Barley Lines Research Articles

Determination of Seedling Reactions of Some Barley Cultivars, Lines, and Wild Barley (Hordeum spontaneum) Genotypes to Cochliobolus Leaf Spot Disease

Cochliobolusleaf spot disease, also seen in barley, is an important disease caused by the fungus, Cochliobolus sativus. In this study, under greenhouse conditions, seedling stagereactions of 36 barley cultivars, 35 advancedlines, and 21 wild barley (Hordeum spontaneum) genotypes obtained from Elazığ province of Türkiye and Güzelyurt district of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus against a virulent isolate of Cochliobolus sativus has been determined. Among barley cultivars and genotypes, six genotypes showed a low reaction, 29 genotypes showed moderate reactions and 36 genotypes showed a high reaction. Of the wild barley genotypes, two, 8, and 11 genotypes showed low, moderate, and high reactions respectively. Barley cultivars Harman and Pınar showed low reaction responses, cultivars Akar, Bolayır, Bozlak, Burgaz, Çumra 2001, Hasat, Misket, Orza 96, Sabribey, Sinanbey, Yaprak, and Yesevi 93 exhibited intermediate reaction responses and cultivars Anka-06, Asil, Avcı 2002, Aydanhanım, Ayrancı, Başgül, Burakbey, Bülbül 89, Cacabey, Cirit, Çetin 2000, Hazar, İnce 04, Keykubat, Larende, Özdemir 05, Sayım 40, Tarm 92, Tosunpaşa, Yalın, Yüksel, and Zeynelağa showed high reaction responses. Barley cultivars exhibiting low reaction types can be used by farmers in the field, while barley lines and wild barley genotypes showing low reactions can be used in breeding studies.

RESEARCH ON THE BEHAVIOR OF SOME WINTER BARLEY VARIETIES AND LINES IN PEDOCLIMATE CONDITIONS AT A.R.D.S. SECUIENI, DURING THE PERIOD 2019-2022

The main purpose of this study was to establish the adaptability of 10 Romanian winter barley varieties and lines (creations of the National Agricultural Research Development Institute Fundulea) in the pedoclimatic conditions of Central of Moldova. On average, in the three years of testing, the yields obtained by the winter barley varieties and lines, varied from 5484 kg ha-1 at the DH-432-6 line to 7587 kg ha-1 at the F8-4-18 line. Compared to the yield recorded by the control variety, Dana (6221 kg ha-1), the Cardinal variety – 6838 kg ha-1 and the F8-4-18 line (7587 kg ha-1) obtained higher yields, these being statistically ensured and interpreted as significant respectively very significant. The varieties of barley studied (Univers, Andreea, Artemis, Gabriela) produced higher yields than the control, but had no statistical interpretation.

Anthocyanins in Naked Pigmented Barley Grain as a Source of Antioxidant Activity

Anthocyanins and other phenolic compounds are powerful antioxidants, which reduce risks of many serious human diseases. Anthocyanin contents in naked pigmented barley grain have been determined in numerous studies. In Ukraine, the purpose of the breeding of barley with pigmented grain as a functional food product is biofortification of the grain nutritional value. Published data have demonstrated that it is possible to create high-yielding naked pigmented barley lines.

Determination of Optimum Gamma Ray Irradiation Doses for Hulless Barley (Hordeum vulgare var. nudum L. Hook. f.) Genotypes

The limited germplasm resources of hulless barley restrict the breeding of hulless barley with improved traits. Mutation techniques are an effective tool for generating variation for plant breeding studies. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of gamma-ray at different doses on certain seedling properties of M1 plants of two hulless barley genotypes, as well as determine the effective dose (ED50). The seeds of two hulless two-row barley genotypes, cv. Yalin and hulless barley line YAA7050-14, were irradiated with 100, 150, 200, 250, and 300 gray Gamma-rays delivered by a Cobalt 60 source along with non-irradiated control samples. Gamma-ray irradiation affects the seedling properties of M1 plants of both hulless barley genotypes significantly. The significant effect varied based on the doses, traits, and genotypes. While lower doses were found statistically identical to the control in the majority of qualities in the M1 generation, 250-300 gray gamma ray doses caused statistically significant decreases in the majority of characteristics studied in both genotypes. The effective doses (ED50) for hulless barley genotypes were determined by plotting growth reduction values of seedling lengths, then the polynomial regression equations were calculated for each genotype. It was determined that 50% growth reduction in shoot length was reached at 214.1 Gy and 253.4 Gy for cv. Yalin and line YAA7050-14, respectively.

