Effects of water stress on apoplastic barrier formation in soil grown roots differ from hydroponically grown roots: Histochemical, biochemical and molecular evidence.

In root research, hydroponic plant cultivation is commonly used and soil experiments are rare. We investigated the response of 12-day-old barley roots, cultivated in soil-filled rhizotrons, to different soil water potentials (SWP) comparing a modern cultivar (cv. Scarlett) with a wild accession ICB181243 from Pakistan. Water potentials were quantified in soils with different relative water contents. Root anatomy was studied using histochemistry and microscopy. Suberin and lignin amounts were quantified by analytical chemistry. Transcriptomic changes were observed by RNA-sequencing. Compared with control with decreasing SWP, total root length decreased, the onset of endodermal suberization occurred much closer towards the root tips, amounts of suberin and lignin increased, and corresponding biosynthesis genes were upregulated in response to decreasing SWP. We conclude that decreasing water potentials enhanced root suberization and lignification, like osmotic stress experiments in hydroponic cultivation. However, in soil endodermal cell suberization was initiated very close towards the root tip, and root length as well as suberin amounts were about twofold higher compared with hydroponic cultivation.

Measuring air metagenomic diversity in an agricultural ecosystem.

All species shed DNA during life or in death, providing an opportunity to monitor biodiversity via environmental DNA (eDNA). In recent years, combining eDNA, high-throughput sequencing technologies, bioinformatics, and increasingly complete sequence databases has promised a non-invasive and non-destructive environmental monitoring tool. Modern agricultural systems are often large monocultures and so are highly vulnerable to disease outbreaks. Pest and pathogen monitoring in agricultural ecosystems is key for efficient and early disease prevention, lower pesticide use, and better food security. Although the air is rich in biodiversity, it has the lowest DNA concentration of all environmental media and yet is the route for windborne spread of many damaging crop pathogens. Our work suggests that ecosystems can be monitored efficiently using airborne nucleic acid information. Here, we show that the airborne DNA of microbes can be recovered, shotgun sequenced, and taxonomically classified, including down to the species level. We show that by monitoring a field growing key crops we can identify the presence of agriculturally significant pathogens and quantify their changing abundance over a period of 1.5 months, often correlating with weather variables. We add to the evidence that aerial eDNA can be used as a source for biomonitoring in terrestrial ecosystems, specifically highlighting agriculturally relevant species and how pathogen levels correlate with weather conditions. Our ability to detect dynamically changing levels of species and strains highlights the value of airborne eDNA in agriculture, monitoring biodiversity changes, and tracking taxa of interest.

Association mapping with a diverse population of Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici identified avirulence loci interacting with the barley Rpg1 stem rust resistance gene.

BACKGROUND: Wheat stem rust, caused by Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (Pgt), is an important disease of barley and wheat. A diverse sexual Pgt population from the Pacific Northwest (PNW) region of the US contains a high proportion of individuals with virulence on the barley stem rust resistance (R) gene, Rpg1. However, the evolutionary mechanisms of this virulence on Rpg1 are mysterious considering that Rpg1 had not been deployed in the region and the gene had remained remarkably durable in the Midwestern US and prairie provinces of Canada. METHODS AND RESULTS: To identify AvrRpg1 effectors, genome wide association studies (GWAS) were performed using 113 Pgt isolates collected from the PNW (n = 89 isolates) and Midwest (n = 24 isolates) regions of the US. Disease phenotype data were generated on two barley lines Morex and the Golden Promise transgenic (H228.2c) that carry the Rpg1 gene. Genotype data was generated by whole genome sequencing (WGS) of 96 isolates (PNW = 89 isolates and Midwest = 7 isolates) and RNA sequencing (RNAseq) data from 17 Midwestern isolates. Utilizing ~1.2 million SNPs generated from WGS and phenotype data (n = 96 isolates) on the transgenic line H228.2c, 53 marker trait associations (MTAs) were identified. Utilizing ~140 K common SNPs generated from combined analysis of WGS and RNAseq data, two significant MTAs were identified using the cv Morex phenotyping data. The 55 MTAs defined two distinct avirulence loci, on supercontig 2.30 and supercontig 2.11 of the Pgt reference genome of Pgt isolate CRL 75-36-700-3. The major avirulence locus designated AvrRpg1A was identified with the GWAS using both barley lines and was delimited to a 35 kb interval on supercontig 2.30 containing four candidate genes (PGTG_10878, PGTG_10884, PGTG_10885, and PGTG_10886). The minor avirulence locus designated AvrRpg1B identified with cv Morex contained a single candidate gene (PGTG_05433). AvrRpg1A haplotype analysis provided strong evidence that a dominant avirulence gene underlies the locus. CONCLUSIONS: The association analysis identified strong candidate AvrRpg1 genes. Further analysis to validate the AvrRpg1 genes will fill knowledge gaps in our understanding of rust effector biology and the evolution and mechanism/s of Pgt virulence on Rpg1.

