Search Results (544)

The goal of the current study was to investigate the effects of seed priming with salicylic acid (SA) on seed germination parameters, seedling growth traits, nutritional element mobilization, and oxidative stress status in two barley species that were subjected to various salt treatments. The findings demonstrated that salinity reduced a number of germination parameters in unprimed seeds and impacted seedling growth by impeding both species’ necessary nutrient mobilization. Under this abiotic stress, a noticeable rise in malondialdehyde and electrolyte leakage was also noted. Interestingly, pretreating seeds with SA improved seed germination and seedling growth performance under either 100 mM or 200 mM NaCl treatments. In fact, SA improved the length and dry weight of stressed seedlings of both barley species in addition to increasing the germination rate and mean daily germination. Additionally, SA increased the content of calcium, iron, magnesium, and potassium while lowering the concentrations of sodium and malondialdehyde and electrolyte leakage. It is significant to note that, in comparison to Hordeum maritimum, the positive effects of this hormone were more noticeable in stressed Hordeum vulgare species. Full article

Various fertilization systems have been developed to optimize nitrogen (N) application, yet their effectiveness remains a topic of debate in both science and practice. This study evaluates the effects of 28 N fertilization treatments on yield, quality, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), N surplus, and economic optima in two winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) varieties—a multi-row and a two-row type—across a three-year field trial (2021–2023). Specifically, it compares the performance of fertilizer requirement calculations based on the German Fertilizer Application Ordinance (GFO), multispectral sensor-based fertilization systems, and fixed N input treatments. Under the trial conditions (highly productive fields without organic fertilization for decades), the GFO system consistently achieved high yields (>10 t ha⁻¹) and NUE (up to 88%) for both barley varieties, often near economically optimal N rates and with minimal N surpluses. Sensor-based systems demonstrated promising potential for yield optimization and reducing N input; however, they did not result in significantly higher yields. Further research is needed to assess the performance of these fertilization systems under different conditions, such as sandy soils in regions with early-summer droughts or in systems involving organic fertilization. Full article

In this study, the drought-responsive gene HvFBX158 from barley was transferred to Arabidopsis thaliana, and overexpression lines were obtained. The phenotypic characteristics of the transgenic plants, along with physiological indicators and transcription level changes of stress-related genes, were determined under drought treatment. Under drought stress, transgenic plants overexpressing HvFBX158 exhibited enhanced drought tolerance and longer root lengths compared to wild-type plants. Additionally, malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide contents were significantly lower in transgenic lines, while superoxide dismutase activity was elevated. Quantitative RT-PCR showed that the expression levels of drought and stress response genes, including AtP5CS, AtDREB2A, AtGSH1, AtHSP17.8, and AtSOD, were significantly upregulated. Transcriptome analysis further confirmed that HvFBX158 regulated multiple stress tolerance pathways. In summary, the overexpression of the HvFBX158 gene enhanced drought tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana by regulating multiple stress response pathways. This study provides a practical basis for improving drought-resistant barley varieties and lays a foundation for subsequent research on F-box family genes for stress resistance in barley. Full article

The genus Hordeum (barley) represents an essential group within the Poaceae family, comprising diverse species with significant ecological and economic importance. This study aims to improve the infrageneric classification of Hordeum by integrating multiple analytical approaches based on morphological data. A comprehensive dataset of key morphological traits was compiled from a wide range of Hordeum accessions, including representatives from all major taxonomic groups within the genus. Understanding and classifying the evolutionary traits of barley species, particularly in terms of environmental adaptation, pest resistance, and productivity improvement, is essential. DNA-based classification methods allow precise molecular-level analysis but are resource-intensive, especially when large-scale processing is required. This study addresses these limitations by employing an integrative approach combining hierarchical clustering, Principal Component Analysis–Linear Discriminant Analysis (PCA-LDA), and Random Forest (RF) to analyze the compiled morphological datasets. Morphological clustering via hierarchical analysis revealed clear taxonomic distinctions, achieving 86.0% accuracy at the subgenus level and 83.1% at the section level. PCA-LDA further refined classification by identifying key traits such as seed width, area, and 100-seed weight as primary contributors, achieving perfect accuracy for the Hordeum section and high accuracy for species like Hordeum vulgare and Hordeum spontaneum. RF analysis enhanced classification performance, achieving 100% accuracy at the section level and high accuracy for species with sufficient data. This approach offers a new framework for classifying diverse barley species and contributes significantly to data-driven decision-making in breeding and conservation efforts, supporting a deeper understanding of barley’s adaptive evolution in response to environmental changes. Full article

