Barley Research Articles

Biological protection of spring barley from root rot under the conditions of the Republic of Mari El

Biological protection of spring barley from root rot under the conditions of the Republic of Mari El

Improvement of lactose digestion by highland barley (Hordeum vulgare var. coeleste L.) β-glucan: Activation of lactase under simulated gastric/small intestinal digestive conditions

β-Galactosidase (lactase) plays a crucial role as a dietary supplement in managing lactose intolerance. Here, the catalytic activity of lactase was successfully activated for the first time through complexation with water-extractable β-glucans from highland barley (WHBG). Under simulated gastric/small intestinal digestive conditions, WHBG and lactase spontaneously formed complexes, resulting in a remarkable increase in catalytic activity up to 172.6 %. Structural analyses revealed that the incorporation of WHBG caused partial unfolding of lactase, thereby exposing its hydrophobic regions with active sites, and the electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions between the two played pivotal roles. Meanwhile, according to microstructure and particle size analyses, the dissociation of aggregates and the re-distribution of lactase molecules were also observed. Consequently, the enzyme-substrate contact was promoted, and the hydrolysis efficiency of complexed lactase in the digestion of lactose in milk was superior to that of native lactase. Notably, among WHBG30/50/70 obtained by continuous fractionation of WHBG with 30 %/50 %/70 % ethanol, WHBG70 exhibited the lowest molecular weights and size, and the highest negative ζ-potential, potentially contributing to its superior activation abilities on lactase. These findings challenge the traditional view of polysaccharides as enzyme inhibitors and highlight their potential for diverse applications.

Automated seminal root angle measurement with corrective annotation.

Measuring seminal root angle is an important aspect of root phenotyping, yet automated methods are lacking. We introduce SeminalRootAngle, a novel open-source automated method that measures seminal root angles from images. To ensure our method is flexible and user-friendly we build on an established corrective annotation training method for image segmentation. We tested SeminalRootAngle on a heterogeneous dataset of 662 spring barley rhizobox images, which presented challenges in terms of image clarity and root obstruction. Validation of our new automated pipeline against manual measurements yielded a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.71. We also measure inter-annotator agreement, obtaining a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.68, indicating that our new pipeline provides similar root angle measurement accuracy to manual approaches. We use our new SeminalRootAngle tool to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) significantly associated with angle and length, shedding light on the genetic basis of root architecture.

Individual and combinatorial application of nanosilica and carbon nanoparticles alleviate nickel stress in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.): Impacts on gene expression, AsA − GSH cycle, cellular fractionation, and proline metabolism

Nanotechnology is grabbing great attention all over the world because of its stimulating use in numerous fields, and the nanosilica (nSi) and carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) application has been examined in various studies. Conversely, the nSi and CNPs combinatorial use is a new method and researched in limited literature. For this purpose, a pot experiment was conducted to examine various growth and biochemical parameters in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) under the toxic concentration of nickel (Ni) i.e., 200 mg kg−1 which were primed with combined application of two NPs of nSi at 3 mM and CNPs i.e., 200 μM respectively. The results showed that the Ni toxicity in the soil showed a significantly (P < 0.05) declined in the growth, gas exchange attributes, sugars, AsA-GSH cycle, cellular fractionation, proline metabolism in H. vulgare. However, Ni toxicity significantly (P < 0.05) increased oxidative stress biomarkers, enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants including their gene expression in H. vulgare. Although, the application of nSi and CNPs showed a significant (P < 0.05) increase in the plant growth and biomass, gas exchange characteristics, enzymatic and non-enzymatic compounds and their gene expression and also decreased the oxidative stress, and Ni uptake. In addition, individual or combined application of nSi and CNPs enhanced the cellular fractionation and decreases the proline metabolism and AsA−GSH cycle in H. vulgare. These results open new insights for sustainable agriculture practices and hold immense promise in addressing the pressing challenges of heavy metal contamination in agricultural soils.