Identification of SNPs Associated with Grain Quality Traits in Spring Barley Collection Grown in Southeastern Kazakhstan

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is an important cereal crop with high genome plasticity that is cultivated in all climatic zones. Traditionally, barley grain is used for animal feed, malting, brewing, and food production. Depending on the end-use product, there are individual requirements for the quality traits of barley grain, particularly for raw starch and protein contents. This study evaluates a collection of 406 two-rowed spring barley accessions, comprising cultivars and lines from the USA, Kazakhstan, Europe, and Africa, based on five grain quality traits (the contents of raw starch, protein, cellulose, and lipids, and grain test weight) over two years. The results of population structure analysis demonstrate the significant impact of geographical origin on the formation of subclusters in the studied population. It was also found that the environment significantly affects grain quality traits. Heat and drought stresses, particularly during grain filling, led to higher protein and lower starch contents. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) using a multiple-locus mixed linear model (MLMM) allowed for the identification of 26 significant quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for the five studied grain quality traits. Among them, 17 QTLs were found to be positioned close to known genes and previously reported QTLs for grain quality in the scientific literature. Most of the identified candidate genes were dehydration stress and flowering genes, confirming that exposure to heat and drought stresses during grain filling may lead to dramatic changes in grain quality traits, including lower starch and higher protein contents. Nine QTLs were presumably novel and could be used for gene mining and breeding activities, including marker-assisted selection to improve grain quality parameters.

Retrospective of barley breeding in the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy”

The current paper has presented a historical excursion and an overview of scientific research on breeding and seed production of winter and spring barley in the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy”. The Southern Federal District includes 8 subjects of the Russian Federation, namely Sevastopol; republics of Adygea, Kalmykia, Crimea; Krasnodar Territory, Astrakhan, Volgograd and Rostov regions. Barley is the main grain forage crop in terms of sown area. Don farmers have long shown interest in this valuable, diverse crop, very unpretentious to the cultivation conditions. Barley breeding work began in our institution in 1932 and is still ongoing, with short interruptions, to the present. Research was carried out in various areas: breeding of winter, spring and facultative barley, seed production and technology of their cultivation. In the XXI-st century, the researchers of the barley department developed new innovative directions in barley breeding, there were developed two-row brewing varieties with high malting rates (the variety ‘Randevu’) in winter barley breeding and in spring barley breeding there were developed fodder barley (green fodder) varieties (the variety ‘Novik’), which were previously absent in the State List of the Russian Federation. In 2014 there were opened new directions in the department, namely the development of hulles spring barley varieties and awnless winter barley varieties. Since 2016, there has been carried out an active work to identify winter barley lines that are genetically resistant to net blotch. Together with the All-Russian Research Institute of Radiology and Agroecology, there was carried out an estimation of the radiosensitivity of winter and spring barley varieties to identify varieties being resistant to the environmental stress factors. Based on research materials, there were successfully defended 11 candidate and two doctoral dissertations, there were published eight monographs and more than 400 scientific articles.

High fructan barley lines produced by selective breeding may alter β-glucan and amylopectin molecular structure

Six cross-bred barley lines developed by a breeding strategy with the target to enhance the fructan synthesis activity and reduce the fructan hydrolysis activity were analyzed together with their parental lines, and a reference line (Gustav) to determine whether the breeding strategy also affected the content and molecular structure of amylopectin and β-glucan. The highest fructan and β-glucan content achieved in the novel barley lines was 8.6 % and 12 %, respectively (12.3-fold and 3.2-fold higher than in Gustav). The lines with low fructan synthesis activity had higher starch content, smaller building blocks in amylopectin, and smaller structural units of β-glucans than the lines with high-fructan synthesis activity. Correlation analysis confirmed that low starch content was associated with high amylose, fructan, and β-glucan content, and larger building blocks in amylopectin.

