Interaction of salinity (NaCl) and cadmium (Cd) on growth, mineral nutrients, Na and Cd accumulation in four barley genotypes differing in salt tolerance was studied in a hydroponic experiment. Cd, NaCl and their combined stresses reduced Ca and Mg concentrations in roots and shoots, K concentration in shoots, increased K and Cu concentrations in roots relative to control, but had non-significant effect on micronutrients Cu, Fe and Mn concentrations in shoot. The three stresses reduced accumulation of most tested nutrients in both roots and shoots, except NaCl and NaCl+Cd stresses for root K and shoot Cu accumulation in salt tolerant genotypes. The salt tolerant genotypes did not have higher nutrient concentration and accumulation than the sensitive ones when exposed to Cd and NaCl stresses. In conclusion, the affecting mechanism of Cd stress on nutrients was to some extent different from salinity stress, and the NaCl+Cd stress was not equal to additional Cd and NaCl stresses, probably due to the different valence and competitive site of Na(+) and Cd(2+). NaCl addition in the Cd-containing medium caused remarkable reductions in both Cd concentration and accumulation, with the extent of reduction being also dependent on genotypes. The salt-tolerant genotypes had lower Na concentration than sensitive ones.
Cadmium ; metabolism ; toxicity ; Chlorophyll ; metabolism ; Genotype ; Hordeum ; drug effects ; genetics ; metabolism ; Minerals ; metabolism ; Sodium ; metabolism ; Sodium Chloride

Variation in the limit dextrinase activity of barley malt, and the relationships between limit dextrinase activity and malt quality parameters were investigated using eight cultivars grown at seven diverse locations in China for two successive years. Limit dextrinase activity varied with genotype and location, with the levels ranging from 0.245 U/g to 0.980 U/g. The results showed that the variation in limit dextrinase activity was more attributable to the environment (location and year) than to the genotype. The response of limit dextrinase activity to the environment differed markedly among cultivars, and was reflected by large difference in coefficient of variation of cultivars across diverse locations. Regression analysis showed that limit dextrinase activity was negatively correlated with malt viscosity (r=-0.52, P<0.01), positively correlated with Kolbach index (r=0.38, P<0.01) and malt extract (r=0.30, P<0.05), but had no significant correlation with malt protein content and diastatic power.
Beer ; standards ; Environment ; Genotype ; Glucosyltransferases ; metabolism ; Hordeum ; classification ; enzymology ; growth & development ; Time Factors

The effect of sowing date on grain protein, hordein fraction content and malting quality of two-rowed spring barley was investigated by using ten commercial cultivars with different grain protein content and the relationships among these traits were examined. The results showed that grain protein content and B hordein content increased as the sowing date postponed and were significantly affected by sowing date, while C and D hordein contents were less influenced by sowing date. There were significant differences in grain protein and hordein fraction content among the ten cultivars. The coefficient of variation of D hordein content was much larger than that of B and C hordein contents, suggesting its greater variation caused by different sowing dates. Beta-amylase activity and diastatic power were also significantly affected by sowing date, with malt extract being less affected. Significant differences in measured malt quality were found among the ten cultivars. Grain protein was significantly correlated with B hordein and malt extract positively and negatively, respectively. There was no significant correlation between beta-amylase activity or diastatic power and grain protein content. B hordein was negatively and significantly correlated with malt extract, but no significant correlations between C hordein, D hordein and malting quality traits.
Edible Grain ; chemistry ; Food Analysis ; Food Technology ; Glutens ; Hordeum ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Plant Proteins ; metabolism ; Seeds ; growth & development ; metabolism

We assessed the effects of trxS gene on changes of proteinase activity, contents of different protein fractions and SDS-PAGE profiles in germinating seeds of contrasting transgenic and nontransgenic barley variety. Proteinase activity was enhanced by 70.28% in transgenic than nontransgenic barley seeds, whereas contents of albumin, globulin, hordein and glutelin in transgenic seeds were 3.68%, 23.52%, 31.37%, and 21.04%, lower than those in nontransgenic seeds. Degradation rates of hordein and glutelin in transgenic seeds were faster than those in nontransgenic seedlings as indicated by the SDS-PAGE profiles. Our data imply that the transformation of trxS gene could promote the degradation of protein, providing theoretic basis for the use of trxS gene and barley quality breeding.
Germination ; Hordeum ; genetics ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Peptide Hydrolases ; metabolism ; Plant Proteins ; metabolism ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; genetics ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Seeds ; growth & development ; Thioredoxins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transformation, Genetic

