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Societal Impact Statement: Understanding domestication's impact on crop root traits and interactions with soil microbiomes is vital for improving crop resilience and agricultural sustainability. Using this knowledge to enhance root systems, reduce chemical inputs, and adapt crops to environmental stress will help to increase global food production, promote eco‐friendly farming, and mitigate the effects of climate change. Additionally, identifying microorganisms specific to plant species may help in biodiversity conservation. Advancing scientific understanding and educating future generations on the intricate relationships between plants, soil, and microorganisms is integral to developing innovative, sustainable agricultural practices and improved food security. Summary: Domestication and intensive management practices have significantly shaped characteristics of modern crops. However, our understanding of domestication's impact had mainly focused on aboveground plant traits, neglecting root and rhizospheric traits, as well as trait–trait interactions and root‐microbial interactions.To address this knowledge gap, we grew modern (Hordeum vulgare L. var. Barke) and wild barley (Hordeum spontaneum K. Koch var. spontaneum) in large rhizoboxes. We manipulated the soil microbiome by comparing disturbed (sterilized soil inoculum, DSM) versus non‐disturbed (non‐sterilized inoculum, NSM) microbiome. Results showed that modern barley grew faster and increased organic‐carbon exudation (OCEXU) compared to wild barley.Both barley species exhibited accelerated root growth and enhanced OCEXU under DSM, indicating their ability to partially compensate and exploit the soil resources independently of microbes if need be. Plant trait network analysis revealed that modern barley had a denser, larger, and less modular network of microbes than wild barley indicating domestication's impact on trait–trait coordination. In addition, the relative abundance of bacteria did not vary between wild and modern barley rhizospheres; however, species‐specific unique bacteria were identified, with stronger effects under DSM.Overall, our findings highlight domestication‐driven shifts in root traits, trait coordination, and their modulation by the soil microbiome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hordeum pusillum (Hordeum pusillum Nutt., 1818) is an annual barley that is native to the west of the North America and widespread in southern United States and tropical America. In this study, we have provided the first complete characterization of the chloroplast genome of H. pusillum. Our research revealed that the circular chloroplast genome of H. pusillum consists of a large single-copy region (LSC: 80,853 bp), a small single-copy region (SSC: 12,745 bp), and a pair of inverted repeat regions (IRs: 21,587 bp), totaling 136,772 bp in length. Within the chloroplast genome of H. pusillum, 91 protein-coding genes, 38 tRNA genes, and ten rRNA genes were identified. To determine the evolutionary relationship of Hordeum species with reported chloroplast genome sequences, we constructed a phylogenetic tree using the entire chloroplast genome sequences. The evolutionary position of H. pusillum corresponds to its geographical location. The chloroplast genome of H. pusillum provided in this study may have significant implications for the phylogenetic study of Poaceae species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the allelopathic effects of wild barley (Hordeum spontaneum) on the growth and yield of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum), barley (Hordeum vulgare), and wild barley (Hordeum spontaneum). The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at Shamamar-Hawler/Kurdistan Region of Iraq using a complete randomized factorial design (CRD) within 3 replications. The roots, shoots, and seeds of wild barley were dried, powdered, and added to the soil at different concentrations (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%) in 500 g pots. Each pot was planted with 5 seeds, which were later reduced to 3 seedlings. Growth parameters such as shoot and root lengths, dry weights, number of tillers, weight of spikes, seeds number per plant, and biological yield was measured. The results indicated significant effects of wild barley residues on the studied crops. Wheat showed the highest roots, shoots and total lengths were (29.56 cm, 17.05 cm and 46.58 cm, respectively) and the highest shoots and roots dry weights were (0.24 g and 0.30 g). Barley showed the highest number of stems (1.96) but the lowest shoots and dry weights of roots were (0.11 g and 0.23 g). Wild barley had the highest biological weight and harvest index (HI). Among the plant parts, seed extracts significantly enhanced growth parameters, while roots and shoots extract had the greatest inhibitory effects as wild barley residue concentrations increased. Nevertheless, the HI showed a decline as the concentrations increased, suggesting a detrimental effect on growth efficiency. The study shows the potential of wild barley as a bio-herbicide, emphasizing its allelopathic effects. This suggests that agricultural practices should be carefully considered to maximize the efficiency of crops. Incorporating these results into precision agriculture can greatly improve crop management and increase yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, plant samples of eight different ecotypes of three distinct species of the genus Hordeum were collected at the anthesis stage of the plants in the 2023 spring in Southeastern Anatolia's natural grassland and pasture ecology. The quality analyses of the herbage samples of Hordeum bulbosum, H. murinum, and H. spontaneum ecotypes collected from five different locations (KaracadagI, Batman-1, Diyarbakır-6, Diyarbakır-8, and Diyarbakır-13) were determined by NIRS analyzer. Crude protein (CP), dry matter (DM), acid detergent insoluble fiber (ADF), neutral detergent insoluble fiber (NDF), acid detergent insoluble protein (ADP), Ca, K, Mg, P, Ca/P, K/(Ca+Mg), digestible dry matter (DDM), dry matter intake (DMI) and relative feed values (RFV) were determined. The values were determined between 8.2-23.4% for CP; 92.1-93.4% for DM; 19.3- 36.2% for ADF; 26.2-71.9% for NDF; 0.16-0.71% for ADP; 60.7-73.9% for DDM; 1.67-4.58% for DMI; 78.6-262.8 for RFV; 0.30-0.42% for P; 1.72-2.84% for K; 0.12-1.62% for Ca; 0.17-0.30% for Mg; 0.33-3.84 for Ca/P; 2.76-4.77 for K/(Ca+Mg). In conclusion, the CP, ADF, NDF, DMI, RFV, and Ca/P values were found very variable in collected ecotypes and can be used for forage barley breeding purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of wild species as a source of genetic variability is a valued tool in the framework of crop breeding. Hordeum chilense Roem. et Schult is a wild barley species that can be a useful genetic donor for sustainable wheat breeding which carries genes conferring resistance to some diseases or increasing grain quality, among others. Septoria tritici blotch (STB), caused by the Zymoseptoria tritici fungus, is one of the most important wheat diseases worldwide, affecting both bread and durum wheat and having a high economic impact. Resistance to STB has been previously described in H. chilense chromosome 4Hch. In this study, we have developed introgression lines for H. chilense chromosome 4Hch in durum wheat using interspecific crosses, advanced backcrosses, and consecutive selfing strategies. Alien H. chilense chromosome segments have been reduced in size by genetic crosses between H. chilense disomic substitution lines in durum wheat and durum wheat lines carrying the Ph1 deletion. Hordeum chilense genetic introgressions were identified in the wheat background through several plant generations by fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. An STB infection analysis has also been developed to assess STB resistance to a specific H. chilense chromosome region. The development of these H. chilense introgression lines with moderate to high resistance to STB represents an important advance in the framework of durum breeding and can be a valuable tool for plant breeders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Barley is one of the founder crops of the Neolithic transition in West Asia. While recent advances in genomics have provided a rather detailed picture of barley domestication, there are contradictory views on how the domestication process affected genetic diversity. We set out to revisit this question by integrating public DNA sequencing data from ancient barley and wide collections of extant wild and domesticated accessions. Using two previously overlooked approaches – analyses of chloroplast genomes and genome‐wide proportions of private variants – we found that the barley cultivated six millennia ago was genetically unique and more diverse when compared to extant landraces and cultivars. Moreover, the chloroplast genomes revealed a link between the ancient barley, an obscure wild genotype from north‐eastern Libya, and a distinct population of barley cultivated in Ethiopia/Eritrea. Based on these results, we hypothesize past existence of a wider North African population that included both wild and cultivated types and suffered from genetic erosion in the past six millennia, likely due to a rapid desertification that ended the Holocene African humid period. Besides providing clues about the origin of Ethiopian landraces, the hypothesis explains the post‐domestication loss of diversity observed in barley. Analyses of additional samples will be