Many endophytic fungi are approved as plant growth stimulants, and several commercial biostimulants have already been introduced in agricultural practice. However, there are still many species of fungi whose plant growth-promoting properties have been understudied or not studied at all. We examined the growth-promoting effect in spring barley (Hordeum vulgare) and Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) induced by three endophytic fungi previously obtained from the roots of Festuca/Lolium grasses. Surface-sterilized seeds were inoculated with a spore suspension of Cadophora fastigiata (isolate BSG003), Paraphoma fimeti (BSG010), Plectosphaerella cucumerina (BSG006), and their spore mixture. Before harvesting, the inoculated plants were grown in a greenhouse, with the barley being in multi-cavity trays for 30 days and ryegrass being placed in an original cylindric element system for 63 days. All three newly tested fungi had a positive effect on the growth of the barley and ryegrass plants, with the most pronounced impact observed in their root size. The fungal inoculations increased the dry shoot biomass between 11% and 26% in Italian ryegrass, but no such impact was observed in barley. The highest root increment was observed in barley. Herein, P. cucumerina and C. fastigiata inoculations were superior to other treatments, showing an increase in root dry weight of 50% compared to 20%, respectively. All fungal inoculations significantly promoted root growth in Italian ryegrass, resulting in a 20–30% increase in dry weight compared to non-inoculated plants. Moreover, a strong stimulatory effect of the fungi-emitted VOCs on the root development was observed in plate-in-plate arrays. In the presence of C. fastigiata and P. cucumerina cultures, the number of roots and root hairs in barley seedlings doubled compared to control plants. Thus, in our study, we demonstrated the potential of the grass root-derived endophytes C. fastigiata, P. fimeti, and P. cucumerina as growth promoters for spring barley and Italian ryegrass. These studies can be extended to other major crops and grasses by evaluating different fungal isolates. Full article

Plants are increasingly exposed to stress-induced factors, including heavy metals. Zinc, although it is a microelement, at high concentrations can be phytotoxic to plants by limiting their growth and development. The presented research confirmed the inhibition effect of Zn on morphological and physiological parameters in barley plants. However, the effect was Zn dose dependent (50 µM, 100 µM, and 200 µM), as well as part of the plants (above ground or roots). To mitigate the negative effects of Zn, plants were sprayed with 0.1% silicon. Silicon was proven to have a positive effect on mitigating the inhibitory effects of Zn-induced stress. In most cases, an increase in both morphological (length, elongation, fresh and dry weights, and weather content) and physiological (relative chlorophyll content and fluorescence) parameters was observed. This occurrence was dependent on the Zn dose. Epigenetic analyses confirmed differences in the DNA methylation level, both between plants subjected to stress at different strengths (50 µM, 100 µM, and 200 µM Zn) and between plants sprayed with Si or not. The differences indicate that silicon affects the epigenome of barley plants, thereby modifying the response of plants to stress factors. This modification may be the basis for plants to acquire resistance as “epigenetic memory”. Full article

