MBAA TQ https://doi.org/10.1094/TQ-60-2-0719-01 | 
VIEW ARTICLE
Alexander Feiner (1), Martin Waldinger (1), Ryan Gregory (2), Rachel Bussey (2), Lauren Lopes (2), Katherine Easterling (2), and Nicholi Pitra (2). 1. Simon H. Steiner, Hopfen, GmbH, Mainburg, Germany. 2. S.S. Steiner, Inc., New York, NY, USA
Abstract
The changing climate has profound implications for economically relevant hop varieties, causing decreased yields and compromised quality. The current study addressed these concerns by conducting a comprehensive sensory evaluation of 153 hop genotypes using hop teas as a representative medium. The objective was to investigate the potential connection between hop genotype and primary aroma characteristics. A trained panel analyzed hop teas, and the resulting data were analyzed via principal component analysis (PCA) to uncover patterns and relationships among the evaluated hop varieties. Sensory evaluation revealed substantial differentiation between the hop phenotypes. PCA, based on ratings across various categories, provided valuable insights into the diverse primary aroma characteristics displayed by different hop genotypes.
Keywords: climate change, hop aroma, hops, sensory, targeted aroma breeding
