Barley Plants Research Articles

Phosphogypsum and poultry manure enhance diversity of soil fauna, soil fertility, and barley (Hordeum aestivum L.) grown in calcareous soils

Enrichment of calcareous soils with phosphogypsum and poultry manure amendments could increase nutrient availability, improve calcareous chemical characteristics, and enhance barley plant growth. In the current study, phosphogypsum (PG) and poultry manure (PM) were used to determine the effects of PG and PM application on soil fauna diversity, soil fertility, and barley yield. The pot experiment treatments were: C: control; PG1: 4.20 g kg−1 soil; PG2: 6.30 g kg−1 soil; PM1: 4.20 g kg−1 soil; PM: 6.30 g kg−1 soil, and their combinations. The results indicated that the application of PM alone or combined with PG had significant effects on the microbial biomass carbon (MBC), organic matter (OM), soil NPK availability, and yield of barley. Collembola and Prostigmata accounted for 50.0 and 43.3%, respectively, of the total number of soil fauna. Shannon and evenness indices increased significantly in the soil amended with PM alone or combined with PG. Amended soil with PG and/or PM significantly increased the yield and yield components of plants compared to the control. The PM1PG2 treatment increased the yield by 76.2% above the control.

Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum): its impact on wireworm development and survival

Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) is a member of the Polygonaceae family, cultivated as a cover crop to suppress or reduce weeds and improve soil health. In our field studies, buckwheat gave significant potato tuber protection from wireworm damage after two consecutive years of cropping. In this study, we identified the mechanism underlying the beneficial effect of buckwheat on wireworm suppression. Results show high wireworm numbers in buckwheat than other host plants in bioassays conducted under greenhouse and field conditions which reject the hypothesis that buckwheat has antifeedant activity. We found that newly hatched neonate wireworms feeding on either barley or buckwheat plants for 120 days, showed reduced body weight and head capsule size. The larvae feeding on buckwheat were 60% and 30% smaller than the ones feeding on barley. Survival was also impacted with 44% of the neonate larvae surviving on barley plants, and only 15% when feeding on buckwheat roots over 120 days. A similar bioassay with small to medium-sized wireworms showed higher mortality, lower weight gain and smaller head capsule size. Wireworms feeding on buckwheat were deformed and demonstrated irregular growth. In conclusion, this study revealed that buckwheat did not repel wireworms and they chose to feed on the roots despite it not being a good host. Long-term feeding on buckwheat roots caused reduced weight gain, abnormal growth, and reduced survival. This study provided a better understanding of how buckwheat functions as a biopesticide for wireworm control and its potential for use in an IPM program.

ВЛИЯНИЕ ЭКОЛОГИЧЕСКИХ ФАКТОРОВ НА ФОРМИРОВАНИЕ КАЧЕСТВЕННЫХ ХАРАКТЕРИСТИК СЕМЯН СОРТОВ ЯРОВОГО ЯЧМЕНЯ В ПРЕДКАМСКОЙ ЗОНЕ РЕСПУБЛИКИ ТАТАРСТАН