Precision sustainable agronomic practices are crucial for achieving global food security as well as mitigating climate change. A field experiment was conducted at the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences in Gödöllő from 2023 to 2024. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of soil tillage and foliar nutrient supplementation on winter barley yield, associated characteristics, and soil CO₂ emissions. Employing a split-plot design with three replications, the experiment included four nutrient treatments (control, bio-cereal, bio-algae, and MgSMnZn blend) and two soil tillage type (i.e., plowing and cultivator). The study found that soil CO₂ emissions were influenced by the crop growth stage across both tillage treatments throughout the growing seasons, but the tillage system itself did not have an effect. Similarly, the leaf chlorophyll content was not affected by tillage and nutrient treatments. Plant height, the leaf area index (LAI), and thousand kernel weights (TKW) were significantly affected by nutrient treatments across the growing seasons. Both nutrient and tillage treatments also had a notable effect on the number of productive tillers in winter barley. Moreover, nutrient and tillage treatments consistently influenced grain yield across the two growing seasons, and their interaction significantly impacted both grain yield and thousand kernel weights. The bio-cereal nutrient treatment combined with plowing tillage yielded the highest values for most parameters throughout the growing seasons. Therefore, it can be concluded that the combination of bio-cereal nutrient treatments and plowing tillage can boost winter barley yields. Notably, soil CO₂ emissions peak during the crops’ reproductive stage, surpassing levels from early growth. Full article

Cadmium (Cd) toxicity in agricultural soil is increasing globally and significantly impacts crop production and food safety. Tibetan hull-less barley (Hordeum vulgare L. var. nudum), an important staple food and economic crop, exhibits high genetic diversity and is uniquely adapted to the harsh conditions of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. This study utilized hydroponic experiments to evaluate the genotypic differences in Cd tolerance among 71 Tibetan hull-less barley genotypes. Physiological assessments revealed significant reductions in various growth parameters under Cd stress compared to normal conditions: soil–plant analysis development (SPAD) value, shoot height, root length, shoot and root fresh weight, shoot and root dry weight, of 11.74%, 39.69%, 48.09%, 52.88%, 58.39%, 40.59%, and 40.52%, respectively. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed key traits contributing to Cd stress responses, explaining 76.81% and 46.56% of the variance in the preliminary and secondary selection. The genotypes exhibited varying degrees of Cd tolerance, with X178, X192, X215, X140, and X162 showing high tolerance, while X38 was the most sensitive based on the integrated score and PCA results. Validation experiments confirmed X178 as the most tolerant genotype and X38 as the most sensitive, with observed variations in morphological, physiological, and biochemical parameters, as well as mineral nutrient responses to Cd stress. Cd-tolerant genotypes exhibited higher chlorophyll content, net photosynthesis rates, and effective photochemical capacity of photosystem II, along with an increased Cd translocation rate and reduced oxidative stress. This was accompanied by elevated activities of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT), indicating a robust stress response mechanism. These findings could facilitate the development of high-tolerance cultivars, with X178 as a promising candidate for further research and cultivation in Cd-contaminated soils. Full article

The yield of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is determined by many factors, which have always been research hotspots for agronomists and molecular scientists. In this study, five important agronomic traits related to panicle and flag leaf, including awn length (AL), panicle length (PL), panicle neck length (NL), flag leaf length (LL) and flag leaf width (LW), were investigated and quantitative trait locus (QTL) analyses were carried out. Using a high-density genetic map of 134 recombinant inbred lines based on specific-locus amplified fragment sequencing (SLAF-seq) technology, a total of 32 QTLs were identified, which explained 12.4% to 50% of the phenotypic variation. Among them, qAL5, qNL2, qNL3, qNL6, qPL2, and qLW2 were detected in 3 consecutive years and all of the contribution rates were more than 13.8%, revealing that these QTLs were stable major QTLs and were less affected by environmental factors. Furthermore, LL and LW exhibited significant positive correlations and the localization intervals of qLL2 and qLL3 were highly overlapped with those of qLW2 and qLW3, respectively, indicating that qLL2 and qLW2, qLL3 and qLW3 may be regulated by the same genes. Full article

