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In recent times, there has been a pressing need to discover or manufacture a unique material that can serve as a photocatalyst for organic pollutants that are incapable of degradation. Pure Bi 2 O 3 and Co, Cd co-doped Bi 2 - 2x Co x Cd x O 3 (x = 0.8) nanoparticles were synthesized using the chemical co-precipitation method, but the new approach involves fabricating 10 % reduced graphene oxide Bi 2 - 2x Co x Cd x O 3 /rGO nanocomposites via the ultra-sonication route. This study investigated the effects of Co, Cd, and r-GO doping on the optical, electrochemical, structural, and photocatalytic properties of bismuth oxide. The synthesized nanomaterials were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), cyclic voltammetry, ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), photoluminescence (PL), and Raman spectroscopy. The XRD patterns showed the formation of a monophasic monoclinic structure belonging to space group P21/c, with an average crystallite size estimated around 22–41 nm. According to the UV–visible study, the bandgap energy of Bi 2 O 3 NPs, Bi 2 - 2x Co x Cd x O 3 NPs, and Bi 2 - 2x Co x Cd x O 3 /rGO nanocomposites were 2.64 eV, 2.37 eV and 2.06eV respectively. The cyclic voltammetry technique was used to evaluate the functioning electrodes. In contrast to un-doped Bi 2 O 3 , the synergistic effects of Co, Cd, and r-GO on the substituted material increased the specific capacitance. The pure Bi 2 O 3 , doped Bi 2 - 2x Co x Cd x O 3, and Bi 2 - 2x Co x Cd x O 3 /rGO photocatalyst degraded 62 %, 85 %, and 95.4 % respectively of RB-5 dye after 105 min of sunlight. The phytotoxicity analysis examined the germination of Hordeum vulgare seeds in treated and untreated RB-5 dyes. Additionally, scavenging investigations using reactive species trapping to confirm the dominant reactive species were evaluated. Bi 2 - 2x Co x Cd x O 3 /rGO nanocomposites are better at photocatalysis and have a narrow bandgap, which makes them useful as solar-active photocatalysts for getting rid of dyes in wastewater. In future, their composites with conducting polymers may improve their electrochemical and photocatalytic behaviour as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we have designed the current experiment to explore the contribution of different sources of phosphorus (P) i.e., single super phosphate (SSP), nitrophoska (NP), and di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) at two different levels i.e., 50 and 100 mg kg−1 in mediating growth and eco-physiology by alleviating lead (Pb) stress i.e., (100 mg kg−1) in cereal crop i.e., barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Results from the present study showed that the increasing levels of Pb in soils significantly decreased plant growth and biomass, photosynthetic pigments, gas exchange attributes, and P contents from the roots, stems, leaves and nodules. Conversely, increasing levels of Pb in the soil increased oxidative stress indicators in term of malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide, superoxide radicle and electrolyte leakage and enzymatic and non-enzymatic compounds and their specific gene expression and proline metabolism including proline, pyrroline-5-carboxylate, pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase and pyrroline-5- carboxylate dehydrogenase, AsA-GSH cycle including glutathione, ascorbate, glutathione disulfide and dehydroascorbic acid, cellular fractionation including pectin methylesterase activity, uronic acid, hemicellulose I, hemicellulose II, cellulose and pectin methylesterase and also increased Pb concentration in H. vulgare. Interestingly, the application of different sources of P counteracted the toxicity of Pb in H. vulgare , leading to greater growth and biomass. This protective effect is facilitated by the P' ability to sequester reactive oxygen species, thereby reducing oxidative stress and lowering As concentrations in both the roots and shoots of the plants. Our research findings indicated that the application of different sources of P has been shown to enhance the resilience of H. vulgare to Pb toxicity, leading to not only improved biomass but also a better physiological state of the plants. [Display omitted] • Different P sources effectively mitigate Pb stress in barley. • DAP, SSP, and NP significantly enhance barley growth under Pb stress. • P application reduces Pb accumulation in barley tissues. • This study suggests innovative strategies for soil Pb remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The list of standard abbreviations for JDS is available at adsa.org/jds-abbreviations-24. Nonstandard abbreviations are available in the Notes. Dietary carbohydrate manipulation can be used to reduce enteric CH 4 emission, but few studies have focused on the interaction of the different types of carbohydrates that can affect feed intake and ruminal fermentation. Understanding this interaction is necessary to make the most out of CH 4 mitigation feeding strategies using different dietary carbohydrates. The aim of this study was to test the effect on enteric CH 4 emission, feed intake, and milk production response when cows were fed either grass-clover silage (GCS) or corn silage (CS) as the sole forage source (55% of dry matter, DM), in combination with either barley (BAR) or dried beet pulp (DBP) as a concentrate (21.5% of DM). A total of 24 (half first-parity and half second-parity) cows were used in a crossover design with 2 periods of 21 d each, receiving 2 of 4 diets obtained from a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of the experimental diet. Feed intake, CH 4 emission metrics, and milk production were recorded at the end of the experimental periods. The diets had NDF concentrations between 258 and 340 g/kg of DM and starch concentrations between 340 and 7.45 g/kg of DM (CS-BAR and GCS-DBP, respectively). The effects of silage and concentrate on dry matter intake (DMI) were additive, with the highest feed intake in cows fed CS-BAR, followed by cows fed CS-DBP, GCS-BAR, and GCS-DBP (21.2, 19.9, 19.1, and 18.3 kg/d, respectively). Energy corrected milk (ECM) yield was not affected by silage source in first parity cows, but it was higher for cows fed CS than cows fed GCS in second parity. The effects of silage and concentrate on CH 4 production (g/d), yield (g/kg of DMI), and intensity (g/kg of ECM) were not additive, as cows fed GCS had similar responses regardless of the concentrate used, but cows fed CS had lower CH 4 production, yield, and intensity when fed BAR instead of DBP. The lower CH 4 production, yield, and intensity in cows fed CS-BAR compared with other diets could be partially explained by the nonlinear relationship between ruminal VFA and carbohydrates (NDF and starch) concentration reported in the literature; however, we observed a linear relationship between the acetate/propionate ratio and CH 4 yield, suggesting possible other effects. The effects of silage and concentrate on the ruminal VFA were additive in first parity cows, but not in second parity cows. The interaction between dietary carbohydrate type and parity might indicate an effect of feed intake or the energy balance of the cow. Feeding cows silage and concentrate both rich in starch can result in the lowest enteric CH 4 emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing the seed germination potential and seedling growth rates play a pivotal role in increasing overall crop productivity. Seed germination and early vegetative (seedling) growth are critical developmental stages in plants. High-power microwave (HPM) technology has facilitated both the emergence of novel applications and improvements to existing in agriculture. The implications of pulsed HPM on agriculture remain unexplored. In this study, we have investigated the effects of pulsed HPM exposure on barley germination and seedling growth, elucidating the plausible underlying mechanisms. Barley seeds underwent direct HPM irradiation, with 60 pulses by 2.04 mJ/pulse, across three distinct irradiation settings: dry, submerged in deionized (DI) water, and submerged in DI water one day before exposure. Seed germination significantly increased in all HPM-treated groups, where the HPM-dry group exhibited a notable increase, with a 2.48-fold rise at day 2 and a 1.9-fold increment at day 3. Similarly, all HPM-treated groups displayed significant enhancements in water uptake, and seedling growth (weight and length), as well as elevated levels of chlorophyll, carotenoids, and total soluble protein content. The obtained results indicate that when comparing three irradiation setting, HPM-dry showed the most promising effects. Condition HPM seed treatment increases the level of reactive species within the barley seedlings, thereby modulating plant biochemistry, physiology, and different cellular signaling cascades via induced enzymatic activities. Notably, the markers associated with plant growth are upregulated and growth inhibitory markers are downregulated post-HPM exposure. Under optimal HPM-dry treatment, auxin (IAA) levels increased threefold, while ABA levels decreased by up to 65 %. These molecular findings illuminate the intricate regulatory mechanisms governing phenotypic changes in barley seedlings subjected to HPM treatment. The results of this study might play a key role to understand molecular mechanisms after pulsed-HPM irradiation of seeds, contributing significantly to address the global need of sustainable crop yield. [Display omitted] • Pulsed high power microwaves (HPM) generated with main frequency 3.5 GHz. • Seed germination significantly increased in all HPM-treated groups. • HPM-treated groups displayed enhancements in water uptake and seedlings growth. • Growth markers upregulated and growth inhibitory markers downregulated by HPM. • Auxin (IAA) levels 3-fold increase, while ABA levels decreased up to 65 % by HPM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

β-glucans have garnered significant attention due to their numerous health-promoting and prebiotic attributes. β-glucans, a group of bioactive substance, are known to have biological effects such as immune-modulating, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-senescence, hypoglycemic and hypocholesterolemic properties. Owing to its unique physical characteristics including its solubility, viscosity and gelation, the food industry and other sectors have witnessed a rise in the utilization of β-glucan. This study aims to present an overview of β-glucan manufacturing technologies, including extraction, isolation, and purification methods from different sources, comprising of bacteria, fungi and plants such as cereals, with the intention of enhancing these techniques for more productive manufacturing procedures. Additionally, β-glucans' physical characteristics, chemical alterations, prospective industrial uses, and future application prospects in food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and other potentially value-added product are outlined research suggest that β-glucans will become more significant in the global food and health sectors in the future. [Display omitted] • β-glucans exhibit notable structural variations according to their origins. • Glucans are classified as α and β glucans based on the interchain linkage. • The capacity and mode of water retention of β-glucans are influenced by several factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Drought stress is a major ecological constraint that resulted in the restricted growth of plants. • Ascorbic acid has an antioxidant property and acts as an important cofactor in plant hormones biosynthesis, including ethylene (ET), salicylic acid (SA), abscisic acid (ABA), and gibberellic acid (GA 3). • Ascorbic acid as foliar spray supported the barley plant growth under drought stress to ameliorate the adverse effects of stress by maintaining growth, relative water contents, and osmotic adjustment through proline, phenolics accumulation and antioxidant enzyme activities. Drought is one of the most devastating environmental stress which affects the plant growth and yield in several ways. Grain crops including barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) are badly affected due to shortage of water all over the world. Ascorbic acid acts as an important cofactor in plant hormones biosynthesis and its exogenous application has been shown to confer tolerance against biotic and abiotic stresses. In the present research, the ability of ascorbic acid to increase drought stress tolerance was