Barley Fields Research Articles

Distribution and Importance of Barley (<i>Hordeum vulgare</i>) Fungal Diseases in Ethiopia

Biotic factors were of the bottleneck elements that contributed to yield reduction of Barley in Ethiopia, including fungal, viral and bacterial diseases. However, fungal diseases were the most significant important compared to others. The major constraints of Barley production in the country were diseases. This study was aimed to identify, document, prioritize and know the distribution of fungal diseases of Barley in Ethiopia, to map the spatial distribution area for economically important Barley diseases. Field surveys were carried out at the period of 2017 and 2018/19 main growing season in major Barley growing agroecological zones of the country. From each representative zone of major growing areas, districts were surveyed based on production of Barley fields each averaging 1 ha at the interval of 5-10 km along road side. Each sampling point was checked with the global positioning system (GPS) using GPS receiver for altitude and co-ordinates. Survey results revealed the prevalence and intensity of different diseases of Barley across all the districts even though at different levels. Among 101 observed fields, Scald was the most prevalent (79.2%) while the overall mean maximum incidence was recorded for Spot blotch (68.4%), the highest percent severity (9.5%) was recorded for loose smut. Initiation of integrated diseases management option at hot spot area of each disease was suggested, in addition to continuously evaluating the new sources of Barley genotypes for further breeding program.

Improved Prediction of Leaf Emergence for Efficacious Crop Protection: Assessing Field Variability in Phyllotherms for Upper Leaves in Winter Wheat and Winter Barley

The choice of the phyllotherm value for predicting leaf emergence under field conditions is pivotal to the success of fungicide-based disease risk management in temperate cereals. In this study, we investigated phyllotherm variability for predicting the emergence of the three uppermost leaves (i.e., three last leaves to emerge) in winter wheat and winter barley fields. Data from four sites representative of wheat and barley growing regions in Luxembourg were used within the PROCULTURE model to predict the emergence of F-2, F-1 and F (F being the flag leaf) during the 2014–2019 cropping seasons. The phyllotherms tested ranged between 100 °Cd and 160 °Cd, in 15 °Cd steps, including the current default value of 130 °Cd. The comparisons between the observed and predicted emerged leaf area were qualitatively evaluated using the mean absolute error (MAE), the root mean square error (RMSE) and Willmott’s index (WI). A phyllotherm of 100 °Cd accurately and reliably predicted the emergence of all three upper leaves under the various environmental conditions and crop cultivars of winter wheat and winter barley over the study period. MAE and RMSE were generally <5% and the WI values were most often ≥0.90 for F-1 and F. For phyllotherm values ≥115 °Cd, the prediction errors generally increased for F-1 and F, with MAE and RMSE exceeding 20% in most cases. F-2 agreement between observed and predicted values was generally similar when using 100 °Cd or 115 °Cd. These results tie in valuable, complementary information regarding the variability of phyllotherms within leaf layers in winter wheat and winter barley in Luxembourg. Accurate and reliable leaf emergence prediction from F-2 to F allows for timely fungicide application, which ensures lasting protection against infections by foliar fungal disease pathogens. Hence, understanding phyllotherms can help ensure timely, environmentally sound, and efficacious fungicide application while increasing the likelihood of improved yields of winter wheat and winter barley.

Pyrenophora teres and Rhynchosporium secalis Establishment in a Mediterranean Malt Barley Field: Assessing Spatial, Temporal and Management Effects

