Barley Cultivars Research Articles

Phenotypic characterization of the Hordeum bulbosum derived leaf rust resistance genes Rph22 and Rph26 in barley.

AimsTwo introgression lines (ILs), 182Q20 and 200A12, which had chromosomal segments introgressed from Hordeum bulbosum in H. vulgare backgrounds, were identified to show seedling resistance against Puccinia hordei, possibly attributed to two resistance genes, Rph22 and Rph26, respectively. This study characterized the phenotypic responses of the two genes against P. hordei over different plant development stages.Methods and ResultsUsing visual and fungal biomass assessments, responses of ILs 182Q20, 200A12 and four other barley cultivars against P. hordei were determined at seedling, tillering, stem elongation and booting stages. Plants carrying either Rph22 or Rph26 were found to confer gradually increasing resistance over the course of different development stages, with partial resistant phenotypes (i.e. prolonged rust latency periods, reduced uredinia numbers but with susceptible infection types) observed at seedling stage and adult plant resistance (APR) at booting stage. A definitive switch between the two types of resistance occurred at tillering stage.Conclusions Rph22 and Rph26 derived from H. bulbosum were well characterized and had typical APR phenotypes against P. hordei.Significance and Impact of the StudyThis study provides important insights on the effectiveness and expression of Rph22 and Rph26 against P. hordei during plant development and underpins future barley breeding programmes using non‐host as a genetic resource for leaf rust management.

Effect of Sunflower Intercropping on some Barley Cultivars under Salt-affected Soil Conditions

Effect of Sunflower Intercropping on some Barley Cultivars under Salt-affected Soil Conditions

Radiation Interception and Radiation Use Efficiency Response to Intraspecific Competition in Barley (Hordeum vulgare) Cultivars

Radiation Interception and Radiation Use Efficiency Response to Intraspecific Competition in Barley (Hordeum vulgare) Cultivars

Barley with improved drought tolerance: Challenges and perspectives

There is a pressing need to improve climate-resilient crops as a consequence of increasingly erratic climatic behavior that threatens global food security. Current scientific efforts aim to elucidate the complex mechanisms behind drought resistance in cultivated barley (Hordeum vulgare L ssp. vulgare). To develop new cultivars with enhanced tolerance to drought and ensure the well-being of the crop under adverse conditions. Understanding the impact of water stress on barley plants is a complex challenge due to the involvement of redundant regulatory pathways governed by multiple genes. Many of these pathways and associated major or genes controlling various morphological and physiological responses to drought at various stages of plant growth. Hence, a broad understanding of such molecular regulation is a key to developing barley cultivars with superior drought tolerance. In addition, changing breeding procedures to accommodate screening for drought responses is a major step. Justification of such changes should be based on expected outcomes. Our current understanding of drought regulatory pathways points out that improvement at both water extraction and its utilization are needed to elevate final yields under water deficit conditions. The current review is an in-depth review, that aims to develop a complete picture of the drought tolerance mechanisms in barley and to provide insights into the manipulation of drought stress responses in barley.

Value of Hordeum vulgare L. genotypes in terms of yield and its stability

Our purpose was to determine the value of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars and lines in terms of yield and its stability. The GGE biplot analysis of competitive cultivar trial data was used. Due to the GGE biplot, the relationships between the barley cultivars and lines under investigation with the environment (years of their cultivation) were visualised. The mega-environment of 2018 and 2020 was the most optimal one for yields from the cultivars, especially Grace, Amil, Troian and Talisman Myronivskyi, while the 2019 environment for Avhur, Margret and Khors. The GGE biplot ranking graphically described the genotypes by average yield and its stability over the three years: Grace, Margret, Amil, Troian, Datcha, Avhur, Khors, Ahrarii, Talisman Myronivskyi and Herkules were high-yielding cultivars; naked cultivars Merlin, Gatunok and Akhiles gave the lowest yields; Grace, Gladys, Gatunok, Yavir, Kontrast and Khors were highly stable cultivars; Amil, Avhur, KWS Bambina and Rezerv were low stable. Of the high-yielding cultivars, Grace and Khors were the most stable ones. The GGE biplot also visualised the comparison of the genotypes with the hypothetical ‘ideal’ genotype by the highest ‘breeding value’: Grace was the best (5.43 t ha–1), Troian was the second best (5.31 t ha–1), followed by Margret (5.27 t ha–1), Avhur, Ahrarii, Krechet and Herkules (5.00–5.22 t ha–1). As a conclusion of the identified patterns, we established the practical and breeding value of the high-yielding and stable cultivars, Grace (5.43 t ha–1) and Khors (5.22 t ha–1), for conditions of different years, as well as the high-yielding and highly responsive cultivars, Amil (5.37 t ha–1) and Avhur (5.22 t ha–1), for the most optimal growing conditions.