investigated in three barley genotypes, a drought-resistant (V3 = Jau-Haider 93) and two drought-sensitive (V1 = 92,044 and V2 = 92,112) grown in pots under field conditions. Two levels of water, control i.e., with adequate irrigation and drought stress with 60 % of field capacity were applied. Ascorbic acid was applied as a foliar spray (1 mM) after every 7 days interval at 3rd leaf stage. In the present study, imposition of drought stress significantly reduced the growth, physiological and biochemical parameters in all genotypes of barley. Among all the varieties, V3 showed the highest increase (18.2 µmolm−2s−1) in net photosynthetic rate when treated with ascorbic acid. Similarly, ascorbic acid increased transpiration rate in V3 with a value of 1.42, 1.45, 1.18, and 1.28 µmolm−2s−1 in control, control with ascorbic acid, drought stress, and drought stress with ascorbic acid, respectively. During the present investigation polyamines i.e., putrescene, spermidine and spermine was highest (117.22, 99.12 and 107.02 nmol·g−1 FW, respectively) in V1 plants treated with ascorbic acid without drought stress. Proline, protein and carbohydrate contents was also increased significantly in barley by ascorbic acid application as compared to control plants. V1 showed the highest peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase (17.23, 39.12, 17.22 Umg−1 of proteins, respectively) in plants treated with ascorbic acid as compared to control without ascorbic acid treatment. Ascorbic acid as foliar spray supported the plant growth under drought stress to ameliorate the adverse effects of stress by maintaining the relative water contents and osmotic adjustment by enhancing antioxidant enzymes, polyamines, proline and phenolics contents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The list of standard abbreviations for JDS is available at adsa.org/jds-abbreviations-24. Nonstandard abbreviations are available in the Notes. Finite natural resources, rising human population, and climate change pose challenges to traditional crop production. Hydroponically grown fodder (i.e., sprouted grains) can be an alternative feed source for dairy cows; however, only sprouted barley has been investigated in low-producing cows. We aimed to evaluate the effect of replacing conventional concentrates with sprouted barley or wheat, grown using hydroponics, on milk production, nutrient digestibility, and milk fatty acid profile in high-producing cows. Twenty-four multiparous Holstein cows (3.25 ± 1.33 lactations; 102 ± 23 DIM; 49 ± 4 kg/d of milk) were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design with 21-d experimental periods. Following a 2-wk covariate period, cows were fed 1 of 3 experimental diets: a TMR (1) without sprouted grains (control), or with (2) 10% sprouted barley, or (3) 10% sprouted wheat on a DM basis. Experimental diets were formulated to be isoenergetic and isonitrogenous with sprouted grains that replaced ground corn, soybean meal, canola meal, and dextrose. Sprouted grains were grown using a semi-automatic hydroponic system and harvested after 6 d of growth. Data and sample collection occurred during the last 3 d of the covariate and experimental periods. Wide ranges were observed for the DM percent of sprouted grains (12.1%–22.9% and 13.3%–25.7% for barley and wheat, respectively) and the ratio of sprouted fodder to seed (0.67–1.07 for both barley and wheat). Feeding sprouted grains did not modify the yield of milk or ECM; however, DMI were lower for barley, relative to control. Feed efficiencies were greater for barley than for control (1.49 ± 0.03 vs. 1.43 ± 0.03 for milk yield/DMI; 1.85 ± 0.03 vs. 1.73 ± 0.04 for ECM/DMI). Yields and concentrations of milk components (i.e., fat, true protein, and lactose) were not affected by treatment. Milk urea N concentrations were greater for wheat, relative to control or barley. Body weight (752 ± 3 vs. 742 ± 3 kg) and BW gains (6.53 ± 2.99 vs. −9.33 ± 2.91 kg/21 d) were higher for wheat than for control. Apparent total-tract digestibility of organic matter was greater for wheat relative to barley. Digestibilities of NDF and starch were higher for wheat and control, relative to barley, and CP digestibility was greater for wheat, relative to barley and control. Rumination and physical activity were not affected by treatment. In summary, replacing traditional concentrates with sprouted grains grown using hydroponics improved milk production efficiency (barley sprouts) or enhanced body weight gain (wheat sprouts). A life-cycle assessment needs to be conducted to determine the net effect of this feeding strategy for the dairy industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the lipid-lowering activity of LFBEP-C1 in high glucose-fed Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). In this study, the fermented barley protein LFBEP-C1 was prepared and tested for its potential anti-obesity effects on C. elegans. The worms were fed Escherichia coli OP50 (E. coli OP50), glucose, and different concentrations of LFBEP-C1. Body size, lifespan, movement, triglyceride content, and gene expression were analyzed. The results were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey's multiple comparison test. Compared with the model group, the head-swing frequency of C. elegans in the group of LFBEP-C1 at 20 μg/mL increased by 33.88%, and the body-bending frequency increased by 27.09%. This indicated that LFBEP-C1 improved the locomotive ability of C. elegans. The average lifespan of C. elegans reached 13.55 days, and the body length and width of the C. elegans decreased after LFBEP-C1 intake. Additionally, LFBEP-C1 reduced the content of lipid accumulation and triglyceride levels. The expression levels of sbp-1 , daf-2 , and mdt-15 significantly decreased, while those of daf-16 , tph-1 , mod-1 , and ser-4 significantly increased after LFBEP-C1 intake. Changes in these genes explain the signaling pathways that regulate lipid metabolism. LFBEP-C1 significantly reduced lipid deposition in C. elegans fed a high-glucose diet and alleviated the adverse effects of a high-glucose diet on the development, lifespan, and exercise behavior of C. elegans. In addition, LFBEP-C1 regulated lipid metabolism mainly by mediating the expression of genes in the sterol regulatory element-binding protein, insulin, and 5-hydroxytryptamine signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• ESTs data retrieving from NCBI and assembling of data for contigs and singletons. • Estimation of enzymes and transcription factors. • Functional characterization and translation of contigs. • Estimation of novel genes and their validation. Climate change is a major current issue in the world, affecting the availability and stability of food. It leads to the most damaging abiotic stress for the ecosystem and the one that results in the greatest output loss is drought. Barley was once thought to be an abiotic stress-tolerant plant but the production of barley dropped significantly due to drought-stress. In this study, a computational method was used to predict the genes in barley that are associated with drought stress. The expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were investigated to identify the gene expression profiling in barley during drought stress. Various software, tools, and servers were used to predict the genes using ESTs, which were responsive to drought stress. The TFcat and blast2GO tools were used to predict transcription factors and enzymes respectively. Phytozome and plantCARE databases were used to validate newly predicted novel candidate genes using promoter studies. By using the Ensemble plant genome database, new genes related to drought stress were discovered. There were only 37 locations in the barley genome that had candidate genes. According to the promoter analysis, twenty nine genes had more than ten cis acting controlling elements that was related to drought stress in various plants. The promoter study showed that 29 out of 37 genes contained more than 10 cis-acting regulatory elements involved in drought stress in different plants. These findings will be helpful to identify the novel drought stress tolerant gene in barley that may play an important role in developing new varieties in near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Educational spaces are one of the most critical operations laid down with the architect, school design is a foundation to build/re-build any community. According to current financial variabilities, political crises, and continuous lack of resources, a gap between human classes is widespread, leading to extremely poor, and recently refugees' communities. Regarding to education, the problem is that traditional school buildings with fixed structures are not effective nor available to these categories with extremely low resources and barley any infrastructure, therefore, it is essential to adopt new concepts to activate the function and impact of educational spaces in these urgent communities. The study aims to create a school "system" to fulfill the task of providing educational spaces, depending on the elements of adaptability with considering social, low-cost impact according to main definitions. With implementing the child's psychological- physiological development elements, age category from 6 :13 years "Middle childhood: Early adolescence" inside the design process. In Egypt, there are several areas of extremely poor living conditions, the two highly alarming case studies are first, Upper Egypt's rural villages having the highest ratio of extreme poverty in Egypt, second, refugee camps that became part and parcel of any standing country, both representing urgent need for children's education rescue. This paper is concentrating as a beginning on first case study as it has the highest percentage of out- school children. As result, trying to fulfill the task by creating an applied school system (project-based) with the adopted criteria, suitable to selected areas main conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquaporins can facilitate the passive movement of water, small polar molecules, and some ions. Here, we examined solute selectivity for the barley Nodulin 26-like Intrinsic Protein (HvNIP2;1) embedded in liposomes and examined through stopped-flow light scattering spectrophotometry and Xenopus laevis oocyte swelling assays. We found that HvNIP2;1 permeates water, boric and germanic acids, sucrose, and lactose but not D-glucose or D-fructose. Other saccharides, such as neutral (D-mannose, D-galactose, D-xylose, D-mannoheptaose) and charged (N-acetyl D-glucosamine, D-glucosamine, D-glucuronic acid) aldoses, disaccharides (cellobiose, gentiobiose, trehalose), trisaccharide raffinose, and urea, glycerol, and acyclic polyols, were permeated to a much lower extent. We observed apparent permeation of hydrated KCl and MgSO4 ions, while CH3COONa and NaNO3 permeated at significantly lower rates. Our experiments with boric acid and sucrose revealed no apparent interaction between solutes when permeated together, and AgNO3 or H[AuCl4] blocked the permeation of all solutes. Docking of sucrose in HvNIP2;1 and spinach water-selective SoPIP2;1 aquaporins revealed the structural basis for sucrose permeation in HvNIP2;1 but not in SoPIP2;1, and defined key residues interacting with this permeant. In a biological context, sucrose transport could constitute a novel element of plant saccharide-transporting machinery. Phylogenomic analyses of 164 Viridiplantae and 2993 Archaean, bacterial, fungal, and Metazoan aquaporins rationalized solute poly-selectivity in NIP3 sub-clade entries and suggested that they diversified from other sub-clades to acquire a unique specificity of saccharide transporters. Solute specificity definition in NIP aquaporins could inspire developing plants for food production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to assess the potential consequences on calf intake, performance, behavior, ruminal microbiome, and ruminal epithelium development of combining the inclusion of chopped barley straw and alfalfa hay during the pre- and postweaning periods keeping concentrate to forage ratio constant among dietary treatments. Forty-five Holstein calves (44 ± 5.7 kg of body weight [BW] and 3 ± 1.5 d of age) individually penned were blocked by BW and randomly assigned to a common pellet concentrate fed ad libitum along with one of following forage feeding strategies: barley straw before and after weaning (S-S), barley straw before and alfalfa hay after weaning (S-A), or alfalfa hay before and after weaning (A-A). All