Genetic modification of barley variety can be an efficient way to improve beer quality. The objective of this study was to understand the effect of trxS gene on hydrolases activities in transgenic and non-transgenic barley seeds. The results showed that alpha-amylase, free beta-amylase and limit dextrinase activity were increased in transgenic seeds in comparison with non-transgenic seeds. Sulfhydryl content of protein in transgenic seeds was also higher than that in non-transgenic seeds, suggesting that trxS gene could express in barley seeds, which opens a new way for breeding new barley varieties to improve beer quality.
Germination ; genetics ; Glucosyltransferases ; metabolism ; Hordeum ; enzymology ; genetics ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; enzymology ; genetics ; Seeds ; enzymology ; genetics ; Sulfhydryl Compounds ; metabolism ; Thioredoxins ; genetics ; alpha-Amylases ; metabolism ; beta-Amylase ; metabolism

Aluminium (Al) toxicity is one of the major limiting factors for barley production on acid soils. It inhibits root cell division and elongation, thus reducing water and nutrient uptake, consequently resulting in poor plant growth and yield. Plants tolerate Al either through external resistance mechanisms, by which Al is excluded from plant tissues or internal tolerance mechanisms, conferring the ability of plants to tolerate Al ion in the plant symplasm where Al that has permeated the plasmalemma is sequestered or converted into an innocuous form. Barley is considered to be most sensitive to Al toxicity among cereal species. Al tolerance in barley has been assessed by several methods, such as nutrient solution culture, soil bioassay and field screening. Genetic and molecular mapping research has shown that Al tolerance in barley is controlled by a single locus which is located on chromosome 4H. Molecular markers linked with Al tolerance loci have been identified and validated in a range of diverse populations. This paper reviews the (1) screening methods for evaluating Al tolerance, (2) genetics and (3) mechanisms underlying Al tolerance in barley.
Aluminum ; metabolism ; toxicity ; Biological Assay ; Cell Wall ; metabolism ; Chromosomes, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; Genotype ; Hordeum ; metabolism ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Models, Genetic ; Plant Physiological Phenomena ; Soil ; Temperature

BACKGROUND: It is regarded that contemporary Korean diet, the combination of carbohydrates-based Korean traditional diet and the Western eating patterns, increases the vulnerability to chronic diseases such as coronary vascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. Therefore, there is a rising interest in carbohydrate sources with low glycemic index; many researches have proven the medical benefits of low glycemic index diet. Barley has recently drawn attention and various benefits of barley, such as improvements of obesity and bowel function, have been suggested. It seems that the beta-glucan, a content of barley helps to lower blood sugar level. This study aimed to evaluate the advantages of barley consumption compared to wheat consumption in blood sugar and blood lipid profile levels. METHODS: Twenty-four healthy Korea University students were randomly assigned to two groups: 12 of barley bread consumption group (treatment group) and 12 of wheat bread consumption group (control group). Both groups took bread on an empty stomach and the changes of their blood sugar and lipid levels were measured, compared, and analyzed every hour for four hours. RESULTS: The blood sugar level one hour later in the barley bread consumption group was statistically low. In addition, the area under curve of the barley bread intake group was found to be statistically smaller. However, the blood lipid profiles between the two groups did not show meaningful difference. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the consumption of food containing barley could bring various medical benefits to one's health by lowering blood sugar.
Area Under Curve ; Blood Glucose ; Bread ; Chronic Disease ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diet ; Eating ; Glycemic Index ; Hordeum ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Korea ; Lipid Metabolism ; Obesity ; Stomach ; Triticum ; Vascular Diseases