Effect of Salinity on Growth and Yield of Barley

The present study was conducted during season of 2017-2018 at Agricultural Research Farm, School of Agriculture, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jagatpura, Jaipur, India. To assess individual performance in saline water conditions, ten barley cultivars were produced in the field: RD 2715, RD 2035, RD 2592, RD 2849, RD 2860, RD 2552, RD 2668, RD 2097, BH 946, RD 2052. According to the findings, out of the ten cultivars, RD 2552 considerably recorded the highest plant population, growth characteristics, and ultimately increased grain(45.21 q ha-1) as well as straw yield of barley.

Ability of cereal species for nitrogen uptake from cover crop rhizodeposits is not related to domestication level

AbstractBackgroundCereal cultivars vary in root traits, and it can be proposed that wild forms and old cultivars are more adapted to using organic nitrogen (N) sources.AimsInvestigating N uptake from cover crop (CC) rhizodeposits by wheat and barley of different domestication level and their wild relatives, we expected a more efficient N uptake by wild forms and old cultivars, indicated by higher N uptake from rhizodeposits per root biomass.MethodsEleven wheat and seven barley cultivars categorized into three domestication levels (wild, old, and modern) were grown under controlled conditions in pots with soil containing 15N‐labelled CC rhizodeposits. Shoot and root biomass, their 15N‐uptake, and a range of root traits were analyzed.ResultsDomestication level was a weak predictor of root architecture. N taken up from rhizodeposits was similar in all plants at 14% of plant N. Cultivars with largest values for most root traits (e.g., root length or volume) and root to shoot ratio also showed largest total N uptake and N uptake from rhizodeposits. However, N uptake efficiency (N uptake from rhizodeposits per root biomass) was smallest for these cultivars. Two modern wheat cultivars showed the largest N uptake efficiency from CC rhizodeposits, whereas in barley a wild and an old cultivar showed the largest efficiency.ConclusionsIn our study with a limited number of cultivars, domestication level is not related to the ability of cereals to take up N from CC rhizodeposits. The same proportion of N derived from rhizodeposits irrespective of cultivar or root traits indicates that the N provision from rhizodeposits was driven by other factors like mineralization. However, some cultivars had a larger N uptake efficiency.

Changes in the agro-technique cultivation of barley as an adaptation to climate change.

Agricultural crops productivity depends on the optimum degree of genetic factors, climate, soil and the level of agro-technology. These factors are changing constantly. The study is focused in a multi-year analysis of the climatic indicators in the region of Korça, by analysing the impact of these changes on the performance of morphological, physiological and production indicators of barley cultivars. The experimental part of the study identified the most suitable barley cultivars and planting period in response to climate changes. The observed data for the time period 2018–2021, and their comparison with a 30-year range period 1961–1990, indicated an increase by 1.8°C of the average atmosphere temperature. During the years of the study, the annual average amount of precipitation has shown not significant changes, but is observed less rainy days with high intensity. The application of the integrated Bagnoulus & Gaussen method indicated that the drought period has increased. From the study it is concluded that climatic factors affect the development of plants not separately but integrated. The period with the greatest influence of ecological factors on the production of different genotypes of barley occurs in the months May – June, a period where the plant is in the ripening stage. The main factor identified, in terms of adaptation to climate change, is the planting of barley in October compared to March, applied in previous practices. Different barley genotypes manifest different degrees of response to climate changes.

Measuring the frequency and distribution of meiotic crossovers in homozygous barley inbred lines

We report a novel approach for establishing the number and position of CO events in individual homozygous inbred plants by combining low level EMS mutagenesis, speed breeding, whole genome shotgun sequencing and sliding window analysis of the induced molecular variant data. We demonstrate the approach by exploring CO frequency and distribution in self-fertilised progeny of the inbred barley cultivar Bowman and compare these observations to similar data obtained from a Bowman nearly isogenic line (BW230 Hvmlh3) containing a mutation in the DNA mismatch repair gene HvMLH3. We have previously shown that Hvmlh3 decreases both plant fertility and recombination by ~50%. We compare our results to those from previously published traditional genetic analysis of F3 families derived from multiple F2 lines containing WT or mutant alleles of HvMLH3, revealing a high level of correspondence between analyses. We discuss possible applications of the approach in streamlining the assessment of recombination in plant meiosis research.

