Barley Grain Research Articles

Quantitative differences in rumen epithelium proteins and detection of lysine acetylation in lambs fed a low or high metabolizable energy diet.

Thirty-six Merino wethers (10-month-old) were fed ad libitum for 30 days two diets;1) low metabolizable energy diet (LME; 30% lucerne: 70% cereal chaff) and 2) high ME diet (HME; 40% rolled barley grain: 50% lucerne: 10% cereal chaff). Effects of diet on dry matter intake (DMI), metabolizable energy intake (MEI), liveweight (LWT), average daily gain (ADG), carcass lean or fat gain, liver and empty rumen weight and plasma metabolites were analysed. A membrane enriched protein fraction of rumen epithelium isolated enzymatically from whole depth rumen wall was quantified for each sheep using tandem mass tag mass spectrometry (TMT-MS). The presence or absence of acetylation of lysine residues on identified proteins was counted and the position of the lysine acetylation recorded. In lambs fed the HME diet, DMI (P<0.001), MEI (P<0.001), ADG (P<0.001), fat (P<0.001) and lean gain (P<0.001), as well as liver (P<0.001) and empty rumen (P<0.009) weight were greater than those fed the LME diet. Plasma glucose (P<0.001) and β hydroxybutyrate (P<0.001) at 3 and 5h after feeding was greater in HME diet than in the LME fed lambs. Changes in rumen epithelium protein abundance in the LME versus HME fed lambs were associated with metabolism in the peroxisome, protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), valine, leucine and isoleucine degradation and carbon metabolism. Acetylation of lysine was detected in enzymes involved in glycolysis, tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and fatty acid (FA) metabolism. Quantitative differences in the abundance of rumen epithelium proteins that carry out intracellular processes of energy expenditure were associated with the concentration of ME (MJ/ kg DM) in the diet of growing lambs. The detection of lysine acetylation sites suggests a difference in the ME of the diet regulates enzymatic activity in central metabolic pathways in the rumen epithelium cells.

Protein aggregation behavior during highland barley dough formation induced by different hordein/glutelin ratio

To investigate why highland barley dough cannot form a gluten structure, the mechanism by which the ratio of hordein/glutelin affects protein aggregation behavior during the formation of barley dough was investigated. It was observed that the pasting properties of the reconstituted flour were markedly diminished (1154–1303 × 10−3 Pa•s). The 50Hordein-50Glutelin sample exhibited the highest farinograph quality number. The K, A22 (48.82–65.26 %), hardness, free -SH (0.76 %–0.95 %), random coil, and hydrogen bonding (0.091–0.179 g/100 g) exhibited a notable increase with a reduction in the hordein/glutelin ratio. Conversely, β-sheet (27.39 %–40.11 %) and fluorescence intensity declined pronouncedly. The 50H-50G facilitated the reinforcement of protein crosslinking and polymerization, enhanced the continuity and order of the protein network structure, and further augmented the dough's viscoelasticity. The results would regulate the macroscopic quality of barley and other miscellaneous grain products through endogenous components, establishing a foundation for enhancing their quality.

АМИНОКИСЛОТНЫЙ СОСТАВ ПШЕНИЧНОГО И ЯЧМЕННОГО ТАЛГАНА

The aim of the study is to investigate the amino acid composition of wheat and barley at various stages of production of the national Khakass product talgan. Wheat and barley grains grown in the Beisk District of the Republic of Khakassia in 2019 and 2022 were heat-treated at 240–250 °C for five minutes after removing impurities. The roasted grains were then crushed and sifted to separate the bran. The amino acid composition of samples taken at each technological stage was analyzed by chromatography. As a result of heat treatment of wheat grain, there was an insignificant decrease in the resulting product of glutamic acid with glutamine, lysine, methionine and proline, while the content of serine and aspartic acid with asparagine increased. After heat treatment of barley grain, on the one hand, a decrease in the content of histidine and tryptophan in the resulting product was found, and on the other hand, the presence of an insignificant increase in the concentration of 7 essential amino acids. At the final technological stage of wheat talgan production, the obtained product showed an insignificant decrease in the content of threonine, phenylalanine, histidine and valine with a simultaneous significant increase in the concentration of methionine. In barley talgan, a decrease in the level of threonine, arginine, phenylalanine, leucine with isoleucine and valine was found with an increase in the content of tryptophan, histidine and methionine. In the production of wheat talgan, the amount of essential amino acids decreased by 15.4 %, and in the production of talgan from barley – by 9.7 %. There was a slight depletion of protein in essential amino acids, and to a lesser extent from barley grain than from wheat.