Novel exotic alleles of EARLY FLOWERING 3 determine plant development in barley.

EARLY FLOWERING 3 (ELF3) is an important regulator of various physiological and developmental processes and hence may serve to improve plant adaptation which will be substantial for future plant breeding. To expand the limited knowledge on barley ELF3 in determining agronomic traits, we conducted field studies with heterogeneous inbred families (HIFs) derived from selected lines of the wild barley nested association mapping population HEB-25. During two growing seasons, phenotypes of nearly isogenic HIF sister lines, segregating for exotic and cultivated alleles at the ELF3 locus, were compared for ten developmental and yield-related traits. We determine novel exotic ELF3 alleles and show that HIF lines, carrying the exotic ELF3 allele, accelerated plant development compared to the cultivated ELF3 allele, depending on the genetic background. Remarkably, the most extreme effects on phenology could be attributed to one exotic ELF3 allele differing from the cultivated Barke ELF3 allele in only one SNP. This SNP causes an amino acid substitution (W669G), which predictively has an impact on the protein structure of ELF3, thereby possibly affecting phase separation behaviour and nano-compartment formation of ELF3 and, potentially, also affecting its local cellular interactions causing significant trait differences between HIF sister lines.

Efficiency of Rph genes against Puccinia hordei in Southern Russia in 2019–2021

Barley leaf rust (Puccinia hordei Otth.) is considered a harmful disease that occurs in barley-growing regions worldwide. In Russia, the disease is among the most prevalent in the Krasnodar region, which is the leader in the production of barley grain and has a favorable climate for disease development. In this paper, we studied the efficiency of 17 varieties and lines of barley from the International and Australian sets containing currently known Rph resistance genes or their combinations to P. hordei in the field, and 15 varieties and lines in the seedling phase in greenhouse conditions during 2019–2021. We concluded that the lines carrying the Rph7 and Rph13 genes remained immune throughout the three years of studies in the seedling and adult plant stages. The Rph1 and Rph23 genes showed moderate efficiency during the three years. The Rph2, Rph3, Rph4, Rph5, Rph6+2, Rph8, Rph12, Rph19, and Rph21+2 genes showed low efficiency over the three years. This was also confirmed by the results of their assessment in the seedling phase: the number of monopustular isolates virulent to lines with the majority of the studied genes for three years was above 90%. Fluctuations in the virulence of the P. hordei population were observed under sufficiently unfavorable weather for disease development in 2019, 2020, and 2021. This proves the ability of the fungus to adapt to changing conditions. Therefore, annual monitoring of the response of lines and varieties carrying resistance genes and studying the virulence of the pathogen are crucial for the selection of rust-resistant varieties, and, hence, the prevention of barley leaf rust epidemics in all grain-producing regions worldwide.

Spring barley resistance to leaf disease pathogens

Yield losses of spring barley due to epiphytotics of various leaf diseases can be as high as 30-50%. The most common pathogens in the Rostov region are powdery mildew and helminthosporium blotches. The most effective and accessible way to study the resistance of new varieties is to use artificial infectious backgrounds where parental forms and breeding lines most resistant to pathogens are selected under provocative and extreme conditions. The studies were conducted over a three-year period (2020-2022) at an infectious disease stationary site. The purpose of the study was to identify the varieties which were consistently stable and resistant to the common frondiferous pathogens among the studied varieties and lines of spring barley in the Rostov region. Varieties of spring barley of different ecological and geographical origin were the object of research. The number of the studied samples varied: in 2020 - 215 varieties, 256 in 2021, and 196 in 2022. The weather conditions varied in temperature and precipitation during the study period. As a result of field evaluation on artificial infection background, spring barley varieties and the lines with high resistance to the studied pathogens were identified. Highly resistant to powdery mildew were the varieties KWS-11-228 and Pioner (France), Sunshine, Margret, Viking, Laurika and Tituringia (Germany), Perun (Czech Republic), Tipple (England), Kalita, Leon and Tonus (Russia), Obolon and Charivny (Ukraine). The varieties Rus, Talovsky 9, Tonus and Elf (Russia), and Eney (Ukraine) showed resistance to Helminthosporium blotches. Also, samples with resistance to both pathogens were identified: Leon, Tonus, Elf, Fedos, Format and Azimut (Russia), Margret, Prestige and Viking (Germany), Perun (Czech Republic).