Control efficacy and joint toxicity of broflanilide mixed with commercial insecticides to an underground pest, the black cutworm in highland barley.

BACKGROUND: The highland barley, Hordeum vulgare L., is a staple food crop with superior nutritional functions in Xizang, China. It is often damaged by the black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel), which is an underground pest and difficult to effectively manage. To introduce a novel insecticide with unique mode of action, broflanilide (BFL) and its binary mixtures with chlorantraniliprole (CAP), fluxametamide, ß-cypermethrin or imidacloprid were screened out as seed treatment to control black cutworm in highland barley in the present study. RESULTS: In the laboratory bioassays, BFL had outstanding insecticidal activity to black cutworm with a median lethal dose (LD50) of 0.07 mg kg-1. The mixture of BFL × CAP at the concentration ratio of 7:40 exhibited the highest synergistic effect with a co-toxicity coefficient of 280.48. In the greenhouse pot experiments, BFL and BFL × CAP seed treatments at 8 g a.i. kg-1 seed could effectively control black cutworm, with a low percentage of injured seedlings <20% and high control efficacies of 93.33-100% during a period of 3-12 days after seed emergence. Moreover, BFL and BFL × CAP seed treatments could promote the seed germination and seedling growth of highland barley at the tested temperatures of 15, 20 and 25 °C. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that BFL and BFL × CAP were effective and promising insecticides as seed treatment to control black cutworm in highland barley. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Synthesis of some polyphenolics from contents of onion skin and discovery of the promoter effect on barley germination.

Facile synthesis and characterisation of three natural compounds and their two synthetic analogues based on onion skin content were performed. Both OSE and 2,4,6-trihydroxyphenylglyoxylic acid was induced effect on cell proliferation during barley germination with a difference of approximately %4 compared to the control group.

Improvement in Storage Stability and Physicochemical Properties of Whole-Grain Highland Barley Pulp Prepared by a Novel Industry-Scale Microfluidizer System in Comparison with Colloid Milling.

The aim of this study was to assess the advantages of an industry-scale microfluidizer system (ISMS) to prepare whole-grain highland barley pulp (WHBP) compared with colloid milling. Storage stability was evaluated by particle size, gravity separation stability, and rheological properties, as well as the microstructure observation by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLMS). The results showed that colloid milling failed to effectively homogenize the material, while ISMS sample surfaces were compact and smooth at higher pressures according to visual observation and SEM. The Turbiscan stability index of WHBP by ISMS was much lower as a result of colloid milling, demonstrating ISMS can improve WHBP stability. WHBP by colloid milling displayed a three-peak particle size distribution pattern, while a single-peak pattern was evident after ISMS treatment. A higher shear rate decreased the apparent viscosity, suggesting that WHBP was a shear-thinning fluid. According to CLMS, ISMS can successfully improve homogenization by disrupting the structures of oil bodies, proteins, and starches. The WHBP prepared by ISMS exhibited a higher ß-glucan level than that prepared by colloid milling, and showed a significant increase in ß-glucan level with ISMS pressure. These findings indicate that using ISMS to produce WHBP is viable for enhancing its storage stability and nutritional value.