Chitosan (CS), derived from the partial deacetylation and hydrolysis of chitin, varies in the degree of deacetylation, molecular weight, and origin, influencing its biological effects, including antifungal properties. In plants, CS triggers immune responses and stimulates biomass growth. Previously, we found that the antifungal activity of CS was strongly dependent on its physicochemical properties. This study revealed that the chitosan batch CS_10 with the strongest antifungal activity also effectively activated plant immune responses and promoted biomass growth. Barley treated with CS_10 exhibited systemic acquired resistance (SAR), characterized by micronecrotic reactions upon Puccinia hordei (Ph) inoculation and reduced symptoms following Fusarium graminearum (Fg) infection, representing biotrophic and necrotrophic pathogens, respectively. CS_10 treatment (concentration 200 ppm) also enhanced plant biomass growth (by 11% to 15%) and promoted the accumulation of salicylic acid (SA), a hormone that regulates both plant immune responses and growth. Low levels of exogenous SA applied to plants mirrored the stimulation observed with CS_10 treatment, suggesting SA as a key regulator of CS_10-induced responses. Transcriptomic analysis identified SA-regulated genes as drivers of enhanced immunity and biomass stimulation. Thus, CS_10 not only fortifies plant defenses against pathogens like Ph and Fg but also boosts growth through SA-dependent pathways. Full article

In barley having adherent hulls, an irreversible connection between the pericarp with both palea and lemma is formed during grain maturation. A mutation in the NUDUM 1 (NUD1) gene prevents this connection and leads to the formation of barley with non-adherent hulls. A genetic model of two isogenic lines was used to elucidate the genetic mechanisms of hull adhesion: a doubled haploid line having adherent hulls and its derivative with non-adherent hulls obtained by targeted mutagenesis of the NUD1 gene. Comparative transcriptomics analysis of the grain coats was performed at two stages of development: the milk stage, when the hulls can still be easily detached from the pericarp, and the dough stage when the hull adhesion process occurs. It was shown that the main differences in the transcriptomes lie in the genes related to DNA replication and chromatin assembly, cell wall organization, and cuticle formation. Meanwhile, genes involved in lipid biosynthesis mostly show minor differences in expression between stages and genotypes and represent a limited set of active genes. Among the 3-ketoacyl-CoA synthase (KCS) genes active during grain development, candidates for key enzymes responsible for very long-chain fatty acid elongation were identified. Full article

Naked barley (Hordeum vulgare var. nudum) is a staple food crop, contributing significantly to global food security. Understanding genetic diversity will facilitate its effective conservation and utilization. To determine genetic diversity and its distribution within and among varieties, we characterized 30 naked barley varieties from Tibet, representing the traditional, modern, and germplasm-resources-bank gene pools, by analyzing SSR molecular fingerprints. The results demonstrate abundant genetic diversity in Tibetan naked barley varieties, particularly those in the traditional gene pool that holds much more private (unique) alleles. Principal coordinates and STRUCTURE analyses indicate substantial deviation of the modern varieties from the traditional and germplasm-resources-bank varieties. A considerable amount of seed mixture is detected in the modern varieties, suggesting the practices of using mixed seeds in modern-variety cultivation. Cluster analyses further indicate the narrow genetic background of the modern varieties, likely due to the limited number of traditional/germplasm-resources-bank varieties applied in breeding. Relationships between increases in genetic diversity and sample sizes within naked barley varieties highlight the importance of effective sampling strategies for field collections. The findings from this study have important implications for the sustainable utilization and effective conservation of different types of naked barley germplasm, both in Tibet and in other regions around the world. Full article

Background: Hypertension is one of the leading causes of premature death worldwide. Despite advances in conventional treatments, there remains a significant need for more effective and natural alternatives to control hypertension. In this context, sprouted barley extracts have emerged as a potential therapeutic option. This study presents the evaluation of the bioactive properties of extracts from two varieties of barley germinated for different periods (3, 5, and 7 days), focusing on their potential to regulate blood pressure mechanisms. Objectives/Methods: The main objective was to assess the effects of these extracts on blood pressure regulation in N(ω)-Nitro-L-Arginine Methyl Ester (L-NAME)-induced hypertensive rats. Renal (creatinine, urea, uric acid, and total protein) and endothelial (NOx levels) function, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) I and II activity, and histopathological effects on heart and kidney tissues were evaluated. Results: In particular, Esmeralda barley extract demonstrated 83% inhibition of ACE activity in vitro. Furthermore, the combined administration of sprouted barley extract (SBE) and captopril significantly reduced blood pressure and ACE I and II activity by 22%, 81%, and 76%, respectively, after 3, 5, and 7 days of germination. The treatment also led to reductions in protein, creatinine, uric acid, and urea levels by 3%, 38%, 42%, and 48%, respectively, along with a 66% increase in plasma NO concentrations. Conclusions: This study highlights the bioactive properties of barley extracts with different germination times, emphasizing their potential health benefits as a more effective alternative to conventional antihypertensive therapies. Full article