calves received the same milk replacer regimen. Forage was supplied in a separated bucket at the rate of 7.5% (preweaning) and 15% (postweaning) of total solid feed intake of the previous day. Feed intake and BW were recorded daily and weekly, respectively. Rumen samples were obtained via a stomach tube at 53, 66, and 87 d and were composite in 3 samples of 5 animals each for subsequent rumen microbiome analysis. A rumen epithelium sample was taken by endoscopy at 90 d to assess gene expression of OCLN , CLDN4 , SLC9A1 , SLC9A3 , SLC16A1 , SLC16A4 , IL6 , and TGFB1. Data were analyzed with a mixed-effects model accounting for the fixed effects of block, forage, week of study, and their interaction, and calf as a random effect. The type of forage fed did not affect concentrate feed, forage, or total DM intake before weaning. However, S-A and A-A calves consumed less concentrate feed and S-A calves grew at a lower rate after weaning than S-S calves. Expression of the gene coding for SLC16A1 in the rumen epithelium was greatest in S-S among treatments. Rumen microbiome did not differ among treatments, while the relative abundance of Acidaminococcus and Selenomas genera increased, while Alloprevotella , Bifidobaterium , Olsenella , and Succiclasticum genera decreased with age. In conclusion, feeding barley straw before and after weaning was more effective than feeding alfalfa hay in promoting concentrate feed intake after weaning and fostering an increase in the expression of SLC16A1 in the rumen epithelium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • First report whole genome wide comparative analysis of drought tolerant wild barley vs cultivated barley. • Drought tolerance in Tibetan wild barley attributes to candidate genes with unique genetic variants and expression patterns. • Wild barley employs effective regulators to activate various responsive pathways to adapted to water deficit conditions. • Novel functional genes HvZIFL2 and HvPOD11 positively regulate drought tolerance. Frequent climate change-induced drought events are detrimental environmental stresses affecting global crop production and ecosystem health. Several efforts have facilitated crop breeding for resilient varieties to counteract stress. However, progress is hampered due to the complexity of drought tolerance; a greater variety of novel genes are required across varying environments. Tibetan annual wild barley is a unique and precious germplasm that is well adapted to abiotic stress and can provide elite genes for crop improvement in drought tolerance. To identify the genetic basis and unique mechanisms for drought tolerance in Tibetan wild barley. Whole genome resequencing and comparative RNA-seq approaches were performed to identify candidate genes associated with drought tolerance via investigating the genetic diversity and transcriptional variation between cultivated and Tibetan wild barley. Bioinformatics, population genetics, and gene silencing were conducted to obtain insights into ecological adaptation in barley and functions of key genes. Over 20 million genetic variants and a total of 15,361 significantly affected genes were identified in our dataset. Combined genomic, transcriptomic, evolutionary, and experimental analyses revealed 26 water deficit resilience-associated genes in the drought-tolerant wild barley XZ5 with unique genetic variants and expression patterns. Functional prediction revealed Tibetan wild barley employs effective regulators to activate various responsive pathways with novel genes, such as Zinc-Induced Facilitator-Like 2 (HvZIFL2) and Peroxidase 11 (HvPOD11), to adapt to water deficit conditions. Gene silencing and drought tolerance evaluation in a natural barley population demonstrated that HvZIFL2 and HvPOD11 positively regulate drought tolerance in barley. Our findings reveal functional genes that have been selected across barley's complex history of domestication to thrive in water deficit environments. This will be useful for molecular breeding and provide new insights into drought-tolerance mechanisms in wild relatives of major cereal crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While chicken eggs contain many nutrients necessary for humans and there are various cooking methods, the nutritional components are used as they are, and there are no traditional foods that utilize microorganisms. Koji-mold, containing Aspergillus oryzae , A. sojae , and A. luchuensis , which has been used in various fermented foods since ancient times, grows on raw grain materials such as rice and barley to become koji. This can give flavors not found in the raw materials that can decompose and convert the nutritional components of the raw materials. Here, we succeeded for the first time in developing egg-koji that uses only eggs and koji-mold by selecting and combining cooked egg powder (CEP) and A. oryzae AO101 as the most suitable combination. To suppress the explosive growth of harmful bacteria, we improved the sterilization method, watering method, and amount of water. In addition, it was found that egg-koji has a characteristic enzyme activity balance, in which amylase is extremely low and protease at pH 6 was high compared to grain koji, such as rice and barley. Egg-koji might produce enzymes suitable for taking in nutrients when growing into CEP and would be expected to give a flavor that could not be achieved by cooking or additives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Phylloplane microfungi could possibly regulate SDH activity. • The age of plants influence the effect of microbial metabolites. • Ergosterol could in silico enhance the binding of succinate to SDH. Phyllosphere microbes, the microbes thriving on the aerial parts of the plants, have been known to colonize plant surfaces but their influence on the physiological functioning of mitochondria in plants is not well understood. The present study investigated the role of two dominant phylloplane microfungi, Aspergillus niger and Fusarium oxysporum isolated from the leaf surfaces of Hordeum vulgare (barley) and Solanum lycopersicum (tomato), in regulating the activity of Succinate dehydrogenase (EC: 1.3.5.1), which is one of the crucial enzymes involved in the citric acid cycle. The barley and tomato plants were grown in aseptic conditions in a plant culture room under ambient growing conditions. The plants were divided into fifteen groups, each with 75 plants, further split into three sets of 25, to which different treatments were performed. The data was analyzed using two-way ANOVA. Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato and Drechslera graminea inoculated plants had significantly low succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) activity. Phylloplane fungal metabolites could significantly enhance SDH activity after 72 h of treatment (P ≤ 0.05). This was further confirmed by applying ergosterol to the leaves of plants. The bioinformatic analysis further revealed that ergosterol (fungal sterol) could influence the binding of succinic acid to SDH in both barley and tomato plants. The fungal sterol could in silico enhance the binding energy of succinate to SDH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multidisciplinary analyses on ancient dental calculus revealed the possibility to reconstruct habits and diet of ancient human populations, investigate individual health status, as well as provide information on past environments. In the present study we applied both metagenomic and microscopic analysis on ancient human dental calculus in order to obtain a cross-section of the life conditions in a population of central Italy belonging to the Copper Age culture of Rinaldone (IV millennium BCE). The metagenomic profile suggested an agricultural subsistence and a dietary regimen particularly enriched in complex carbohydrates with low soluble fiber. Even bacterial functional profile seems to indicate an almost exclusive carbohydrates intake that could have favoured the occurrence of nutritional stress in the individuals. Exploring the diversity of the plant food consumed, we detected direct evidence of cereals such as wheat and/or barley, and found signals of the use of leaf vegetables, thus providing additional information on human/environment relationship. The presence of oral pathogens, even if at low abundance (<0.1%), can be related to the high consumption of carbohydrates and finds correspondence with the palaeopathological evidence. In conclusion, starting from very minute amounts of ancient dental calculus, our molecular and microscopic analysis jointly provided complementary data in support of past life condition reconstruction in ancient human populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study consists of milk fatty acid (FA) data collected during 2 in vivo experiments. For this study, 8 cows from each experiment were included in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design. At the start of experiment 1 (Exp1) cows were at (mean ± standard deviation) 87 ± 34.6 d in milk, 625 ± 85.0 kg of body weight, and 32.1 ± 4.17 kg/d milk yield and at the start of experiment 2 (Exp2) cows were at 74 ± 18.2 d in milk, 629 ± 87.0 kg of body weight, and 37.0 ± 3.2 kg/d milk yield. In Exp1, we examined the effects of gradual replacement of barley with hulled oats (oats with hulls) on milk FA composition. The basal diet was grass silage and rapeseed meal (58 and 10% of diet DM, respectively), and the 4 grain supplements were formulated so that barley was gradually replaced by hulled oats at levels of 0, 33, 67, and 100% on dry matter basis. In Exp2, we examined (1) the effects of replacing barley with both hulled and dehulled oats (oats without hulls) and (2) the effects of gradual replacement of hulled oats with dehulled oats on milk FA composition. The basal diet was grass silage and rapeseed meal (60 and 10% of diet DM, respectively), and the 4 pelleted experimental concentrates were barley, hulled oats, a 50:50 mixture of hulled and dehulled oats, and dehulled oats on dry matter basis. In Exp1, gradual replacement of barley with hulled oats decreased relative proportions of 14:0, 16:0, and total saturated FA (SFA) in milk fat linearly, whereas proportions of 18:0, 18:1, total monounsaturated FA, and total cis unsaturated FA increased linearly. Transfer efficiency of total C18 decreased linearly when barley was replaced by hulled oats in Exp1. In Exp2, relative proportions of 14:0, 16:0, and total SFA were lower, whereas proportions of 18:0, 18:1, monounsaturated FA, and cis unsaturated FA were higher in milk from cows fed the oat diets than in milk from cows fed the barley diet. Moreover, in Exp2, gradual replacement of hulled oats with dehulled oats slightly decreased the relative proportion of 14:0 in milk fat but did not affect the proportions of 16:0, 18:0, 18:1, total SFA, monounsaturated FA, trans FA, or polyunsaturated FA. In Exp2, transfer efficiency of total C18 was lower when cows were fed the oat diets than when fed the barley diet and decreased linearly when hulled oats were replaced with dehulled oats. Predictions of daily CH 4 emissions (g/d) using the on-farm available variables energy-corrected milk yield and body weight were not markedly improved by including milk concentrations of individual milk FA in prediction equations. In conclusion, replacement of barley with oats as a concentrate supplement for dairy cows fed a grass silage-based diet could offer a practical strategy to change the FA composition of milk to be more in accordance with international dietary guidelines regarding consumption of SFA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed germination is crucial for plant productivity, and the biochemical changes during germination affect seedling survival, plant health and yield. While the general metabolism of germination is extensively studied, the role of specialized metabolism is less investigated. We therefore analyzed the metabolism of the defense compound dhurrin during sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) grain germination and early seedling development. Dhurrin is a cyanogenic glucoside, which is catabolized into different bioactive compounds at other stages of plant development, but its fate and role during germination is unknown. We dissected sorghum grain into three different tissues and investigated dhurrin biosynthesis and catabolism at the transcriptomic, metabolomic and biochemical level. We further analyzed transcriptional signature differences of cyanogenic glucoside metabolism between sorghum and barley (Hordeum vulgare), which