QTL Mapping of Yield, Agronomic, and Nitrogen-Related Traits in Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) under Low Nitrogen and Normal Nitrogen Treatments.

Improving low nitrogen (LN) tolerance in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) increases global barley yield and quality. In this study, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population crossed between "Baudin × CN4079" was used to conduct field experiments on twenty traits of barley yield, agronomy, and nitrogen(N)-related traits under LN and normal nitrogen (NN) treatments for two years. This study identified seventeen QTL, comprising eight QTL expressed under both LN and NN treatments, eight LN-specific QTL, and one NN-specific QTL. The localized C2 cluster contained QTL controlling yield, agronomic, and N-related traits. Of the four novel QTL, the expression of the N-related QTL Qstna.sau-5H and Qnhi.sau-5H was unaffected by N treatment. Qtgw.sau-2H for thousand-grain weight, Qph.sau-3H for plant height, Qsl.sau-7H for spike length, and Qal.sau-7H for awn length were identified to be the four stable expression QTL. Correlation studies revealed a significant negative correlation between grain N content and harvest index (p < 0.01). These results are essential for barley marker-assisted selection (MAS) breeding.

The cap-binding complex modulates ABA-responsive transcript splicing during germination in barley (Hordeum vulgare).

To decipher the molecular bases governing seed germination, this study presents the pivotal role of the cap-binding complex (CBC), comprising CBP20 and CBP80, in modulating the inhibitory effects of abscisic acid (ABA) in barley. Using both single and double barley mutants in genes encoding the CBC, we revealed that the double mutant hvcbp20.ab/hvcbp80.b displays ABA insensitivity, in stark contrast to the hypersensitivity observed in single mutants during germination. Our comprehensive transcriptome and metabolome analysis not only identified significant alterations in gene expression and splicing patterns but also underscored the regulatory nexus among CBC, ABA, and brassinosteroid (BR) signaling pathways.

Valorization of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) brans from the sustainable perspective: A comprehensive review of bioactive compounds and health benefits with emphasis on their potential applications.

Barley is an important source of sustainable diets for humans, while its brans is commonly disposed as wastes. The recycling of barley brans has become a key for facilitating the valorization of barley as a whole to achieve its sustainable development. This review summarized the value of barley brans as an excellent source of multiple functional components (phenolic compounds, ß-glucan, and arabinoxylan), which conferred extensive health benefits to barley brans mainly including antioxidant, anti-obesity and lipid-lowering, anti-diabetic, and hepatoprotective properties. The utilization of barley brans reflected a great potential for sustainable development. Exploiting of food products and edible films containing barley brans or their bioactive compounds and non-food applications (preparation of bioactive substances, laccase enzymes, and biosorbents) have been attempted for supporting the zero-waste concept and circular economy. Considering their diverse applications, effective extraction techniques of bioactive compounds from barley brans and their safety are the priority of future research.

Novel approach on the evaluation of enzyme-aided alkaline extraction of polysaccharide from Hordeum vulgare husk and molecular insight on the multifunctional scaffold.

Hordeum vulgare husk, a cereal grain, is rich in dietary fiber and prebiotics beneficial for the gut microbiota and host organism. This study investigates the effects of barley husk-derived water-soluble xylan (BH-WSX) on gut homeostasis and the microbiome. We enzymatically extracted BH-WSX and evaluated its prebiotic and antioxidant properties. A 40.0 % (w/v) xylan yield was achieved, with the extracted xylan having a molecular mass of 212.0885 and a xylose to glucuronic acid molar ratio of 6:1. Specialized optical rotation research indicated that the isolated xylan is composed of monomeric sugars such as D-xylose, glucose, and arabinose. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy revealed that the xylan comprises ß (1 → 4) linked xylose units, randomly substituted with glucose residues, α-arabinofuranose, and acetyl groups. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) analysis showed that the barley husk extract's backbone is substituted with 4-O-methyl glucuronic acid at the O2 position. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated that WSX exhibits a single sharp peak at 266 °C on the Differential Thermal Gravimetry (DTG) curve. Furthermore, a combination of in vitro, in vivo models, and molecular docking analysis elaborated on the anti-adhesion properties of BH-WSX. This study presents a novel approach to utilizing barley husk as an efficient source of functional polysaccharides for food-related industrial applications.