Malt barley is one of the promising crops in Greece, mainly due to high yields and contract farming, which have led to an increase in malt barley acreage. Net form net blotch (NFNB), caused by Pyrenophora teres f. teres, and barley leaf scald, caused by Rhynchosporium secalis, are among the most important barley diseases worldwide and particularly in Greece. Their occurrence in malt barley can exert a significant negative effect on malt barley grain yield and quality. An experimental trial across two growing seasons was implemented in Greece in order (i) to estimate the epidemiology of NFNB and leaf scald in a barley disease-free area when the initial inoculation of the field occurs through infected seeds, (ii) to explore the spatial dynamics of disease spread under the interaction of the nitrogen rate and genotype when there are limited sources of infected host residues in the soil and (iii) to assess the relationship among the nitrogen rate, grain yield, quality variables (i.e., grain protein content and grain size) and disease severity. It was confirmed that both NFNB and leaf scald can be carried over from one season to the next on infected seed under Mediterranean conditions. However, the disease severity was more pronounced after the barley tillering phase when the soil had been successfully inoculated, which supports the hypothesis that the most important source of primary inoculum for NFNB comes from infected host residue. Increasing the rate of nitrogen application, when malt barley was cultivated in the same field for a second year in a row, caused a non-significant increase in disease severity for both pathogens from anthesis onwards. However, hotspot and commonality analyses revealed that spatial and genotypic effects were mainly responsible for hiding this effect. In addition, it was found that the effect of disease infections on yield, grain size and grain protein content varied in relation to the genotype, pathogen and stage of crop development. The importance of crop residues in the evolution of both diseases was also highlighted.

Peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance Pythium oligandrum strain M1.

The conclusions of EFSA following the peer review of the initial risk assessments carried out by the competent authorities of the rapporteur Member State Sweden and co‐rapporteur Member State Hungary for the pesticide active substance Pythium oligandrum strain M1 and the considerations as regards the inclusion of the substance in Annex IV of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 are reported. The context of the peer review was that required by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 844/2012, as amended by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2018/1659. The conclusions were reached on the basis of the evaluation of the representative uses of Pythium oligandrum strain M1 as a fungicide on oil seed rape, wheat and spring barley (field use). The reliable end points, appropriate for use in regulatory risk assessment, are presented. Missing information identified as being required by the regulatory framework is listed. Concerns are identified.

Races of Puccinia graminis on barley, oat, and wheat in Canada from 2015 to 2019

Stem rust is a major disease on barley, oat, and wheat crops worldwide. The primary means of control is by host resistance genes that are incorporated into commercial varieties and have been effective against most races of Puccinia graminis Pers., the causal pathogen. Since this pathogen continually mutates, analyzing the population virulence structure is crucial to detect new races with increased virulence. Stem rust samples were collected from 2015 to 2019 from the Canadian provinces of Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan to find the prevalence of stem rust in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), oat (Avena sativa L.), and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) fields and the virulence dynamics in the two pathogen populations. Stem rust was absent in cultivated wheat and at trace (<1%) levels of incidence in barley and oat fields in all years. While the dominant races of P. graminis f. sp. tritici were MCCDC (54.5%) and TPMKC (27.3%) in 2015, and TMRTF (29.2%) in 2016, race QFCSC was dominant in 2017 (52.0%), 2018 (88.4%), and 2019 (81.3%). The dominant race of P. graminis f. sp. avenae was TJS from 2015 to 2018. Race TJS declined in frequency across the years, from 89.5% (2015) to 73.7% (2016), 42.6% (2017), 49.1% (2018), and only 14.3% in 2019. The dominant races in 2019 were SGB (51.7%) and TGN (19.6%). One new race (TJQ) of P. graminis f. sp. avenae was detected in 2016 at one location near Emerson, Manitoba, which may have arisen from a single-step mutation to avirulence to Pg15 from race TJS.

Five‐year survey uncovers extensive diversity and temporal fluctuations among fusarium head blight pathogens of wheat and barley in Brazil