Virulence and Genetic Types of Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei in Tibet and Surrounding Areas.

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is the most important cereal crop in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and the yield has been seriously threatened by Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei (Bgh) in recent years. To understand the virulence and genetic traits of different Bgh populations, 229 isolates of Bgh were collected from Tibet, Sichuan, Gansu and Yunnan provinces of China during 2020 and 2021, and their pathogenicity to 21 barley lines of different genotypes was assessed. A total of 132 virulent types were identified. The Bgh isolates from Yunnan showed the highest diversity in terms of virulence complexity (Rci) and genetic diversity (KWm), followed by those from Sichuan, Gansu, and Tibet, in that order. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in genes coding for alternative oxidase (AOX), protein kinase A (PKA), and protein phosphatase type 2A (PPA) were detected at seven polymorphic sites. Nine haplotypes (H1-H9) with an average haplotype diversity (Hd) and nucleotide diversity π of 0.564 and 0.00034, respectively, were observed. Of these, haplotypes H1 and H4 accounted for 88.8% of the isolates, and H4 was predominant in Tibet. Genetic diversity analysis using the STRUCTURE (K = 2) and AMOVE indicated that the inter-group variation accounted for 54.68%, and inter- and intra-population genotypic heterogeneity accounted for 23.90% and 21.42%, respectively. The results revealed the recent expansion of the Bgh population in Tibet, accompanied by an increase in virulence and a loss of genetic diversity.

Comparative Analysis of Root Transcriptome of High-NUE Mutant and Wild-Type Barley under Low-Nitrogen Conditions

Although nitrogen (N) deficiency greatly affects N absorption and metabolism in barley, the global transcriptomic changes in morphological and physiological adaptation to altered N availability remains largely unclear. We conducted a comparative transcriptome analysis of roots in A9-29 (low N tolerant line of barley) and Hua 30 (low N-sensitive variety of barley) under low N conditions to elucidate the responses and the underlying molecular mechanism. The results demonstrated that the root architecture was strongly influenced and that the root morphological indexes (total root length, total root area surface, and root volume) were remarkably promoted in A9-29 compared to Hua30 under low N stress. The transcriptome analysis of roots identified 1779 upregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 1487 downregulated DEGs specifically expressed in A9-29 under low N stress. Specific DEGs in A9-29 were largely enriched in energy metabolism, lipid metabolism, and the metabolism of other amino acids. In addition, transcription factor genes ERFs and IAA-related genes were specifically expressed in A9-29. To conclude, this study could provide a foundation for improving low N tolerance in barley.

The association between hordein polypeptide banding and agronomic traits in partitioning genetic diversity in six-rowed Ethiopian barley lines (Hordeum vulgare L.)

BackgroundEvaluation of the extent of genetic variation within and between the populations of crop genetic resources are of paramount importance in any breeding program. An experiment aimed at assessing the extent of variation among barley lines and the degree of association between hordein polypeptide and agronomic traits was hence executed.MethodsField experiment was conducted in six environments between 2017–2019 involving 19 barley lines. Hordein bands were separated using vertical Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate Poly- acrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE).ResultsThe analysis of variance revealed significant variation among lines and wider range units were observed for the agronomic traits. The line (Acc# 16,811–6) was superior, producing the highest grain yield (2.97 ton ha−1) across environments, 3.6 ton ha−1 at Holleta, and 1.93 ton ha−1 at Chefedonsa. At Arsi Negelle a different line Acc# 17146–9 was the highest yielding (3.15ton ha−1). SDS-PAGE-based analysis of barley lines separated 12 hordein bands between C (four bands) and B (eight bands) subunits. Interestingly bands 52, 46a, and 46b were uniquely conserved in the four naked barley lines (Acc#16809–14,16956–11, 17240–3, 17244–19). A considerably high proportion of genetic diversity within the populations than among the populations could be a repercussion of high gene flow which substantiates the longstanding and dominant informal seed exchange system among the farmers. The significant positive association between grain yield and band 50 evocates the expression of this allele may code for higher grain yield. The negative association between days to maturity and band 52 perhaps stipulates earliness in barely lines upon the manifestation of the band. Band 52 and 60 appeared to be associated with more than one agronomic trait (days to maturity and thousand kernel weight; grain filling period and grain yield respectively) and could be the result of pleiotropic characteristics of the genes residing in these banding regions.ConclusionThe barley lines exhibited substantial variation for hordein protein and agronomic traits. However, imparted the need for the implementation of decentralized breeding as a consequence of genotype-by-environment interaction. Significant hordein polypeptide and agronomic traits association advocated the utilization of hordein as a protein marker and perhaps consider them in the parental line selection.