necessary to resolve the history of African barley and its contribution to the extant cultivated gene pool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractResearch on peat-free substrates is increasing due to the environmental concerns associated with peat extraction and with the aim of promoting sustainable horticultural practices. Previous research has shown that green compost mixed with coconut coir dust and stabilized wood fiber can be a valuable peat-free alternative for growing media. This study extends this knowledge by exploring the possibility of reducing fertilization levels by exploiting the nutrient content of green compost. In this paper we tested two ornamental herbaceous perennial plants, Leucanthemum vulgare Lam. and Dianthus barbatus L. For each species, we carried out five different substrate mixtures: 1) peat:pumice 70:30 v v−1; 2) coconut coir dust:pumice 70:30 v v−1; 3) coconut coir dust:green compost 55:45 v v−1; 4) green compost:stabilized wood fiber 60:40 v v−1; and 5) coconut coir dust:green compost:stabilized wood fiber 40:30:30 v v−1. For each mixture, we explored three different levels of fertilization: i) no fertilizer application; ii) low dosage of a controlled-release fertilizer at 2 g L−1; and iii) high dosage of the same controlled-release fertilizer at 4 g L−1. Plant biomass, biometric parameters, eco-physiological parameters, and plant mineral content were measured as performance indicators. The results showed that the nutrient surplus provided by the peat-free substrate, particularly when it contains green compost, can enhance the growth potential of the plants. Adding green compost to non-peat substrates can be an opportunity to optimize plant nutrition while reducing the presence of peat in plant nurseries and the use of chemical fertilizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Powdery mildew‐resistant barley (Hordeum vulgare) and Arabidopsis thaliana mlo mutant plants exhibit pleiotropic phenotypes such as the spontaneous formation of callose‐rich cell wall appositions and early leaf chlorosis and necrosis, indicative of premature leaf senescence. The exogenous factors governing the occurrence of these undesired side effects remain poorly understood. Here, we characterised the formation of these symptoms in detail. Ultrastructural analysis revealed that the callose‐rich cell wall depositions spontaneously formed in A. thaliana mlo mutants are indistinguishable from those induced by the bacterial pattern epitope, flagellin 22 (flg22). We further found that increased plant densities during culturing enhance the extent of the leaf senescence syndrome in A. thaliana mlo mutants. Application of a liquid fertiliser rescued the occurrence of leaf chlorosis and necrosis in both A. thaliana and barley mlo mutant plants. Controlled fertilisation experiments uncovered nitrogen as the macronutrient whose deficiency promotes the extent of pleiotropic phenotypes in A. thaliana mlo mutants. Light intensity and temperature had a modulatory impact on the incidence of leaf necrosis in the case of barley mlo mutant plants. Collectively, our data indicate that the development of pleiotropic phenotypes associated with mlo mutants is governed by various exogenous factors. Summary Statement: We analysed the environmental factors that modulate the extent of pleiotropic phenotypes associated with powdery mildew‐resistant mlo mutants in barley and Arabidopsis thaliana. We discovered that in particular plant crowding and the lack of the macronutrient nitrogen promote their occurence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A lack of reliable winter hardiness has impeded the adoption of winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in much of the northern United States. Direct selection for winter survival is time consuming and often unreliable. In addition, because survival is a binary trait, selection towards small quantitative gains can be difficult. One solution to these challenges is to identify indirect selection traits: anatomical or physiological characteristics which can be measured in the absence of winter stress, but which contribute to improved winter survival. Here, we survey a range of winter and spring barley, as well as winter wheat, winter rye, and perennial species of the genus Hordeum, all of which are more winter hardy than barley, to identify traits associated with winter survival. We identified several traits as promising candidates for selection. These included crown depth and leaf metaxylem diameter, which previous studies have identified as indirect selection traits. New candidates identified by our study include crown diameter and leaf midvein and blade thickness, as well as a suite of traits which suggest a pattern of reduced and efficient investment in above-ground structures. The effect of these traits on winter survival need to be validated and quantified by further experiments, but they represent a promising early step in a potentially valuable breeding strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Helwingia, a shrub of the monotypic cosmopolitan family Helwingiaceae, is distinguished by its inflorescence, in which flowers are borne on the midrib of the leaf—a trait not commonly observed in related plant families. Previous studies have investigated the development of this unusual structure using comparative anatomical methods. However, the scarcity of genomic data has hindered our understanding of the origins and evolutionary history of this uncommon trait at the molecular level. Here, we report the first high-quality genome of the family Helwingiaceae. Assembled using HiFi sequencing and Hi-C technologies, the genome of H. omeiensis is anchored to 19 chromosomes, with a total length of 2.75 Gb and a contig N50 length of 6.78 Mb. The BUSCO completeness score of the assembled genome was 98.2%. 53,951 genes were identified, of which 99.7% were annotated in at least one protein database. The high-quality reference genome of H. omeiensis provides an essential genetic resource and sheds light on the phylogeny and evolution of specific traits in the family Helwingiaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: In temperate regions, aphid biological control in greenhouses is mostly achieved by the regular release of biocontrol agents. Due to the rapid growth rate of the aphid population, biocontrol agents must be released frequently in order to be present before pest outbreaks and to act rapidly to prevent exceeding the economic threshold. Banker plants reduce these numerous releases by providing natural enemies with a high‐quality environment to develop and reproduce. Optimally, banker plants should be easy to produce, resistant to environmental conditions, provide a large amount of suitable banker prey in order to produce a high number of biocontrol agents, and resist the herbivory pressure of the banker prey. The present study aimed to compare the value of three banker plant candidates of the Poaceae family under laboratory and greenhouse conditions: barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn), and corn (Zea mays L.). RESULTS: Our results show that the three plants were suitable for different contexts. Finger millet yielded the biggest fresh plant biomass, supported the highest load of banker prey, and resisted aphid feeding longer than the other plant species. Corn was the cheapest to produce, and barley was the fastest to grow. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, finger millet could be more fitted for long crop cycles, pests with rapid population growth rates, and voracious or fast‐reproducing biocontrol agents. Meanwhile, barley and corn may be better suited for rapid crop cycles, pests with slow population growth rates, and biocontrol agents that are not too voracious or have low reproductive rates. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, wild barley (Hordeum brevisubulatum) infected (E+) and uninfected (E-) by Epichloë bromicola were used for hydroponic experiments during the seedling stage. Various attributes, such as the effect of fungal endophyte on the growth and development of wild barley, the absorption of cadmium (Cd) and mineral elements (Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn), subcellular distribution, and chemical forms were investigated under CdCl2 stress. The results showed that the fungal endophy significantly reduced the Ca content and percentage of plant roots under Cd stress. The Fe and Mn content of roots, the mineral element content of soluble fractions, and the stems in the pectin acid or protein-chelated state increased significantly in response to fungal endophy. Epichloë endophyte helped Cd2+ to enter into plants; and reduced the positive correlation of Ca-Fe and Ca-Mn in roots. In addition, it also decreased the correlation of soluble components Cd-Cu, Cd-Ca, Cd-Mg in roots, and the negative correlation between pectin acid or protein-chelated Cd in stems and mineral elements, to increase the absorbance of host for mineral elements. In conclusion, fungal endophy regulated the concentration and distribution of mineral elements, while storing more Cd2+ to resist the damage caused by Cd stress. The study could provide a ground for revealing the Cd tolerance mechanism of endophytic fungal symbionts. The present study is the first to study the effect of fungal endophy on essential mineral elements of plants under heavy metal stress, filling a gap in the existing research. The study could be helpful to reveal the mechanism of endophytic fungi to improve the host's tolerance to heavy metals and provide a foundation for the grass-endophyte symbionts to improve heavy metal-contaminated soils as ecological grasses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hexaploid tritordeum [×Tritordeum martinii A. Pujadas (Poaceae) nothosp. nov.; HchHchAABB] resulted from crosses between wild barley (Hordeum chilense Roem et. Schultz) and durum wheat [Triticum turgidum L. ssp. durum (Desf.) Husn.]