AbstractWe conducted a five‐year survey (2011–2015) of barley and wheat fields in Paraná state, Brazil, obtaining 754 Fusarium isolates from spikes with fusarium head blight (FHB)‐symptoms. Multilocus genotyping and TEF‐1α gene sequence analyses confirmed the dominance of the F. graminearum species complex (FGSC, 75.7%), but F. poae (11.5%), as well as F. avenaceum and related members of the F. tricinctum species complex (FTSC, 8.1%) appeared as substantial contributors to FHB. Within the FGSC, F. graminearum of the 15‐ADON genotype was dominant (63%), followed by F. meridionale of the NIV genotype (23.1%), F. cortaderiae of the NIV (7%) or 3‐ADON (2.6%) genotypes, and F. austroamericanum (3.8%) of the 3‐ADON genotype. Substantial variation in pathogen composition was observed across years, with F. poae and F. meridionale frequencies significantly elevated in some years. Most F. poae strains produced DAS, diANIV, and butenolide, but not neosolaniol, T‐2, or HT‐2. All FTSC species produced moniliformin. Enniatin production was widespread among FTSC species, with the single F. acuminatum strain found to be the strongest producer of enniatins. Our findings confirm FGSC as a major contributor to FHB and expand considerably our knowledge of the presence, frequency, and conditions under which other pathogens may emerge, altering the spectrum of toxins that may accumulate in grain.

Identification of Subgenomic DNAs Associated with Wheat Dwarf Virus Infection in Iran.

Background: Wheat dwarf virus (WDV) is a leafhopper-transmitted DNA virus which causes yellowing and stunting in wheat and barley fields leading to considerable crop loss around the world. Mainly, two host-specific forms of WDV have been characterized in wheat and barley (WDV-Wheat and WDV-Barley, respectively).Objectives: This study was aimed to amplify, sequence and describe subgenomic DNAs (sgDNAs) associated with WDV infection among wheat and barley plants. The nucleotide sequence of sgDNAs were then compared to that of parental genomic DNAs (gDNAs) and the differences were shown.Materials and Methods: A total of 65 symptomatic plants were surveyed for WDV infection using double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Rolling circle amplification followed by restriction analysis (RCA-RA) was applied to identify both gDNAs and sgDNAs in the infected wheat and barley plants. Nucleotide sequence of eight full-length WDV genomes and five sgDNAs were determined.Results: Genomic sequences of WDV-Wheat and WDV-Barley isolates obtained in this study were identified as WDV-F and WDV-B, respectively, forming a separate cluster in the phylogenetic tree with the highest bootstrap support (100%). Sequence analysis of sgDNA molecules revealed that they have undergone different mutation events including deletions in viral genes, duplication of coding regions, and insertion of host-derived sequencesConclusions: The association of different types of sgDNAs were found in WDV-infected wheat and barley plants. The sgDNAs exhibited remarkable changes compared to their parental molecules and they might play a role in symptom severity, host genome evolution and emergence of new virus variants/species.

Assessing Effects of Agronomic Nitrogen Management on Crop Nitrogen Use and Nitrogen Losses in the Western Canadian Prairies

Effective agronomic nitrogen management strategies ensure optimum productivity, reduce nitrogen losses, and enhance economic profitability and environmental quality. Farmers in western Canada make key decisions on formulation, rate, timing and placement of fertilizer nitrogen that are suitable for soils, weather, and farming operations within which they operate. Suitability of agronomic nitrogen management options are assessed by estimates from linear interpolations and extrapolations of temporally and spatially discrete field-plot measurements of nitrogen responses. Such estimates do not account for non-linear and offsetting biogeochemical feedbacks of nitrogen cycles and cannot provide comprehensive nitrogen budgets for alternative nitrogen management options. These limitations can be overcome by using process-based agro-ecosystem models that adequately simulate basic processes of nitrogen biogeochemical cycles and are rigorously tested against site observations. Ecosys is a process-based ecosystem model, which successfully simulated the biogeochemical feedbacks among nitrogen, carbon, and phosphorus cycles across different agro-ecosystems. This study deployed ecosys to generate spatially and temporally continuous estimates to assess crop nitrogen use and agronomic nitrogen losses from the crop fields across Alberta for alternative nitrogen fertilizer management scenarios. The study simulated effects of four nitrogen management scenarios: fall banded urea, fall banded ESN (Environmentally Smart Nitrogen), spring banded urea, and spring banded ESN on nitrogen recovery and losses from barley fields on mid-slope landforms. These simulations were done at township grids of ~10km x 10km over 2011-2015 utilizing provincial soil and climate datasets. Modelled annual N2O, N2 and NH3 emissions, and nitrogen losses in surface runoff and sub-surface discharge were lower by about 25%, 30%, 70%, and 40% respectively with spring banding than in fall banding across Alberta. Modelled barley yields and grain nitrogen uptake were similar in spring and fall banding indicating agro-economic and environmental sustainability advantage of spring banding in Alberta. These modelled estimates were consistent with estimates based on plot and laboratory research for Alberta and similar prairie conditions. This study pioneered a methodology of process-based agroecosystem modelling, which is replicable and scalable to assess cumulative impacts of alternative agronomic nitrogen management options on crop production and the environment on provincial, regional, federal, continental and global scales.