In this study, we evaluated the effect of the herbicide propyl 4-(2-(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yloxy)benzylamino) benzoate (ZJ0273) on barley growth and explored the potential to trigger growth recovery through the application of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs). Barley plants were foliar-sprayed with various concentrations of ZJ0273 (100, 500, or 1000 mg/L) at the four-leaf stage. Increasing either the herbicide concentration or measurement time after herbicide treatment significantly impaired plant morphological parameters such as plant height and biomass, and affected physiological indexes, i.e. maximal photochemical efficiency (F_v/F_m), quantum yield of photosystem II (Ф_PSII), net photosynthetic rate (P_n), and chlorophyll meter value (soil and plant analyzer development (SPAD)). Cellular injury of herbicide-treated plants was also evidenced by increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidative enzyme activity. Elevated levels of herbicide significantly reduced the activity of acetolactate synthase (ALS)-a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of BCAAs. In a separate experiment, growth recovery in herbicide-stressed barley plants was studied using various concentrations of BCAAs (10, 50, 100, and 200 mg/L). Increasing BCAA concentration in growth media significantly increased the biomass of herbicide-stressed barley seedlings, but had no significant effect on non-stressed plants. Further, BCAAs (100 mg/L) significantly down-regulated ROS and consequently antioxidant enzyme levels in herbicide-stressed plants. Our results showed that exogenous application of BCAAs could reverse the inhibitory effects of ZJ0273 by restoring protein biosynthesis in barley seedlings.
Amino Acids, Branched-Chain/administration & dosage* ; Antioxidants/metabolism* ; Benzoates/pharmacology* ; Biomass ; Chlorophyll/metabolism* ; Herbicides/pharmacology* ; Hordeum/metabolism* ; Photosynthesis/drug effects* ; Plant Leaves/metabolism* ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Seedlings/metabolism*

The effects of different timing of N fertilizer application at the same rate on grain beta-amylase activity, protein concentration, weight and malt quality of barley were studied. Grain beta-amylase activity and protein concentration were significantly higher in treatments where all top-dressed N fertilizer was applied at booting stage only or equally applied at two-leaf stage and booting stage than in the treatment where all top-dressed N fertilizer was applied at two-leaf age stage only. On the other hand, grain weight and malt extract decreased with increased N application at booting stage. There were obvious differences between barley varieties and experimental years in the grain and malt quality response to the timing of N fertilizer application. It was found that grain protein concentration was significantly and positively correlated with beta-amylase activity, but significantly and negatively correlated with malt extract and Kolbach index. The effect of grain protein concentration on malt quality was predominant over the effect of grain beta-amylase activity.
Agriculture ; methods ; Edible Grain ; chemistry ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Enzyme Activation ; Fertilizers ; Hordeum ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Nitrogen ; administration & dosage ; Plant Proteins ; metabolism ; Statistics as Topic ; Time Factors ; beta-Amylase ; chemistry ; metabolism

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of powdered young barley leaf and its water extract on body weight and lipid metabolism in high-fat fed mice. Male mice were divided into normal group, high-fat (HF) group, highfat group supplemented with powdered young barley leaf (HF-YBL) and high-fat group supplemented with water extract of the powdered young barley leaf (HF-WYBL). The powdered young barley leaf or its water extract was added to a standard diet based on 1% dried young barley leaf (1 g YBL/100 diet and 0.28 g WYBL/100 g diet) for 8 weeks. Supplementation of YBL and WYBL significantly reduced body weight and epididymal adipose tissue weight in highfat fed mice. Food intake and daily energy intake were significantly lower in the YBL group than in the HF group. After 8 weeks, plasma triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations were significantly higher in the HF group than in the Normal group; however, both YBL and WYBL significantly lowered those of the high-fat fed mice. The ratio of HDL-cholesterol/ total cholesterol of the YBL and WYBL groups were significantly elevated compared to that of HF group. Both YBL and WYBL significantly increased fecal excretion of triglyceride in high-fat fed mice, whereas they did not affect fecal cholesterol concentration. The triglyceride levels of liver, adipose tissue and heart were significantly lower in the YBL and WYBL groups than in the HF group. Supplementation of WYBL also lowered the kidney triglyceride and heart cholesterol concentrations compared to those of HF group. Hepatic lipid regulating enzyme activities, fatty acid synthase, HMG-CoA reductase and acyl-coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase, were significantly lower in the YBL and WYBL groups than in the HF group. Accordingly, these results suggest that YBL and WYBL improve plasma and organ lipid levels partly by increasing fecal lipid excretion and inhibiting fatty acid and cholesterol biosynthesis in the liver.
Acyl Coenzyme A ; Adipose Tissue ; Animals ; Body Weight ; Cholesterol ; Diet ; Diet, High-Fat ; Eating ; Energy Intake ; Fatty Acid Synthetase Complex ; Heart ; Hordeum ; Humans ; Kidney ; Lipid Metabolism ; Liver ; Male ; Mice ; Oxidoreductases ; Plasma ; Sterol O-Acyltransferase ; Water