Characterization of Leaf Rust Resistance in International Barley Germplasm Using Genome-Wide Association Studies

A panel of 114 genetically diverse barley lines were assessed in the greenhouse and field for resistance to the pathogen Puccinia hordei, the causal agent of barley leaf rust. Multi-pathotype tests revealed that 16.6% of the lines carried the all-stage resistance (ASR) gene Rph3, followed by Rph2 (4.4%), Rph1 (1.7%), Rph12 (1.7%) or Rph19 (1.7%). Five lines (4.4%) were postulated to carry the gene combinations Rph2+9.am, Rph2+19 and Rph8+19. Three lines (2.6%) were postulated to carry Rph15 based on seedling rust tests and genotyping with a marker linked closely to this gene. Based on greenhouse seedling tests and adult-plant field tests, 84 genotypes (73.7%) were identified as carrying APR, and genotyping with molecular markers linked closely to three known APR genes (Rph20, Rph23 and Rph24) revealed that 48 of the 84 genotypes (57.1%) likely carry novel (uncharacterized) sources of APR. Seven lines were found to carry known APR gene combinations (Rph20+Rph23, Rph23+Rph24 and Rph20+Rph24), and these lines had higher levels of field resistance compared to those carrying each of these three APR genes singly. GWAS identified 12 putative QTLs; strongly associated markers located on chromosomes 1H, 2H, 3H, 5H and 7H. Of these, the QTL on chromosome 7H had the largest effect on resistance response to P. hordei. Overall, these studies detected several potentially novel genomic regions associated with resistance. The findings provide useful information for breeders to support the utilization of these sources of resistance to diversify resistance to leaf rust in barley and increase resistance durability.

Comparative gene retention analysis in barley, wild emmer, and bread wheat pangenome lines reveals factors affecting gene retention following gene duplication

BackgroundGene duplication is a prevalent phenomenon and a major driving force underlying genome evolution. The process leading to the fixation of gene duplicates following duplication is critical to understand how genome evolves but remains fragmentally understood. Most previous studies on gene retention are based on gene duplicate analyses in single reference genome. No population-based comparative gene retention analysis has been performed to date.ResultsTaking advantage of recently published genomic data in Triticeae, we dissected a divergent homogentisate phytyltransferase (HPT2) lineage caught in the middle stage of gene fixation following duplication. The presence/absence of HPT2 in barley (diploid), wild emmer (tetraploid), and bread wheat (hexaploid) pangenome lines appears to be associated with gene dosage constraint and environmental adaption. Based on these observations, we adopted a phylogeny-based orthology inference approach and performed comparative gene retention analyses across barley, wild emmer, and bread wheat. This led to the identification of 326 HPT2-pattern-like genes at whole genome scale, representing a pool of gene duplicates in the middle stage of gene fixation. Majority of these HPT2-pattern-like genes were identified as small-scale duplicates, such as dispersed, tandem, and proximal duplications. Natural selection analyses showed that HPT2-pattern-like genes have experienced relaxed selection pressure, which is generally accompanied with partial positive selection and transcriptional divergence. Functional enrichment analyses showed that HPT2-pattern-like genes are over-represented with molecular-binding and defense response functions, supporting the potential role of environmental adaption during gene retention. We also observed that gene duplicates from larger gene family are more likely to be lost, implying a gene dosage constraint effect. Further comparative gene retention analysis in barley and bread wheat pangenome lines revealed combined effects of species-specific selection and gene dosage constraint.ConclusionsComparative gene retention analyses at the population level support gene dosage constraint, environmental adaption, and species-specific selection as three factors that may affect gene retention following gene duplication. Our findings shed light on the evolutionary process leading to the retention of newly formed gene duplicates and will greatly improve our understanding on genome evolution via duplication.