The article presents the results of studies of the influence of agroecological factors on the formation of qualitative characteristics of spring barley varieties. Spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is widely cultivated as a fodder, industrial and food crop. The aim of the work is to study the features of the formation of some qualitative characteristics (laboratory germination, weight of 1000 seeds, bulk weight) of seeds of various varieties of spring barley, depending on the agro-climatic conditions of the growing season during the years of their formation. The objects of the study are 14 varieties of spring barley of domestic and foreign breeding, grown in 2020 and 2021, in the Arsk variety plot of the Predkama zone of the Republic of Tatarstan. The seeds of these varieties obtained in 2020 and 2021 were used for the study. At the same time, in 2020, the weather conditions were quite favorable for the growth and development of barley plants, and the conditions of 2021 were characterized by severely dry phenomena. Field experiments were laid in 2022 in the fields at Agrobiotechnopark LLC of Kazan State Agrarian University. At the same time, seeds of spring barley of the studied varieties of the harvest of 2020 and 2021 were sown. All seeds met the requirements of the standard for seed material. Presowing treatment of seeds was not carried out. Seeding rate - 5 million viable seeds per 1 ha. The growing season of 2022 was characterized by relatively moderate temperatures and sufficient precipitation to form a high yield. Agro-climatic conditions during the years of formation of the seed material (2020 and 2021) significantly affected the quality characteristics of the seeds of the 2022 crop. It was found that the seeds of the 2020 offspring varieties (Kamashevsky, Endan, Cornet resistant, Guzel, Zhivago) had low laboratory germination - 76%, 84%, 76%, 18%, and 68%, respectively. For the seeds of the 2021 harvest, the germination rate of the Kamashevsky and Kornet resistant varieties increased by 16%, the Guzel variety - by 58%, and the Zhivago variety - by 32%. Soratnik and Zhivago varieties showed the maximum laboratory germination from the seeds of the 2021 crop, their germination was 100%. The mass of 1000 grains of the harvest of 2022 of the variants of sowing with seeds of 2020 varied in the range from 45.9 to 59.3 g. The Nord 17/2645 variety turned out to be the most coarse - 66.5 g. Sorcerer (679 g/l). The volumetric weight of the crop obtained from the seeds of 2021 for varieties varied in the range from 640 to 690 g/l. The varieties Tevkech, Rafael, Soratnik, Eifel and Nord 17/2645 showed relatively high stability of these traits over the years.

RNA editing in chloroplast NADH dehydrogenase (ndhA) of salt stressed wild barley revealed novel type G to A

The ndhA gene of NAD(P)H dehydrogenase in chloroplast DNA is vital for the electron transport chain and needs to be studied, especially in the context of RNA editing and its effects. Wild barley (Hordeum vulgare subsp. spontaneum) plants were studied in 4 groups, with exposure to 500 mM NaCl for 0 h – control (accession no. OM262848), and three treatment groups: 2 h (accession no. OM262849), 12 h (accession no. OM262850) and 24 h (accession no. OM262851) and their RNA was sent for RNA-seq sequencing. The sequences were submitted to NCBI SRA archives and analyzed together after filtering for high quality. This was done to show the RNA editing position and percentages at 10 sites across the ndhA gene. The RNA edits were validated using quantitative-PCR and homology models for the ndhA protein after exposure to salt stress were also generated. The four treatments showed five C to U changes (C50, C303, C563, C1042, C1047), three U to C changes (U550, U592, U1066), and two G to A changes (G111, G1046). We investigated the extent and effect of RNA editing in ndhA transcripts from chloroplasts of barley. We observed high RNA editing percentages after the second hour of salt stress.We have also observed for the first time about ‘U to C’ RNA edits in ndhA gene of wild barley.

Fragment size and diversity of mulches affect their decomposition, nutrient dynamics, and mycorrhizal root colonisation

Plant-based mulch has been proposed as a sustainable way of maintaining soil fertility. However, the role of mulch diversity, quality, and size in decomposition dynamics, and their effect on crop yield, has not been fully explored. We investigated how mulch quality, proxied by the constituent plant species diversity, and residue size drive mulch decomposition, nutrient release, crop nutrition, and yield. A rhizotron experiment was set up with barley as a model crop, with the addition of mulch of two particle sizes (1.5 and 30 cm) and four different plant residue mixes of differing biodiversity (17, 12, 6, and 1 species) in a fully factorial design. Soil nutrient dynamics were measured at advanced decomposition stages, together with residue quality, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) root colonisation, and crop yield. Residue mass loss was significantly affected by its chemical composition. Initial NDF content was more restricted factor in C and N mineralisation than C:N or lignin. Long residues retained significantly higher C and N content, than short residues. Crop yield was not affected by residue type or size. Residue size significantly affected barley growth rate, influencing seed protein content. Soil available K was significantly increased by residues with a higher initial C:N ratio. Short residues resulted in higher soil Zn. Residues of higher diversity resulted inhigher AMF root colonisationof the barley plants. Generally, long residue mulches maintain higher fertilisation capacity at advanced stage of decomposition than short ones, without a deleterious effect on crop yield. Further investigation should evaluate the effect of continuous application of long residue mulches on soil fertility and microbial symbiosis.