. Tritordeum (HT) presents interesting agronomic traits that can be transferred to cultivated wheat. Through the years, several HT lines were developed and characterised. Genomic stability and fertility are expected for advanced HT lines with multiple self‐fertilisation generations. In this work, we analysed the meiotic chromosomal pairing in pollen mother cells (PMCs) of three advanced lines of hexaploid tritordeum (HT9, HT31 and HT67) after fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) performed with genomic DNA from H. chilense and the bread wheat cloned rDNA sequence, pTa71, as probes, and characterised nine morphological and yield‐related traits for three consecutive years in adult plants. As expected, all HT lines showed regular meiotic chromosomal pairing, ensuring plant fertility as previously confirmed by the characterisation of morphological and yield‐related traits in adult plants of preceding generations. Globally, tritordeum is interesting for wheat breeding and has potential as an alternative crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Barley has a rich nutritional and therapeutic profile. In an era of life-style based silent pandemics, the need to bring on table the convenient food products with sensory and nutritional acceptability is necessary. Hence, the present study aimed to develop an instant chilla mix from a novel hull-less variety of barley (Hordeum vulgare) (PL891). Various random combinations of composite flour (barley flour (BF), rice flour (RF) and gram flour (GF)) were prepared namely T1 (100:00:00), T2 (70:15:15), T3 (60:30:10), T4 (33:33:33), and T5 (00:00:100). Other ingredients such as onion, tomato, ginger, garlic, coriander, and chilli were also added. Nutritional and sensory parameters at fresh, three, six and nine month of storage interval were also analyzed. The assessed parameters (%) were reported as moisture (6.91±0.02 to 10.21±0.09), ash (2.11±0.05 to 3.10±0.02), protein (7.59±0.05 to 24.50±0.06), fat (1.50±0.02 to 6.10±0.04), crude fiber (1.08±0.02 to 2.87±0.02), and total carbohydrates (58.21±0.10 to 75.27±0.07). All the blends varied significantly (p=0.05) during storage in terms of moisture, protein, fat, crude fiber, and carbohydrates, while a non-significant difference was noted in ash for all the treatments. Blending also affected the nutrient content of all the treatments significantly (P = 0.05) depending upon the ratio of blending and composition of various ingredients in the product. The sensory attributes indicated that T2 blend with 70% PL891 hull-less barley flour was most acceptable. The developed product will be a nutritious substitute for chapati as barley is rich in numerous nutrients and have therapeutic potentials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glycerol-3-phosphoacyltransferase (GPAT) is an important rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of triacylglycerol (TAG), which is of great significance for plant growth, development, and response to abiotic stress. Although the characteristics of GPAT have been studied in many model plants, little is known about its expression profile and function in barley, especially under abiotic stress. In this study, 22 GPAT genes were identified in the barley genome and divided into three groups (I, II, III), with the latter Group III subdivided further into three subgroups based on the phylogenetic analysis. The analyses of conserved motifs, gene structures, and the three-dimensional structure of HvGPAT proteins also support this classification. Through evolutionary analysis, we determined that HvGPATs in Group I were the earliest to diverge during 268.65 MYA, and the differentiation of other HvGPATs emerged during 86.83–169.84 MYA. The tissue expression profile showed that 22 HvGPAT genes were almost not expressed in INF1 (inflorescence 1). Many functional elements related to stress responses and hormones in cis-element analysis, as well as qRT-PCR results, confirm that these HvGPAT genes were involved in abiotic stress responses. The expression level of HvGPAT18 was significantly increased under abiotic stress and its subcellular localization indicated its function in the endoplasmic reticulum. Various physiological traits under abiotic stress were evaluated using transgenic Arabidopsis to gain further insight into the role of HvGPAT18, and it was found that transgenic seedlings have stronger resistance under abiotic stress than to the wild-type (WT) plants. Overall, our results provide new insights into the evolution and function of the barley GPAT gene family and enable us to explore the molecular mechanism of functional diversity behind the evolutionary history of these genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims Internal root aeration is essential for root growth in waterlogged conditions. Aerenchyma provides a path for oxygen to diffuse to the roots. In most wetland species, including rice, a barrier to radial oxygen loss (ROL) allows more of the oxygen to diffuse to the root tip, enabling root growth into anoxic soil. Most dryland crops, including barley, do not form a root ROL barrier. We previously found that abscisic acid (ABA) signalling is involved in the induction of ROL barrier formation in rice during waterlogging. Although rice typically does not form a tight ROL barrier in roots in aerated conditions, an ROL barrier with suberized exodermis was induced by application of exogenous ABA. Therefore, we hypothesized that ABA application could also trigger root ROL barrier formation with hypodermal suberization in barley. Methods Formation of an ROL barrier was examined in roots in different exogenous ABA concentrations and at different time points using cylindrical electrodes and Methylene Blue staining. Additionally, we evaluated root porosity and observed suberin and lignin modification. Suberin, lignin and Casparian strips in the cell walls were observed by histochemical staining. We also evaluated the permeability of the apoplast to a tracer. Key Results Application of ABA induced suberization and ROL barrier formation in the adventitious roots of barley. The hypodermis also formed lignin-containing Casparian strips and a barrier to the infiltration of an apoplastic tracer (periodic acid). However, ABA application did not affect root porosity. Conclusions Our results show that in artificial conditions, barley can induce the formation of ROL and apoplastic barriers in the outer part of roots if ABA is applied exogenously. The difference in ROL barrier inducibility between barley (an upland species) and rice (a wetland species) might be attributable to differences in ABA signalling in roots in response to waterlogging conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastrointestinal disorders are one of the most common conditions among people in many societies. On the other hand, evidence shows that the prevalence of usage of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has increased in recent years to treat many chronic and acute conditions, which might be due to testimonies of the safety, effectiveness, and affordability of CAM. In Persian medicine (PM), medical barley water (MBW) has been known as a helpful remedy for treating some digestive illnesses. This study aimed to review the properties of MBW in Avicenna’s Canon of Medicine for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. So, Avicenna’s Canon of Medicine was reviewed with keywords related to this remedy. Furthermore, various databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and SID, were searched with the keywords “barley water," “non-alcoholic beer," and “alcohol-free beer." This study showed that Avicenna’s Canon of Medicine recommends MBW for the treatment of various gastrointestinal disorders. Avicenna prescribed barley water for the treatment of bowel obstruction disease, bowel mass, intestinal ulcers, and jaundice. Oral consumption of MBW was the most frequently used method for disease improvement. Meanwhile, recent studies have also shown the therapeutic effects of non-alcoholic beer in the treatment of various disorders, such as gastrointestinal inflammatory disease, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes, possibly due to its anti-inflammatory effect. Given the high importance of MBW in Avicenna’s Canon of Medicine, the results of this review and recent clinical studies can introduce MBW as an effective and less harmful gastrointestinal drug. We suggest conducting further clinical trials to assess the effectiveness of MBW in managing gastrointestinal conditions.

Since its discovery in 2016, the Polerovirus Barley virus G has been reported in at least nine countries and multiple species of monocot plants. All of these reports have used PCR and/or sequencing based assays to identify BVG, however none have investigated the biology of BVG. In this study we detail the generation of the first infectious cDNA clone of BVG from archived RNA, thereby producing a valuable experimental tool and system for studying BVG biology. Using this system we identified two compatible aphid vectors and confirmed the susceptibility of several monocot plants, and the dicotyledonous plant host Nicotiana benthamiana, to BVG.