Response of kernel growth of barley genotypes with different row type to climatic factors before and after inflection point of grain filling

Abstract Changes in patterns of rainfall and rising temperatures during grain development have already negatively affected yield gains of temperate cereals. This article reports on barley field trials with 15 two- and 10 six-row barley genotypes evaluated in eight environments where terminal drought was simulated by leaf defoliation applied seven days after heading. The experimental years were contrasting in terms of temperatures during grain filling. The focus of the study was to determine which barley type was more sensitive to terminal drought and high temperatures. The grain filling period was divided in two sub-periods: before (P1) and after (P2) inflection point (IP) of the growth curve, which occurs at the instant when the rate of accumulation ceases to accelerate and begins to slow down. For each period, climatic factors were calculated and their effects on the mean kernel growth rate (RG) were analyzed. To explore genotype × environment interactions for production per spike (PPS), the regression approach was adopted using climatic data in P1 and P2 as explanatory variables. Two-row barley had a significantly longer IP than six-row barley. IP was in a negative relationship with RG and PPS in both barley types. Six-row barley showed higher RG sensibility than two-row barley to drought stress during the period of the extensive kernel growth (P1). The number of days with moderately high (between 25 and 30 °C) and high (over 30 °C) temperatures had a higher negative effect on RG of two-row barley than six-row barley, particularly in P2. On the other hand, minimum temperatures were more negative for RG of the six-row barley than two-row barley, particularly under control conditions. In general, two-row barley showed better adaptation to low yielding environments, while six-row barley was more responsive to high yielding environments.

Using NASA Earth observations and Google Earth Engine to map winter cover crop conservation performance in the Chesapeake Bay watershed

Winter cover crops such as barley, rye, and wheat help to improve soil structure by increasing porosity, aggregate stability, and organic matter, while reducing the loss of agricultural nutrients and sediments into waterways. The environmental performance of cover crops is affected by choice of species, planting date, planting method, nutrient inputs, temperature, and precipitation. The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) oversees an agricultural cost-share program that provides farmers with funding to cover costs associated with planting winter cover crops, and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) have partnered with the MDA to develop satellite remote sensing techniques for measuring cover crop performance. The MDA has developed the capacity to digitize field boundaries for all fields enrolled in their cover crop programs (>26,000 fields per year) to support a remote sensing performance analysis at a statewide scal,e and has requested assistance with the associated imagery processing from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Using the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud computing platform, scripts were developed to process Landsat 5/7/8 and Harmonized Sentinel-2 imagery to measure winter cover crop performance. We calibrated cover crop performance models using linear regression between satellite vegetation indices and USGS / USDA-ARS field sampling data collected on Maryland farms between 2006 and 2012 (1298 samples). Satellite-derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) values showed significant correlation with the natural logarithm of cover crop biomass (p ≤0.01, R2 = 0.56) and with observed percent vegetative ground cover (p ≤0.01, R2 = 0.68). The GEE scripts were used to composite seasonal maximum NDVI values for each enrolled cover crop field and calculate performance metrics for the winter and spring seasons of three enrollment years (2014–15, 2015–16, and 2017–18) for four Maryland counties. Results from winter 2017–18 demonstrate that rye and barley fields had higher biomass than wheat fields, and that early planting, along with planting methods that increase seed-soil contact, increased performance. The processing capabilities of GEE will support the MDA in scaling up remote sensing performance analysis statewide, providing information to evaluate the environmental outcomes associated with various agronomic management strategies. The tool can be modified for different seasonal cutoffs, utilize new sensors to capture phenology in winter and spring, and scale to larger regions for use in adaptive management of winter cover crops planted for environmental benefit. Project supportThis project was supported by the USGS Land Change Science Program within the Land Resources Mission Area, the USDA Choptank River Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP), the USDA Lower Chesapeake Bay Long Term Agricultural Research (LTAR) Project; the Maryland Department of Agriculture; and the NASA DEVELOP National Program.