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria and biochar production from Parthenium hysterophorus enhance seed germination and productivity in barley under drought stress.

Drought stress can significantly affect plant growth and development. Biochar (BC) and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have been found to increase plant fertility and development under drought conditions. The single effects of BC and PGPR in different plant species have been widely reported under abiotic stress. However, there have been relatively few studies on the positive role of PGPR, BC, and their combination in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Therefore, the current study investigated the effects of BC from Parthenium hysterophorus, drought tolerant PGPR (Serratia odorifera), and the combination of BC + PGPR on the growth, physiology, and biochemical traits of barley plants under drought stress for two weeks. A total of 15 pots were used under five treatments. Each pot of 4 kg soil comprised the control (T0, 90% water), drought stress alone (T1, 30% water), 35 mL PGPR/kg soil (T2, 30% water), 2.5%/kg soil BC (T3, 30% water), and a combination of BC and PGPR (T4, 30% water). Combined PGPR and BC strongly mitigated the negative effects of drought by improving the shoot length (37.03%), fresh biomass (52%), dry biomass (62.5%), and seed germination (40%) compared to the control. The PGPR + BC amendment treatment enhanced physiological traits, such as chlorophyll a (27.9%), chlorophyll b (35.3%), and total chlorophyll (31.1%), compared to the control. Similarly, the synergistic role of PGPR and BC significantly (p< 0.05) enhanced the antioxidant enzyme activity including peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) to alleviate the toxicity of ROS. The physicochemical properties (N, K, P, and EL) of the soils were also enhanced by (85%, 33%, 52%, and 58%) respectively, under the BC + PGPR treatment compared to the control and drought stress alone. The findings of this study have suggested that the addition of BC, PGPR, and a combination of both will improve the soil fertility, productivity, and antioxidant defense systems of barley under drought stress. Therefore, BC from the invasive plant P. hysterophorus and PGPR can be applied to water-deficient areas to improve barley crop production.

Heat shock-induced enhanced susceptibility of barley to Bipolaris sorokiniana is associated with elevated ROS production and plant defense-related gene expression.

● Heat stress alters plant defense responses to pathogens. A short-term heat shock (HS) promotes infections by biotrophic pathogens. However, little is known about how HS affects infection by hemibiotrophic pathogens like Bipolaris sorokiniana (teleomorph: Cochliobolus sativus) (BS). We assessed the effect of HS in BS-susceptible barley (Hordeum vulgare cv. Ingrid) by monitoring leaf spot symptoms, BS biomass, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and plant defense-related gene expression following pre-exposure to HS. ● For HS, barley plants were kept at 49 °C for 20 seconds. BS biomass was assessed by qPCR, ROS levels determined by histochemical staining, while gene expression assayed by RT-qPCR. ● HS suppressed defense responses of barley to BS, resulting in more severe necrotic symptoms and increased fungal biomass, as compared to untreated plants. HS-induced increased susceptibility was accompanied by significant increases in ROS (superoxide, hydrogen peroxide). Transient expression of plant defense-related antioxidant genes and a barley programmed cell death inhibitor (HvBI-1) was induced in response to HS. However, HS followed by BS infection caused further transient increases in expression of HvSOD and HvBI-1 correlating with enhanced susceptibility. Expression of the HvPR-1b gene encoding pathogenesis-related (PR) protein-1b increased several fold at 24 hours after BS infection, however, HS further increased transcript levels along with enhanced susceptibility. ● HS induces enhanced susceptibility of barley to BS, associated with elevated ROS levels and expression of plant defense-related genes encoding antioxidants, a cell death inhibitor and PR-1b. Our results may contribute to elucidating the influence of HS on barley defense responses to hemibiotrophic pathogens.