produces similar specialized metabolites. We found that dhurrin is de novo biosynthesized and catabolized in the growing embryonic axis as well as the scutellum and aleurone layer, two tissues otherwise mainly acknowledged for their involvement in release and transport of general metabolites from the endosperm to the embryonic axis. In contrast, genes encoding cyanogenic glucoside biosynthesis in barley are exclusively expressed in the embryonic axis. Glutathione transferase enzymes (GSTs) are involved in dhurrin catabolism and the tissue-resolved analysis of GST expression identified new pathway candidate genes and conserved GSTs as potentially important in cereal germination. Our study demonstrates a highly dynamic tissue- and species-specific specialized metabolism during cereal grain germination, highlighting the importance of tissue-resolved analyses and identification of specific roles of specialized metabolites in fundamental plant processes. • Dhurrin is de novo biosynthesized and catabolized in all sorghum grain sub-tissues. • Cyanogenic glucoside metabolism during grain germination is species-specific. • Monocot-specific glutathione transferases are highly expressed during germination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is one of the most important cereal crop in the world, and is also the one being seriously affected by heavy metals, particularly aluminium (Al). Keeping in view the utility of barley as food, fodder and raw material for traditional beer brewing, the top-notch quality and higher production of this crop must be sustained. Phosphorus (P) has a quintessential role in plant growth with a potential to relieve symptoms caused by Al poisoning. Displaying a phytopromotive and stress alleviatory potential, Piriformospora indica (P. indica) can improve the stress tolerance in crops. Several studies have been conducted to evaluate the mechanism of Al translocation in a variety of crops including barley, however, the bio-remediative studies related to detoxification and/or sequestration of metals are scarce. Therefore, the current study was carried out to elucidate the tolerance mechanism of an Al-sensitive barley cultivar ZU9 following the colonization with P. indica and exogenous P supply by physio-biochemical, elemental, leaf ultrastructural and root proteome analyses. When compared to the Al alone treated counterparts, the Al + P + P.i treated plants exhibited 4.1-, 1.38-, 2.7 and 1.35-fold improved root and shoot fresh and dry weights, respectively. With the provision of additional phosphorus, the content of P in the root and shoot for Al + P + P.i group was reportedly higher (71.6% and 49.5%, respectively) as compared to the control group. Moreover, inoculation of P. indica combined with P improved barley leaves' cell arrangement and also maintained normal cell wall shape. The root protemics experiment was divided into three groups: Al, Al + P.i and Al + P + P.i. In total, 28, 598, and 823 differentially expressed proteins were found in Al + P.i vs. Al and Al + P + P.i vs. Al, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis was the most prominently enriched pathway, which contributed significantly to the recuperating effects of P– P. indica interaction. Conslusively, it was found that the percentage of protein related to peroxidase was 70/359 (Al + P + P.i vs. Al) and 92/447 (Al + P + P.i vs. Al + P.i), respectively, which indicated that P. indica in combination with P might be involved in the regulation of peroxidases, increasing the adaptability of barley plants by enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging mechansism. [Display omitted] • Exogenous phosphorus and P. indica colonization augmented plant growth and nutrient uptake in Al stressed plants. • Phosphorus- P. indica interaction helped barley to endure Al-induced stress by modulating antioxidative defense system. • Phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway enrichment contributed significantly to the P- P. indica mediated recuperative effects. • TMT-based proteomic approach validated the efficiency of P in combination with P. indica against Al toxicity in barley. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • microRNA expression compared in Cd-tolerant/sensitive barley Zhenong8 vs W6nk2. • First report a novel gene HvNAT2 targeted by miR156g-3p_3 vital in barley Cd tolerance. • HvNAT2 evolved from the Zygnematales in Streptophyte algae and positively regulates Cd tolerance. • Overexpression of HvNAT2 enhances the expression of genes for ROS scavenging and antoxidative enzyme activity. Cadmium (Cd) is one of the most detrimental heavy metal pollutants, seriously affecting crop production and human health. Nucleobase-ascorbic acid transporters (NAT) are widely present in many living organisms including plants, animals and microbes; however, the role of NAT in plant Cd tolerance remains unknown. To identify Cd-induced miRNAs that target HvNAT2 and to determine the role of this gene and its product in Cd tolerance. High-throughput-sequencing was used to identify the miRNA expression profile of barley roots in response to Cd stress. Overexpression (OX) and RNAi lines were then constructed for HvNAT2 and comparative transcriptomic analysis was performed to determine the function of this transporter examining its effects on traits such as Cd uptake/flux and translocation, morphology and antioxidant capacity in relation to Cd tolerance. In addition, phylogenetic analysis was performed to obtain insights into the evolution of HvNAT2. Cd stress-induced genome-wide expression profiles of miRNAs identified a Cd-induced miRNA, miR156g-3p_3, that had HvNAT2 as its target. HvNAT2 was negatively regulated in the high-Cd-accumulating and Cd-tolerant genotype Zhenong8. Evolutionary analysis indicated that orthologues of the plasma membrane localized, HvNAT2 , can be traced back to the sister group of land plants, the streptophyte algae. Overexpression of HvNAT2 increases Cd tolerance with higher tissue Cd accumulation but less oxidative damage in transgenic barley plants. RNAi of HvNAT2 leads to a significant reduction of Cd tolerance. The higher Cd accumulation in roots of the OX3 line was also demonstrated by confocal microscopy and electrophysiology. Transcriptome analysis showed that the enhancement of antioxidant capacity by HvNAT2 was related to stress signaling pathways. Furthermore, oxidative stress tolerance in HvNAT2 -OX plants was regulated by the synthesis of phytochelatins and the glutathione metabolism cycle. Our study reveals a key molecular mechanism of NAT in Cd tolerance in plants that is useful for sustainable agricultural production and management of hazardous this heavy metal for better environment management and ecosystem function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The warming is global problem. In natural environments, heat stress is usually accompanied by drought. Under drought conditions, water content decreases in both soil and air; yet,the effect of lower air humidity remains obscure. We supplied maize and barley plants with an unlimited source of water for the root uptake and studied the effect of relative air humidity under heat stress. Young plants were subjected for 48 h to several degrees of heat stress: moderate (37 °C), genuine (42 °C), and nearly lethal (46 °C). The conditions of lower air humidity decreased the photochemical activities of photosystem I and photosystem II. The small effect was revealed in the control (24 °C). Elevating temperature to 37 °C and 42 °C increased the relative activities of both photosystems; the photosystem II was activated more. Probably, this is why the effect of air humidity disappeared at 37 °C; the small inhibiting effect was observed at 42 °C. At 46 °C, lower air humidity substantially magnified the inhibitory effect of heat. As a result, the maximal and relative activities of both photosystems decreased in maize and barley; the photosystem II was inhibited more. Under the conditions of 46 °C at lower air humidity, the plant growth was greatly reduced. Maize plants increased water uptake by roots and survived; barley plants were unable to increase water uptake and died. Therefore, air humidity is an important component of environmental heat stress influencing activities of photosystem I and photosystem II and thereby plant growth and viability under severe stress conditions. • Maize and barley survived 48 h at 46 °C in hydroponics under continuous illumination. • Heat stress at 37 °C and 42 °C increased relative activities of photosystem I and II. • Lower air humidity decreased activities of photosystem I and II. • Lower air humidity decreased the activity of photosystem II more than photosystem I. • At 46 °C, lower air humidity magnified inhibition of photosystems and plant growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Description of GSHO 2096, a barley line with very high grain β-amylase activity. • High grain β-amylase activity caused by Bmy1 upregulation during grain development. • First report of Bmy1 gene expression without Hor2 (B-hordein) co-expression. • The mutant Risø 56, in addition to Risø 1508, is part of the GSHO 2096 pedigree. GSHO 2096 is a near isogenic barley line with extremely high grain β-amylase activity, a desirable trait in the malting and brewing industry. High levels of grain β-amylase activity are caused by a surge in endosperm-specific β-amylase (Bmy1) gene expression during the early stages of grain development with high expression levels persisting throughout development. Origins of the high β-amylase activity trait are perplexing considering GSHO 2096 is not supposed to have grain β-amylase activity. GSHO 2096 is reported to be derived from a Bowman x Risø 1508 cross followed by recurrent backcrossing to Bowman (BC5). Risø 1508 carries a mutated form of the barley prolamin binding factor, which is responsible for Bmy1 expression during grain development. Thus, the pedigree of GSHO 2096 was explored to determine the potential origins of the high grain β-amylase trait. Genotyping using the barley 50k iSelect SNP array revealed Bowman and GSHO 2096 were very similar (95.4 %) and provided evidence that both Risø 56 and 1508 are in the pedigree. Risø mutants 56 and 1508 both have perturbed hordein gene expression leading to a discernable pattern using SDS-PAGE. GSHO 2096 and Risø 56 have the same hordein pattern whereas Bowman and Risø 1508 have unique patterns. RNAseq revealed that Hor2 (B-hordein) gene expression was completely downregulated making it unique as the only known line with Bmy1 expression without Hor2 co-expression. Regardless of pedigree, GSHO 2096 remains an extremely valuable high β-amylase activity line with potential utilization in breeding for malt quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-alcoholic and low-alcoholic beers often suffer from inferior foaming quality and lack palate fullness, both of which are positively influenced by arabinoxylan. This study aimed to identify factors during brewing that most affect arabinoxylan content and structure. Analysis showed that malting and mashing had the most significant impact on arabinoxylan, increasing its extractability and reducing its molecular weight. Given that arabinoxylan was most affected at the initial stages of brewing, barley malt selection and mashing profile adjustments were further investigated. Barleys (n = 21) were micro-malted, exhibiting a wide range of endoxylanase activity (6–63 U/kg dm malt) and water-extractable arabinoxylan content (0.54 %–1.04 % dm malt). Malts with extreme values for these parameters were subjected to two mashing profiles, with only one allowing endoxylanase activity, to evaluate the impact of both barley selection and endoxylanase activity on the arabinoxylan profile in beer. The resulting beers had total arabinoxylan content ranging from 1.0 to 2.0 g/L and high-molecular-weight arabinoxylan from 0.4 to 1.2 g/L, levels that significantly contribute to palate fullness and foam stability. The negligible impact of endoxylanase activity highlighted the importance of barley selection. Therefore, brewers should make informed barley (malt) choices to optimize arabinoxylan content and structure in beer. • Steering arabinoxylan populations in brewing is restricted to barley malt selection. • Malt selection results in a range of AX content from 1.0 g/L to 2.0 g/L in beer. • Malt selection yields beer with HMW AX content ranging from 0.4 g/L to 1.2 g/L. • Non-alcoholic beer's palate fullness can benefit from barley malt rich in WE-AX. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical barriers composed of cell walls and protein matrix in cereals, as well as their cooking changes, play important roles in starch digestion. In this study, the physical barriers of native and cooked highland barley (HB), brown rice (BR), and oats (OA) kernels and their contribution to starch digestion were investigated. The resistant starch content was similar in cereal flours, but varied among cooked kernels (HB > BR > OA: 45.05 %, 10.30 %, and 24.71 %). The water adsorption, gelatinization enthalpy, and decrease in hardness of HB kernels were lower than those of OA and BR kernels. Microstructural observations of native kernels showed that HB had the thickest cell walls. After cooking, the lowest cell wall deformation and a dense continuous network developed from the protein matrix were observed in HB kernels. During digestion, undigested starch granules encapsulated by the stable cell walls and strong protein network were observed in HB kernels, but not in BR or OA kernels. Furthermore, the heavily milled HB kernels still had more resistant starch than the intact OA and BR kernels. Therefore, the physical barriers of HB kernels exhibited stronger inhibition of starch gelatinization and digestion. Differences in cereal physical barriers led to various inhibitory effects. • Starch digestion was similar in cereal flours but varied among cooked kernels. • Physical barriers of HB were more inhibitory to starch gelatinization and digestion. • Cell walls of highland barley (HB) exhibited stronger cooking and barrier stabilities. • Heated protein matrix of HB could change into a network and wrap starch granules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highland barley non-starch polysaccharides (HBNP), particularly β-glucans, are known for their health-promoting effects, including modulation of glycemic response and enhancement of gut health. This study investigated the impact of different HBNP fractions on the properties and digestibility of high-glycemic index rice starch. HBNP was segmented into five fractions (HBNP-15, HBNP-30, HBNP-45, HBNP-60, and HBNP-75) using gradient ethanol precipitation, and these fractions exhibited varying molecular weights, monosaccharide compositions, and β-glucan contents. All fractions reduced rice starch's pasting viscosity, with 1 % HBNP-75 leading to a 99.1 % decrease in final viscosity. Morphological and size distribution analyses showed that HBNP fractions limited granule swelling and disrupted starch's continuous phase structure. HBNPs also reduced starch digestibility and increased the formation of resistant starch from 10 % to 28 %. These results suggest potential uses for HBNP fractions in developing low-glycemic starch-based foods. • Five highland barley non-starch polysaccharide (HBNP) sub-fractions were obtained. • 25 % HBNP sub-fraction is crucial for HBNP's capacity of modifying rice starch. • Higher HBNP concentrations resulted in denser starch structure. • HBNP-75, low in β-glucan, significantly reduced starch digestibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the phase behavior of chitosan (Cs) - highland barley gliadin (HBG) complex and application in stabilizing Pickering emulsion. The turbidity results indicated that the insoluble complex was more likely to form between Cs and HBG at the higher concentration of HBG and NaCl (the optimal concentration ratio (1:40). The results of scanning electron microscope (SEM) and surface tension showed that the insoluble complex formed between Cs and HBG at pH 4.0 had better solubility and surface wettability. The results of isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) indicated that each molecule of Cs could interact with 1, 2, and 7 HBG molecules under pH 2.5, 3.2, and 4.0, respectively. In addition, the Pickering emulsion stabilized by Cs-HBG complex showed great rheological properties, thermal stability and storage stability under the conditions of pH 4.0, concentration ratio (Cs:HBG) of 1:40, and oil fraction of 50%. These researches would contribute to the better utilization of polysaccharide-hydrophobic protein complex in the food and pharmaceutical fields. • Insoluble Cs-HBG complex was inclined to form at high HBG concentrations. • Insoluble Cs-HBG complex was inclined to form at high ion strengths. • The insoluble Cs-HBG complex had stronger interaction and better stability. • The Pickering emulsion stabilized by Cs-HBG complex had great thermal stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Impact of three malting parameters on malt modification of barley, rye, and quinoa. • Standard malting regimes for the production of brewing quality malts. • Trends in variation of 34 volatiles in (pseudo)cereals visualized by 3D surface plots. • Interaction of germination temperature and time favored malt modification. • Steep moisture strongly regulated volatile compound formation in malts. The traditional malted cereal used primarily for beverages is barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), while rye (Secale cereale L.) is mainly used in baked goods. In contrast, quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is a gluten-free pseudocereal, rich in starch and high-quality proteins, that can be used similarly to cereals. Their physicochemical properties and volatile compositions (e.g., aroma compounds) directly influence the finished food products. The sharp bitterness of unprocessed rye and the earthy aroma of native quinoa can interfere with the development and acceptance of food products. Malting is known to improve the processing and sensory properties of barley. A face-centered, central composite design was used to investigate the individual and interactive effects of three malting parameters (i.e., steep moisture (SM), germination temperature (T), and germination time (t)) on malt quality indicators (e.g., extract) and volatile formation (e.g., 3-methylbutanal) in rye and quinoa, and were compared to barley. The malt modification predictive models were then used to determine standard malting regimes for brewing quality malts. The malting parameters for the steeping and germination stages were: 43 %, 15 °C, and 6 d for barley; 45 %, 12 °C, and 8 d for rye; and 46 %, 16 °C, 6 d for quinoa. Malt modification and volatile formation were primarily associated with the interactive effect of germination temperature and time. Conversely, steep moisture had limited impact on malt modification but strongly regulated the formation of 34 known (pseudo)cereal volatile compounds. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the volatile data identified (pseudo)cereal specific volatile patterns. Aldehydes were characteristic in the cereal malts, particularly barley, whereas phenyl compounds and pyrazines were abundant in rye and quinoa malts, respectively. Controlling (pseudo)cereal modification and volatile development through the malting process could help deliver targeted sensory properties and improve the acceptance of malt-based food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Barley, a vital cereal crop worldwide, is hindered by hordeins, gluten proteins triggering adverse reactions in those with celiac disease (CeD) and non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS). Recent barley breeding advancements focus on creating varieties with reduced hordein content. Researchers have developed ultra-low gluten barley mutants via targeted genetic modifications, showing significantly decreased hordein levels, potentially safe for CeD and NCGS individuals. However, some mutants carry undesirable traits, which are addressed through further breeding and new genomic techniques. These innovative methods offer promising ways to eliminate unwanted traits and transfer the ultra-low gluten characteristic to diverse barley cultivars, expanding dietary choices and potentially transforming the food and beverage industry with gluten-free barley-based products. This review addresses hordeins' impact and ultra-low gluten barley development and proposes using new genomic techniques for safe barley lines. [Display omitted] • Hordeins are gluten proteins from barley causing severe symptoms for celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity patients. • Barley is widely used in food products, limiting choices for people who follow a gluten-free diet. • Breeding has achieved the first low-gluten barley for beer production. • New genomic techniques could help to transfer these to other barley cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Mixtures containing β-glucans were extracted from barley, under both mild and high alkaline conditions, to prepare biodegradable films (MA and HA, respectively), as natural dressings with intrinsic therapeutic properties. An in-depth characterization was performed to evaluate the impact of mild and high alkaline conditions on chemical, physicochemical, and biological features for potential use in wound treatments. Both MA and HA films exhibited a good ability to absorb water and simulate wound fluid, which helps maintain optimal tissue hydration. Moreover, their oxygen permeability (147.6 and 16.4 cm3 × μm/m2 × 24 h × Pa × 107, respectively) appeared adequate for the intended application. Biocompatibility tests showed that the films do not harm human dermal fibroblasts. Impressively, they promote cell attachment and growth, with MA having a stronger effect due to its higher β-glucan content. Furthermore, MA films can modulate macrophage behaviour in an inflamed microenvironment, reducing oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokines, while simultaneously increasing levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines. In a scratch test, HA films allowed for faster fibroblast migration within the first 16 h compared to MA. Overall, this study demonstrates that developing β-glucan based films from barley, through a sustainable and cost-effective process, holds great promise for skin applications. These films exhibit significant potential to promote wound healing and modulate inflammation. • Extraction pH affects the properties of films based on β-glucans from barley. • Fluid handling properties are adequate for wound healing applications. • β-glucan based films significantly improve the cell response observed in vitro. • Films modulate macrophage behaviour in an inflammatory microenvironment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hordeum vulgare husk, a cereal grain, is rich in dietary fiber and prebiotics beneficial for the gut microbiota and host organism. This study in v estigates the effects of barley husk-derived water-soluble xylan (BH-WSX) on gut homeostasis and the microbiome. We enzymatically extracted BH-WSX and evaluated its prebiotic and antioxidant properties. A 40.0 % (w/v) xylan yield was achieved, with the extracted xylan having a molecular mass of 212.0885 and a xylose to glucuronic acid molar ratio of 6:1. Specialized optical rotation research indicated that the isolated xylan is composed of monomeric sugars such as D-xylose, glucose, and arabinose. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy revealed that the xylan comprises β (1 → 4) linked xylose units, randomly substituted with glucose residues, α-arabinofuranose, and acetyl groups. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) analysis showed that the barley husk extract's backbone is substituted with 4- O -methyl glucuronic acid at the O 2 position. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated that WSX exhibits a single sharp peak at 266 °C on the Differential Thermal Gravimetry (DTG) curve. Furthermore, a combination of in vitro, in vivo models, and molecular docking analysis elaborated on the anti-adhesion properties of BH-WSX. This study presents a novel approach to utilizing barley husk as an efficient source of functional polysaccharides for food-related industrial applications. • Enzyme-aided alkaline extraction enhanced polymeric xylan yield from barley husk effectively. • Extracted xylan demonstrated strong anti-biofilm activity. • Barley husk xylan showed high affinity for pathogen cell wall proteins in in silico analysis. • BH xylan's prebiotic effects and gut microbiota modulation were confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural production and climate change strongly influence each other and there are significant efforts to minimize negative impacts in both directions. In particular, breeding progress has succeeded in reducing the carbon footprint (CFP) of cereals over time. However, there is widespread certainty that climate change-related weather extremes have led to stagnation of cereal yields in many global production regions. We assume that climate change-related yield stagnation is also evident in variety trials in Germany, which has to date only been shown for on-farm yields. Furthermore, we expect that the stagnation in yields also leads to a stagnation in the downward trend of CFP, and that heat and drought stress in particular increase the CFP of cereals. In addition, we hypothesize that the site-specific soil quality largely determines stress induced increases in CFP. We conduct a partial life cycle assessment (LCA) with German variety trial data from 1993 to 2021 and determine the greenhouse gas emissions per unit of land (GHGL), as well as the CFP of winter wheat, winter rye, and winter barley. Further, we evaluate the time trends of yield, GHGL, and CFP using linear and quadratic plateau models. In addition, we calculate spatio-dynamic weather indices (WIs) for moderate, severe and extreme heat and drought stress. Using mixed models, we estimate the explanatory power and effect size of heat and drought WIs on the CFP. Finally, we present the spatial differences of heat and drought on the CFP at different soil qualities. We show yield plateaus in all crops and stagnating GHGL trends, resulting in a stagnation of the downward trend of CFP, especially for rye and barley. We highlight that heat and drought increase the CFP of all crops. However, the impact of heat and drought on the CFP varies greatly with soil quality across all crops. We conclude that climate change-induced weather extremes are major challenges not only for cereal production and food security but also for climate change mitigation in the agricultural sector, highlighting the importance of high-yield locations, alongside variety selection and resource-efficient management, for climate change mitigation. This study is the first that proves significant yield stagnation in German variety trials. Moreover, this study is the first to analyze the impact of heat and drought stress on cereal CFP, with novel results that proof that climate adaptation will become a crucial aspect of climate change mitigation in field crops. • First study that finds a yield plateau in wheat, rye, and barley variety trial data. • Heat and drought stress increases the Carbon Footprint (CFP) of cereals. • Larger variation in CFP between sites than between years in all crops. • Plateau interrupts downward trend of CFP due to negative E development. • Climate change induced abiotic stress hampers efforts in climate change mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-affinity potassium transporters (HKTs) are well known proteins that govern the partitioning of Na+ between roots and shoots. Six HvHKTs were identified in barley and designated as HvHKT1.1 , HvHKT1.3, HvHKT1.4 , HvHKT1.5 , HvHKT2.1 and HvHKT2.2 according to their similarity to previously reported OsHKTs. Among these HvHKTs , HvHKT1.4 was highly up-regulated under salinity stress in both leaves and roots of Golden Promise. Subcellular localization analysis showed that HvHKT1.4 is a plasma-membrane–localized protein. The knockout mutants of HvHKT1.4 showed greater salinity sensitivity and higher Na+ concentration in leaves than wild-type plants. Haplotype analysis of HvHKT1.4 in 344 barley accessions showed 15 single nucleotide substitutions in the CDS region, belonging to five haplotypes. Significant differences in mean salinity damage scores, leaf Na+ contents and Na+/K+ were found between Hap5 and other haplotypes with Hap5 showing better salinity tolerance. The results indicated that HvHKT1.4 can be an effective target in improving salinity tolerance through ion homeostasis. • Six HvHKTs were identified in barley named HvHKT1;1 , HvHKT1.2 , HvHKT1.4 , HvHKT1.5 , HvHKT2.1 and HvHKT2.2. • HvHKT1.4 was highly up-regulated under salinity stress in both leaves and roots of Golden Promise. • The knockout mutants of HvHKT1.4 showed greater salinity sensitivity and higher Na + concentration in leaves than the wild types. • Hap5 showed better salinity tolerance than other haplotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change will bring the interaction of stresses such as increased temperature and drought under high [CO 2 ] conditions. This is likely to impact on crop growth and productivity. This study aimed to (i) determine the response of barley water relations to vegetative and anthesis drought periods under triple interaction conditions, (ii) test the possibility to prime barley plants for drought, and (iii) analyse the involvement of aquaporins in (i) and (ii). The water status of barley was not affected by drought at the vegetative stage, regardless of the environmental conditions. At the anthesis stage, when the water shortage period was more severe, barley plants growing under combined elevated CO 2 and temperature conditions were able to maintain a better water status compared with plants grown under current conditions. Elevated CO 2 and temperature conditions reduced the stomatal conductance and slowed down the plant water flow through a root-leaf hydraulic conductivity coordination. Leaf HvPIP2;1 and HvTIP1 ; 1 aquaporins seemed to play a key role regulating barley's water flow, while leaf and root HvPIP2;5 provided basic level of water flow. At anthesis drought and under future combined conditions, plants showed a reduced cell dehydration and decrease in leaf relative water content compared with plants grown under current conditions. Exposure to a previous drought did not prime the water status of barley plants to a subsequent drought, but instead worsened the response under future conditions. This was due to an imbalance between the roots versus shoot development. • The water status of barley is not affected by vegetative drought. • However, it is affected by anthesis drought but eased by elevated [CO2] × temperature. • Subsequent drought periods worsen barley water status at elevated [CO2] × temperature. • These events are tuned by isoform-specific changes in gene expression of aquaporins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitigating the negative impacts of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is an urgent need due to their toxicity and persistence in the environment. This study investigated the use of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ASU-B6 to detoxify pyrene (PY). The bacterium P. aeruginosa ASU-B6 is capable of degrading PY by 92% as a sole carbon source after 15 days of incubation with phthalate being the major metabolic product. In this regard, the impact of pyrene (PY), P. aeruginosa ASU-B6 (ASU-B6), the bacterial strain combined with pyrene (ASU-B6/PY) and the metabolites produced after pyrene degradation (PY-metabolites) on the germination and physiological attributes of Hordeum vulgare and Vicia faba seedlings were studied. A single application of PY or ASU-B6 showed a toxic effect on the germination of both tested seeds. Interestingly, broad bean seedlings exhibited less sensitivity to PY stress in terms of growth and metabolism compared to barley. Notably, ASU-B6 inhibited fresh and dry weight of shoots and roots of barley and, to a lesser extent, reduced the germination of broad beans compared to the control. However, the combined PY-metabolites and ASU-B6/PY showed a mutual ameliorative effect on seedlings growth, alleviating the phytotoxic impact of each component. Pyrene reduced the virulence of ASU-B6 by inhibiting the production of pyocyanin pigment, while bacteria ameliorated pyrene toxicity through its degradation. Heatmap and principal component analyses highlighted that increasing the contents of hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anion, hydroxyl radical, and lipid peroxidation positively correlated to the toxicity of PY or ASU-B6. However, improving the antioxidant system which buffers the oxidative stress induced by different combinations of PY and ASU-B6 enhanced the growth of germinated seedlings corresponding to PY or ASU-B6. This study reflected the role of ASU-B6 in ameliorating PY-phytotoxicity. In addition, the application of ASU-B6 strain is recommended as a prospective candidate for remediation of PAHs-contaminated environment with a positive impact on the plant growth and metabolic products. [Display omitted] • Pseudomonas aeruginosa is capable of degrading pyrene by 92%, producing phthalate. • Single application of bacteria or pyrene showed a toxic effect on the germination of both tested seeds. • Combined bacteria and pyrene application boosted seedlings growth by mitigating their individual toxic effects. • The combined mixture stimulated the antioxidant system which reduced the oxidative damage on plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contemporary crop research programs involve the evaluation of numerous micro-plots spread across extensive experimental fields. As a result, there is a growing need to depart from labor-intensive manual measurements when assessing phenological data. The growing significance of high throughput phenotyping platforms (HTTP), including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), has rendered these technologies essential in crop research. The overall objective of this study is to explore and validate the use of HTTP methodologies, specifically the potential of vegetation indices (VIs) derived from conventional RGB images, to forecast the date of heading (DH) and maturity (DM) for various cereal crops under different irrigation conditions. To pinpoint DH and DM prediction, a total of nine UAV surveys were conducted throughout the entire crop cycle. Prediction models for DH and DM using VIs were successfully developed for various crop species, explaining 65 % of the variance in bread wheat and 75 % in oats. The highest percentages of variance explained were achieved when models were developed separately for the two irrigation conditions (well-irrigated and rainfed). However, the percentage of variance explained by these models decreased when applied to barley (R²<0.5 for DH). Notably, including final plant height as a predictor increased the percentage of variance explained by the models only for irrigated bread wheat. Furthermore, the utilization of multi-temporal equations, which amalgamated data from diverse UAV surveys, notably enhanced the percentage of variance explained by the model (+160.71 % improvement in DH predictions), particularly those tailored to each specific crop species and irrigation condition. The investigation additionally established a thorough protocol for modeling the phenological aspects of cereal crops utilizing data acquired from UAVs, thereby enhancing the accessibility of this technology for measurements of phenology in large crop research programs. [Display omitted] • Low-cost UAVs enable adequate phenology estimates using VIs in wheat and oats. • VIs near maturity and plant height are key to phenology prediction. • Improved models for heading date combine multiple UAV surveys during grain filling. • Single flight near maturity suffices for accurate prediction of days to maturity. • Phenology prediction models for barley were less robust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the intrinsic features of the soil is its function, which relates to the land cover and management. However, the effect of land use/cover changes and management systems on indicators of soil functionality, especially in semi-arid regions is less known. Hence, in the present study soil samples were collected from five typical land cover types in a semi-arid mountainous area of northern Iran: (1) a natural forest (Carpinus orientalis and Quercus macranthera), (2) rangeland (Crataegus melanocarpa and Crataegus microphylla - Berberis integerrima), (3) 30-year-old walnut orchard, (4) agriculture (Hordeum vulgare) with moldboard plowing, and (5) agriculture (Hordeum vulgare) with disk plowing. For each type of land cover, three 1-ha areas spaced 4–6 km apart were chosen in order to avert pseudo-replication. Both physical and biochemical soil properties were assessed at a depth of 0–10 cm from the four corners of the plots in August, comprising a total of 60 samples (5 land covers x 12 samples for each study site) Additionally, soil biological properties were determined in August and November, making a total of 120 samples. Our results showed that available soil nutrients in the forest site were 1.5–2.5 times higher than in the agricultural (disk) site. The highest and the lowest levels of enzymatic activities were found in the forest site and agricultural (disk) site, respectively. In