Registration of ‘UC‐Capay’, a low‐grain‐protein, non–glycoside nitrile producing, California‐adapted, two‐rowed spring malting barley

AbstractCalifornia has a fast‐growing malting industry in need of local production of malting barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) to provide malt to a well‐established craft brewing industry. ‘UC‐Capay’ (Reg. no. CV‐376, PI 698168, PVP application number 202100205) is the third malting barley cultivar released by the University of California, following ‘UC Tahoe’ (2016) and ‘Butta 12’ (2019). UC‐Capay is an early‐flowering, two‐rowed spring malting barley with low grain protein content, characterized by its exceptional large and plump grains. UC‐Capay is adapted to the California's Central Valley (Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys) and is resistant to all common diseases present in this region. UC‐Capay is a non‐glycoside nitrile producer, a trait highly valued by craft maltsters and distillers. UC‐Capay meets the quality standards of a craft malting and brewing industry interested in sourcing locally grown barley.

The evolutionary patterns of barley pericentromeric chromosome regions, as shaped by linkage disequilibrium and domestication.

SUMMARYThe 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.

Pyrenophora teres: Population structure, virulence and aggressiveness in Southern Russia

The barley net blotch agent Pyrenophora teres (Died) Drechs. is one of the dominant fungal pathogens in agricultural crops worldwide. Here we aim to study the aggressiveness and virulence of P. teres populations collected at different ontogenesis stages (BBCH 30 and BBCH 47) from winter barley cultivars of various resistance types: moderately resistant, moderately susceptible and highly susceptible. We observed a direct proportional relationship between cultivar resistance and the aggressiveness of P. teres populations collected in both growth phases of the host plant. The isolates collected at an early stage of host plant development have a large difference in aggressiveness criteria: colony growth rate, sporulation intensity, latency period, plant damage degree, and the number of identified races. At the BBCH 30 growth stage, the growth rate of fungus colonies selected from a resistant cultivar is 1.2 times higher than that of a susceptible cultivar. The growth rate of colonies selected from resistant and susceptible cultivars in the earlier BBCH 30 stage is 1.04 times higher than the growth rate of colonies selected from the later phase. The sporulation intensity of fungal populations selected from a resistant cultivar is higher than that of populations selected from a susceptible cultivar (for BBCH 30–5.4 times, for BBCH 47–4.0 times); and it is 1.3 times higher in an earlier phase of plant development. Correlation between colony growth rate and spore formation rate in the BBCH 30 is r = 0.4. A high correlation level (r = 0.9) and notable difference between the variants were revealed when studying the duration of the latent period. The average value of plant damage by the P. teres from resistant cultivar is 4 times higher than from the susceptible cultivar in the BBCH 30 stage; and 12 times – in the BBCH 47 stage. There is a moderate negative correlation between the plant damage degree and the number of races identified from the fungal population, r = −0.59 for the BBCH 30, r = −0.8 for the BBCH 47. The number of races identified from P. teres populations collected in the late phase of plant growth was one third less. Our study helped to acquire new knowledge about intrapopulation processes under the influence of various factors – plant growth stage and cultivar genotype. The results obtained are the basis for the development of adaptive-integrated techniques for managing populations of the hemibiotrophic pathogen, barley net blotch.

Impaired microbial N-acyl homoserine lactone signalling increases plant resistance to aphids across variable abiotic and biotic environments.

Beneficial bacteria interact with plants using signalling molecules, such as N-acyl homoserine-lactones (AHLs). Although there is evidence that these molecules affect plant responses to pathogens, few studies have examined their effect on plant-insect and microbiome interactions, especially under variable soil conditions. We investigated the effect of the AHL-producing rhizobacterium Acidovorax radicis and its AHL-negative mutant (does not produce AHLs) on modulating barley (Hordeum vulgare) plant interactions with cereal aphids (Sitobion avenae) and earthworms (Dendrobaena veneta) across variable nutrient soils. Acidovorax radicis inoculation increased plant growth and suppressed aphids, with stronger effects by the AHL-negative mutant. However, effects varied between barley cultivars and the presence of earthworms altered interaction outcomes. Bacteria-induced plant defences differed between cultivars, and aphid exposure, with pathogenesis-related and WRKY pathways partly explaining the ecological effects in the more resistant cultivars. Additionally, we observed few but specific indirect effects via the wider root microbiome where the AHL-mutant strain influenced rare OTU abundances. We conclude that bacterial AHL-signalling disruption affects plant-microbial interactions by inducing different plant pathways, leading to increased insect resistance, also mediated by the surrounding biotic and abiotic environment. Understanding the mechanisms by which beneficial bacteria can reduce insect pests is a key research area for developing effective insect pest management strategies in sustainable agriculture.