Genome-wide association analysis provides insights into the genetic basis of photosynthetic responses to low-temperature stress in spring barley.

Low-temperature stress (LTS) is among the major abiotic stresses affecting the geographical distribution and productivity of the most important crops. Understanding the genetic basis of photosynthetic variation under cold stress is necessary for developing more climate-resilient barley cultivars. To that end, we investigated the ability of chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (FVFM, and FVF0) to respond to changes in the maximum quantum yield of Photosystem II photochemistry as an indicator of photosynthetic energy. A panel of 96 barley spring cultivars from different breeding zones of Canada was evaluated for chlorophyll fluorescence-related traits under cold acclimation and freeze shock stresses at different times. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were performed using a mixed linear model (MLM). We identified three major and putative genomic regions harboring 52 significant quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) on chromosomes 1H, 3H, and 6H for low-temperature tolerance. Functional annotation indicated several QTNs were either within the known or close to genes that play important roles in the photosynthetic metabolites such as abscisic acid (ABA) signaling, hydrolase activity, protein kinase, and transduction of environmental signal transduction at the posttranslational modification levels. These outcomes revealed that barley plants modified their gene expression profile in response to decreasing temperatures resulting in physiological and biochemical modifications. Cold tolerance could influence a long-term adaption of barley in many parts of the world. Since the degree and frequency of LTS vary considerably among production sites. Hence, these results could shed light on potential approaches for improving barley productivity under low-temperature stress.

Sowing time of winter crops in the Donbass due to weather and climate changes

The purpose of the current study was to clarify the optimal sowing time of wheat and winter barley after non-fallow forecrops (spring barley and sunflower) due to weather and climate changes. The trials were carried out during 2018–2022 on ordinary blackearth. The experiments, records and observations were carried out according to generally accepted methods. There has been established that at early sowing date (September 10), wheat and barley formed up to 5.4 tillering sprouts, from 2.4 to 6.2 nodal roots, plant height reached 22.1–27.9 cm with a plant weight of 174–223 g/m2, which indicated the overgrowth of plants. At a late sowing date (October 20), the tillering coefficient of wheat plants did not exceed 1.0–1.5, the number of nodal roots was 1.1–2.4, and the weight reached 32–58 g/m2.Barley plants at late sowing periods had significant developmental advantages compared to wheat. At the time of the termination of the autumn vegetation, they had an average of 1.5–2.0 sprouts and 2.5–3.1 nodal roots, and the above-ground mass was 2.0 times larger than that of wheat. In spring, winter barley plants grew and developed more intensively. Wheat productivity during early sowing date (10.09 and 20.09) was larger than that of barley by 7.5–27.0%. When sowing later, on the contrary, winter barley productivity was more on 7.0–14.8%. The optimal sowing time for winter wheat at which the maximum grain yield (4.17–4.32 t/ha) can be formed is the period from September 20 to October 1, and from 1 to 10 October for winter barley (4.37–4.48 t/ha).

Influence of the Joint Use of Phosphorus and Magnesium Fertilizers on the Background of Nitrogen and Potassium Fertilizers on the Productivity, Quality and Removal of Nutrition Elements in Spring Barley Depending on the Acidity of Sod-Podzolic Soil