Observation of Weed Species, Frequency and Density in Common Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Fields of Diyarbakir, Turkey: A Case Study

The weed species in the common barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) fields in the Diyarbakir were observed with this study. For this purpose, 50 quadrats of 1m by 1m (1 m-2) were randomly placed and examined at each study site. In every set of the quadrat, frequency and density were observed throughout the cropping season of 2015-2016. During the course of field study 72 weed species belonging to 21 families, 13 grasses, 59 broadleaves were recorded. The common families were Asteraceae and Poaceae in the common barley fields. The encounter frequency of weeds was determined by observing 80% wild mustard (Sinapis arvensis L., 80%), animated oat (Avena sterilis L., 63%), common wild oat (Avena fatua L., 54%), corn buttercup (Ranunculus arvensis L., 54%), corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas L., 52%), creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop., 51%), volunteer lentils (Lens culinaris Medik., 51%). Wild mustard, which had the highest frequency was also the densest weed species (5.18 plant m-2), and other species such as animated oat (4.33 plant m-2), creeping thistle (1.77 plant m-2), common wild oat (1.72 plant m-2), corn buttercup (1.47 plant m-2), cleavers (1.38 plant m-2), corn poppy (1.22 plant m-2), volunteer lentils (1.07 plant m-2) were important species at all the observed fields. It was observed that the great infestation was shown by broadleaf weeds due to the lack of effective weed control in the barley areas.

Races of Puccinia graminis on barley, oat, and wheat in Canada in 2013 and 2014

Stem rust, caused by Puccinia graminis, is a catastrophic disease that has and continues to cause yield losses in barley, oat, and wheat crops worldwide. Use of host resistance genes is the most economic, efficient, and environmentally best method to control the disease. Resistance genes have been incorporated into most commercial cultivars and have been effective, for races in the North American populations of P. graminis. However, new races of stem rust are constantly emerging and therefore it is imperative to monitor the virulence structure in the populations to detect new races with increased virulence. Stem rust samples were collected in 2013 and 2014 in Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan to determine the incidence and severity of stem rust in barley (Hordeum vulgare), oat (Avena sativa), and wheat (Triticum aestivum) fields and to characterize the virulence dynamics in the pathogen populations. No stem rust was found in cultivated wheat, and incidence was at trace (<1%) levels in barley fields and very low (0–5%) levels in oat fields in 2013 and 2014. In wheat trap plots and collections from barley, race QFCSC of P. graminis f. sp. tritici was dominant in 2013 (85.9%) and was the only race found in 2014. Races MCCFC, QTHJF, RFCSC, RKQSC, and TMRTF were at low (<5%) levels in 2013. From collections in oat fields and stands of wild barley, nine races of P. graminis f. sp. avenae were found in 2013, with TJS (56.9%) and TJJ (23.5%) the most frequent. In 2014, we found only six races and TJS (74.5%) and TJJ (19.1%) were the most frequent. No new races of stem rust were detected in Canada in 2013 or 2014.

Do Long-Term Continuous Cropping and Pesticides Affect Earthworm Communities?