Bakery Waste Inclusion in the Diet of Growing Black Goat Kids: Evaluation of Performance and Health Aspects

The influence of bakery waste (BAWA) in the diet of black goat kids on nutrient intake, health, growth potential, and carcass features was assessed. Three treatment diets, consisting of 0 BAWA (CON), 50 g/kg BAWA (BAWA50), and 100 BAWA (BAWA100) of dietary dry matter (DM), were administered to 27 male kids (initial body weight = 17.43 ± kg; age = 105 ± 3.5 days) at random (9/treatment). Bakery waste was included in diets BAWA50 and BAWA100, replacing some of the barley grain. The study lasted for 70 days (7 days used for adaptation and 63 days used for data collection). Kids in the BAWA100 group consumed considerably more (p &lt; 0.01) DM, crude protein (CP), and metabolizable energy than those in the BAWA50 and CON groups. However, intakes of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and ether extract (EE) were similar (p ≥ 0.08) among the treatment diets. The kids’ initial and final body weights, total growth, and average daily weight were not substantially impacted (p ≥ 0.13) by the addition of BAWA. All diets had similar feed efficiency when it came to converting feed into body weight increases (p ≥ 0.11). Nevertheless, the BAWA diet yielded a considerably lower cost gain (p = 0.04) than the CON diet. The three treatment groups had no differences (p ≥ 0.15) in DM, ADF, NDF, and EE digestibility. However, compared to the CON group, the digestibility of CP tended to improve (p = 0.07) in the BAWA100 and BAWA50 groups. The three experimental groups’ nitrogen (N) intakes did not differ significantly from one another (p &gt; 0.33). Additionally, the three diets’ N retention percentage and grams/d were equivalent (p &gt; 0.33). Several carcass metrics, such as dressing percentage, hot and cold carcass weights, fasting live weight, and non-carcass components, were not significantly affected (p &gt; 0.23) by the addition of BAWA. Additionally, no differences in carcass cut weights were found. The inclusion of BAWA100 and BAWA50 increased loin cut weight (p = 0.043) and total lean muscle weight (p = 0.001) compared to the CON group. Other components, such as intermuscular fat, subcutaneous fat, total fat, total bone, meat-to-bone ratio, and meat-to-fat ratio, were similar among the three diet groups. Concerning carcass linear dimension measurements, only rib fat depth was greater (p = 0.008) in kids fed the BAWA100 diet compared to the BAWA50 and CON diets. No significant variation was observed among the treatments concerning various physicochemical properties of the longissimus dorsi muscle in the black goat kids. All measured serum metabolites and hematological parameters were not affected by the incorporation of BAWA into the diet. In summary, the inclusion of 50 and 100 g/kg BAWA in the diet had comparable effects on the black goat kids’ feed intake, digestibility, growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, and overall health. Importantly, feed costs can be reduced by using up to 100 g/kg of BAWA on a DM basis.

ИЗМЕНЕНИЕ АМИНОКИСЛОТНОГО СОСТАВА БЕЛКА ЗЕРНОВЫХ ТЕКСТУРАТОВ И МУКИ ПРИ ХРАНЕНИИ РАЗЛИЧНЫМИ СПОСОБАМИ

The aim of the study is to investigate changes in the amino acid composition of grain textured flour proteins during storage using different methods. The object of the study was textured flours obtained from barley and oat grain extrudates, barley and oat flour. The experimental samples were stored using different types of packaging with different barrier properties. Samples stored in bulk were selected for analysis directly at the enterprise. The amino acid composition was determined using a verified capillary electrophoresis system at the Research and Testing Center of the Krasnoyarsk State Agrarian University. The limiting amino acids in general for most storage periods and methods were: for oat flour – tryptophan, leucine + isoleucine, for barley flour – lysine, leucine + isoleucine; for textured flours from grain crop extrudates – lysine, tryptophan, leucine + isoleucine. The calculated index of essential amino acids (INA) had a value greater than 1, but did not characterize the protein of flour and texturate from grain extrudate as ideal, acquiring such a value due to the larger proportion of excess amino acids. The protein of oat grain extrudate texturate was less complete compared to the protein of the corresponding type of flour with storage periods of 1 and 12 months. The determined total content of calculated amino acids with the storage option in opaque and transparent polymeric material with an air environment inside the package was higher compared to other options. This allows us to consider these types of packaging as the most optimal of all those considered for storage.