Physiological assessment of drought resistance and heat resistance of spring barley varieties by laboratory methods

One of the main conditions for the stable growth of grain production of spring barley is the expansion of sown areas, using varieties with high adaptive properties and capable of providing high yields in a changing climate. The purpose of the work is to determine the drought resistance and heat resistance of varieties and lines of spring barley using laboratory methods. The article presents studies of physiological indicators of resistance at an early stage of plant development to extreme environmental factors (drought and relatively high air temperatures). The physiological method of early diagnostics of seeds and seedlings provides information on the general initial level of physiological and biochemical processes in germinating seeds under stressful conditions and allows one to get an idea of the resistance of adult plants. Such a primary assessment gives grounds for the selection of promising samples for a deeper study of their stability. When determining the resistance of varieties and lines of spring barley to abiotic stressors, samples were identified that, in terms of a set of indicators (drought resistance, heat resistance, degree of depression, index of complex resistance and growth of germinal roots), values significantly exceeding the standard variety Ratnik (36.6; 91, 1; 2.13%; 184.3 rel. units and 2.78 cm, respectively): Zernogradsky 1717 (45.6; 84.0; 5.19%; 194.8 rel. units and 4.76 cm), Zernogradsky 1716 (4.3; 83.4; 5.43%; 188.0 relative units and 3.67 cm), Zernogradsky 1701 (36.2; 87.0; 3.17%; , 4 relative units and 2.56 cm).

Wheat and barley resistance to head smut

In the conditions of the central part of the Krasnoyarsk forest-steppe, the resistance of 114 varieties and lines of spring common wheat and spring barley to regional populations of loose smut U.tritici and U.nuda was studied for 3 years. The studied samples in the phase of the beginning of flowering were infected by a syringe with a 0.005% suspension of the pathogen chlamydospores. Pathogen damage was recorded according to the VIR scale after the manifestation of visible symptoms of the disease. The sources of resistance to the disease were identified varieties and lines of barley and wheat, the defeat of which by loose smut did not exceed 5%. These are 41 samples of wheat: varieties Rifor 6, Mandaryna, Lutetia, Stepnaya 53, Rifor 1, Aleksandrit, Arabeska, Partyzan, Yubileinaya 60, Saratovskaya 76, KWS Buran, Orenburgskaya Yubileinaya, Maestro, H 16-2, LT-12, Arsey, Anabel, Grechanka, Barakat, LT-8, Krasnoyarskaya 12, Beyskaya, Uyarochka, Altaiskaya 70, Kanskaya, Omskaya 36, Novosibirskaya 31, breeding lines K-733-3, K-790-6, KP-6, KSI-21, K-943-1, K-782-2, K-868-1, K-734-10, K-693-2, KSI-10, KP-5, K-696-7, KP-4. And also 12 samples of barley: varieties Emelya, Kedr, Agul 2, Sobolek, lines D7-7040, D50-7468, D36-7289, D22-7177, Zh9-7553, Zh9-7550, Zh37-7621, V-56-6885 .