A Systematic Review of Barley (Hordeum vulgare Linn.) in Unani Medicine with Recent Advances

Objective: The present review article focuses on exploring the wide dimensions of barley including botanical description, nutritional composition, phytochemistry, experimental pharmacology, and clinical studies along with its traditional uses in Unani medicine. Background: Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) which is referred to as ‘Jao’ in the Unani system of medicine has a long history of utilization as a food and medicine. It belongs to family Poaceae and is considered as one of the founder crops of old-world agriculture. Methodology: A manual literature survey of classical Unani texts was conducted to collect the information available on ‘Jao’. Besides, a comprehensive search of electronic databases like PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct, was carried out to collect all the available information regarding its phytochemical, pharmacological and clinical studies. Result: In Unani medicine, barley is an important drug commonly used in many disorders of the respiratory system, gastrointestinal system, musculoskeletal system, skin, etc. It is used to treat obesity, diabetes, headache, pain and inflammation of the throat, acute swelling of joints and gout, chronic swellings, diarrhoea, fever, skin eruptions, hyperpigmentation of the skin, etc. Recent studies revealed that barley constitutes beta-glucan and a myriad of bioactive compounds that play numerous biological activities such as hypoglycemic, hypocholesterolemic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-obesity, anticancer, and wound healing activities. Conclusion: Barley is a potent drug that exhibits a wide range of health benefits, most of which have been confirmed via preclinical and clinical studies. This review may thus be helpful for the research community as well as common people to avail the benefits of this drug. Keywords: Barley, Beta-glucan, Hordeum vulgare, Jao, Unani medicine

ВАЛИДАЦИЯ МЕТОДИКИ ОПРЕДЕЛЕНИЯ СВОБОДНЫХ И СВЯЗАННЫХ ПОЛИФЕНОЛОВ В РАСТЕНИЯХ ЯЧМЕНЯ МЕТОДОМ СПЕКТРОФОТОМЕТРИИ

The article represents the results of a research of the total content and content of free polyphenols in the grain and straw of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). The content of polyphenols was determined by measuring the optical density of solutions containing blue-colored compounds formed between polyphenols of raw plant and molybdenum complexes of the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. The suitability of the method was confirmed by two characteristics: linearity and repeatability. The study found that the total content and content of free polyphenols in barley straw is higher (21.9±0.6 and 4.78±0.09 mg/g) than in grain (8.7±0.6 and 2.49±0.13 mg/g). The research revealed that the method for determining polyphenols is valid and allows to determine the content of polyphenols in barley plants.

Estimation of production and monitoring of a varietal composition of the sown winter barley seeds in the Rostov region

Estimation of production and monitoring of a varietal composition of the sown winter barley seeds in the Rostov region

PSIV-28 Determination of the extent and rate of nutrient degradation of potato and other byproducts by rumen microorganisms in vitro

Abstract Byproducts in livestock diets have the potential to reduce the environmental impact of food production and the cost of animal feeding. The objective was to evaluate the extent and rate of nutrient degradability of potato and other byproducts by rumen microorganisms in vitro. Byproducts included barley malt sprouts, fries, dry peel, and hopper, which were supplied by Performix Nutrition Solutions (Nampa, ID). Two in vitro incubators (DAISYII, ANKOM Technology) each with four incubation jars were used to evaluate ruminal degradability of dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF). Each jar contained 1,600 mL buffer solution (ANKOM Technology), 400 mL rumen contents (collected from two ruminally cannulated cows), 14 filter bags (F57, ANKOM Technology) with 0.5 g of ground byproduct, 14 filter bags with 0.5 g of ground corn (standard), and 14 blank bags. Each jar was purged with CO2 and filter bags were incubated at 39°C for 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, and 48 h, then removed, rinsed, dried at 55˚C for 48 h, weighed, and analyzed for DM and NDF. Each byproduct was incubated in 3 jars on two different d (6 replicates). Degradation of DM was separated into fractions A (disappearance at 0 h), C (DM remaining after 48 h) and B (100%-A-C). Rate of degradation for fraction B was the slope of the natural logarithms of the DM disappearance. All byproducts were compared with standard corn grain as the control. Fraction A for DM was not different (P &amp;gt; 0.40) for barley malt sprouts (35.4%) and hopper (33.7%), and less (P &amp;lt; 0.05) for dry peel (27.8%) and fries (13.2%) when compared with corn grain (33.4%). Fraction B for DM was greater (P &amp;lt; 0.05) for fries (74.0%), not different (P = 0.44) for hopper (56.1%), and less (P &amp;lt; 0.05) for dry peel (43.6%) and sprouts (37.0%) when compared with corn grain (53.9%). Rate of DM degradation for fraction B was greater (P &amp;lt; 0.05) for fries (9.9%/h) and hopper (7.0%/h), and not different (P &amp;gt; 0.16) for dry peel (4.6%/h) and sprouts (3.0%/h) when compared with corn grain (3.8%/h). Fraction C for DM was greater (P &amp;lt; 0.05) for dry peel (28.6%) and sprouts (27.6%), and not different (P = 0.20) for fries (12.9%) and hopper (10.3%) when compared with corn grain (12.7%). The indigestible fraction of NDF after 48 h of incubation was greatest for dry peel (58.5%), intermediate for sprouts (40.1%) and hopper (36.7%), and least for fries (25.4%; P &amp;lt; 0.05). These results demonstrate that the extent and rate of ruminal DM degradability of various potato and other byproducts differ and may be more or less degradable in the rumen compared with corn grain.