Effects of malting process on molecular weight distribution and content of total and water-extractable arabinoxylan in barley

This work aims to evaluate the effects of the malting process on the malt total and water-extractable (WE) arabinoxylan (AX), also considering the barley cultivar and year of cultivation. The WEAX molecular properties were characterized by high-pressure size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) - triple detector array (TDA). Most of the barley malt WEAX showed a molecular weight over 4.0 × 105 Da with a random coil conformation. Compared to raw barley, the malts show analogous content of AX and WEAX, similar intrinsic viscosity, less rigid conformation, and higher polydispersity. The WEAX content of malt was highly and negatively related to the common quality parameters, resulting in a useful indicator of malt modification, even more representative than the total AX content. WEAX is highly positively related to the Congress wort viscosity, and thus, lautering could be more significantly affected by WEAX rather than total AX content.

Multi-locus genome-wide association studies reveal novel alleles for flowering time under vernalisation and extended photoperiod in a barley MAGIC population

Key messageKey genes controlling flowering and interactions of different photoperiod alleles with various environments were identified in a barley MAGIC population. A new candidate gene for vernalisation requirements was also detected.Optimal flowering time has a major impact on grain yield in crop species, including the globally important temperate cereal crop barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Understanding the genetics of flowering is a key avenue to enhancing yield potential. Although bi-parental populations were used intensively to map genes controlling flowering, their lack of genetic diversity requires additional work to obtain desired gene combinations in the selected lines, especially when the two parental cultivars did not carry the genes. Multi-parent mapping populations, which use a combination of four or eight parental cultivars, have higher genetic and phenotypic diversity and can provide novel genetic combinations that cannot be achieved using bi-parental populations. This study uses a Multi-parent advanced generation intercross (MAGIC) population from four commercial barley cultivars to identify genes controlling flowering time in different environmental conditions. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were performed using 5,112 high-quality markers from Diversity Arrays Technology sequencing (DArT-seq), and Kompetitive allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (KASP) genetic markers were developed. Phenotypic data were collected from fifteen different field trials for three consecutive years. Planting was conducted at various sowing times, and plants were grown with/without additional vernalisation and extended photoperiod treatments. This study detected fourteen stable regions associated with flowering time across multiple environments. GWAS combined with pangenome data highlighted the role of CEN gene in flowering and enabled the prediction of different CEN alleles from parental lines. As the founder lines of the multi-parental population are elite germplasm, the favourable alleles identified in this study are directly relevant to breeding, increasing the efficiency of subsequent breeding strategies and offering better grain yield and adaptation to growing conditions.

Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Bmy1 Intron III Alleles Conferring the Genotypic Variations in β-Amylase Activity under Drought Stress between Tibetan Wild and Cultivated Barley

β-amylase activity is related to the polymorphisms of Bmy1 intron III; however, no attention has been given to such relationships under environmental stresses such as drought. In this study, 73 cultivated barley genotypes and 52 Tibetan wild barley accessions were used to test the association between Bmy1 gene intron III polymorphisms and β-amylase activity under drought stress. Our results showed that three alleles, Bmy1.a, Bmy1.b, and Bmy1.c, existed in the examined barley genotypes. Tibetan wild barley had a higher proportion of Bmy1.b, whereas cultivated barley showed a higher proportion of Bmy1.a. Impressively, barley genotypes with Bmy1.b showed a significant increase in β-amylase activity under drought stress, compared with those with Bmy1.a or Bmy1.c, indicating that the Bmy1.b allele might provide more chances for developing barley cultivars with higher β-amylase activity under water stress than both the Bmy1.a and Bmy1.c alleles. Furthermore, the Tibetan wild barley XZ147, belonging to the Bmy1.b allele type, showed significantly higher β-amylase activity than Triumph under drought stress. This might be the result of the unique amino acid substitution M527 or the amino acid composition of R115, D165, A233, S347, and M527 of XZ147.