The HD-ZIP class I transcription factor Homeobox 1 (HvHOX1), also known as Vulgare Row-type Spike 1 (VRS1) or Six-rowed Spike 1, regulates lateral spikelet fertility in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). It was shown that HvHOX1 has a high expression only in lateral spikelets, while its paralog HvHOX2 was found to be expressed in different plant organs. Yet, the mechanistic functions of HvHOX1 and HvHOX2 during spikelet development are still fragmentary. Here, we show that compared with HvHOX1 , HvHOX2 is more highly conserved across different barley genotypes and Hordeum species, hinting at a possibly vital but still unclarified biological role. Using bimolecular fluorescence complementation, DNA-binding, and transactivation assays, we validate that HvHOX1 and HvHOX2 are bona fide transcriptional activators that may potentially heterodimerize. Accordingly, both genes exhibit similar spatiotemporal expression patterns during spike development and growth, albeit their mRNA levels differ quantitatively. We show that HvHOX1 delays the lateral spikelet meristem differentiation and affects fertility by aborting the reproductive organs. Interestingly, the ancestral relationship of the two genes inferred from their co-expressed gene networks suggested that HvHOX1 and HvHOX2 might play a similar role during barley spikelet development. However, CRISPR-derived mutants of HvHOX1 and HvHOX2 demonstrated the suppressive role of HvHOX1 on lateral spikelets, while the loss of HvHOX2 does not influence spikelet development. Collectively, our study shows that through the suppression of reproductive organs, lateral spikelet fertility is regulated by HvHOX1, whereas HvHOX2 is dispensable for spikelet development in barley. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigated compounds present in the invasive grass Hordeum murinum L. subsp. murinum and tested the allelopathic potential of this plant against common meadow species Festuca rubra L. and Trifolium repens L. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) performed separately on the ears and stalks with leaves of wall barley revealed 32 compounds, including secondary metabolites, that may play an important role in allelopathy. Two compounds, N-butylbenzenesulfonamide (NBBS) and diphenylsulfone (DDS), were described for the first time for wall barley and the Poaceae family. The presence of 6,10,14-trimethylpentadecan-2-one (TMP) has also been documented. Aqueous extracts of H. murinum organs (ears and stalks with leaves) at concentrations of 2.5%, 5%, and 7.5% were used to evaluate its allelopathic potential. Compared to the control, all extracts inhibited germination and early growth stages of meadow species. The inhibitory effect was strongest at the highest concentration for both the underground and aboveground parts of the seedlings of the meadow species tested. Comparing the allelopathic effect, Trifolium repens proved to be more sensitive. In light of the results of the study, the removal of wall barley biomass appears to be important for the restoration of habitats where this species occurs due to its allelopathic potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rosa centifolia L. and Rosa gallica L. (Rosaceae) are grown as raw materials for valuable essential oils and hydrosols. There are scarce data about the biological activities and the genoprotective potential of the hydrosols of these roses. The aim of the study was to provide information on their cytotoxic/genotoxic activity and anti-cytotoxic/anti-genotoxic capacity against mutagenic N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). The evaluation was performed using classical tests for chromosomal aberrations and micronuclei in the higher plant Hordeum vulgare and human lymphocyte test systems. The experimental schemes included combined hydrosol and mutagen treatment. Both hydrosols (6, 14, 20%) had no cytotoxic effect on barley and showed low genotoxicity in both test systems as the injuries were enhanced to a lesser extent compared to the controls. Lymphocytes were more susceptible than H. vulgare. Under the conditions of combined treatment, it was found that the two hydrosols possessed good anti-cytotoxic and anti-genotoxic potential against MNNG. Both rose products exerted genoprotective potential to a similar extent, decreasing the frequencies of aberrations in chromosomes and micronuclei to a significant degree in both types of cells when non-toxic concentrations of hydrosols were applied before MNNG. This was performed both with and without any inter-treatment time. The observed cytoprotective/genoprotective potential suggests that these hydrosols are promising for further application in phytotherapy and medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We represent a comparative analysis of GBSS1 gene fragment sequences for a number of species related to Elymus caninus: Elymus prokudinii, Elymus viridiglumis, Elymus goloskokovii, as well as a number of morphologically deviating biotypes, inhabiting Russia and Kazakhstan. Microevolutionary relationships between species were assessed from dendrograms derived from sequences of exons and introns. In all taxa, the St subgenome was represented by St2 variants, rather typical of the North American ancestral line of Pseudoroegneria spicata than of the Asian line descending from Pseudoroegneria strigosa. All putative relatives of E. caninus had H1 subgenome variants linked around the Asian diploid carrier of the H genome from Hordeum jubatum and were divided into two subclades. One of them (H1‐1) contained most of the closely related E. caninus clones, including Elymus uralensis. Another subclade (H1‐2) consisted of five variants phylogenetically related to Elymus mutabilis. We have also studied reproductive relationships between species E. goloskokovii, E. prokudinii, and E. viridiglumis and the degree of their integration into the E. caninus complex. Biotypes included in sexual hybridization formed a single recombination gene pool, within which slight differences in reproductive compatibility were observed. A comprehensive study of microevolutionary differentiation of taxa showed the expediency of taxonomic revision. The species mentioned should probably be relegated to the infraspecific rank within E. caninus s. l. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current investigation aims to underline the impact of salicylic acid or calcium chloride seed pre-treatments on mineral status and oxidative stress markers, namely levels of electrolyte leakage (EL) and lipid peroxidation levels, measured as thiobarbituric reactive substances (TBARS), and the activity of some antioxidant enzymes in roots and leaves of plants in two barley species grown under various salt treatments. Overall, our results revealed that salinity inhibits essential nutrient absorption such as iron, calcium, magnesium and potassium and stimulates the absorption of sodium. Also, this environmental constraint induced oxidative stress in plants in comparison with the control conditions. This state of oxidative stress is reflected by an increase in TBARS content as well as the stimulation of EL values. In addition, salinity induced disturbances in the activity of antioxidant enzymes, which were mainly dependent on the applied salt concentration and the species. In addition, Hordeum marinum maintained high antioxidant enzyme activity and low levels of oxidative stress parameters, which reinforces its salt-tolerant character. Importantly, salicylic acid or calcium chloride seed priming alleviated the mineral imbalance and the oxidative damage induced by salinity. Moreover, seed priming improves iron, calcium magnesium and potassium content and limitsthe accumulation of sodium. Also, both treatments not only decrease TBARS levels and limit EL, but they also stimulate the antioxidant enzyme activities in the leaves and roots of the stressed plants as compared with stressed plants grown from non-primed seeds. Interestingly, the beneficial effects of the mentioned treatments were more notable on Hordeum vulgare species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Global agriculture faces increasing pressure to produce more food with fewer resources. Drought, exacerbated by climate change, is a major agricultural constraint costing the industry an estimated US$80 billion per year in lost production. Wild relatives of domesticated crops, including wheat (Triticum spp.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), are an underutilized source of drought tolerance genes. However, managing their undesirable characteristics, assessing drought responses, and selecting lines with heritable traits remains a significant challenge. Here, we propose a novel strategy of using multi‐trait selection criteria based on high‐throughput spectral images to facilitate the assessment and selection challenge. The importance of measuring plant capacity for sustained carbon fixation under drought stress is explored, and an image‐based transpiration efficiency (iTE) index obtained via a combination of hyperspectral and thermal imaging, is proposed. Incorporating iTE along with other drought‐related variables in selection criteria will allow the identification of accessions with diverse tolerance mechanisms. A comprehensive approach that merges high‐throughput phenotyping and de novo domestication is proposed for developing drought‐tolerant prebreeding material and providing breeders with access to gene pools containing unexplored drought tolerance mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acyl-CoA-Binding proteins (ACBPs) function as coenzyme A transporters and play important roles in regulating plant growth and development in response to abiotic stress and phytohormones, as well as in membrane repair. To date, the ACBP family has not been a comprehensively characterized in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Results: Eight ACBP genes were identified in the barley genome and named as HvACBP1–8. The analysis of the proteins structure and promoter elements of HvACBP suggested its potential functions in plant growth, development, and stress response. These HvACBPs are expressed in specific tissues and organs following induction by abiotic stressors such as drought, salinity, UV-B exposure, temperature extremes, and exposure to exogenous phytohormones. The HvACBP7 and HvACBP8 amino acid sequences were conserved during the domestication of Tibetan Qingke barley. Conclusions: Acyl-CoA-binding proteins may play important roles in barley growth and environmental adaptation. This study provides foundation for further analyses of the biological functions of HvACBPs in the barley stress response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen (N) is an essential element for plant growth and development. The identification and utilization of N use efficiency (NUE) loci are essential for breeding high NUE cultivars. In this study, 15 NUE traits were measured in a recombinant inbred line population containing 121 lines derived from the cross between a cultivated barley (Baudin) and a wild barley (CN4027). The hydroponic culture was conducted with normal N and low N treatments in one‐time frame, and field trials were conducted with N sufficiency and N deficiency treatments in two growing seasons. Twenty‐two quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and four clusters were detected. Of them, the five stable QTLs Qgna.sau‐3H for grain N concentration, Qtna.sau‐3H for total N accumulation per plant, Qnhi.sau‐3H for N harvest index, Qnutegy.sau‐3H for N utilization efficiency for grain yield and Qanutedm.sau‐3H.1 for N utilization efficiency for aboveground dry matter were co‐located on chromosome 3H flanked by the markers bpb6282426 and bpb4786261. These two novel QTL clusters simultaneously controlled NUE traits at the seedling and maturity stages. Some genes related to NUE traits in intervals of the major QTLs were predicted. The significant relationships between NUE traits and agronomic and physiological traits were detected and discussed. In conclusion, this study uncovers the most promising genomic regions for the marker‐assisted selection of NUE traits to improve NUE in barley. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Identification of salt-tolerant genetic resources is of high importance due to the constant increase in salt-affected areas. Aims: This study was conducted to assess genetic variation in salt response among and within Tunisian sea barley populations and to identify useful genotypes for future breeding programmes directed towards improving salinity tolerance. Methods: The salinity response of 141 lines from 10 natural populations of Hordeum marinum ssp. marinum was characterised at a morphophysiological level, following exposure to 200 mM sodium chloride for 90 days. Key results: ANOVA revealed significant differences in growth and ion accumulation between and within populations in response to salinity. The Sebkhet Ferjouna population was less affected than Sidi Othman and Tabarka; however, it accumulated relatively higher sodium and lower potassium and potassium/sodium ratio. Stress Tolerance Index (STI) and Salt Tolerance (ST) values varied significantly among populations and lines. STI was positively correlated with potassium and negatively correlated with sodium content in roots and leaves, whereas no evidence of a relationship between both cations and ST was observed. Conclusions: SO7, SO28, LB5, LB25, TB1, MT3 and BK12 with high values of STI were identified as high yielding lines in control and salt stress conditions, whereas MT3, BK12, MT17, BF10, SL8, SL16 and SF32, with the highest values of ST, were characterised by a small yield loss and low sensitivity when exposed to salinity. Implications: These lines constitute a genetic resource with desirable adaptation characteristics for breeding programmes towards salinity tolerance in cultivated cereals. Soil salinity adversely affects plant growth and causes considerable losses in cereal crops. In this study, genetic variation in salinity tolerance was evaluated in sea barley (Hordeum marinum ssp. marinum). Based on plant growth-related traits, mineral nutrition and salt stress indices, lines with high yield under stress and non-stress conditions, or showing a small yield loss under salinity constraints, were identified. These lines will be useful for future breeding programs towards salinity tolerance in cereal crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuous spring cropping of Qingke (Hordeum viilgare L. var. nudum Hook. f.) results in a reduction in grain yield in the Xizang autonomous region. However, knowledge on the influence of continuous cropping on grain yield caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced stress remains scarce. A systematic comparison of the antioxidant defensive profile at seedling, tillering, jointing, flowering, and filling stages (T1 to T5) of Qingke was conducted based on a field experiment including 23-year continuous cropping (23y-CC) and control (the first year planted) treatments. The results reveal that the grain yield and superoxide anion (SOA) level under 23y-CC were significantly decreased (by 38.67% and 36.47%), when compared to the control. The hydrogen peroxide content under 23y-CC was 8.69% higher on average than under the control in the early growth stages. The higher ROS level under 23y-CC resulted in membrane lipid peroxidation (LPO) and accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA) at later stages, with an average increment of 29.67% and 3.77 times higher than that in control plants. Qingke plants accumulated more hydrogen peroxide at early developmental stages due to the partial conversion of SOA by glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and other production pathways, such as the glucose oxidase (GOD) and polyamine oxidase (PAO) pathways. The reduced regeneration ability due to the high oxidized glutathione (GSSG) to GSH ratio resulted in GSH deficiency while the reduction in L-galactono-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase (GalLDH) activity in the AsA biosynthesis pathway, higher enzymatic activities (including ascorbate peroxidase, APX; and ascorbate oxidase, AAO), and lower activities of monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR) all led to a lower AsA content under continuous cropping. The lower antioxidant capacity due to lower contents of antioxidants such as flavonoids and tannins, detected through both physiological measurement and metabolomics analysis, further deteriorated the growth of Qingke through ROS stress under continuous cropping. Our results provide new insights into the manner in which ROS stress regulates grain yield in the context of continuous Qingke cropping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Barley (H. vulgare L.) is an important cereal crop cultivated across various climates globally. Barley and its ancestor (H. vulgare subsp. spontaneum) are an economically valuable model for genetic research and improvement. Drought, among various abiotic stresses, is a substantial threat to agriculture due to its unpredictable nature and significant impact on crop yield. Results: This study was conducted in both greenhouse and laboratory settings. Prior to the study, wild barley accessions were pre-selected based on their sensitivity or tolerance to drought as determined from fieldwork in the 2020–2021 and 2021–2022 cropping seasons. The effects of three levels of drought stress were evaluated (control, 90–95% field capacity [FC]; mild stress, 50–55% FC; and severe stress, 25–30% FC). Several parameters were assessed, including seedling and root growth, enzymatic activity (CAT, SOD, POD), soluble protein levels, chlorophyll content, carotenoids, abaxial and adaxial stomatal density and dimensions, and relative gene expression of Dhn1, SOD, POD, and CAT. Drought stress significantly increased enzyme activities, especially at 25–30% FC, and more in the tolerant genotype. On the other hand, sensitive genotypes showed a notable increase in stomatal density. Under drought stress, there was a general decline in seedling and root growth, protein content, chlorophyll and carotenoids, and stomatal dimensions. Importantly, gene expression analysis revealed that Dhn1, SOD, POD, and CAT were upregulated under drought, with the highest expression levels observed in the drought-tolerant genotype under severe stress conditions (25–30% FC). Conclusions: Our investigation highlights the distinct morphological, physiological, biochemical, and gene-expression profiles of drought-resistant and drought-sensitive wild barley genotypes under varying degrees of drought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abiotic stresses occur more often in combination than alone under regular field conditions limiting in more severe way crop production. Stress recognition in plants primarily occurs in the plasma membrane, modification of which is necessary to maintain homeostasis in response to it. It is known that lipid transport proteins (ns-LTPs) participate in modification of the lipidome of cell membranes. Representative of this group, ns-LTP2.8, may be involved in the reaction to abiotic stress of germinating barley plants by mediating the intracellular transport of hydrophobic particles, such as lipids, helping to maintain homeostasis. The ns-LTP2.8 protein was selected for analysis due to its ability to transport not only linear hydrophobic molecules but also compounds with a more complex spatial structure. Moreover, ns-LTP2.8 has been qualified as a member of pathogenesis-related proteins, which makes it particularly important in relation to its high allergenic potential. This paper demonstrates for the first time the influence of various abiotic stresses acting separately as well as in their combinations on the change in the ns-LTP2.8 transcript, ns-LTP2.8 protein and total soluble protein content in the embryonal axes of germinating spring barley genotypes with different ns-LTP2.8 allelic forms and stress tolerance. Tissue localization of ns-LTP2.8 transcript as well as ns-LTP2.8 protein were also examined. Although the impact of abiotic stresses on the regulation of gene transcription and translation processes remains not fully recognized, in this work we managed to demonstrate different impact on applied stresses on the fundamental cellular processes in very little studied tissue of the embryonal axis of barley. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a pot experiment, we investigated synergistic interaction of N and P fertilisation on barley biomass (Hordeum vulgare) on both shoot and root level with the aim to determine whether N-P interaction would be the same for all levels of N and P fertilisation. We further aimed to determine whether there was a critical level of N and/or P fertilisation rate, above which, a decrease in resource allocation to roots (as nutrient availability increased) could be demonstrated. Barley plants were grown from seed on a nutrient poor substrate and subjected to a two-way NxP fertilisation gradient using a modified Hoagland fertilisation solution. We observed N-P interactions in shoot and root biomass, and N and P useefficiencies. A synergistic response in biomass was observed only above a critical level of P fertilisation when P was not limiting growth. Furthermore, we found that the same incremental increase in N:P ratio of applied fertiliser elicited different responses in shoot and root biomass depending on P treatment and concluded that barley plants were less able to cope with increasing stoichiometric imbalance when P was deficient. We provide, for the first time, stoichiometric evidence that critical levels for synergistic interactions between N-P may exist in crop plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Root-to-shoot translocation of nanoparticles (NPs) is a matter of interest due to their possible unprecedented effects on biota. Properties of NPs, such as structure, surface charge or coating, and size, determine their uptake by cells. This study investigates the size effect of iron oxide (Fe3O4) NPs on plant uptake, translocation, and physiology. For this purpose, Fe3O4 NPs having about 10 and 100 nm in average sizes (namely NP10 and NP100) were hydroponically subjected to barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in different doses (50, 100, and 200 mg/L) at germination (5 days) and seedling (3 weeks) stages. Results revealed that particle size does not significantly influence the seedlings' growth but improves germination. The iron content in root and leaf tissues gradually increased with increasing NP10 and NP100 concentrations, revealing their root-to-shoot translocation. This result was confirmed by vibrating sample magnetometry analysis, where the magnetic signals increased with increasing NP doses. The translocation of NPs enhanced chlorophyll and carotenoid contents, suggesting their contribution to plant pigmentation. On the other hand, catalase activity and H2O2 production were higher in NP10-treated roots compared to NP100-treated ones. Besides, confocal microscopy revealed that NP10 leads to cell membrane damages. These findings showed that Fe3O4 NPs were efficiently taken up by the roots and transported to the leaves regardless of the size factor. However, small-sized Fe3O4 NPs may be more reactive due to their size properties and may cause cell stress and membrane damage. This study may help us better understand the size effect of NPs in nanoparticle-plant interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants of the same species can strongly differ in their specialized metabolite profiles, which can affect insect presence and abundance in the field. However, how specialized chemistry shapes plant attractiveness to herbivorous insects is not fully understood. Here, we used