A cDNA expression library was established from white leaves of the albostrians mutant of Hordeum vulgare and screened by South-Western hybridization with a labeled DNA-fragment. The most frequently found cDNA encodes a 160 amino acids polypeptide with striking homology to HMG1/2-like proteins. The derived amino acid sequence is 87.5% identical to maize factors HMGa and MNB1b, respectively.