ВАРИАБЕЛЬНОСТЬ УРОЖАЙНОСТИ ЯРОВОГО ЯЧМЕНЯ НА ФОНЕ ПРЯМОГО ПОСЕВА В УСЛОВИЯХ ЮЖНОГО УРАЛА

The laboratory of agrolandscape farming of the Chelyabinsk Research Institute of Agriculture during 2014–2022 conducted research to substantiate the effectiveness of cultivating spring barley on leached chernozem in the forest-steppe agrolandscape of the Southern Urals. High productivity of spring barley of the Chelyabinsky 99 variety was obtained against the background of systematic direct sowing when placing the latter crop in four-field crop rotations on various backgrounds of mineral nutrition. The yield potential of spring barley in the region under production conditions is mainly realized at 30–40 % of that declared by breeders and has strong variability depending on the growing season conditions of the year. The influence of four-field field crop rotations on productivity and economic efficiency was determined against a natural background of fertility and with the application of nitrogen mineral fertilizer in doses of N40-50, depending on the predecessor. The production of spring barley grain was profitable in field crop rotations, regardless of the background of mineral nutrition and amounted from 40 to 63 % against the natural background, and 53 to 73 % when nitrogen fertilizer was applied. Meeting the nitrogen nutrition needs of spring barley allows, under direct sowing conditions, to maximize the yield potential by an average of 58 %. Additional nitrogen nutrition contributed to a reduction in yield variability by 10 % and made it possible to reveal the potential of the crop presented by breeders on average over nine years to 56 %, in the most favorable years – up to 84 %.

ВЛИЯНИЕ ЖМЫХА КОНОПЛЯНОГО НА ПЕРЕВАРИМОСТЬ И РУБЦОВЫЙ МЕТАБОЛИЗМ IN VITRO

The purpose of research is to study the effect of various doses of hempseed cake on the in vitro digestibility of the dry matter of concentrated feed and rumen metabolism. The experiment was carried out on the basis of the Center for Collective Use of the Federal Scientific Center of the BST RAS on the "artificial scar" model using the ANKOM Daisy II incubator (modifications D200 and D200I). 4 samples were prepared in three repetitions: Control group – grain mixture 100 %; Group I – grain mixture 86 % + hemp cake 14 %; Group II – grain mixture 80 % + hemp cake 20 %; Group III – grain mixture 74 % + hemp cake 26 %. It was found that the introduction of hemp cake in different dosages into a sample with dry matter of barley grain contributed to its digestibility by 1.5 %, 3.81 and 4.82 % compared to the control. At the same time, the sample in group III, containing 26 % hemp cake, was distinguished by the best digestibility. The content of total nitrogen in the rumen fluid of group III was 36.4 mg/%, 37.8 and 35.0 mg/% more than in the control, I and II groups, respectively. The control sample was inferior to I and III groups by 8.28 and 17.14 %. The largest amount of ammonia nitrogen was noted in the rumen fluid from group III, by 0.7 mg/% relative to the control. content by 41.71 %. As for the protozoa, there is a consistent increase in their number in all experimental groups – by 24.24 %, 52.27 and 139.39 %, in comparison with the control.

Black Barley Grain and Its Processing By-Product as a Potential Raw Material for Functional Food

Black Barley Grain and Its Processing By-Product as a Potential Raw Material for Functional Food

Fusarium Head Blight in Argentina, a Profile of Produced Mycotoxins and a Biocontrol Strategy in Barley During Micro-Malting Process.