In the long term (56 years) field experience revealed a great return from the combined use of lime, phosphorus and magnesium fertilizers compared with the background of nitrogen-potassium fertilizers on strongly acidic sod-podzolic poorly cultivated soil, with a high content of mobile aluminum in it (up to 130 mg/kg), due to the prolonged use of physiologically acidic fertilizers in the form of ammonium nitrate and potassium chloride. The use of phosphorous fertilizers on highly acidic untreated soil contributed to an increase in the yield of spring barley by 67%, on medium-acidic soil produced at a dose of 11.5 t CaCO3/ha – by 2.3 times, on slightly acidic soil produced at a dose of 19.0 t CaCO3/ha – by 2.6 times, when combined with magnesium fertilizers – by 2.5 and 2.9 times, respectively, according to compared with the yield on the background of nitrogen-potash fertilizers 1.78 t/ha (highly acidic soil). With the introduction of magnesium fertilizers on slightly acidic soil, the payback by adding grain of mineral fertilizers (N90P60K90) increased by 3 times, increasing to 13.9 kg/kg, with an increase in protein content compared to the background of nitrogen-potassium fertilizers by 1.2%. The use of nitrogen and phosphorus by spring barley plants increased 3.4 times, potassium – 3.0 times.

Accumulation of Atmospheric Carbon by Crop Rotation Crops and the Effect of Fertilizer Systems on the Accumulation of Organic Carbon by Arable Sod-Podzolic Soil

Experimental data on the accumulation and loss of organic carbon in sod-podzolic soil over 6 rotations of a long stationary experiment are presented. It was found that during the growing season during photosynthesis, spring barley plants were bound into organic compounds 2.84–3.25 t/ha from the atmosphere (10.3–11.6 t CO2/ha) during the growing season, meadow clover of the second year of use – 4.23–5.19 t C/ha (15.1–18.6 t CO2/ha) depending on the experience options. During the rotation of the 8‑field crop rotation, cultivated crops were sequestered from the atmosphere 82.28–99.31 tons of CO2/ha or 22.4–27.1 tons C/ha, depending on the soil fertilization system. Long-term use of arable land without fertilizers led to a decrease in the carbon content in the soil by 13.5% relative to the initial level. The soil of the stationary experiment was characterized by the maximum content and reserves of organic carbon when the arable land was saturated with manure at a dose of 20 t/ha and an equivalent amount of NPK. The carbon content for 6 rotations of crop rotation increased in the 0–20 cm layer by 15% of the initial one, carbon reserves in this layer increased by 5 t/ha, in the 0–100 cm layer – by 32.0 t/ha. The average value of the carbon-protective capacity of the studied soil varied from 29 to 31 g/kg in a layer of 0–20 cm of soil and did not depend on the applied fertilizer systems. The quantity and qualitative composition of biomass entering the soil with its various fertilizers had a significant impact on the accumulation of organic carbon.

Агрономическая эффективность органоминерального удобрения на черноземных почвах Среднего Урала

Abstract. The purpose. To study the effectiveness of a complex multicomponent organomineral fertilizer of prolonged action based on local man-made waste from the metallurgical industry and poultry farming and extracted sources of mineral nutrition for plants. Methods. The article presents data on the study of the effect of a new organomineral fertilizer on the growth, development and yield of spring barley. Phenological and biometric observations were carried out, yields were taken into account, and quality indicators of grain were determined: weight of 1000 seeds, nature and protein content. Results. It has been established that the use of an innovative mixed multicomponent organomineral fertilizer improves the growth and development of barley plants. So at doses of 60 and 90 kg of AD per 1 ha of nitrogen and phosphorus, the length of the plant stem increased to 6.78–6.84 cm, the number of grains per ear increased from 0.39 to 1.08 pcs. and their weight increased by 0.13–0.15 ha. The highest yield was obtained with NP (60) – 4.91 t/ha, which is significantly higher than the control variant. When applying the fertilizer, the grain quality indicators improved: the weight of 1000 seeds, the nature of the grain and the protein content in the grain. It is noted that the use of a new organomineral fertilizer at a dose of NP (60) increases the productivity and quality of products and is optimal for the cultivation of barley in the Middle Urals. Scientific novelty. For the first time in the Middle Urals, a new innovative product was created and tested – a combined, mixed multicomponent fertilizer for growing crops, application for a patent of the Russian Federation No. of the task number 122032200206-4.