At present, there is growing consumer interest in Triticum spelta L., which has high nutritional value. This species is recommended for cultivation in organic farming. In this system of agriculture, biofertilizers are an alternative to mineral fertilization. Biofertilizers stimulate plant growth by providing nutrients through the biological fixation of molecular nitrogen from the air or by increasing the availability of insoluble nutrients in the soil and by synthesizing substances that stimulate plant growth. Green manure biomass and root secretions provide growth material for soil microorganisms, and microorganisms return nutrients to the soil and plants through nutrient decomposition and conversion. Considering the many benefits of using biofertilizers and growing cereals with cover crops for green manure in cereal rotations, field research was carried out on an organic farm to evaluate the soil microbes and the amount of biomass from green manures and their follow-up effect on Triticum spelta L. yields using biofertilizers. Two factors were researched: (I) biofertilizers: control object (no biofertilizer), Azotobacter chroococcum + Azospirillum lipoferum Br 17, Arthrobacter agilis + Bacillus megaterium var. phosphaticum, and combined application of atmospheric nitrogen-fixing bacteria with phosphate solubilizing bacteria; (II) green manures: control object (no green manure application), Trifolium pratense L., Trifolium pratense L. + Lolium multiflorum L., and Lolium multiflorum L. The results show that the most favorable abundance of microorganisms determined in the soil after harvesting Hordeum vulgare L. was recorded after the application of biofertilizers containing atmospheric nitrogen-fixing bacteria with phosphate-solubilizing bacteria under a mixture of Trifolium pratense L. with Lolium multiflorum L. Plowing green manure from a mixture of Trifolium pratense L. with Lolium multiflorum L. resulted in an average increase of 39% in grain yield of Triticum spelta L., while the application of a biofertilizer containing Azotobacter chroococcum + Azospirillum lipoferum Br 17 + Arthrobacter agilis + Bacillus megaterium var. phosphaticum resulted in an average increase of 63%. The proposed spelt wheat cultivation technique can be recommended for agricultural practice due to the positive response of grain yield, but it may also be an important direction for further research to reduce the negative impact of agriculture on the environment. Full article

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is among the earliest crops to be cultivated and is also considered a crucial staple crop. Nevertheless, the negative effects of abiotic stress on both the quality and productivity of barley are significant. Nine-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenases (NCEDs) are rate-limiting enzymes in plants that cleave carotenoids and produce abscisic acid (ABA). The poor utilization of barley NCEDs in stress-resistant genetic breeding is due to the lack of appropriate information about their potential function in abiotic stress. The current study revealed five NCED genes in the barley genome (HvNCED1—HvNCED5), which are distributed unevenly on barley chromosomes. The PF03055 domain is present in all HvNCEDs, and they encode 413~643 amino acids. Phylogenetic analysis showed that NCED genes were categorized into three distinct clades, confirming the homology of NCED genes between H. vulgare L., Arabidopsis thaliana L., and Oryza sativa L. Expression analysis revealed that HvNCED1 is significantly upregulated under high salt stress, indicating its potential role in enhancing salt tolerance. In contrast, HvNCED3 and HvNCED4 exhibited downregulation, suggesting a complex regulatory mechanism in response to varying salt stress levels. These findings will enhance our comprehension of the genetic composition and evolutionary development of the HvNCED gene family and provide a basis for future research on their role in response to salt-induced stress. Full article