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is the second winter crop in Argentina. In the national market, grains are mainly destined to produce malt for beer manufacture. Fusarium species are common, causing Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) in barley, which generates yield and quality losses, as well as mycotoxin occurrence. The aims of this study were to determine (a) the incidence of the main species causing FHB in different locations of the barley-growing region of Argentina, (b) their ability to produce mycotoxins, and (c) the levels of deoxynivalenol (DON) and nivalenol (NIV) natural occurrence in grains at the harvest stage. Additionally, a strain of Bacillus velezensis was studied as a biocontrol agent in order to control F. graminearum sensu stricto and mycotoxin accumulation during the malting process, with the final objective being to reduce DON contamination in the beer manufacture chain. Fusarium graminearum ss was the most prevalent species causing FHB, with Fusarium poae being less distributed. Both species produced several mycotoxins, including NX-2 and NX-3, which is the first report of their production by strains isolated from barley in Argentina. Deoxynivalenol contamination was found in 95% of barley grains during the 2016 harvest season (mean: 0.4 mg/kg), while NIV contamination was present in 29% of samples (mean: 0.49 mg/kg). In the 2017 harvest season, 53.6% of grains were contaminated with DON (mean: 0.42 mg/kg), and 21% with NIV (mean: 0.8 mg/kg). Quantification of F. graminearum ss by real-time PCR during the micro-malting process showed that application of the biocontrol agent before the germination stage was the most effective treatment, with a 45% reduction in fungal DNA levels. Reduction in DON contamination (69.3-100%) in artificially infected grains with F. graminearum ss, was also observed. The present work contributes to the knowledge of FHB in Argentina and to the development of a strategy to control this disease and mycotoxin contamination in barley, promoting at the same time food security.

Effects of water-table depth on seed quality as β-glucan content in waxy and non-waxy naked barley grains

ABSTRACT Naked barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is often planted as a regional specialty crop in the western region of Japan, where there are many hilly and mountainous areas. Water-table depths there are often shallow, due to the inflow of spring melt-water and underground water from the mountains. In this study, the effects of water-table depth on growth and β-glucan content in naked barley were studied by using a lysimeter. The new, waxy-type, naked barley cultivar ‘Fukumifiber’, with high β-glucan content, showed that β-glucan content per grain with same ripeness were decreased by shallower water-table depth, while in the non-waxy cultivar ‘Ichibanboshi’, the effect to β-glucan content per grain was not significant. During ripening, the β-glucan content in both waxy and non-waxy cultivars increased sharply from the 20th to the 30th days after anthesis. In waxy-type cultivar ‘Fukumifiber’, β-glucan further accumulated from the 30th to the 50th days after anthesis, but the accumulation was suppressed as the water-table depth shallowed. While in non-waxy type cultivar ‘Ichibanboshi’, there was no significant increase from the 30th to the 50th days after anthesis and there were no significant differences due to the water-table depth. These results suggest that good drainage may be particularly important before from the 20th to the 30th days after anthesis for all cultivars. Furthermore, for some cultivars similar measures until the 50th day after anthesis may also be important. And even under shallow water-table depth condition, the difference between cultivars that have high β-glucan content or low content was maintained.

Rearing mealworm larvae with wheat, barley or maize grains as main source of nutrients in unbalanced or balanced substrates

Feeding conditions of mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) larvae for livestock nutrition needs to be optimized. The effects of the cereal offered as main nutrient source on growth performance and composition of T. molitor larvae were evaluated. In Experiment 1 (unbalanced diets), substrates included 80% of wheat (W1), barley (B1) or maize (M1) and 20% wheat straw. In Experiment 2 (balanced diets), substrates were formulated using wheat (W2), barley (B2) or maize (M2) as the main ingredient, combined with wheat bran or straw to contain similar N, starch and NDF contents (19.5, 520, and 270 g/kg DM, respectively). A control substrate based solely on wheat bran was also included in each experiment (C1 and C2). Each treatment was replicated four times in trays containing 24 g of substrate and 60 larvae, and the experimental period lasted for 28 (Experiment 1) or 35 (Experiment 2) days. Larval weight and residual substrate were monitored weekly, and larval chemical composition was analyzed at the end of each experiment. In Experiment 1, feed intake was greatest for B1 and W1, intermediate for C1 and lowest for M1 (P<0.001). However, larval growth was greater for C1 than for B1 and W1, with the lowest rates observed for M1 (P<0.001). Consequently, feed to gain (F:G) ratio was lowest for C1 and highest for M1 (P<0.001). Mortality was also greatest for M1 (P<0.001). In Experiment 2, feed intake (P<0.001) and larval growth (P<0.01) decreased in M2 compared to B2 and W2, which in turn showed similar growth performance to C2 (P<0.001). Larval composition followed a similar trend in both experiments, with the highest N content observed in larvae fed C1 and C2 (P<0.001), while DM and ether extract contents were higher in larvae reared on barley (P<0.001). In summary, maize-based substrates may compromise feed intake and growth performance of T. molitor larvae compared to those based on wheat or barley, regardless of the nutrient content of the diet. Apparently, larval performance does not respond to the substrate starch content but it might be influenced by the endosperm physical structure. Additionally, a lower N content in the substrate could impair growth performance, an effect that is alleviated once larval protein requirements are achieved. Larval composition was affected by the main dietary ingredient, with substrates based on wheat bran increasing the N content of larvae, whereas those based on barley resulted in increased DM and EE contents.