The application of PAHs-Degrading Pseudomonas aeruginosa to mitigate the phytotoxic impact of pyrene on barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and broad bean (Vicia faba L.) plants.

Mitigating the negative impacts of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is an urgent need due to their toxicity and persistence in the environment. This study investigated the use of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ASU-B6 to detoxify pyrene (PY). The bacterium P. aeruginosa ASU-B6 is capable of degrading PY by 92% as a sole carbon source after 15 days of incubation with phthalate being the major metabolic product. In this regard, the impact of pyrene (PY), P. aeruginosa ASU-B6 (ASU-B6), the bacterial strain combined with pyrene (ASU-B6/PY) and the metabolites produced after pyrene degradation (PY-metabolites) on the germination and physiological attributes of Hordeum vulgare and Vicia faba seedlings were studied. A single application of PY or ASU-B6 showed a toxic effect on the germination of both tested seeds. Interestingly, broad bean seedlings exhibited less sensitivity to PY stress in terms of growth and metabolism compared to barley. Notably, ASU-B6 inhibited fresh and dry weight of shoots and roots of barley and, to a lesser extent, reduced the germination of broad beans compared to the control. However, the combined PY-metabolites and ASU-B6/PY showed a mutual ameliorative effect on seedlings growth, alleviating the phytotoxic impact of each component. Pyrene reduced the virulence of ASU-B6 by inhibiting the production of pyocyanin pigment, while bacteria ameliorated pyrene toxicity through its degradation. Heatmap and principal component analyses highlighted that increasing the contents of hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anion, hydroxyl radical, and lipid peroxidation positively correlated to the toxicity of PY or ASU-B6. However, improving the antioxidant system which buffers the oxidative stress induced by different combinations of PY and ASU-B6 enhanced the growth of germinated seedlings corresponding to PY or ASU-B6. This study reflected the role of ASU-B6 in ameliorating PY-phytotoxicity. In addition, the application of ASU-B6 strain is recommended as a prospective candidate for remediation of PAHs-contaminated environment with a positive impact on the plant growth and metabolic products.

Genetic mapping of stripe rust resistance in a geographically diverse barley collection and selected biparental populations.

Barley stripe or yellow rust (BYR) caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. hordei (Psh) is a significant constraint to barley production. The disease is best controlled by genetic resistance, which is considered the most economical and sustainable component of integrated disease management. In this study, we assessed the diversity of resistance to Psh in a panel of international barley genotypes (n = 266) under multiple disease environments (Ecuador, India, and Mexico) using genome-wide association studies (GWASs). Four quantitative trait loci (QTLs) (three on chromosome 1H and one on 7H) associated with resistance to Psh were identified. The QTLs were validated by mapping resistance to Psh in five biparental populations, which detected key genomic regions on chromosomes 1H (populations Pompadour/Zhoungdamei, Pompadour/Zug161, and CI9214/Baudin), 3H (Ricardo/Gus), and 7H (Fumai8/Baronesse). The QTL RpshQ.GWA.1H.1 detected by GWAS and RpshQ.Bau.1H detected using biparental mapping populations co-located were the most consistent and stable across environments and are likely the same resistance region. RpshQ.Bau.1H was saturated using population CI9214/Baudin by enriching the target region, which placed the resistance locus between 7.9 and 8.1 Mbp (flanked by markers sun_B1H_03, 0.7 cM proximal to Rpsh_1H and sun_B1H_KASP_02, 3.2 cM distal on 1HS) in the Morex reference genome v.2. A Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP) marker sun_B1H_KASP_01 that co-segregated for RpshQ.Bau.1H was developed. The marker was validated on 50 Australian barley cultivars, showing well-defined allelic discrimination and presence in six genotypes (Baudin, Fathom, Flagship, Grout, Sakurastar, and Shepherd). This marker can be used for reliable marker-assisted selection and pyramiding of resistance to Psh and in diversifying the genetic base of resistance to stripe rust.