Earthworm species composition, the density of individuals, and their biomass were investigated in spring barley and faba bean fields in a long-term (52-year) experiment conducted at the Production and Experimental Station in Bałcyny, in north-eastern Poland (53°40′ N; 19°50′ E). Additionally, post-harvest residues biomass, soil organic matter (SOM), and soil pH were recorded. The above traits were investigated using two experimental factors: I. cropping system—continuous cropping (CC) vs. crop rotation (CR) and II. pesticide plant protection: herbicide + fungicide (HF+) vs. no plant protection (HF−). A total of three species of Lumbricidae were found: Aporrectodea caliginosa (Sav.) in both crops, Aporrectodea rosea (Sav.) in spring barley, and Lumbricus terrestris (L.) in faba bean. The density and biomass of earthworms were unaffected by experimental treatments in spring barley fields, whereas in faba bean CC increased and HF+ decreased earthworm density and biomass in comparison with CR and HF− respectively. Total post-harvest residues in faba bean fields were higher under CC in relation to CR and under HF+ compared with HF− treatment in both crops. Compared to CR, CC increased soil pH in spring barley fields and decreased in faba bean fields. Experimental factors did not affect SOM. Earthworm density and biomass were positively correlated with SOM content.

Scald on gramineous hosts in Iran and their potential threat to cultivated barley

There are five described Rhynchosporium species, Rhynchosporium commune, R. secalis, R. agropyri, R. orthosporum and R. lolii, that cause scald diseases on Poaceae. This study used morphological (conidial shape and size) and phylogenetic analyses of two loci (the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and β-tubulin (TUBB)) to identify Rhynchosporium species and their host ranges in Iran. Despite the large variation observed for Rhynchosporium conidial dimensions, the phylogenetic analyses of the ITS region and concatenated ITS and TUBB loci revealed that all isolates from wild grasses in Iran belong to R. commune. R. commune was isolated from Hordeum murinum ssp. glaucum, Hordeum vulgare ssp. spontaneum, Lolium multiflorum and Avena sativa in Iran. A. sativa has only been reported from Iran as a host for R. commune. After cross inoculation, A. sativa was considered as the most resistant host showing the lowest susceptibility to R. commune isolates. Of the grass hosts tested, H. vulgare ssp. spontaneum was the most susceptible. The most aggressive isolate across all tested hosts was isolated from Hordeum murinum ssp. glaucum. Cross-infection of the R. commune isolates from all hosts onto uncultivated grasses and cultivated barley suggests the potential of the uncultivated grasses as inoculum sources for cultivated barley epidemics and pathogen evolution. Thus, management of uncultivated grasses in the vicinity of barley fields should assist in managing the disease on cultivated barley.

The Effect of Different Fertilizer on Aphids Populations

Hordeum vulgare is one of the most important cereal crop plants and severe attacked by aphid. Present study was designed to evaluate the effect of different fertilizers and their combination on aphid infestation in barley. Three different fertilizer i. e. urea, DAP, and urea+DAP were applied to three different barley fields after 25 days of germinations. Data was recorded after every 10 days. Results showed that lowest pest population was recorded in urea+DAP field. DOI : 10.7176/ALST/77-01 Publication date: January 31 st 2020

Localized Genetic and Phenotypic Diversity of Xanthomonas translucens Associated With Bacterial Leaf Streak on Wheat and Barley in Minnesota.

Bacterial leaf streak (BLS) of wheat and barley has been a disease of increasing concern in the Upper Midwest over the past decade. In this study, intra- and interfield genetic and pathogenic diversity of bacteria causing BLS in Minnesota was evaluated. In 2015, 89 strains were isolated from 100 leaf samples collected from two wheat and two barley fields naturally infected with BLS. Virulence assays and multilocus sequence alignments of four housekeeping genes supported pathovar identifications. All wheat strains were pathogenic on wheat and barley and belonged to the same lineage as the Xanthomonas translucens pv. undulosa-type strain. All barley strains were pathogenic on barley but not on wheat. Three lineages of barley strains were detected. The frequency and number of sequence types of each pathovar varied within and between fields. A significant population variance was detected between populations of X. translucens pv. undulosa collected from different wheat fields. Population stratification of X. translucens pv. translucens was not detected. Significant differences in virulence were detected among three dominant sequence types of X. translucens pv. undulosa but not those of X. translucens pv. translucens. Field trials with wheat and barley plants inoculated with strains of known sequence type and virulence did not detect significant race structures within either pathovar. Knowledge of virulence, sequence types, and population structures of X. translucens on wheat and barley can support studies on plant-bacterial interactions and breeding for BLS disease resistance.