Development and establishment of the laboratory for plant immunity of the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy”

The current paper has presented the stages of the development on plant protection study over 115 years and the history of the establishing and functioning of the laboratory for plant immunity since 1974 (50 years) at the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution “ARC “Donskoy”. There has been presented the papers of such specialists in plant protection and immunity as Cheskis F. N., Deyanov I.G., Shchegolev V. N., Makarova V. A., Pronicheva L. L., Chala V. A. and others, who began their research from the beginning of the last century till its second half. Taking into account the immunological characteristics in conditions of infectious disease backgrounds of varieties and parental forms, there have been developed new grain varieties, combining high productivity with resistance to a complex of local populations of the main diseases and strong immunity to pests. The heads of the laboratory for plant immunity and protection set up in 1974 were Georgievskaya N. A., Derov A. I., Derova T. G., Shishkin N. V. (who is a current head). In the field plot there were formed infectious disease backgrounds and backgrounds with high pest numbers using both generally accepted methods and new ones developed by the laboratory staff, where there were studied up to 25–30 thousand samples of various crops annually. The staff developed methods for forming backgrounds with high pest numbers, there were improved and proposed simpler and more accurate methods for insect counts. In order to estimate the number of corn bug larvae, there was developed and proposed a convenient productive screencollector, as well as methods for accounting for corn thrips using test tubes and plastic bags and methods for identifying wheat and barley grain damaged by pests. In different years, there were studied such crops as maize, perennial grasses, peas, soybeans, and rice for resistance to diseases and pests. The identified resistant varieties and samples were given to breeders for using them in breeding programs for immunity. Many employees are co-authors of the developed varieties of various crops.

The Suitability of New Spring Barley Varieties (Ioana and Dumbrăvița) in the Beer Industry

The Ioana and Dumbrăvița spring barley varieties are intensive varieties, adapted to soils with high fertility and neutral to slightly alkaline pH. They are analysed in the context of agriculture and the beer industry. The hilly and pre-hilly regions of Transylvania, Moldova, and southern Banat are ideal for growing these varieties, which stand out for their vegetative vigor, good tillering capacity, and large grains, contributing to high agricultural yields. The connection of these varieties to the beer industry is significant due to the chemical composition of the barley grains. The proteins and starch in barley are essential in the malting process, influencing the amount of fermentable sugars and, consequently, the alcohol content of the beer. Beta-glucans, a type of fiber present in barley, affect the foam stability and clarity of the beer, while the minerals and vitamins in barley contribute to yeast health and fermentation efficiency. Thus, the quality of barley grains directly influences the taste, texture and clarity of beer, making these barley varieties essential for the production of high-quality beer.

Development and grain yield of barley genotypes according to sowing date

This study aimed to determine the length of subperiods, development cycle, yield, and grain quality of barley genotypes at different sowing dates. Three experimental lines from a barley breeding program Barley01, Barley02, and Barley03 as well as three commercial cultivars ABI Invicta, ABI Valente, and ABI Rubi were sown in 2001 in the municipality of Passo Fundo. Also, lines Barley04, Barley05, and Barley06, in addition to ABI Invicta and ABI Valente, were sown in 2022 in the municipality of Coxilha. Sowings were carried out on June 1st, June 16th, and July 7th, 2021, in Passo Fundo and May 24th, June 15th, and July 4th, 2022, in Coxilha. The barley development cycle decreased from sowings carried out at the end of May until the beginning of July. Lines Barley02 and Barley06 showed higher precocity. A higher proportion of first-class grains was observed in early sowings in both locations. Barley grain yield depends on the genotype, location, and sowing date.