A unique resistance mechanism is associated with RBgh2 barley powdery mildew adult plant resistance

Key messageGene expression at the RBgh2 locus indicates involvement in cAMP/G-protein-coupled signalling and innate immunity in barley powdery mildew adult plant resistance.Barley powdery mildew is a globally significant disease, responsible for reduced grain yield and quality. A major effect adult plant resistance gene, RBgh2, was previously found in a landrace from Azerbaijan. The atypical phenotype suggested different underlying genetic factors compared to conventional resistance genes and to investigate this, genome-wide gene expression was compared between sets of heterogeneous doubled haploids. RBgh2 resistance is recessive and induces both temporary genome-wide gene expression changes during powdery mildew infection together with constitutive changes, principally at the RBgh2 locus. Defence-related genes significantly induced included homologues of genes associated with innate immunity and pathogen recognition. Intriguingly, RBgh2 resistance does not appear to be dependent on salicylic acid signalling, a key pathway in plant resistance to biotrophs. Constitutive co-expression of resistance gene homologues was evident at the 7HS RBgh2 locus, while no expression was evident for a 6-transmembrane gene, predicted in silico to contain both G-protein- and calmodulin-binding domains. The gene was disrupted at the 5′ end, and G-protein-binding activity was suppressed. RBgh2 appears to operate through a unique mechanism that co-opts elements of innate immunity.

Effect of Low Light Stress on Distribution of Auxin (Indole-3-acetic Acid) between Shoot and Roots and Development of Lateral Roots in Barley Plants.

Depending on their habitat conditions, plants can greatly change the growth rate of their roots. However, the mechanisms of such responses remain insufficiently clear. The influence of a low level of illumination on the content of endogenous auxins, their localization in leaves and transport from shoots to roots were studied and related to the lateral root branching of barley plants. Following two days' reduction in illumination, a 10-fold reduction in the emergence of lateral roots was found. Auxin (IAA, indole-3-acetic acid) content decreased by 84% in roots and by 30% in shoots, and immunolocalization revealed lowered IAA levels in phloem cells of leaf sections. The reduced content of IAA found in the plants under low light suggests an inhibition of production of this hormone under these conditions. At the same time, two-fold downregulation of the LAX3 gene expression, facilitating IAA influx into the cells, was detected in the roots, as well as a decline in auxin diffusion from shoots through the phloem by about 60%. It was suggested that the reduced emergence of lateral roots in barley under a low level of illumination was due to a disturbance of auxin transport through the phloem and down-regulation of the genes responsible for auxin transport in plant roots. The results confirm the importance of the long distance transport of auxins for the control of the growth of roots under conditions of low light. Further study of the mechanisms that control the transport of auxins from shoots to roots in other plant species is required.

Promising Strains of Hydrocarbon-Oxidizing Pseudomonads with Herbicide Resistance and Plant Growth-Stimulating Properties for Bioremediation of Oil-Contaminated Agricultural Soils

Nowadays, large areas of agricultural land are contaminated with chemical plant-protection products. Agricultural soils are also susceptible to oil pollution as a result of accidents on oil pipelines. Bioremediation of such soils from oil with the help of hydrocarbon-oxidizing bacteria is hindered by the presence of additional pollutants such as herbicides. In this work, seven strains of Pseudomonas were isolated and identified, which showed differences in ability of oil biodegradation (32.7–77.3%). All strains showed resistance to herbicides based on 2,4-D and substances from the class of imidazolinones, possessed phosphate-solubilizing and nitrogen-fixing activity, and produced indolyl-3-acetic acid (305–1627 ng/mL culture liquid). They stimulated the growth of barley and clover in soil with oil, as well as the growth of clover in soil with herbicide. In a vegetative experiment (duration 30 days, initial oil content in soil 2% wt., herbicide based on imazethapyr 0.002% wt.) of barley plants and P. alcaligenes UOM 10 or P. frederiksbergensis UOM 11, oil degradation was 48.1–52.7%, the same strains and clover plants, 37.9–38.6%. The studied bacteria have the potential to be used in the bioremediation of oil-contaminated agricultural soils, including in combination with phytomeliorant plants.