First Report of Aspergillus parasiticus on Barley Grain in Serbia

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is a secondary grain crop in Serbia used commercially for animal feed, seed, and human food applications. The production of barley in the 2016 to 2017 growing season reached a record yield of almost 400,000 metric tons (USDA 2017). Aspergillus contamination has been rare in the agroecological conditions of cereal-growing areas in Serbia. Changes in climatic factors, such as occurrence of high temperatures and prolonged droughts, increased frequency of Aspergillus spp. Species Aspergillus parasiticus was isolated from maize grain for the first time in Serbia in 2012 and from wheat grains in 2017 (Nikolic et al. 2018). We hypothesized that these pathogens can also be present in barley fields in Serbia. Barley spikes exhibiting bleaching were sampled at the beginning of June 2017 grown in northern Serbia. In severe infections, barley spikes get a dry look with awns that stand upright and firm. The incidence of the disease of the bleached spiked in the field was 15 to 20%. From each representative sample, 100 shriveled grains were collected. After surface sterilization with bleach/distilled water 1:3, 100 grains per sample (10 per Petri dish) were placed on potato dextrose agar and incubated at 25°C for 7 days. After isolation, 50% of isolates were identified as Alternaria spp., 20% as Fusarium spp., approximately 15% as Aspergillus spp. In order to reliably identify individual species of fungi, the fragments of colonies were transferred to malt extract agar (MEA) and Czapek yeast agar (CYA) and incubated in the dark for 7 days. The fungal colonies were dark green. The reverse side was pale yellow. The average colony diameter was 65 mm. Conidia were spherical and rough with thick walls. The average size of conidia was 5.1 µm. Colonies were floccose and thin on MEA and CYA. Based on growth and morphological characteristics, isolates were determined as A. parasiticus (Pitt and Hocking 2009). Molecular detection of Aspergillus species was done by using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the aflR-aflJ (genes for aflatoxin biosynthesis) intergenic spacer. The restriction enzyme BglII was able to cut the PCR product of A. parasiticus at one restriction site, resulting in two fragments of 363 and 311 bp (El Khoury et al. 2011). A. parasiticus CBS 100926 was used as a reference isolate. The pathogenicity of 20 isolates was verified on a group of 20 randomly selected spikes in four replicates (Mesterhazy et al. 1999). A 7-day-old culture of each isolate was used for the preparation of the spore suspension (1 × 10⁶ spores/ml). Inoculation was carried out after 50% of plants reached the anthesis stage. Groups of 20 selected spikes were sprayed from all sides with 20 ml of fungal spore suspension. Control spikes were inoculated by applying an equal amount of sterile distilled water. The infection rate was estimated after 3 weeks on a 1 to 7 scale, with 1 = 0 to 5%, 2 = 5 to 15%, 3 = 15 to 30%, 4 = 30 to 50%, 5 = 50 to 75%, 6 = 75 to 90%, and 7 = 90 to 100% infected spike area. The average infection rate was 3.2. The pathogen was reisolated from the inoculated spikes and identified as A. parasiticus, with the aim to confirm Koch’s postulates. Developed symptoms were similar to those observed on spikes collected from the field. Control spikes did not show any symptoms of the disease. These results confirmed the pathogenicity of A. parasiticus on H. vulgare. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the occurrence of A. parasiticus on barley grain in Serbia. Because A. parasiticus is known to be a severe aflatoxin producer and climatic changes can increase the frequency of this fungus, further studies are necessary to improve strategies for food safety and quality.

