A vigorous root system in barley promotes water uptake from the soil under water-limited conditions. We investigated three spring barley genotypes with varying water stress responses using rhizoboxes at the seedling stage. The genotypes comprised two elite German cultivars, Barke and Scarlett, and a near-isogenic line, NIL 143. The isogenic line harbors the wild allele pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthase1-P5cs1. Root growth in rhizoboxes under reduced water availability conditions caused a significant reduction in total root length, rooting depth, root maximum width, and root length density. On average, root growth was reduced by more than 20% due to water stress. Differences in organ proline concentrations were observed for all genotypes, with shoots grown under water stress exhibiting at least a 30% higher concentration than the roots. Drought induced higher leaf and root proline concentrations in NIL 143 compared with any of the other genotypes. Under reduced water availability conditions, NIL 143 showed less severe symptoms of drought, higher lateral root length, rooting depth, maximum root width, root length density, and convex hull area compared with Barke and Scarlett. Within the same comparison, under water stress, NIL 143 had a higher proportion of lateral roots (+30%), which were also placed at deeper substrate horizons. NIL 143 had a less negative plant water potential and higher relative leaf water content and stomatal conductance compared with the other genotypes under water stress. Under these conditions, this genotype also maintained an enhanced net photosynthetic rate and exhibited considerable fine root growth (diameter class 0.05–0.35 mm). These results show that water stress induces increased shoot and root proline accumulation in the NIL 143 barley genotype at the seedling stage and that this effect is associated with increased lateral root growth.

The yam species, Dioscorea alata has an advantage for sustainable cultivation due to its comparatively good agronomic characteristics. Breeders are therefore keen to improve the food quality of the species. Nevertheless, published data on molecular classification and genetic diversity of this crop are scanty. This research therefore investigated genetic variability and relationships among some collected Ghanaian D. alata accessions (35) together with 14 introductions from IITA in Nigeria. The true genetic identity and population structure of the accessions were determined using 14 Simple Sequence Repeats primer pairs available for yams. Dimensional scatter diagram of the principal coordinates showed a wide dispersion among the accessions. Cluster analysis using unweighted neighbour-joining method clearly separated the 49 accessions into five main groupings. From the allele frequency analysis, the size of amplified alleles ranged from 100 to 510 bp. The mean polymorphic information content (PIC) values for all markers used was 0.91 and ranged between 0.86 and 0.94 in loci YM13 and YM30 respectively. Gene diversity was high and the average observed heterozygosity was 0.77. Gene diversity was high ranging from 0.87 in YM13 to 0.94 in YM30 with a mean of 0.92. Generally, the allele frequency of all the primers was below 0.95 indicating that they were all polymorphic in character. The findings of this study confirm that SSR molecular markers are able to identify closely related materials within species.

Journal to Publish Research Papers in the field of Environment, Agriculture and Biotechnology. It is DOI peer reviewed online journal.

Summary: Wild crop relatives are valuable genetic resources for improving stress adaptation in cultivated species, but their effective use depends on high-quality reference genomes integrated with phenotypic and molecular datasets. Hordeum erectifolium , a wild relative of barley ( H. vulgare ), is adapted to intermittent and prolonged drought and saline soils, making it an excellent model for stress-adaptation research. We assembled a chromosome-scale, annotated reference genome of H. erectifolium comprising 3.85 Gbp, and identified 71,475 genes supported by a tissue-specific gene expression atlas. Comparative morphological, physiological, and transcriptomic analyses under water limitation were conducted with cultivated and wild barley. H. erectifolium displayed a greater density of leaf veins and sclerenchyma cells, alongside rapid leaf rolling upon dehydration. Genomic comparisons revealed structural variations, independent transposon-driven evolution, and copy number expansions of desiccation-responsive gene families relative to barley. The transcriptional responses of H. erectifolium and barley to water limitation suggested contrasting drought-adaptation strategies: metabolic down-regulation and survival prioritization in H. erectifolium versus maintenance of metabolic activity and competitiveness in barley. Our data suggest that H. erectifolium is genetically primed for survival under drought through anatomical adaptations, gene family expansion, efficient shutdown of growth-related metabolism, and rapid recovery upon rehydration.

Summary: Wild crop relatives are valuable genetic resources for improving stress adaptation in cultivated species, but their effective use depends on high‐quality reference genomes integrated with phenotypic and molecular datasets. Hordeum erectifolium , a wild relative of barley ( H. vulgare ), is adapted to intermittent and prolonged drought and saline soils, making it an excellent species for stress‐adaptation research. We assembled a chromosome‐scale, annotated reference genome of H. erectifolium comprising 3.85 Gbp, and identified 71 475 genes supported by a tissue‐specific gene expression atlas. Comparative morphological, physiological and transcriptomic analyses under water limitation were conducted with H. erectifolium , and cultivated and wild barley. Hordeum erectifolium displayed a greater density of leaf veins and sclerenchyma cells, alongside rapid leaf rolling upon dehydration. Genomic comparisons revealed structural variations, independent transposon‐driven evolution and copy number expansions of desiccation‐responsive gene families relative to barley. The transcriptional responses of H. erectifolium and barley to water limitation suggested contrasting drought‐adaptation strategies: metabolic downregulation and survival prioritization in H. erectifolium vs maintenance of metabolic activity and competitiveness in barley. Our data suggest that H. erectifolium is genetically primed for survival under drought through anatomical adaptations, gene family expansion, efficient shutdown of growth‐related metabolism and rapid recovery upon rehydration.

Summary · There is growing interest in developing perennial cereal crops for sustainable production, yet key differences in trait syndromes between annual and perennial grasses and their influence on environmental adaptation remain poorly understood. · We measured 25 traits in 16 annual and perennial Hordeum species (45 accessions), including barley, grown over three seasons in a common garden. Using a phylogenetic framework and repeated transitions between annual and perennial forms, we (i) identified traits distinguishing these life strategies and (ii) tested how they relate to climate at the accessions' origins. · Wild and cultivated barley are distinguished within the Hordeum clade by high growth rates and large organs, which may have predisposed wild barley to domestication. Annual and perennial accessions differed in resource allocation: annuals had higher harvest index and leaf and grain nitrogen, while perennials produced carbon-rich tissues and sustained vegetative growth. Seasonal temperature variation shaped trait syndromes: annual traits aligned with temperature in the driest quarter, reflecting selection under terminal stress, while perennial traits correlated with temperature in the wettest quarter, the main growth phase shaping long-term performance and survival. · We provide important information on traits and climate adaptations underlying perennial persistence and annual resource strategies, relevant for developing perennial cereal crops.