Screening of Nutritionally Important Components in Standard and Ancient Cereals.

Sustainable nutrition and food production involve dietary habits and farming systems which are eco-friendly, created to provide highly nutritious staple crops which could serve as a functional food at the same time. This research sought to provide a comprehensive analysis of whole-grain cereals, and some ancient grains toward important macro- (protein), micro-nutrients (mineral elements), and bioactive compounds, such as dietary fiber (arabinoxylan and β-glucan) and antioxidants (phytic acid, total glutathione, yellow pigment, and phenolic compounds) to provide functionality in a sustainable diet. Genotypes, such as durum wheat, triticale, spelt, emmer wheat, and barley, could be considered important and sustainable sources of protein (ranging 11.10-15.00%), as well as prebiotic fiber (β-glucan and arabinoxylan, ranging 0.11-4.59% and 0.51-6.47%, respectively), essential elements, and various antioxidants. Ancient grains can be considered as a source of highly available essential elements. Special attention should be given to the Cimmyt spelt 1, which is high in yellow pigment (5.01 μg·g-1) and has a capacity to reduce DPPH radicals (186.2 µmol TE·g-1), particularly Zn (70.25 mg·kg-1). The presence of phenolics, dihydro-p-coumaric acid, naringin, quercetin, epicatechin in grains of oats (Sopot), as well as catechin in barley grains (Apolon and Osvit) underline their unique chemical profile, making them a desirable genetic pool for breeding genotypes. This research provides a comprehensive assessment of different nutritional aspects of various cereals (some of which are commonly used, while the others are rarely used in diet), indicating their importance as nutraceuticals. It also provides a genetic background that could be translated the genotypes with even more profound effects on human health.

Histological Effect of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae in the Ration on Duodenum of Lambs

In this study, sixteen male Awassi lambs were allocated into four experimental groups. The control group (T1) received no yeast, while the treatment groups (T2, T3, and T4) were administered 3g, 5g, and 7g of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) per lamb, respectively. All lambs were fed a diet consisting of barley grain, yellow corn, soybean meal, salt, and a mixture of vitamins and minerals, with the yeast supplement added accordingly. The feeding trial lasted for 75 days, after which all lambs were slaughtered, and tissue samples were collected from the first, second, and third sections of the duodenum. These samples were fixed in 10% formalin and processed using standard histological techniques to create slides stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin. The slides were then photographed using a digital camera mounted on an Olympus microscope. The findings revealed that groups T1, T2, and T3 exhibited longer villi lined with simple columnar epithelium, with goblet cells present between the epithelial cells. The lamina propria contained numerous mucus glands, along with lymphocytic infiltration and plasma cells. In contrast, group T4 showed necrotic cells from the simple columnar epithelium sloughing off into the duodenal lumen, while other components of the duodenum remained intact.

Soil Water Capacity and Pore Size Distribution in Different Soil Tillage Systems in the Spring Barley Crop

Barley is an important cereal crop with versatile uses: barley grains are part of the human diet and are also used for animal feed, while the potential to use barley for ethanol production provides this grain with a promising bioenergy potential. As scientific research in the field of bioenergy progresses, barley may play an even greater role in meeting the world’s future energy needs. The challenge facing today’s barley growers, and one that will undoubtedly be addressed by future generations of grain farmers, is how to grow higher yields with lower costs while minimizing damage to the soil. One way to achieve this is by using simplified tillage methods, thereby avoiding soil compaction, structural degradation, and erosion. Moreover, studies have shown that when soil is cultivated using simplified methods, crop yields may actually increase. Our research was conducted in a long-term stationary field experiment, which was located at the Vytautas Magnus University Agriculture Academy Experimental Station. The aim of the investigation was to determine the effect of conservation tillage and deep plowing systems on soil water capacity and pore size distribution in spring barley cultivation. Comparing simplified tillage systems with deep plowing (DP), it can be concluded that the no-tillage (NT) technology most significantly improved the studied indicators, while the deep plowing (DP) technology exhibited the poorest results.