Estimation of winter barley for resistance to leaf diseases

Barley production in the Rostov region, as well as throughout Russia, has taken its niche in agricultural production. Winter barley attracts farmers’ attention with its unpretentiousness and high productivity. The relevance of immunology used in the production of barley varieties does not decrease over time. Yield losses due to various leaf diseases can be as high as 30–50 %. The most common pathogens in the region are powdery mildew and helminthosporium blotches. The most effective and efficient way to improve the resistance of new varieties is the use of artificial infectious backgrounds. Provocative and extreme conditions promote a selection of parental forms and breeding lines that are most resistant to pathogens. The current paper has presented the results of the estimation of winter barley breeding and collection material based on the FSBSI Agricultural Research Center «Donskoy». The purpose of the study was to identify winter barley varieties and lines which are stably resistant and tolerant to leaf-stem pathogens common in the Rostov region. About 250 samples are being estimated in the period from 2019 to 2021. Over the years of study, there have been identified such varieties and lines resistant to powdery mildew as ‘Bezosty 1954’ (RF), ‘Grand’ (RF), ‘Parallelum 1967’, etc. Resistance to heliminthosporium spotting was demonstrated by the varieties ‘Bezosty 1954’ (RF), ‘Grand’ (RF), ‘Rostovsky 908’ (RF), ‘Donskoy 11’ (RF) and the lines ‘Parallelum 1967’, ‘Parallelum 1974’, ‘Pallidum 1916’, ‘Pallidum 1970’, ‘Parallelum 1960’, ‘Parallelum 1911’, ‘Nutans 1895’ and others. There were also identified such varieties with resistance or tolerance to both pathogens as ‘Grand’ (RF), ‘Sekret’ (RF), ‘Fox 1’ (RF), ‘Marusya’ (RF), ‘Karisma’ (England) and the lines ‘Bezosty 1954’, ‘Parallelum 1967’, ‘Parallelum 1974’, ‘Parallelum 2015’, ‘Parallelum 2016’, ‘Parallelum 2017’. All presented varieties and lines are proposed for use in further breeding for immunity to the studied pathogens.

Natural selection under conventional and organic cropping systems affect root architecture in spring barley

A beneficial root system is crucial for efficient nutrient uptake and stress tolerance. Therefore, evaluating the root system variation for breeding crop plants towards stress adaptation is critically important. Here, we phenotyped root architectural traits of naturally adapted populations from organic and conventional cropping systems under hydroponic and field trails. Long-term natural selection under these two cropping systems resulted in a microevolution of root morphological and anatomical traits. Barley lines developed under an organic system possessed longer roots with narrow root angle, larger surface area, increased root mass density, and a thinner root diameter with an increased number of metaxylem vessels. In contrast, lines adapted to the conventional system tend to have a shorter and wider root system with a larger root volume with a thicker diameter but fewer metaxylem vessels. Allometry analysis established a relationship between root traits and plant size among barley genotypes, which specifies that root angle could be a good candidate among studied root traits to determine root-borne shoot architecture. Further, multivariate analyses showed a strong tendency towards increased variability of the organically adapted population's root morphological and anatomical traits. The genotyping of ancestor populations validated the observations made in these experiments. Collectively, this results indicate significant differences in root phenotypes between conventional and organic populations, which could be useful in comparative genomics and breeding.

Novel Single-Nucleotide Variants for Morpho-Physiological Traits Involved in Enhancing Drought Stress Tolerance in Barley.

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) thrives in the arid and semi-arid regions of the world; nevertheless, it suffers large grain yield losses due to drought stress. A panel of 426 lines of barley was evaluated in Egypt under deficit (DI) and full irrigation (FI) during the 2019 and 2020 growing seasons. Observations were recorded on the number of days to flowering (NDF), total chlorophyll content (CH), canopy temperature (CAN), grain filling duration (GFD), plant height (PH), and grain yield (Yield) under DI and FI. The lines were genotyped using the 9K Infinium iSelect single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) genotyping platform, which resulted in 6913 high-quality SNPs. In conjunction with the SNP markers, the phenotypic data were subjected to a genome-wide association scan (GWAS) using Bayesian-information and Linkage-disequilibrium Iteratively Nested Keyway (BLINK). The GWAS results indicated that 36 SNPs were significantly associated with the studied traits under DI and FI. Furthermore, eight markers were significant and common across DI and FI water regimes, while 14 markers were uniquely associated with the studied traits under DI. Under DI and FI, three (11_10326, 11_20042, and 11_20170) and five (11_20099, 11_10326, 11_20840, 12_30298, and 11_20605) markers, respectively, had pleiotropic effect on at least two traits. Among the significant markers, 24 were annotated to known barley genes. Most of these genes were involved in plant responses to environmental stimuli such as drought. Overall, nine of the significant markers were previously reported, and 27 markers might be considered novel. Several markers identified in this study could enable the prediction of barley accessions with optimal agronomic performance under DI and FI.