distribution within HB grain. Protein content of the pearled fractions indicated that the three outermost fractions contained pericarp and testa, aleurone, and subaleurone tissues, respectively. For all HB, β-glucan and acid-extract viscosity were very low in the outermost 20% of the kernel. For low βglucan HB, β-glucan content was the greatest in the subaleurone region and declined slightly toward inner layers. For high β-glucan HB, however, more than 80% of grain β-glucan was distributed more evenly throughout the endosperm. Acid extract viscosity was significantly (P < 0.01) correlated with total (r = 0.75) and soluble (r = 0.87) β-glucan content throughout the kernel of all HB. Growing conditions, location and year, had significant effects on the concentration of protein, starch and β-glucan. However, protein, starch, and β-glucan distribution patterns were not affected by growing conditions. The difference in β-glucan distribution between low and high β-glucan HB may explain the difference in milling performance of HB with low or high β-glucan.Publication no. C-2000-0210-04R.