common tansy Tanacetum vulgare, Asteraceae) – a perennial plant that is highly diverse in terpenoid composition and is known to have variable chemotypes – to test whether 1) plants with different chemotype profiles differ in attractiveness to two specialist aphid species, Macrosiphoniella tanacetaria and Uroleucon tanaceti, in pairwise choice assays; 2) the diversity of the terpenoid blend affects plant attractiveness to aphids; 3) how plant chemical traits relate to plant morphological traits and which traits best explain aphid preference. We found that M. tanacetaria preferred two out of five chemotypes, dominated by α‐thujone/β‐thujone and β‐trans‐chrysanthenyl acetate, while avoiding a chemotype dominated by α‐pinene/sabinene. Uroleucon tanaceti showed no clear preference towards chemotypes, but when given a choice between chemotypes dominated by α‐thujone/β‐thujone and by α‐pinene/sabinene, they preferred the former. Importantly, plant attractiveness to aphids was marginally negatively correlated with chemodiversity, i.e. the number of terpenoid compounds, in M. tanacetaria, but not in U. tanaceti. Interestingly, the relative concentration and number of terpenoids were generally higher in larger and bushier plants. Hence, we did not observe a tradeoff between plant growth and defence. We conclude that plant chemical composition affects plant attractiveness to aphids and hence may contribute to variation in natural aphid colonization patterns on plants of the same species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Intercropping is an agriculture system used to enhance the efficiency of resource utilization and maximize crop yield grown under environmental stress such as salinity. Nevertheless, the impact of intercropping forage legumes with annual cereals on soil salinity remains unexplored. This research aimed to propose an intercropping system with alfalfa (Medicago sativa)/sea barley (Hordeum marinum) to explore its potential effects on plant productivity, nutrient uptake, and soil salinity. Methods: The experiment involved three harvests of alfalfa and Hordeum marinum conducted under three cropping systems (sole, mixed, parallel) and subjected to salinity treatments (0 and 150 mM NaCl). Agronomical traits, nutrient uptake, and soil properties were analyzed. Results: revealed that the variation in the measured traits in both species was influenced by the cultivation mode, treatment, and the interaction between cultivation mode and treatment. The cultivation had the most significant impact. Moreover, the mixed culture (MC) significantly enhanced the H. marinum and M. sativa productivity increasing biomass yield and development growth under salinity compared to other systems, especially at the second harvest. Furthermore, both intercropping systems alleviated the nutrient uptake under salt stress, as noted by the highest levels of K+/Na+ and Ca2+/Mg2+ ratios compared to monoculture. However, the intercropping mode reduced the pH and the electroconductivity (CEC) of the salt soil and increased the percentage of organic matter and the total carbon mostly with the MC system. Conclusions: Intercropped alfalfa and sea barely could mitigate the soil salinity, improve their yield productivity, and enhance nutrient uptake. Based on these findings, we suggest implementing the mixed-culture system for both target crops in arid and semi-arid regions, which further promotes sustainable agricultural practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many studies have investigated the threat of climate change on wild plants, but few have investigated the genetic responses of crop wild relative populations under threat. We characterized the genetic responses of 10 wild barley (Hordeum spontaneum K. Koch) populations in Israel, sampling them in 1980 and again in 2008, through exome capture and RNA-Seq analyses. Sequencing 48 wild barley samples of these populations representing two collection years generated six million SNPs, and SNP annotations identified 12,926 and 13,361 deleterious SNPs for 1980 and 2008 samples, respectively. The assayed wild barley samples displayed intensified selective sweeps and elevated deleterious mutations across seven chromosomes in response to 28 years of global warming. On average, the 2008 samples had lower individual and population mutational burdens, but the population adaptation potential was estimated to be lower in samples from 2008 than in 1980. These findings highlight the genetic risks of losing wild barley under global warming and support the need to conserve crop wild relatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aster leafhopper (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Macrosteles quadrilineatus Forbes) is a polyphagous insect species that migrates into the upper Midwest of the United States and the Western Canadian Prairies. Populations of this insect are associated with the transmission of a plant pathogen (Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris, 16SrI) to several annual crops and perennial plant species. Previous studies suggest that aster leafhoppers can sometimes prefer less suitable hosts for their development and survival, yet it is unclear if this lower performance on certain plant species is associated with reduced or impaired probing behaviors due to characteristics of the plants. To characterize the probing behaviors of aster leafhoppers, direct current electropenetrography recordings of male and female adults on barley (Polaes: Poaceae: Hordeum vulgare L.) were combined with plant histology, allowing the identification of nine waveforms and their proposed biological meanings. For each waveform, the number of waveform events per insect (NWEI), the waveform duration per insect (WDI), the waveform duration per event per insect (WDEI), and the percentage of recording time were calculated and statistically compared between sexes. Male and female aster leafhoppers exhibited similar behavioral responses for most of these variables, except for the NWEI for waveforms associated with nonprobing activities and the pathway phase. In these cases, male aster leafhoppers exhibited a higher number of events than females. Comparison of the proposed waveforms in this study with previous work on other hemipteran species provided additional support to the interpretation of the biological activities associated with each waveform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrophilous communities dominated by Glebionis coronaria and Glebionis discolor in the European Mediterranean area were studied. The nomenclature was corrected according to the current taxonomy, following the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature (ICPN). The statistical analysis revealed six new associations and one subassociation, with four in Spain, one in Greece, and one in Italy. Additionally, a subassociation of high relevance due to its endemic character was identified. These grasslands exhibit requirements for organic matter and other edaphic nutrients that are closer to those of Malva neglecta communities than to those of Hordeum murinum subsp. leporinum. We confirmed the published syntaxon with the rank of Resedo albae-Glebionenion coronariae suballiance and its subordination to the Malvion neglectae alliance, and we established the type association for this suballiance. Sisimbrietalia officinalis J. Tüxen in Lohmeyer et al. 1962 em. Rivas-Martínez, Báscones, T. E. Díaz, Fernández-González & Loidi 1991. Stellarietea mediae Tüxen, Lohmeyer & Preising ex von Rochow 1951. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sea barley is weedy grass in agricultural landscapes and infrastructure habitats (roads, railroads, etc.) in Golestan province (the northern part of Iran). This study investigated the germination of sea barley in response to temperature, water potentials, salinity, pH levels, waterlogging, heat stress and also seedling emergence in response to burial depth. Results showed that sea barley seeds germinated over a wide range of temperatures from 5 to 35 °C, with the highest germination at 25 °C. Seed germination was rapidly reduced with increasing osmotic potential so that germination declined by 36% at –0.2 MPa. This was also the case for the salinity stress, and germination declined by 30% at 40 mM NaCl. Seed germination was the highest (> 65%) in 6 to 7 pHs and no germination was observed at alkali levels. Heat stress completely inhibited the germination of seeds at all tested temperatures and durations. Sea barley seed germination was higher than 50% after being waterlogged for 45 days, and some germination (12%) still occurred 60 days after waterlogging. The highest seedling growth occurred at 1–2 cm soil depth and was negligible at ≥5 cm soil depths. The results of this study indicate that deep tillage or flamethrower may be good options to mitigate the negative impacts of this weed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tritordeum is an amphiploides species resulting from the hybridization between durum wheat (T. durum) and wild barley (H. chilense). This new cereal is considered a natural crop as it is obtained by traditional breeding techniques. Given its appreciable organoleptic characteristics, agronomic features, presence of interesting components, and good technological properties, Tritordeum is of promising interest for the development of health-oriented foods. In this study, we evaluated two registered Tritordeum cultivars, Bulel and Aucan. T. durum (Provenzal) was employed as the positive control. The extracted proteins were digested by gastric/pancreatic proteases, and their biological effects on Caco-2 differentiated on transwell inserts were determined. Changes in cell viability, monolayer permeability, organization of F-actin microfilaments, and ER stress triggered by protein-digested samples (DPs) were inspected. Our results showed that exposure to Provenzal-DPs promptly disrupted the tight junction barrier. Conversely, Aucan-DPs did not enhance monolayer permeability, whereas Bulel-DPs exerted only slight effects. Provental-DPs-induced toxicity was also confirmed by changes in cell viability and by the deep reorganization of the enterocyte cytoskeleton. In contrast, Aucan-DPs and Bulel-DPs did not affect monolayer viability and cytoskeleton structure. Overall, our findings suggest that both Tritordeum cultivars could be potential candidates for mitigating the toxicity of wheat flour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Barley is one of the founder crops of the Neolithic transition in West Asia. While recent advances in genomics have provided a rather detailed picture of barley domestication, there are contradictory views on how the domestication process affected genetic diversity. We set out to revisit this question by integrating public DNA sequencing data from ancient barley and wide collections of extant wild and domesticated accessions. Using two previously overlooked approaches – analyses of chloroplast genomes and genome‐wide proportions of private variants – we found that the barley cultivated six millennia ago was genetically unique and more diverse when compared to extant landraces and cultivars. Moreover, the chloroplast genomes revealed a link between the ancient barley, an obscure wild genotype from north‐eastern Libya, and a distinct population of barley cultivated in Ethiopia/Eritrea. Based on these results, we hypothesize past existence of a wider North African population that included both wild and cultivated types and suffered from genetic erosion in the past six millennia, likely due to a rapid desertification that ended the Holocene African humid period. Besides providing clues about the origin of Ethiopian landraces, the hypothesis explains the post‐domestication loss of diversity observed in barley. Analyses of additional samples will be necessary to resolve the history of African barley and its contribution to the extant cultivated gene pool.

