Barley with reduced SSII activity has a starch structure with reduced amylopectin content and a consequent high relative amylose content. Additionally the grain has can have a relatively high ² glucan content. The structure of the starch may also be altered in a number of ways which can be characterised by having a low gelatinsation temperature but with reduced swelling. The viscosity of gelatinised starch of the starch is also reduced. There is a chain length distribution of the amylopectin content and a low crystallinity of the starch. The starch is also characterised by having high levels of lipid associated starch exhibiting very high levels of V form starch crystallinity. The dietary fibre content of the starch is high. This has desirable dietary and food processing characteristics.