485 Impact of annual and perennial forage systems on forage biomass and quality, steer performance, and enteric methane emissions

Abstract Beef producers require forage options that provide adequate yield and high nutritive value, optimizing the production and sustainability of grazing operations. Few multiple year studies within Canada compare novel perennial and annual grass legume blends under grazing. This study evaluated the effects of perennial and annual forage systems on forage biomass and quality, grazing animal performance, and enteric emissions. Forage treatments included 1) AC Success hybrid bromegrass (Bromus riparius Rehm. × Bromus inermis Leyss.) + PS3006 alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.; HBG-ALF), 2) AC Armada meadow bromegrass (Bromus riparius Rehm.) + AAC Mountainview sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.; MBG-SF), 3) AC Hazlet fall rye (Secale cereale L.) + Frosty berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.; FR-CLOV), and 4) Winfred forage brassica (Brassica oleracea L.× Brassica rapa L.) + Gorilla forage brassica (Brassica napus L.) + 4010 pea (Pisum sativum L.) + CDC Austenson barley (Hordeum vulgare L.; BR-PE-BRAS). Yearling beef steers [n = 120, body weight (BW) = 397 ± 10 kg] were randomly allocated to 1 of 4 replicated (n = 3) forage systems for an average of 65 d grazing period amongst the 12 paddocks. Dry matter yield (DMY) was similar (P = 0.33) between BR-PE-BRAS (2,170 kg/ha) and HBG-ALF (1938 kg/ha), which were greater (P &amp;lt; 0.0001) than both MBG-SF (1030 kg/ha) and FR-CLOV (700 kg/ha) systems. Total digestible nutrient content (TDN) of FR-CLOV (63.6%) and BR-PEA-BRASS (62.0%) was greater (P &amp;lt; 0.0001) than both MBG-SF (51.7%) and HBG-ALF (49.3%) forages. Crude protein (CP) was greatest in FR-CLOV (15.2% P = 0.0012) intermediate in BR-PEA-BRASS (10.0%) and HBG-ALF (8.5%), and least in MBG-SF (6.6%). Steer performance was greatest when grazing HBG-ALF (87 kg/ha) paddocks, which was similar (P = 0.31) to FR-CLOV (62 kg/ha) and similar (P = 0.10) MBG-SF (51 kg/ha), but greater (P = 0.01) than BAR-PEA-BRASS (26 kg/ha). Enteric methane concentration from steers was the least when grazing BR-PE-BRAS (19.7g/kg DMI), followed by FR-CLOV (22.4g/kg DMI), MBG-SF (23.4g/kg DMI) and finally HBG-ALF (28.1g/kg DMI). In summary, BR-PE-BRAS and HBG-ALF forage systems provided the greatest DMY, while steer average daily gain (ADG) grazing HBG-ALF forage outperformed steers on BR-PE-BRAS paddocks. Forage energy and protein was greater in annual forage systems FR-CLOV and BR-PE-BRAS, compared with perennial forage systems. Enteric methane levels were the lowest in the steers grazing BR-PE-BRAS forage.