The distribution of recombination events along large cereal chromosomes is uneven and is generally restricted to gene-rich telomeric ends. To understand how the lack of recombination affects diversity in the large pericentromeric regions, we analysed deep exome capture data from a final panel of 815 Hordeum vulgare (barley) cultivars, landraces and wild barleys, sampled from across their eco-geographical ranges. We defined and compared variant data across the pericentromeric and non-pericentromeric regions, observing a clear partitioning of diversity both within and between chromosomes and germplasm groups. Dramatically reduced diversity was found in the pericentromeres of both cultivars and landraces when compared with wild barley. We observed a mixture of completely and partially differentiated single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) between domesticated and wild gene pools, suggesting that domesticated gene pools were derived from multiple wild ancestors. Patterns of genome-wide linkage disequilibrium, haplotype block size and number, and variant frequency within blocks showed clear contrasts among individual chromosomes and between cultivars and wild barleys. Although most cultivar chromosomes shared a single major pericentromeric haplotype, chromosome 7H clearly differentiated the two-row and six-row types associated with different geographical origins. Within the pericentromeric regions we identified 22 387 non-synonymous SNPs, 92 of which were fixed for alternative alleles in cultivar versus wild accessions. Surprisingly, only 29 SNPs found exclusively in the cultivars were predicted to be 'highly deleterious'. Overall, our data reveal an unconventional pericentromeric genetic landscape among distinct barley gene pools, with different evolutionary processes driving domestication and diversification.

The development of next-generation sequencing technologies has provided new opportunities for genotyping various organisms, including plants. Genotyping by sequencing (GBS) is used to identify genetic variability more rapidly, and is more cost-effective than whole-genome sequencing. GBS has demonstrated its reliability and flexibility for a number of plant species and populations. It has been applied to genetic mapping, molecular marker discovery, genomic selection, genetic diversity studies, variety identification, conservation biology and evolutio nary studies. However, reduction in sequencing time and cost has led to the need to develop efficient bioinformatics analyses for an ever-expanding amount of sequenced data. Bioinformatics pipelines for GBS data analysis serve the purpose. Due to the similarity of data processing steps, existing pipelines are mainly characterised by a combination of software packages specifically selected either to process data for certain organisms or to process data from any organisms. However, despite the usage of efficient software packages, these pipelines have some disadvantages. For example, there is a lack of process automation (in some pipelines, each step must be started manually), which significantly reduces the performance of the analysis. In the majority of pipelines, there is no possibility of automatic installation of all necessary software packages; for most of them, it is also impossible to switch off unnecessary or completed steps. In the present work, we have developed a GBS-DP bioinformatics pipeline for GBS data analysis. The pipeline can be applied for various species. The pipeline is implemented using the Snakemake workflow engine. This implementation allows fully automating the process of calculation and installation of the necessary software packages. Our pipeline is able to perform analysis of large datasets (more than 400 samples).

Lectin receptor-like kinases (LecRLKs) are a significant subgroup of the receptor-like kinases (RLKs) protein family. They play crucial roles in plant growth, development, immune responses, signal transduction, and stress tolerance. However, the genome-wide identification and characterization of LecRLK genes and their regulatory elements have not been explored in a major cereal crop, barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Therefore, in this study, integrated bioinformatics tools were used to identify and characterize the LecRLK gene family in barley. Based on the phylogenetic tree and domain organization, a total of 113 LecRLK genes were identified in the barley genome (referred to as HvlecRLK) corresponding to the LecRLK genes of Arabidopsis thaliana. These putative HvlecRLK genes were classified into three groups: 62 G-type LecRLKs, 1 C-type LecRLK, and 50 L-type LecRLKs. They were unevenly distributed across eight chromosomes, including one unknown chromosome, and were predominantly located in the plasma membrane (G-type HvlecRLK (96.8%), C-type HvlecRLK (100%), and L-type HvlecRLK (98%)). An analysis of motif composition and exon-intron configuration revealed remarkable homogeneity with the members of AtlecRLK. Notably, most of the HvlecRLKs (27 G-type, 43 L-type) have no intron, suggesting their rapid functionality. The Ka/Ks and syntenic analysis demonstrated that HvlecRLK gene pairs evolved through purifying selection and gene duplication was the major factor for the expansion of the HvlecRLK gene family. Exploration of gene ontology (GO) enrichment indicated that the identified HvlecRLK genes are associated with various cellular processes, metabolic pathways, defense mechanisms, kinase activity, catalytic activity, ion binding, and other essential pathways. The regulatory network analysis identified 29 transcription factor families (TFFs), with seven major TFFs including bZIP, C2H2, ERF, MIKC_MADS, MYB, NAC, and WRKY participating in the regulation of HvlecRLK gene functions. Most notably, eight TFFs were found to be linked to the promoter region of both L-type HvleckRLK64 and HvleckRLK86. The promoter cis-acting regulatory element (CARE) analysis of barley identified a total of 75 CARE motifs responsive to light responsiveness (LR), tissue-specific (TS), hormone responsiveness (HR), and stress responsiveness (SR). The maximum number of CAREs was identified in HvleckRLK11 (25 for LR), HvleckRLK69 (17 for TS), and HvleckRLK80 (12 for HR). Additionally, HvleckRLK14, HvleckRLK16, HvleckRLK33, HvleckRLK50, HvleckRLK52, HvleckRLK56, and HvleckRLK110 were predicted to exhibit higher responses in stress conditions. In addition, 46 putative miRNAs were predicted to target 81 HvlecRLK genes and HvlecRLK13 was the most targeted gene by 8 different miRNAs. Protein-protein interaction analysis demonstrated higher functional similarities of 63 HvlecRLKs with 7 Arabidopsis STRING proteins. Our overall findings provide valuable information on the LecRLK gene family which might pave the way to advanced research on the functional mechanism of the candidate genes as well as to develop new barley cultivars in breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combined effect of NaCl salinity and iron deficiency on biomass production, iron homeostasis, photosynthetic activity and antioxidant status were studied in Foeniculum vulgare: a biannual Apiaceae with pastoral potential. Plants were grown in hydroponic conditions for 21 days under two concentration of iron: 1 (low) or 40 µM Fe3+-EDTA (sufficient), in the absence or presence of 75 mM NaCl. When individually applied, both Fe deficiency and salinity notably restricted shoot and whole dry weight (DW) with a more marked effect under combined stresses. This may linked to a significant decrease in stomatal conductance, CO2 assimilation rate (84%) and transpiration rate (66%). Although, the relatively better tolerance to Fe deficiency combined with salinity could be explained by the capacity of this species to maintain higher root system and root/shoot DW ratio. Salinity has a negative impact on Fe-use efficiency (24%) when combined with a low Fe supply that means that iron is primarly used in shoot sodium (Na+) excretion. Phenolic analysis showed the relevance of caffeic and cinnamic acid derivatives in leaves and roots proving their modulation under D and (D + S) treatments. Antioxidant activities as well as inhibitory capacity towards LOX enzyme were ound to be altered under D and (D + S) conditions as rescued by the lowest IC50 and EC50 values. Overall, F. vulgare constitues a promising model to ameliorate the tolerance of the cultivated fennel species under low Fe soils and/or saline regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactive oxygen species, as main molecules, participate in the adaptation process of plants under environmental stimuli. Excessive oxidation and reduction of cellular components are equally harmful, so maintaining redox homeostasis is critical. The comprehensive analysis of HvAPX genes in barley