Barley ß-glucan bioactive films: Promising eco-friendly materials for wound healing.

Mixtures containing ß-glucans were extracted from barley, under both mild and high alkaline conditions, to prepare biodegradable films (MA and HA, respectively), as natural dressings with intrinsic therapeutic properties. An in-depth characterization was performed to evaluate the impact of mild and high alkaline conditions on chemical, physicochemical, and biological features for potential use in wound treatments. Both MA and HA films exhibited a good ability to absorb water and simulate wound fluid, which helps maintain optimal tissue hydration. Moreover, their oxygen permeability (147.6 and 16.4 cm3 × µm/m2 × 24 h × Pa × 107, respectively) appeared adequate for the intended application. Biocompatibility tests showed that the films do not harm human dermal fibroblasts. Impressively, they promote cell attachment and growth, with MA having a stronger effect due to its higher ß-glucan content. Furthermore, MA films can modulate macrophage behaviour in an inflamed microenvironment, reducing oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokines, while simultaneously increasing levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines. In a scratch test, HA films allowed for faster fibroblast migration within the first 16 h compared to MA. Overall, this study demonstrates that developing ß-glucan based films from barley, through a sustainable and cost-effective process, holds great promise for skin applications. These films exhibit significant potential to promote wound healing and modulate inflammation.

Effect of hydroponic barley fodder on growth performance, carcass yield and carcass quality of cobb 500 broilers.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of hydroponic barley fodder supplementation on growth performance, carcass yield and carcass quality of Cobb 500 broilers. An accustomed proper feeding and brooding have been given to the chicks for up to three weeks of age. After three weeks, 144 three-week-old birds were randomly assigned to four treatments and replicated three times with 12 chicks per replication in a completely randomized design. Treatments were arranged as follows; T1: Home formulated Broiler diet (control group), T2: Home formulated Broiler diet +3.5 % hydroponic barley fodder, T3: Home formulated Broiler diet +7 % hydroponic barley fodder, and T4: Home formulated Broiler diet +10.5 % hydroponic barley fodder. The proximate analysis revealed that, hydroponic barley fodder contained 15.63 % crude protein, 10.6 crude fiber, and 4.04 ether extract. Increasing the level of hydroponic barley fodder was associated with an improvement of both growth performance and weight of carcass components of Cobb 500 broilers. Higher average daily feed intake (112.72 g/bird), daily body weight gain (56.37 g/bird), total body weight gain (1579.39 g/4 weeks) were obtained from T4 (home formulated feed +10.5 % HBF). Similarly, higher feed conversion efficiency (1.99 g of feed/g of weight gain) was recorded in T4. Hydroponic barley fodder had no significant (P > 0.05) effect on the mortality rate and carcass quality of broiler chickens. Economically, the highest net return was obtained from birds fed on T4 (Home formulated Broiler diet +10.5 % hydroponic barley fodder). In conclusion, supplementing hydroponic barley fodder up to 10.5 % improves carcass characteristics and result higher net income compared to other treatments. The current study recommended that further investigation like inclusion and substitution trial should be conducted to determine whether hydroponic barley fodder can replace expensive poultry ration ingredients.

Modulation in the ratio of abscisic acid to gibberellin level determines genetic variation of seed dormancy in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.).

Abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellin (GA) are major regulators of seed dormancy, an adaptive trait closely associated with preharvest sprouting. This study examined transcriptional regulation of ABA and GA metabolism genes and modulation of ABA and GA levels in seeds of barley genotypes exhibiting a range of dormancy phenotype. We observed a very strong negative correlation between genetic variation in seed germination and embryonic ABA level (r = 0.85), which is regulated by transcriptional modulation of HvNCED1 and/or HvCYP707A genes. A strong positive correlation was evident between variation in seed germination and GA level (r = 0.64), mediated via transcriptional regulation of GA biosynthesis genes, HvGA20ox2 and/or HvGA3oxs, and GA catabolism genes, HvGA2ox3 and/or HvGA3ox6. Modulation of the ABA and GA levels in the genotypes led to the prevalence of ABA to GA level ratio that exhibited a very strong negative correlation (r = 0.84) with seed germination, highlighting the importance of a shift in ABA/GA ratio in determining genetic variation of dormancy in barley seeds. Our results overall show that transcriptional regulation of specific ABA and GA metabolism genes underlies genetic variation in ABA/GA ratio and seed dormancy, reflecting the potential use of these genes as molecular tools for enhancing preharvest sprouting resistance in barley.

Precision phenotyping of a barley diversity set reveals distinct drought response strategies.

Plants exhibit an array of drought responses and adaptations, where the trade-off between water loss and CO2 uptake for growth is mediated by regulation of stomatal aperture in response to soil water content (SWC), among other factors. For crop yield stability, the question is how drought timing and response patterns relate to post-drought growth resilience and vigor. We earlier identified, in a few reference varieties of barley that differed by the SWC at which transpiration was curtailed, two divergent water use strategies: water-saving ("isohydric") and water-spending ("anisohydric"). We proposed that an isohydric strategy may reduce risk from spring droughts in climates where the probability of precipitation increases during the growing season, whereas the anisohydric is consistent with environments having terminal droughts, or with those where dry periods are short and not seasonally progressive. Here, we have examined drought response physiology in an 81-line barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) diversity set that spans 20th century European breeding and identified several lines with a third, dynamic strategy. We found a strong positive correlation between vigor and transpiration, the dynamic group being highest for both. However, these lines curtailed daily transpiration at a higher SWC than the isohydric group. While the dynamic lines, particularly cv Hydrogen and Baronesse, were not the most resilient in terms of restoring initial growth rates, their strong initial vigor and high return to initial transpiration rates meant that their growth nevertheless surpassed more resilient lines during recovery from drought. The results will be of use for defining barley physiological ideotypes suited to future climate scenarios.

Barley farmland harbors a highly homogeneous soil bacterial community compared to wild ecosystems in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau.

Introduction: Understanding patterns and processes of microbial biogeography in soils is important for monitoring ecological responses to human activities, particularly in ecologically vulnerable areas such as the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. Highland barley is the staple food of local people and has mainly been cultivated along the Yarlung Zangbo River valley in Xizang. Methods: Here we investigated soil bacterial communities from 33 sampling sites of highland barley farmland in this region and compared them to those from wild ecosystems including alpine tundra, meadow, forest, and swamp. Additionally, the effects of environmental factors on bacterial communities, as well as the relative importance of stochastic and deterministic processes in shaping the beta diversity of soil bacterial communities in alpine ecosystems were assessed. Results: In contrast to soils of wild ecosystems, these farmland samples harbored a highly homogeneous bacterial community without significant correlations with geographic, elevation, and edaphic distances. Discriminant bacterial taxa identified for farmland samples belong to Acidobacteria, with Acidobacteria Gp4 as the dominant clade. Although Acidobacteria were the most abundant members in all ecosystems, characterized bacterial taxa of meadow and forest were members of other phyla such as Proteobacteria and Verrucomicrobia. pH and organic matter were major edaphic attributes shaping these observed patterns across ecosystems. Null model analyses revealed that the deterministic assembly was dominant in bacterial communities in highland barley farmland and tundra soils, whereas stochastic assembly also contributed a large fraction to the assembly of bacterial communities in forest, meadow and swamp soils. Discussion: These findings provide an insight into the consequences of human activities and agricultural intensification on taxonomic homogenization of soil bacterial communities in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau.

