VIEW ARTICLE    DOI: 10.1094/ASBCJ-51-0133

Agronomic and Quality Characteristics of Native North American Hops. A. Haunold, USDA-ARS, Department of Crop and Soil Science, G. B. Nickerson, Department of Agricultural Chemistry, U. Gampert, Department of Crop and Soil Science, P. A. Whitney, Department of Agricultural Chemistry, and R. O. Hampton, USDA-ARS, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331. J. Am. Soc. Brew. Chem. 51:0133, 1993.

Native wild North American hops collected in 11 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces at various times since 1958 were evaluated for agronomic and quality characteristics during the 1990 and 1991 growing seasons near Corvallis, OR. Most plants had deeply lobed leaves and prominent hooked climbing hairs on main stems and sidearms. Male plants outnumbered females in an unselected seedling population, but monoecious types predominated. Most plants were susceptible to hop downy mildew, but Verticillium wilt was never observed. Clear differences were evident in colonization by two-spotted spider mites in the absence of chemical control measures, even in adjacent plants late in the season. The soft resin content of most native American hops was low, rarely approaching 10% of cone weight. Plants with α-acid levels above 5% were rare. β-Acid content frequently exceeded that of α-acid, resulting in an α ratio below 50%. However, some plants with a moderately high α ratio could be identified from most collection sites. Native American hops had exceptionally high cohumulone and even higher colupulone content and a pungent, unpleasant aroma. The composition of their essential oils differed significantly from that of hop cultivars used for commercial brewing.

Keywords: α-Acids, β-Acids, Cohumulone, Essential oil, Mite resistance, Soft resins