has not yet been described. In this study, eight ascorbate peroxidase (APX) gene families in barley were identified. The barley APX families were characterized for phylogenetic tree, conserved motifs, gene ontology, correlation of traits with gene expression, prediction of cis-elements, and gene expression in APX under abiotic stress conditions. In addition, the analysis of enzymes activities was performed on two contrasting Iranian barley cultivars namely Sahra (drought tolerant) and Nobahar (drought susceptible) under abiotic stress (PEG, heat, ABA, and salt) conditions. The Sahra, an early maturing cultivar with a longer awn, has a higher drought resistance than Nobahar cultivar. Gene expression analysis revealed that 8 HvAPX genes were accumulated in the leaf and root tissues at 24 and 48 hours after being subjected to abiotic stresses. Furthermore, the gene expression analysis of the HvAPX genes revealed that gene expression was up/down regulated in response to PEG-induced drought stress, ABA, salt, and heat stresses in the leaf and root tissues. The phylogenetic analysis of the HvAPX proteins sequences in barley were grouped into three clusters. The HvAPX7 and HvAPX8 genes had the highest number of cis-elements in their promoter regions, indicating that they might be stimulated by a plethora of environmental stresses. The HvAPX genes had GT1-motif, STRE, CAAT-box, MYB, and MYC in their promoter regions, playing a key role in response to abiotic stresses. Our findings provide new insights into APX genes and provide a basis for next investigations of APX genes in plant improvement (breeding) programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to identify wild barley alleles controlling grain size and weight with the potential to improve barley yield in Australia and worldwide. The HEB-25 nested association mapping population was used, which samples 25 different wild barley accessions in a 'Barke' genetic background. The HEB-25 population was evaluated in field conditions at Strathalbyn in South Australia in 2015 and 2016. Seven yield component traits reflecting ear length, grain number per ear and grain dimension were measured. Among 114 quantitative trait loci (QTL) identified for the seven traits in both years, many co-localise with known genes controlling flowering and spike morphology. There were 18 QTL hotspots associated with four loci or more, of which one at the beginning of chromosome 5H had wild alleles that increased both grain number per ear and thousand-grain weight. A wide range of effects was found for wild alleles for each trait across all QTL identified, providing a rich source of genetic diversity that barley breeders can exploit to enhance barley yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLRs) immune receptors directly or indirectly recognize pathogen-secreted effector molecules to initiate plant defense. Recognition of multiple pathogens by a single NLR is rare and usually occurs via monitoring for changes to host proteins; few characterized NLRs have been shown to recognize multiple effectors. The barley (Hordeum vulgare) NLR gene Mildew locus a (Mla) has undergone functional diversification, and the proteins encoded by different Mla alleles recognize host-adapted isolates of barley powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei [Bgh]). Here, we show that Mla3 also confers resistance to the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae in a dosage-dependent manner. Using a forward genetic screen, we discovered that the recognized effector from M. oryzae is Pathogenicity toward Weeping Lovegrass 2 (Pwl2), a host range determinant factor that prevents M. oryzae from infecting weeping lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula). Mla3 has therefore convergently evolved the capacity to recognize effectors from diverse pathogens. MLA3 confers dosage-dependent resistance to rice blast through recognition of the effector Pwl2, which contributes to host range dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our previous research showed that a powdery mildew resistant barley line (MvHV07-17) maintains its resistance to Blumeria hordei (Bh) even if plants are exposed to a long-term high temperature of 35°C for 120 h before Bh inoculation, whereas such high temperature pretreatment further increases susceptibility to infection in the susceptible barley line MvHV118-17. In the present study, we extended this approach using short-term high-temperature water treatment (49°C for 30 s) to determine how it affects powdery mildew resistance in these barley lines. We found that this short-term heat shock (HS) impaired plant defense responses, as reflected by development of Bh colonies and visible necrotic spots on leaves of MvHV07-17, which does not develop visible symptoms upon Bh inoculation under optimal growth conditions. In contrast, both HS and long-term heat stress enhanced susceptibility to Bh in MvHV118-17 plants. These results were supported by the measurement of Bh biomass using a qPCR method. Furthermore, microscopic examinations showed that HS elevated the rate of successful Bh penetration events and the spread of cell death in the surrounding mesophyll area and allowed for colony formation and sporulation in resistant barley, whereas early and effective plant defense responses, such as papilla formation and single-cell epidermal hypersensitive response, were significantly reduced. Furthermore, we found that the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide in both resistant and susceptible barley was correlated with susceptibility induced by HS and long-term heat-stress. This study may contribute to a better understanding of plant defense responses to Bh in barley exposed to heat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fatty acid desaturases (FADs) play pivotal roles in determining plant stress tolerance. Barley is the most salt-tolerant cereal crop. In this study, we performed genome-wide identification and characterization analysis of the FAD gene family in barley (Hordeum vulgare). A total of 24 HvFADs were identified and divided into four subfamilies based on their amino acid sequence similarity. HvFADs unevenly distributed on six of seven barley chromosomes, and three clusters of HvFADs mainly occurred on the chromosome 2, 3 and 6. Segmental duplication events were found to be a main cause for the HvFAD gene family expansion. The same HvFAD subfamily showed the relatively consistent exon-intron composition and conserved motifs of HvFADs. Cis-element analysis in HvFAD promoters indicated that the expression of HvFADs may be subject to complex regulation, especially stress-responsive elements that may involve in saline-alkaline stress response. Combined transcriptomic data with quantitative experiments, at least five HvFADs highly expressed in roots under salt or alkali treatment, suggesting they may participate in saline or alkaline tolerance in barley. This study provides novel and valuable insights for underlying salt/alkalitolerant mechanisms in barley. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract. Plants function in symbiosis with numerous microorganisms, which might contribute to their adaptation and performance. In this study, we tested whether fungal strains in symbiotic interaction with roots of Celtica gigantea , a wild grass adapted to nutrient-poor soils in semiarid habitats, could improve the field performance of the agricultural cereal tritordeum (Triticum durum  ×  Hordeum chilense). Seedlings of tritordeum were inoculated with 12 different fungal strains isolated from roots of Celtica gigantea that were first proved to promote the growth of tritordeum plants under greenhouse conditions. The inoculated seedlings were transplanted to field plots at two locations belonging to different climatic zones in terms of mean temperatures and precipitation in the Iberian Peninsula. Only one strain, Diaporthe iberica T6, had a significant effect on plant height, number of tillers and grain yield in one location. This result showed a substantial divergence between the results of greenhouse and field tests. In terms of grain nutritional quality, several parameters were differentially affected at both locations: Diaporthe T6, Pleosporales T7, Zygomycota T29 and Zygomycota T80 increased the content of total carotenoids, mainly lutein, in the colder location; whereas gluten proteins increased with several treatments in the warmer location. In conclusion, early inoculation of tritordeum plants with fungal symbionts had substantial beneficial effects on subsequent plant growth and development in the field. Regarding grain nutritional quality, the effect of inoculation was affected by the agroclimatic differences between both field locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]