Field performance and nitrous oxide emissions of transgenic nitrogen use efficient rice lines cultivated in tropical paddy fields.

Nitrogen (N) fertilizers make up the majority of the input used in rice production, and their excess application leads to significant environmental pollution. Developing rice varieties with improved nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is essential to maintain the sustainability of rice production. This study aims to evaluate the performance of transgenic Oryza sativa japonica cv. Kitaake expressing the barley (Hordeum vulgare) alanine aminotransferase (HvAlaAT) gene in response to different levels of N fertilizer application under tropical paddy field conditions. Results from this study demonstrate that transgenic nitrogen use efficient Kitaake rice (Kitaake NUE) displays a grain yield increase of up to 41% compared to Kitaake null. Transgenic Kitaake NUE expressing the HvAlaAT gene displays a higher N uptake and achieves a higher nitrogen use efficiency compared to control plants while maintaining lower nitrous oxide (N2O) fluxes. The reduction in N2O emissions in Kitaake NUE compared to Kitaake null ranges from 37.5 to 96.3%. The transgenic Kitaake NUE used in this study has potential as a donor to improve the nitrogen use efficiency of indica rice for better adaptability to tropical conditions.

Barley disease recognition using deep neural networks

Plant disease negatively impacts food production and quality. It is crucial to detect and recognise plant diseases correctly. Traditional approaches do not offer a rapid and comprehensive management system for detecting plant diseases. Deep learning techniques (DL) have achieved encouraging results in discriminating patterns and anomalies in visual samples. This ability provides an effective method to diagnose any plant disease symptoms automatically. However, one of the limitations of recent studies is that in-field disease detection is underexplored, so developing a model that performs well for in-field samples is necessary. The objective of this study is to develop and investigate DL techniques for in-field disease detection of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), one of the main crops in Australia, given visual samples captured at barley trials using a consumer-grade RGB camera. Consequently, A dataset was captured from test-bed trials across multiple paddocks infected with three diseases: net form net blotch (NFNB), spot form net blotch (SFNB), and scald, in various weather conditions. The collected data, 312 images (6000 × 4000 pixels), are divided into patches of 448 × 448 pixels, which are manually annotated into four classes: no-disease, scald, NFNB and SFNB. Finally, the data was augmented using random rotation and flip to increase the dataset size. The generated barley disease dataset is then applied to several well-known pre-trained DL networks such as DenseNet, ResNet, InceptionV3, Xception, and MobileNet as the network backbone. Given limited data, these methods can be trained to detect anomalies in visual samples. The results show that MobileNet, Xception, and InceptionV3 performed well in barley disease detection. On the other hand, ResNet showed poor classification ability. Moreover, Augmenting the data improves the performance of DL networks, particularly for underperforming backbones like ResNet, and mitigates the limited data access for these data-intensive networks. The augmentation step improved MobileNet performance by approximately 6 %. MobileNet achieved the highest accuracy of 98.63 % (the average of the three diseases) in binary classification and an accuracy of 93.50 % in multi-class classification. Even though classifying SFNB and NFNB is challenging in the early stages, MobileNet achieved the minimum misclassification rate among the two diseases. The results show the efficiency of this model in diagnosing barley diseases using complex data collected from the field environment. In addition, the model is lighter and comprises fewer trainable parameters. Consequently, MobileNet is suitable for small training datasets, reducing data acquisition costs.

PEG treatment is unsuitable to study root related traits as it alters root anatomy in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

BackgroundThe frequency and severity of abiotic stress events, especially drought, are increasing due to climate change. The plant root is the most important organ for water uptake and the first to be affected by water limitation. It is therefore becoming increasingly important to include root traits in studies on drought stress tolerance. However, phenotyping under field conditions remains a challenging task. In this study, plants were grown in a hydroponic system with polyethylene glycol as an osmotic stressor and in sand pots to examine the root system of eleven spring barley genotypes. The root anatomy of two genotypes with different response to drought was investigated microscopically.ResultsRoot diameter increased significantly (p < 0.05) under polyethylene glycol treatment by 54% but decreased significantly (p < 0.05) by 12% under drought stress in sand pots. Polyethylene glycol treatment increased root tip diameter (51%) and reduced diameter of the elongation zone (14%) compared to the control. Under drought stress, shoot mass of plants grown in sand pots showed a higher correlation (r = 0.30) with the shoot mass under field condition than polyethylene glycol treated plants (r = -0.22).ConclusionThese results indicate that barley roots take up polyethylene glycol by the root tip and polyethylene glycol prevents further water uptake. Polyethylene glycol-triggered osmotic stress is therefore unsuitable for investigating root morphology traits in barley. Root architecture of roots grown in sand pots is more comparable to roots grown under field conditions.