Short‐term effects of a heavy dairy manure application on soil chemical and biological indicators in an irrigated semiarid cropping system

AbstractIntensive dairy production in southern Idaho is associated with the annual application of manure to croplands. However, a one‐time heavy application of manure could alternatively be used as a means to improve soil fertility and health for years or even decades, circumventing the need for frequent applications. To determine if this practice would negatively affect soil properties in the short term, we analyzed chemical and biological indicators of soil health for 2 years after dairy manure incorporation. Soil indicators measured were pH, electrical conductivity, extractable nitrogen (N) and phosphorus, total carbon (C) and N, enzyme activities, net N mineralization, soil organic C, soil protein, active C, ammonia oxidation potential, and particulate organic matter. Manure (with and without synthetic fertilizer) was found to significantly affect chemical and biological indicators in both topsoil (0–15 cm) and subsoil (15–30 cm), but the responses were greater in the subsoil. This can be attributed to the fact that manure was incorporated to approximately 30 cm via moldboard plow. All indicators responded positively to manure, except pH, which decreased slightly in the subsoil in the first year after application. Principal component analysis of chemical and biological indicators, across all years and depths, showed that the first two components explained 62% and 8.5% of the variance. While soil indicators were not adversely affected by manure, silage corn (Zea mays L.) yields in year 1 were significantly lower in manured plots, though in year 2, barley grain (Hordeum vulgare L.) yields were statistically similar among manure and fertilizer.

Shedding New Light on the Hull-Pericarp Adhesion Mechanisms of Barley Grains by Transcriptomics Analysis of Isogenic NUD1 and nud1 Lines.

In barley having adherent hulls, an irreversible connection between the pericarp with both palea and lemma is formed during grain maturation. A mutation in the NUDUM 1 (NUD1) gene prevents this connection and leads to the formation of barley with non-adherent hulls. A genetic model of two isogenic lines was used to elucidate the genetic mechanisms of hull adhesion: a doubled haploid line having adherent hulls and its derivative with non-adherent hulls obtained by targeted mutagenesis of the NUD1 gene. Comparative transcriptomics analysis of the grain coats was performed at two stages of development: the milk stage, when the hulls can still be easily detached from the pericarp, and the dough stage when the hull adhesion process occurs. It was shown that the main differences in the transcriptomes lie in the genes related to DNA replication and chromatin assembly, cell wall organization, and cuticle formation. Meanwhile, genes involved in lipid biosynthesis mostly show minor differences in expression between stages and genotypes and represent a limited set of active genes. Among the 3-ketoacyl-CoA synthase (KCS) genes active during grain development, candidates for key enzymes responsible for very long-chain fatty acid elongation were identified.

Metarhizium anisopliae seed priming alleviates drought-induced oxidative stress and improves growth of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Increasing crop resilience to drought stress through microorganisms is a sustainable approach. This study evaluated the efficacy of the endophytic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae MetA1 (MA) for improving drought tolerance of barley by analyzing various morphological, physiological, biochemical, and yield factors. Barley grains were treated with MA (1 × 108 spore/ml) and a pot experiment was conducted with three high-yielding barley genotypes: BARI Barley-10, BARI Barley-6, and BARI Barley-9 under three drought conditions: no drought (100% field capacity, FC), moderate drought (50% FC), and severe drought (25% FC). Under drought conditions, MA priming significantly enhanced shoot and root biomass, leaf characteristics, photosynthetic pigment content, and activities of various antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione S-transferase, ascorbate peroxidase, peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, dehydroascorbate reductase, monodehydroascorbate reductase, glyoxalase-I, and glyoxalase-II in all barley genotypes. Furthermore, there was an observed increase in the levels of non-enzymatic antioxidants such as ascorbate and glutathione. MA treatment also led to a significant reduction in stress markers like methylglyoxal, malondialdehyde, lipoxygenase, hydrogen peroxide, and calcium influx along with an increase in proline and potassium content in barley leaves in stressed conditions. Crop growth and yield related attributes in barley were improved, which is evidence of better physiological and biochemical changes under both stress and non-stressed conditions. As such, the study provides evidence suggesting that MA-mediated seed priming is an effective strategy for improving drought tolerance not only in barley but also possibly other crops.