Selection of Sustainable Food Waste Valorisation Routes: A Case Study with Barley Field Residue

PurposeIt is increasingly accepted in the food and drink manufacturing sector that there is a need to manage unavoidable food waste more sustainably. Yet to do so requires careful balancing of environmental, social and economic performance of any given treatment method alongside its technological maturity and alignment with that company’s wider business goals. The purpose of this article is to apply a novel Sustainable Waste Valorisation Identification (SWaVI) framework which considers these criteria to a case study with Molson Coors to identify whether the current strategy of using In Field Barley Straw Residue as animal feed is the most sustainable.MethodsData was collected via a series of interviews with Molson Coors in spring 2017. Data analysis used a hybrid approach combining Cost–Benefit Analysis and Life-Cycle Assessment with a weighted summation variant of Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis to facilitate comparison of supercritical CO2 extraction of wax from straw, with the current strategy of selling that straw as animal feed.ResultsApplication of the SWaVI framework suggests that supercritical CO2 extraction of wax from straw offers a slightly worse Net Present Value compared to sale as animal feed (£89.1 million compared to £95.3 million) but superior social impacts, technological maturity and alignment with company goals making it superior overall.ConclusionsWhilst the supercritical CO2 extraction of wax offers the best sustainability and business case performance for Molson Coors, a range of other factors such as long-term market demand, alignment with relevant legislation, and displacement effects on supply chain stakeholders must be considered.Graphic

Estimating Nitrogen from Structural Crop Traits at Field Scale—A Novel Approach Versus Spectral Vegetation Indices

A sufficient nitrogen (N) supply is mandatory for healthy crop growth, but negative consequences of N losses into the environment are known. Hence, deeply understanding and monitoring crop growth for an optimized N management is advisable. In this context, remote sensing facilitates the capturing of crop traits. While several studies on estimating biomass from spectral and structural data can be found, N is so far only estimated from spectral features. It is well known that N is negatively related to dry biomass, which, in turn, can be estimated from crop height. Based on this indirect link, the present study aims at estimating N concentration at field scale in a two-step model: first, using crop height to estimate biomass, and second, using the modeled biomass to estimate N concentration. For comparison, N concentration was estimated from spectral data. The data was captured on a spring barley field experiment in two growing seasons. Crop surface height was measured with a terrestrial laser scanner, seven vegetation indices were calculated from field spectrometer measurements, and dry biomass and N concentration were destructively sampled. In the validation, better results were obtained with the models based on structural data (R2 &lt; 0.85) than on spectral data (R2 &lt; 0.70). A brief look at the N concentration of different plant organs showed stronger dependencies on structural data (R2: 0.40–0.81) than on spectral data (R2: 0.18–0.68). Overall, this first study shows the potential of crop-specific across‑season two-step models based on structural data for estimating crop N concentration at field scale. The validity of the models for in-season estimations requires further research.

First Report on Identification of Fusarium graminearum Species Complex Members from Turkey and Iran

Fusarium graminearum species complex is the major Fusarium head blight disease pathogen in worldwide. Fusarium head blight disease lead to damages on small grain cereals. The identification of the F. graminearum species complex is important for improving disease control and management. Traditional identification methods such as macroscopy and microscopy analysis need to be supported by biochemical and genetics assays. Thus, DNA sequencing-based methods is one of the most preferred, reliable, low priced in the identification methods. In the study, 54 F. graminearum isolates obtained from diseased wheat, barley and corn fields in Turkey and Iran were identified by morphological characteristics and then characterized by species-specific SCAR marker. β-tubulin, Tef1-α, 28s rDNA and Histone H3 genes amplified, purified and then sequenced. The merged multiloci length was obtained as last of all 2215 bp. These sequencing results was used to multiloci genotyping assays. Last of all, 20 isolates were determined as F. graminearum sensu stricto by multiloci genotyping analysis. Remaining isolates were identified as F. asiaticum or Fusarium sp. . The findings are important in terms of revealing the first-time identification in Turkish and Iranian isolates as F. graminearum species complex members by amplification four (β-tubulin, Tef1-α, 28s rDNA and Histone H3) highly conserved DNA regions.