Anther Culture Protocols for Barley and Wheat.

Doubled haploid (DH) techniques remain valuable tools for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) genetic improvement, and DH populations are used extensively in breeding and research endeavors. Several techniques are available for DH production in wheat and barley. Here, we describe two simple, robust anther culture methods used to produce more than 15,000 DH wheat and barley lines annually in Australia.

Non-invasive exploration of malting barley (Hordeum vulgare) in vitro germination and varietal effects using short wave infrared spectral imaging and ANOVA simultaneous component analysis.

ANOVA-simultaneous component analysis (ASCA) was applied to short-wave infrared spectral fingerprints of 5 malting barley varieties collected using a hyperspectral imaging system to determine the effect of germination, the influence of time and the influence of barley by means of a full factorial experimental design. ASCA indicated that there was a significant (p < 0.0001) effect of the germination status, the germination time and interaction on the spectral data for all varieties. The biochemical and physiological modification of the samples were characterised by visualisation of the longitudinal scores obtained from simultaneous component analysis for the germination time factor. This resulted in the visualisation and explanation of biochemical change over the course of barley germination as a factor of time. The relevant loadings indicated a significant change to the proteome, lipid and starch structure as driven by the uptake of water over time. The ASCA model were extrapolated to include the effect of barley variety to the already mentioned germination status and germination time factors, resulting once again in all the effects being significant (p < 0.0001). Here it was shown that all the barley varieties are significantly different from one another pre- and post-modification, based on the molecular vibrations observed in the short wave-infrared (SWIR) spectra, suggesting that the detection of biotic stress factors, such as pre-harvest germination, also differ for each variety, by indicating that the germination profile of each barley variety varies as a function of germination time. Thus, also the malting performance, germinative energy and chemical profile of each barley variety tested will vary before, during and after imbibition and germination - indicating the importance of malting commercial barley malt true to variety. These results indicate that (SWIR) spectral imaging instrumentation can possibly be used to monitor controlled germination of barley grain. Due to the shown ability of SWIR spectral imaging to detect small biochemical changes over time of barley grain during germination.

A 7×7 diallel cross for developing high-yielding and saline-tolerant barley (Hordeum vulgare L.).

In this experiment, F1s produced from a 7 × 7 half-diallel cross along with their parents were evaluated to develop high yielding and saline-tolerant barley lines. The investigation focused on the general combining ability (GCA) of parents, specific combining ability (SCA) of offspring, genetic action, and heterosis of eight quantitative variables. Genetic analysis and potence ratio suggested that different degrees of dominance controlling the inheritance of the studied traits. Significant GCA and SCA variances suggested the presence of both additive and non-additive gene actions controlling the traits. However, a GCA:SCA ratio lower than 1 indicated the preponderance of the non-additive gene action involved in the expression of the traits. The parents P5 and P6 possess the genetic potential favorable for early and short stature in their F1s. Conversely, P2 and P4 were more likely to produce short F1s with high yield potential. Based on the mean performance, SCA, and heterobeltiosis, crosses P2 × P3, P2 × P7, P3 × P4, P4 × P5, P5 × P6, and P6 × P7 were selected as promising F1s for earliness, short stature, and high yield potential. These crosses are recommended for further breeding to obtain early-maturing and high-yielding segregants. To identify saline-tolerant F1s, screening was conducted in saline media prepared in half-strength Hoagland solution. The salinity stress involved exposing F1s to 100 mM NaCl for first 10 days, and followed by an increase to 150 mM until maturity. Among the F1s, five crosses (P1 × P2, P2 × P3, P3 × P5, P4 × P6, and P4 × P7) exhibited promising signs of saline tolerance based on a comprehensive evaluation of healthy seed set, K+/Na+ ratio, root volume, generation of reactive oxygen species (O2 •- and H2O2), and activities of key antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and glutathione reductase (GR). These crosses will undergo further evaluation in the next filial generation to confirm heritable saline tolerance.