Evaluation of productivity and grain quality of spring barley varieties under monsoon climate conditions

Evaluation of productivity and grain quality of spring barley varieties under monsoon climate conditions

Sustainable crop fertilization by combining biogenic nano-hydroxyapatite and P solubilizing bacteria: Observations on barley

Nano-enabled agriculture involves researching smart nano-agrochemicals for sustainable farming. Nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAP), a phosphorus-rich compound, has the potential to be used as a fertilizer with reduced environmental impact. This study tests the effectiveness of nHAP produced from waste materials (animal bones) on barley plants (Hordeum vulgare). Two different nHAPs were prepared by thermal treatment of chicken bones at 300 °C and 700 °C (nHAP300 and nHAP700, respectively). The nanopowders were then tested in a seed toxicity trial and in a greenhouse pot experiment with barley, using Pseudomonas alloputida, a P-solubilizing bacterium (PSB). The treatments were unfertilized soil, conventional triple superphosphate (TSP), and the nHAP treatments alone. The results indicated that: (i) the nHAP materials had particle sizes of 1 micrometer (nHAP300, due to aggregation) and 50–70 nm (nHAP700), with P contents of 12.8 % and 19.6 %, respectively; (ii) no toxicity was observed on barley seeds, and nHAP300 at maximum dose stimulated root length by 45.6 % compared to the control; (iii) compared to conventional P fertilizer TSP, nHAP300 and nHAP700 stimulated root growth by 7 % and 18 %, respectively; (iv) the fraction of available P produced through nHAP300-PSB (40.6 mg kg−1) was higher than that from TSP (39.2 mg kg−1); (v) ions associated with the nHAP structure supplied supplementary nutrients, predominantly allocated in root tissues. This study provides valuable insights for future investigations to assess the implications of P nano-fertilizations in achieving sustainability in agriculture.

Unraveling barley's PAL gene family: a genome-wide study on defense mechanisms against Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici

Phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) is a pivotal enzyme bridging primary and secondary phenylpropanoid metabolism, influencing plant growth, development, and stress responses. Despite extensive studies on PAL genes across various plant species, their investigation in barley, a critical staple food globally, has been relatively scarce. In this study, we have successfully identified 10 HvPAL genes, designated as HvPAL genes, in Hordeum vulgare (barley). These HvPAL genes were categorized based on their conserved sequences, which revealed patterns through MEME analysis and multiple sequence alignment. Interestingly, we found cis elements related to stress in the promoter regions of HvPAL genes, indicating their involvement in the response to pathogens. Furthermore, these gene promoters contained components associated with light, development, and hormone responsiveness. This suggests that they may play a role in hormonal developmental processes. MicroRNAs were also identified as regulators of the HvPAL genes we identified highlighting their significance in barley. To further investigate these gene expression patterns, we analyzed the RNA-seq data revealed the upregulating of HvPAL 2, HvPAL3, and HvPAL8, and downregulating HvPAL 5, HvPAL 6, and HvPAL9 genes in this study. This study focused on the regulation of PAL genes in response to 23 different races of Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici in barley. These results suggest ways to improve traits and develop barley varieties that are resistant to pathogens by selectively increasing the expression of certain HvPAL genes that were not previously regulated. This thorough investigation aims to expand our knowledge of the versatility of the PAL gene family, providing insights for advancements in host -pathogen genetics.