Resilience of barley (Hordeum vulgare) plants upon exposure to tramadol: Implication for the root-associated bacterial community and the antioxidative plant defence system

Insufficiently treated reclaimed water can act as a source of contamination by introducing recalcitrant contaminants (e.g., pharmaceutical compounds) to various water bodies and/or agricultural soils after irrigation. Tramadol (TRD) is one of these pharmaceuticals that can be detected in influents and effluents of wastewater treatment plants, at discharge points as well as in surface waters in Europe. While the uptake of TRD by plants through irrigation water has been shown, plant responses towards this compound are still unclear. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effects of TRD on selected plant enzymes as well as on the root bacterial community structure. A hydroponic experiment was conducted to test the effects of TRD (100 μg L−1 TRD) on barley plants, at two harvesting time points after treatment. Accumulation of TRD in root tissues over time was observed reaching concentrations of 111.74 and 138.39 μg g−1 in total root FW after 12 and 24 days of exposure, respectively. Furthermore, noticeable inductions in guaiacol peroxidase (5.47-fold), catalase (1.83-fold) and glutathione S-transferase (3.23- and 2.09-fold) were recorded in roots of TRD-treated plants compared to controls after 24 days. A significant alteration in the beta diversity of root-associated bacteria due to TRD treatment was observed. Three amplicon sequence variants assigned to Hydrogenophaga, U. Xanthobacteraceae and Pseudacidovorax were differentially abundant in TRD-treated compared to control plants at both harvesting time points. This study reveals the resilience of plants through the induction of the antioxidative system and changes in the root-associated bacterial community to cope with the TRD metabolization/detoxification process.

Metabolic Reprogramming of Barley in Response to Foliar Application of Dichlorinated Functional Analogues of Salicylic Acid as Priming Agents and Inducers of Plant Defence

Designing innovative biological crop protection strategies to stimulate natural plant immunity is motivated by the growing need for eco-friendly alternatives to conventional biocidal agrochemicals. Salicylic acid (SA) and analogues are known chemical inducers of priming plant immunity against environmental stresses. The aim of the study was to study the metabolic reprogramming in barley plants following an application of three proposed dichlorinated inducers of acquired resistance. 3,5-Dichloroanthranilic acid, 2,6-dichloropyridine-4-carboxylic acid, and 3,5-dichlorosalicylic acid were applied to barley at the third leaf stage of development and harvested at 12, 24, and 36 h post-treatment. Metabolites were extracted using methanol for untargeted metabolomics analyses. Samples were analysed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-definition mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HDMS). Chemometric methods and bioinformatics tools were used to mine and interpret the generated data. Alterations in the levels of both primary and secondary metabolites were observed. The accumulation of barley-specific metabolites, hordatines, and precursors was observed from 24 h post-treatment. The phenylpropanoid pathway, a marker of induced resistance, was identified among the key mechanisms activated by the treatment with the three inducers. No salicylic acid or SA derivatives were annotated as signatory biomarkers; instead, jasmonic acid precursors and derivatives were found as discriminatory metabolites across treatments. The study highlights differences and similarities in the metabolomes of barley after treatment with the three inducers and points to the triggering chemical changes associated with defence and resistance. This report is the first of its kind, and the knowledge acquired provides deeper insight into the role of dichlorinated small molecules as inducers of plant immunity and can be used in metabolomics-guided plant improvement programmes.