the autumn season, the highest soil biota abundances, except for bacteria and fungi, were observed in the forest site. Also, the biomass of earthworms in the forest site was almost 80 % higher than in the agricultural site. Overall, land covers were classified based on the degree of effect on soil functional indicators as follows: forest > rangeland > orchard > agriculture (moldboard) > agriculture (disk). Taken together, our findings illustrate that preserving natural vegetation is essential for maintaining soil quality on a high level and contributing to the development of fertile areas in mountainous semi-arid ecosystems of northern Iran. The ground vegetation is a key factor affecting the soil functions, and any alteration in the land use, such as switching from forest to agriculture can have a detrimental effect on the quality and productivity of the soil in the long-term. [Display omitted] • Anthropogenic activity reduces soil fertility and biota population in semi-arid regions. • Soil organism density shows significant seasonal variation between summer and fall. • Soil microbial activity and enzymes had higher values under natural ecosystems. • Carpinus orientalis increases various aspects of soil ecosystem services. • Moldboard-managed agroecosystems show better soil functions than disk-plowed ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have confirmed the stimulating effect of blue light on phenolic compound accumulation and emphasized that sufficient dose of blue light is essential for biosynthesis of B-dihydroxylated flavonoids with enhanced antioxidant properties (under UV-lacking conditions). This study investigates the importance of blue light and complex role of phenolic compounds in plant tolerance against acute photooxidative stress. Hordeum vulgare (L. Cv. Bojos) seedlings were acclimated to different light spectra (blue, green:red 1:1, and white composed of blue:green:red 1:1:1) at total irradiance 400 µmol.m−2.s−1. Subsequently, they were subjected to a 3-hour combined stress induced by high photosynthetically active (850–950 µmol.m−2.s−1) and UV-B (2.0–2.5 W.m−2) radiation. Content of flavonoids, expression of genes involved in their biosynthesis (phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, chalcone synthase, flavonoid 3′-hydroxylase), and antioxidant activity of plant extracts were significantly highest in plants acclimated to blue light. As an indicator of reactive oxygen species interaction with biomolecules, the content of lipid hydroperoxides was estimated. It was demonstrated that plants acclimated to blue light revealed significantly lower extent of lipid peroxidation compared to those acclimated to white or green:red light. Plants exposed to combined light-induced stress for 3 hours exhibited pronounced disruption of PSII function: F V /F M tended to decrease proportionally with decreasing amount of blue photons in the treatments. Additionally, stress exposure upregulated the expression of genes related to phenolic compounds but not genes encoding antioxidant enzymes. We confirmed higher resistance of plants acclimated to blue light and presume that phenolic compounds are significantly involved in protection during the acute phase of stress. • High PAR + UV-B stress upregulates genes for phenolic compound biosynthesis. • Blue light enhances content of specific protective B-dihydroxylated flavonoids. • Plants acclimated to blue light are less susceptible to lipid peroxidation. • Blue light improves PSII stability and enhances recovery after excessive light stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waterlogging stress is a significant abiotic stress that has a pronounced effect on both the yield and quality of barley. Despite this, there is a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding the molecular response mechanisms involved in barley germination under waterlogging stress. In this study, we investigated five root and shoot traits related to waterlogging tolerance across 250 barley accessions. Our findings indicate that the tolerant genotype displayed lower levels of starch degradation, electrical conductivity (EC), and malondialdehyde (MDA) content compared to the sensitive genotype under waterlogging conditions. Through genome-wide association study (GWAS) analysis, we identified 77 significant Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with waterlogging tolerance during germination. Additionally, transcriptomic analysis (RNA-Seq) revealed 1776 and 839 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in Liu Leng Zi Da Mai (waterlogging tolerant) and Naso Nijo (waterlogging sensitive), respectively. It is noteworthy that a considerable number of these DEGs were found to be associated with transcription factors, including AP2/ERF , HSF , WRKY , MYB , and MADS. Through the integration of GWAS and RNA-Seq data analysis, a total of 32 candidate genes were pinpointed, primarily linked to plant hormones and energy metabolism regulation such as ERF , HSF , AEC and LEA. In conclusion, these findings provide novel genetic resources and insights to enhance waterlogging tolerance at germination in future barley cultivars through genomic and marker-assisted selection. This results also lay the foundation for further functional analysis of the identified candidate genes. • 77 significant Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified by genome-wide association study (GWAS) analysis. • 1776 and 839 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in LLZDM and NN, respectively. • A total of 32 candidate genes were pinpointed through the integration of GWAS and RNA-Seq data analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellin (GA) are major regulators of seed dormancy, an adaptive trait closely associated with preharvest sprouting. This study examined transcriptional regulation of ABA and GA metabolism genes and modulation of ABA and GA levels in seeds of barley genotypes exhibiting a range of dormancy phenotype. We observed a very strong negative correlation between genetic variation in seed germination and embryonic ABA level (r = 0.85), which is regulated by transcriptional modulation of HvNCED1 and/or HvCYP707A genes. A strong positive correlation was evident between variation in seed germination and GA level (r = 0.64), mediated via transcriptional regulation of GA biosynthesis genes, HvGA20ox2 and/or HvGA3ox s, and GA catabolism genes, HvGA2ox3 and/or HvGA3ox6. Modulation of the ABA and GA levels in the genotypes led to the prevalence of ABA to GA level ratio that exhibited a very strong negative correlation (r = 0.84) with seed germination, highlighting the importance of a shift in ABA/GA ratio in determining genetic variation of dormancy in barley seeds. Our results overall show that transcriptional regulation of specific ABA and GA metabolism genes underlies genetic variation in ABA/GA ratio and seed dormancy, reflecting the potential use of these genes as molecular tools for enhancing preharvest sprouting resistance in barley. • Modulation of ABA/GA level ratio determines genetic variation in seed dormancy. • Variation in ABA level is regulated via expression of HvNCED1 and/or HvCYP7 07As • Variation in seed GA level is regulated by expression of HvGA20x2 and/or HvGA3ox s • Expression of HvGA2ox3 and/or HvGA2ox6 also contributes to variation in GA level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The national economy of Iranians depends greatly on agriculture. Wheat and barley are two strategic crops in Iran, where their scarcity can adversely affect people's quality of life. Therefore, it is essential to analyze the climatic, humidity-related, and socioeconomic factors affecting the cultivation areas of these crops. This study analyzed the single and mutual effects of 17 parameters on wheat and barley cultivation areas in Iran within the 2007–2020 period. The geographical detector model (GDM) was used in RStudio to analyze the interactive effects of parameters. According to the results, topography had greater effects than other parameters on the cultivation areas of wheat. Spring precipitation had a larger impact with 26% of effects than winter precipitation (SC) with 24% of effects on the cultivation area of wheat. However, winter precipitation and temperature with 42% and 34% effects, respectively, had greater impacts than spring precipitation on the cultivation area of barley. NDVI and SC have the highest impact on the cultivated area of wheat and barley crops. Also, elevation is the most important parameter in wheat cultivation with 54% influence, and this product performs better in high altitudes, on the other hand, elevation is not a vital factor in barley. Also, the winter parameters have a greater effect on wheat than barley, and the average wheat harvest showed high performance in heavy snowfall lands. Also, the results showed that barley has a higher resistance to dry conditions. Moreover, socioeconomic parameters had more effects on barley than on wheat. In other words, livestock cover with 52% of effects had the greatest impact on the cultivation area of barley, whereas population with 36% of effects was ranked the third factor affecting the cultivation area of wheat. According to the interactive results of parameters, the interaction between elevation and NDVI was 88% in wheat. However, the interaction between population and livestock cover was 72% in barely. The optimal results of barley and wheat indicated that both crops had the largest cultivation areas at 22.9–24.9 °C. • The single and mutual effects of various parameters on the cultivation areas of wheat and barley are quantified. • The geographical detector model (GDM) is used to analyze the interactive effects of the parameters. • A comprehensive analysis was conducted on the proposed methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Celiac disease affects an estimated 1% of the global population, and symptoms are triggered by the consumption of gluten in sensitized individuals. Other gluten sensitivities exist but are poorly characterized or often under-diagnosed, leading a number of people to pursue a gluten-free or gluten-reduced diet even in the absence of a diagnosis. Gluten is a complex suite of proteins from the prolamin fraction of storage proteins in barley, wheat, and rye, meaning that foods or beverages that are produced from these cereals will also contain gluten. Beer is one such beverage that is traditionally produced from malted barley and is thus incompatible with a gluten-free lifestyle. The simplest option to produce a gluten-free beer would seem to be to use alternative, gluten-free, grains such as millet, sorghum, teff, rice, corn or other starchy materials. However, barley has thousands of years of development as a brewing agent behind it and these alternative ingredients cannot be incorporated into the brewing process without substantial alterations. Particularly, these ingredients generally have much lower endogenous starch degrading activity and much higher starch gelatinization temperatures as compared to barley which makes generating sufficient fermentable sugars for yeast fermentation a challenge. In this review we will further elucidate these challenges as well as the solutions that are being developed to bring beer to the gluten-free masses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stored product species can be developed in a variety of stored product grains. In this study, were compare three different grains for their suitability for population growth of primary and secondary stored product insects. In the first series, we evaluated the population growth and damage of Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae), Sitophilus granarius (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on whole wheat, barley and tritordeum kernels after 65 days. In the second series, three different percentages of whole and cracked kernels were tested: 100% cracked kernels, 100% whole kernels and 50% cracked +50% whole kernels, for Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.) (Coleoptera: Silvanidae) and Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). The results showed that tritordeum was suitable for the population growth of all species tested. In most of the cases, R. dominica showed higher frass production but S. granarius showed a higher number of damaged kernels. Cracked kernels were preferred by secondary pests than whole kernels and wheat showed the highest progeny production than tritordeum and barley. Overall, commodity, and grain type and percentage of cracked kernels can affect the population growth of stored product insect species. Results of this study showed that stored product insect species can develop in tritordeum and thus should be taken into consideration for further results as may be damaged during storage. [Display omitted] • Tritordeum seems to be suitable for the population growth of all species tested here. • Cracked kernels were preferred by secondary pests than whole kernels. • Wheat showed higher progeny production than tritordeum and barley. • Barley was the least preferred grain for R. dominica , S. granarius and S. oryzae. • Tritordeum was the preferred commodity for R. dominica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) stands out for its special nutritional value compared to other cereals, garnering significant attention in recent years. In this study, a comprehensive chemical and biological evaluation of different barley cultivars extracted with different solvents was performed. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS) was used in the phytochemical study. The molecular docking with absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) study and multivariate analysis alongside the quantification of total phenolic contents (TPC) were performed. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory action was in vitro assessed by measuring COX-1, COX-2, and 5-LOX inhibition. This study seeks to establish a suitable solvent for extracting anti-inflammatory properties from diverse barley cultivars. The methanol extract obtained from the G.131 cultivar, followed by the 80% methanol extract from the G.136 cultivar, exhibited the most favorable IC 50 values in comparison to the reference drugs indomethacin and celecoxib. The phytochemical profile revealed more than 60 compounds that belonged to nitrogen-containing compounds, phenolic compounds, organic acids, flavonoids, and their glycosides, hordatines, and other classes. The TPC and COX-2 inhibition was positively correlated with isoscoparin, coumaroyle–OH–eagmatine, isoorientin, isovitexin 7- O -rhamnosylglucoside, isoscoparin 7- O -glucoside, and isoorientin-7- O -[6-feruloyl]-glucoside. These findings along with their pharmacodynamics study suggested a potential synergistic and significant contribution of these compounds with the anti-inflammatory activity. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • (Dimeric) Hydroxycinnamoylagmatines are the main phenolics in brewing by-products. • Barley rootlets and cold trub have the highest content of phenolics. • New structural features identified in hydroxycinnamoylagmatines and their dimers. • MS-based identification guideline for hydroxycinnamoylagmatine dimers developed. To aid valorisation of beer brewing by-products, more insight into their composition is essential. We have analysed the phenolic compound composition of four brewing by-products, namely barley rootlets, spent grain, hot trub, and cold trub. The main phenolics detected were hydroxycinnamoylagmatines and dimers thereof. Barley rootlets contained the highest hydroxycinnamoylagmatine content and cold trub the highest dimer content. Additionally, variations in (dimeric) hydroxycinnamoylagmatine composition and content were observed in fourteen barley rootlet samples. The most abundant compound in all rootlets was the glycosylated 4- O -7′/3-8′-linked heterodimer of coumaroylagmatine and feruloylagmatine, i.e. CouAgm-4- O -7′/3-8′-(4′ Hex)-DFerAgm. Structures of glycosylated and hydroxylated derivatives of coumaroylagmatine were elucidated by NMR spectroscopy after their purification from a rootlet extract. An MS-based decision tree was developed, which aids in identifying hydroxycinnamoylagmatine dimers in complex mixtures. In conclusion, this study shows that the diversity of phenolamides and (neo)lignanamides in barley-derived by-products is larger than previously reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Grains and Oilseeds Index (GOI) and its sub-indices of wheat, maize, soyabeans, rice, and barley are daily price indexes reflect the price changes of the global spot markets of staple agro-food crops. In this paper, we carry out a visibility graph (VG) analysis of the GOI and its five sub-indices. Our findings reveal that the degree distributions of the VGs, except for rice, exhibit exponentially truncated power-law tails, while the rice VG conforms to a power-law tail. The average clustering coefficients of the six VGs are quite large (> 0. 5) and exhibit a nice power-law relation with respect to the average degrees of the VGs. For each VG, the clustering coefficients of nodes are inversely proportional to their degrees for large degrees and are correlated to their degrees as a power law for small degrees. All six VGs exhibit small-world characteristics. The degree-degree correlation coefficients show that the VGs for maize and soyabeans indices exhibit weak assortative mixing patterns, while the other four VGs are weakly disassortative. The average nearest neighbor degree functions have similar patterns, and each function shows a more complex mixing pattern that decreases for small degrees, increases for mediate degrees, and decreases again for large degrees. • We perform visibility graph analysis on staple agro-food crop price indices. • Most visibility graphs are small-world networks. • All the visibility graphs exhibit similar mixing patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aimed to evaluate how two emerging technologies impact the malting process and the quality of barley malt: ultrasound-assisted hydration and ethanol pre-treatment to drying. All three steps of malting (hydration, germination, and drying), as well as the resulting malt's quality indicators, were evaluated. Conventional and ultrasound-assisted (25 kHz; 91 W/L, 20 °C) hydration were carried out, followed by germination, ethanol (99.5%) pre-treatment (immersion 30 min, 25 °C), and convective drying (50 °C, 1 m/s). Texture analysis demonstrated that the different stages of the malting process modify the structure and composition by increasing or decreasing the compression force in the grain. The ultrasound-assisted hydration improved the second hydration stage, where hydration resistances were greater, reducing hydration time by 38%; moreover, ultrasound accelerated the germination step with root growth 1.17 times greater. During drying, ultrasound-assisted hydration followed by ethanol pre-treatment, reduced drying time by 38.5% (barley) and 17.8% (malt). Both evaluated technologies, therefore, intensify the malting process. In addition, it was demonstrated that their use increased the alpha (9%) and beta-amylase (7%) activity in malt and modified paste and gel-forming properties of barley and malt flours. Therefore, these results suggest that the use of ultrasound improved hydration and germination processes, and ethanol pre-treatment accelerated the drying process because of improved mass transfer, both without negative impact on malt quality. • Ultrasound and ethanol were combined to improve barley malt processing. • Hydration, germination, and drying processes were evaluated. • Barley hydration and germination were significantly improved by ultrasound-assisted hydration. • Drying time was highly reduced with the ethanol pre-treatment. • Ultrasound and ethanol pre-treatment did not affect malt quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Barley leaves (BLs) naturally contained abundant phenolics, most of which are hardly completely released from food matrix during gastrointestinal digestion. Superfine grinding (SFG) and high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) are generally used to treat the functional plants due to their effectiveness to cell wall-breaking and improvement of nutraceutical bioavailability. Thus, this study investigated the synergistic effects of SFG and HHP (100, 300, 500 MPa/20 min) on the bioaccessbility of typical phenolics in BLs during the simulated in-vitro digestion. The results demonstrated that the highest bioaccessbility (40.98%) was found in the ultrafine sample with HHP at 500 MPa. CLSM and SEM confirmed SFG led to microstructurally rapture of BLs. Moreover, the recovery index of ABTS radical scavenging activity and FRAP of HHP-treated ultrafine and fine BLs samples maximumly increased by 53.62% and 9.61%, respectively. This study is expecting to provide the theoretical basis to improve the consumer acceptance of BLs. • Superfine grinding (SFG) and high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) were used on barley leaves (BLs). • BLs phenolic extractability was clearly improved through synergistic effects of SFG and HHP. • The decrease of BLs particle sizes further improved the effects of HHP treatment. • SFG and HHP treatment increased the antioxidant activities of ultrafine and fine BLs. • SFG and HHP treatment increased the bioaccessbility of BLs phenolics through in vitro digestion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, cellulose-rich residue (purity of 90.2%) removed from barley straw was used to obtain cellulose nanofiber hydrogels (1–2 wt%) by high-intensity ultrasound treatments at 1200 W for 10–30 min. The highest water retention value (82.9 ± 0.8 g/g) and fibrillation yield (62.12 ± 0.13 wt%) of hydrogel were obtained by 1 and 2 wt% cellulose nanofibers, respectively, after ultrasound treatment at 1200 W for 20 min. Also, chitosan (1–3 wt%) was added to the cellulose nanofiber hydrogels by ultrasound treatment at 1200 W/20 min. The addition of chitosan reduced the water retention value and fibrillation yield. All hydrogels exhibited a typical elastic gel-like behavior. Then, the hydrogels were dried using supercritical CO 2 to form aerogels, and their properties (bulk density, porosity, stiffness, functional groups, morphology, and thermal behavior) were determined. The lowest bulk density (0.056 ± 0.011 g/cm3) and the highest porosity (96.50 ± 0.17%) was achieved using 1 wt% cellulose nanofiber. The addition of chitosan at 3 wt% increased aerogel stiffness to 3200.10 ± 8.80 g/mm. [Display omitted] • CNF (1 wt%) hydrogel by ultrasound (1200 W) had the highest water retention value. • Chitosan reduced porosity while increased bulk density of CNF aerogels. • Chitosan (3 wt%) improved the stiffness of aerogel over 3200.10 ± 8.80 g/mm. • The addition of chitosan reduced thermal stability of CNF aerogels (< 300 °C). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When Cr(VI) and Cr(III) coexist, the reasonable assessment of the combined toxicity of chromium in soil and its ecological risk is still not well resolved. In the present study, exogenous mixed concentration combinations were set up to determine the interaction and combined toxicity of Cr(VI) and Cr(III), which were quantified as measured total and resin extractable forms for dose-response experiments with barley root elongation. The concept of toxicity equivalence "α" (the ratio of toxicity intensity coefficient between Cr(VI) and Cr(III), which can be expressed as the relative toxic strength of Cr(VI) to Cr(III)) was proposed for the toxicity assessment of mixed-valence chromium in soil. The results showed that the dose-response relationship was determined more precisely by the extended independent action model (e-IA) than traditional models (e.g., concentration addition model), and the mutual antagonism for resin extractable form (Resin-Cr) was stronger than the measured total form (T-Cr). The values of toxicity equivalence (α) between coexisting Cr(VI) and Cr(III) as Resin-Cr and T-Cr were 0.74 and 160, respectively, which indicated Resin-Cr(III) had relatively stronger toxicity than Resin-Cr(VI), while T-Cr(III) was much less than T-Cr(VI). The α values between Cr(VI) and Cr(III) decreased with their more active forms (decreased to about 0.5% of the original), even as total concentration and activity in solutions, making a dialectical view of the toxicity of both in different forms necessary. Finally, the log-logistic models were developed, enabling mixed-valence Cr toxicity to be assessed from a unilateral perspective using the Cr(III) equivalence concentration (Cr(III)-eq). This work provided innovative ideas for ecological threshold studies for mixed-valence metals in soils. [Display omitted] • Cr(III) has an antagonistic effect on Cr(VI) and vice versa. • The combined toxicity differentiated by the extended independent action model. • Cr(III) was more toxic than Cr(VI) when they are active forms. • Toxicity equivalence normalized the toxicity of the mixed-valence Cr in soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]