β-glucans, SAM, and GSH fluctuations in barley anther tissue culture conditions affect regenerants’ DNA methylation and GPRE

BackgroundMicrospore embryogenesis is a process that produces doubled haploids in tissue culture environments and is widely used in cereal plants. The efficient production of green regenerants requires stresses that could be sensed at the level of glycolysis, followed by the Krebs cycle and electron transfer chain. The latter can be affected by Cu(II) ion concentration in the induction media acting as cofactors of biochemical reactions, indirectly influencing the production of glutathione (GSH) and S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) and thereby affecting epigenetic mechanisms involving DNA methylation (demethylation—DM, de novo methylation—DNM). The conclusions mentioned were acquired from research on triticale regenerants, but there is no similar research on barley. In this way, the study looks at how DNM, DM, Cu(II), SAM, GSH, and β-glucan affect the ability of green plant regeneration efficiency (GPRE).ResultsThe experiment involved spring barley regenerants obtained through anther culture. Nine variants (trials) of induction media were created by adding copper (CuSO4: 0.1; 5; 10 µM) and silver salts (AgNO3: 0; 10; 60 µM), with varying incubation times for the anthers (21, 28, and 35 days). Changes in DNA methylation were estimated using the DArTseqMet molecular marker method, which also detects cytosine methylation.Phenotype variability in β-glucans, SAM and GSH induced by the nutrient treatments was assessed using tentative assignments based on the Attenuated Total Reflectance-Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. The effectiveness of green plant regeneration ranged from 0.1 to 2.91 plants per 100 plated anthers. The level of demethylation ranged from 7.61 to 32.29, while de novo methylation reached values ranging from 6.83 to 32.27. The paper demonstrates that the samples from specific in vitro conditions (trials) formed tight groups linked to the factors contributing to the two main components responsible for 55.05% of the variance (to the first component DNM, DM, to the second component GSH, β-glucans, Cu(II), GPRE).ConclusionsWe can conclude that in vitro tissue culture conditions affect biochemical levels, DNA methylation changes, and GPRE. Increasing Cu(II) concentration in the IM impacts the metabolism and DNA methylation, elevating GPRE. Thus, changing Cu(II) concentration in the IM is fair to expect to boost GPRE.

A comparison of environmental impacts of three contrasting cropping systems for barley production under Mediterranean conditions

Agriculture is a key contributor to environmental degradation and to global change. Consequently, the design of sustainable agricultural systems and the assessment of their relevance is a major priority for European agriculture. Different cropping systems, with variable objectives and constraints, can be used in cereal production in Spain. This study focused in comparing three winter barley cropping systems, ranging from intensive no-till to organic approaches. To assess the environmental impacts of each system, a Life Cycle Assessment was conducted. The findings indicate that the impacts varied depending on the chosen functional unit. When land area was considered the functional unit, the lowest impacts were obtained in the organic system, while the no-till system showed the highest. This difference was primarily attributed to variations in N fertilization. Nitrogen use had a significant impact across various categories, primarily due to the energy demands for its production and transportation, as well as the emissions of NH3 and N2O. However, when evaluating agricultural goods production as the functional unit, the organic system exhibited the highest impacts in terms of energy demand, freshwater ecotoxicity and freshwater eutrophication. These differences are explained by the loss of production in the fallow year and the low yields of the legume crop. The middle-way option provided the lowest impacts when economic net revenues were considered. The main reason for this was its higher total revenues associated to high crop production and EU subsidies.

Yellow Dwarf Virus Resistance in Barley: Phenotyping, Remote Imagery, and Virus-Vector Characterization.

Yellow dwarf viruses (YDVs) spread by aphids are some of the most economically important barley (Hordeum vulgare) virus-vector complexes worldwide. Detection and control of these viruses are critical components in the production of barley, wheat, and numerous other grasses of agricultural importance. Genetic control of plant diseases is often preferable to chemical control to reduce the environmental and economic cost of foliar insecticides. Accordingly, the objectives of this work were to (i) screen a barley population for resistance to YDVs under natural infection using phenotypic assessment of disease symptoms, (ii) implement drone imagery to further assess resistance and test its utility as a disease screening tool, (iii) identify the prevailing virus and vector types in the experimental environment, and (iv) perform a genome-wide association study to identify genomic regions associated with measured traits. Significant genetic differences were found in a population of 192 barley inbred lines regarding their YDV symptom severity, and symptoms were moderately to highly correlated with grain yield. The YDV severity measured with aerial imaging was highly correlated with on-the-ground estimates (r = 0.65). Three aphid species vectoring three YDV species were identified with no apparent genotypic influence on their distribution. A quantitative trait locus impacting YDV resistance was detected on chromosome 2H, albeit undetected using aerial imaging. However, quantitative trait loci for canopy cover and mean normalized difference vegetation index were successfully mapped using the drone. This work provides a framework for utilizing drone imagery in future resistance breeding efforts for YDVs in cereals and grasses, as well as in other virus-vector disease complexes.

Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the SPL gene family and its response to abiotic stress in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

BackgroundSquamosa promoter-binding protein-like (SPL) is a plant-specific transcription factor that is widely involved in the regulation of plant growth and development, including flower and grain development, stress responses, and secondary metabolite synthesis. However, this gene family has not been comprehensively evaluated in barley, the most adaptable cereal crop with a high nutritional value.ResultsIn this study, a total of 15 HvSPL genes were identified based on the Hordeum vulgare genome. These genes were named HvSPL1 to HvSPL15 based on the chromosomal distribution of the HvSPL genes and were divided into seven groups (I, II, III, V, VI, VII, and VIII) based on the phylogenetic tree analysis. Chromosomal localization revealed one pair of tandem duplicated genes and one pair of segmental duplicated genes. The HvSPL genes exhibited the highest collinearity with the monocotyledonous plant, Zea mays (27 pairs), followed by Oryza sativa (18 pairs), Sorghum bicolor (16 pairs), and Arabidopsis thaliana (3 pairs), and the fewest homologous genes with Solanum lycopersicum (1 pair). The distribution of the HvSPL genes in the evolutionary tree was relatively scattered, and HvSPL proteins tended to cluster with SPL proteins from Z. mays and O. sativa, indicating a close relationship between HvSPL and SPL proteins from monocotyledonous plants. Finally, the spatial and temporal expression patterns of the 14 HvSPL genes from different subfamilies were determined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Based on the results, the HvSPL gene family exhibited tissue-specific expression and played a regulatory role in grain development and abiotic stress. HvSPL genes are highly expressed in various tissues during seed development. The expression levels of HvSPL genes under the six abiotic stress conditions indicated that many genes responded to stress, especially HvSPL8, which exhibited high expression under multiple stress conditions, thereby warranting further attention.ConclusionIn this study, 15 SPL gene family members were identified in the genome of Hordeum vulgare, and the phylogenetic relationships, gene structure, replication events, gene expression, and potential roles of these genes in millet development were studied. Our findings lay the foundation for exploring the HvSPL genes and performing molecular breeding of barley.

Green synthesized Waste‐Derived Anatase form of TiO2 Nanoparticles from Hordeum vulgare L. (Barley): A Multidisciplinary Approach Connecting Biology, Environment, and Agriculture

AbstractBiological methods for creating nanoparticles utilizing plant‐based extracts have generated considerable interest due to their desirable ecological characteristics when compared to chemical methods. In this, TiO2 NPs were synthesized from the waste of the Hordeum vulgare L. We employed various methods for characterizing our sample, including Ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X‐ray diffraction, Scanning electron microscopy, Energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, AFM, Dynamic light scattering and Zeta‐potential to confirm the TiO2 NPs (Titanium dioxide Nanoparticles) synthesis followed by biological applications such as anti‐microbial, and anti‐oxidant assays to confirm TiO2 NPs biological properties. The photocatalytic activity of the TiO2 nanoparticles was also studied followed by a full factorial method to understand the consequences of time, pH, and concentration on the dye degradation. Apart from this, the synthesized nanoparticles were also used to check the agricultural efficacy on Phaseolus vulgaris plant seed, where it was seen that the TiO2 nanoparticles not only enhanced the growth of the plant at lower concentrations but also enhanced the photosynthetic activity and chlorophyll, phenol and flavonoid content of it when compared to higher concentration and control. The molecular aspects (DNA) were also analyzed by gel electrophoresis to check the effect of TiO2 nanoparticles on the DNA of plants at different concentrations. Our study focuses on making the best use of the waste of Hordeum vulgare L. to synthesize biogenic TiO2 nanoparticles that can prove themselves to be one of the significant options for the industrial, agricultural, and biological world.