Effects of phenological stages, growth and meteorological factor on the albedo of different crop cultivars

Albedo is a key component of the atmospheric, climatologic and remote sensing studies by means of global warming, energy balance, evapotranspiration, climate models, hydrological cycle etc. For these reasons, the accurate determination of surface albedo has become more important. In this study, the variation of measured albedo values of winter wheat, barley and sunflower cultivars according to phenological stages was investigated for the first time in the northwestern part of Turkey. Additonally, influences of leaf area index as growth indicator and rainfall as meteorological variable on albedo were also analyzed. The average albedo values of winter wheat, barley and sunflower in both growing periods varied from 0.176 to 0.190 for winter wheat, from 0.171 to 0.189 for sunflower and from 0.187 to 0.214 for barley cultivars. According to phenological stages, the minimum and maximum average albedo values were found for winter wheat as 0.121 between sowing and germination and 0.247 between stem formation and head emergence; for sunflower as 0.150 between sowing and germination and 0.212 between leaf initiation and immature bud; for barley as 0.144 sowing and germination and 0.261 between head emergence and flowering stages. Additionally, significant relationships were found between albedo and leaf area index for winter wheat, barley and sunflower as r2=0.87, r2=0.82 and r2=0.77, respectively.

BaRTv2: a highly resolved barley reference transcriptome for accurate transcript-specific RNA-seq quantification.

SUMMARYAccurate characterisation of splice junctions (SJs) as well as transcription start and end sites in reference transcriptomes allows precise quantification of transcripts from RNA‐seq data, and enables detailed investigations of transcriptional and post‐transcriptional regulation. Using novel computational methods and a combination of PacBio Iso‐seq and Illumina short‐read sequences from 20 diverse tissues and conditions, we generated a comprehensive and highly resolved barley reference transcript dataset from the European 2‐row spring barley cultivar Barke (BaRTv2.18). Stringent and thorough filtering was carried out to maintain the quality and accuracy of the SJs and transcript start and end sites. BaRTv2.18 shows increased transcript diversity and completeness compared with an earlier version, BaRTv1.0. The accuracy of transcript level quantification, SJs and transcript start and end sites have been validated extensively using parallel technologies and analysis, including high‐resolution reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction and 5'‐RACE. BaRTv2.18 contains 39 434 genes and 148 260 transcripts, representing the most comprehensive and resolved reference transcriptome in barley to date. It provides an important and high‐quality resource for advanced transcriptomic analyses, including both transcriptional and post‐transcriptional regulation, with exceptional resolution and precision.

Powdery Mildew Resistance Genes in European Barley Cultivars Registered in the Czech Republic from 2016 to 2020.

Barley is an important crop grown annually on about 55 Mha and intensively cultivated in Europe. In central and north-western Europe, spring and winter barley can be grown in similar environments which creates suitable conditions for the development of barley pathogens, including Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei, the causal agent of powdery mildew. Apart from pesticide application, it can be controlled by inexpensive and environmentally-friendly genetic resistance. In this contribution, results of the resistance gene identification in 58 barley cultivars to powdery mildew are presented. In 56 of them their resistances were postulated and in two hybrid cultivars a recently developed method of gene identification was used. In total, 18 known resistance genes were found and several unknown genes were detected. In spring barley, a gene of durable resistance mlo is still predominant. MlVe found in winter SU Celly was the only new resistance gene recorded in barley cultivars registered in the Czech Republic in this time span. Since 2001 eight new genes of specific resistance have been identified in cultivars registered in the country and their response under field conditions is discussed, including the corresponding responses of the pathogen population due to directional selection. Different strategies for breeding spring and winter barley are recommended.

Registration of ‘USDA Fortress’ winter feed barley with multiple aphid resistance

Abstract‘USDA Fortress’ (Reg. no. CV‐375, PI 696161), a multiple aphid‐resistant, high yielding, six‐rowed, mid‐season–maturing, winter feed barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) adapted to the Southern Plains, was developed and released by USDA‐ARS in Stillwater, OK. USDA Fortress is highly resistant to Russian wheat aphid [RWA; Diuraphis noxia (Kurdjumov)] and greenbug [Shizaphis graminum (Rondani)], with seedling resistance to the new invasive pest, hedgehog grain aphid [HGA; Sipha maydis (Passerini)]. USDA Fortress has the pedigree ‘Post 90’ *4/R012. Recurrent parent Post 90 has Rsg1 resistance to greenbug, and R012 is an unadapted RWA‐resistant germplasm line selected by USDA‐ARS Stillwater from PI 10706. Post 90 and USDA Fortress rate 2 on Starks’ greenbug resistance scale of 1–9, while USDA Fortress and R012 rate a 3 on Websters Russian wheat aphid resistance scale of 1–9, where 1 is immune and 9 is dead on both scales. Over 17 location‐years, in the absence of aphids, grain yield of USDA Fortress was 19 and 12% greater than ‘Thoroughbred’ and Post 90, respectively. USDA Fortress has average test weight of 60 kg hl–1 and has stable grain yield over state‐wide variability in climatic conditions. USDA Fortress is the first multiple‐aphid resistant barley cultivar in the United States.