Influence of Vympel 2 and Oracul multicomplex biopreparations and their mixture on spring barley (Hordeum L.) plants of different varieties

The study of mechanisms of biological preparations influence on the plants of agricultural crops in order to improve and regulate their growth is an urgent task in agroecology. So, the article presents the results of studies of changes in biometric parameters of spring barley plants depending on the effect of biological preparations Vympel 2, Oracle multicomplex and their mixture (Vympel 2 + Oracle multicomplex). The research was conducted on the basis of temporary field experiments (Skvyra research station of organic production of IAEM of the National Academy of Sciences) and at the department of agrobioresources and ecologically safe technologies in the laboratory of biocontrol of agroecosystems and organic production of the IAEM of the National Academy of Sciences. In the course of the work, it was determined that under the influence of the mixture of Vympel 2 + Oracul multicomplex preparations, spring barley plants of varieties Sebastian and Helios, in the phase of full grain maturity, were 10 cm taller compared to the option without treatment (control). This shows that the treatment of spring barley plants with microfertilizer and growth stimulator ensured an increase in the linear dimensions of plants in height in all phases of their development. It has been established that the influence of preparations Vympel 2, Oracul multicomplex and their mixture (Vympel 2 + Oracul multicomplex) enhances the formation of the assimilation apparatus, which improves the conditions for the growth and development of spring barley plants, both due to the stimulating properties of the plant growth regulator and the improvement of soil nutrition conditions from the side of microfertilizer, which affects the formation of high-yielding crops. It was analyzed that the ear length, the number of grains in the ear, and the mass of grains of spring barley plants changed under the influence of the preparations, which depends on the varietal characteristics of the plants and the stimulating effect of the studied preparations. The best results were obtained by using the Vympel 2 + Oracul multicomplex mixture on plants of the Sebastian variety, where the length of the ear was 2 cm higher, and the weight of the grains was 22 g heavier compared to the control variant.

Identification and Characterization of Novel Candidate Effector Proteins from Magnaporthe oryzae.

The fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae secretes a large number of effector proteins to facilitate infection, most of which are not functionally characterized. We selected potential candidate effector genes from the genome of M. oryzae, field isolate P131, and cloned 69 putative effector genes for functional screening. Utilizing a rice protoplast transient expression system, we identified that four candidate effector genes, GAS1, BAS2, MoCEP1 and MoCEP2 induced cell death in rice. In particular, MoCEP2 also induced cell death in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves through Agrobacteria-mediated transient gene expression. We further identified that six candidate effector genes, MoCEP3 to MoCEP8, suppress flg22-induced ROS burst in N. benthamiana leaves upon transient expression. These effector genes were highly expressed at a different stage after M. oryzae infection. We successfully knocked out five genes in M. oryzae, MoCEP1, MoCEP2, MoCEP3, MoCEP5 and MoCEP7. The virulence tests suggested that the deletion mutants of MoCEP2, MoCEP3 and MoCEP5 showed reduced virulence on rice and barley plants. Therefore, those genes play an important role in pathogenicity.

Effect of different soil amendments on irrigation and crop yields in the oases of southern Tunisia

In the oasis agro-system, salinization and hydromorphy are the principal degradation factors that negatively affect the soils. These two processes are the result of the rise of the water table caused by the overdose of irrigations. To counteract soil degradation and restore field productivity, the oasis farmers turn to use sandy and manure amendments. Therefore, three treatments (Control (C), sandy amendment (T1) and combined amendments composed by sand and manure (T2)) has been applied in Nefzaoua oasis to evaluate the effect of different amendments on oasis soil fertility, irrigation parameters, and barley yield. Results showed that T2 enhanced yield parameter (3,07 t/ha) compared to control treatment (1.85 t / ha) thanks to the improvement in the total nitrogen concentration (1.38 g kg -1), soil organic carbon (28.74 g kg- 1) and therefore C / N ratio (20.78) for T2 treatment at the level of the 0-20 cm layer. The results revealed that sand + manure combination (T2) enhanced the irrigation dose that can be effectively applied for the barley plants (19.61 mm) compared to the control treatment (15.49 mm) and T1 treatment (12.26 mm). In addition, the combined treatment T2 declined significantly the oasis soil bulk density leading to rise the porosity of the top layers (0-20 cm). Our results obtained confirmed the effectiveness of the combined amendment composed of sand and manure in improving the fertility and productivity of the amended oasis soil. Keywords: Soil amendments, irrigation, agro-system, soil degradation