Background: Barley (H. vulgare L.) is an important cereal crop cultivated across various climates globally. Barley and its ancestor (H. vulgare subsp. spontaneum) are an economically valuable model for genetic research and improvement. Drought, among various abiotic stresses, is a substantial threat to agriculture due to its unpredictable nature and significant impact on crop yield. Results: This study was conducted in both greenhouse and laboratory settings. Prior to the study, wild barley accessions were pre-selected based on their sensitivity or tolerance to drought as determined from fieldwork in the 2020–2021 and 2021–2022 cropping seasons. The effects of three levels of drought stress were evaluated (control, 90–95% field capacity [FC]; mild stress, 50–55% FC; and severe stress, 25–30% FC). Several parameters were assessed, including seedling and root growth, enzymatic activity (CAT, SOD, POD), soluble protein levels, chlorophyll content, carotenoids, abaxial and adaxial stomatal density and dimensions, and relative gene expression of Dhn1, SOD, POD, and CAT. Drought stress significantly increased enzyme activities, especially at 25–30% FC, and more in the tolerant genotype. On the other hand, sensitive genotypes showed a notable increase in stomatal density. Under drought stress, there was a general decline in seedling and root growth, protein content, chlorophyll and carotenoids, and stomatal dimensions. Importantly, gene expression analysis revealed that Dhn1, SOD, POD, and CAT were upregulated under drought, with the highest expression levels observed in the drought-tolerant genotype under severe stress conditions (25–30% FC). Conclusions: Our investigation highlights the distinct morphological, physiological, biochemical, and gene-expression profiles of drought-resistant and drought-sensitive wild barley genotypes under varying degrees of drought.

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) is one of the well-known medicinal and aromatic plants. To determine variability between 16 Iranian Fennel landrace based on molecular markers, this experiment was conducted in the biotechnology laboratory of Payame Noor University of Kermanshah in 2014. In this experiment, 16 landrace of the Foeniculum vulgare ...

Wild barley (Hordeum vulgare subsp. spontaneum) germplasm is a valuable genetic resource for improving cultivated barley. The western regions of Iran, natural habitats for diverse wild barley populations, offer rich genetic diversity for enhancing economically important traits. This study examined 114 genotypes from western Iran, assessing their agro-morphological and physiological traits under both irrigated and rainfed conditions. The goal was also to identify informative SSR markers associated with these traits. Field trials were conducted over two agricultural years (2020–2021 and 2021–2022) using an augmented design with nine control genotypes. Significant variations in agronomic and physiological traits were observed, highlighting the interactive effects of genotype and environmental conditions. Genotype by environment interaction revealed significant differences at the 1% and 5% probability levels for traits other than spike length, number of seeds per spike, and flag leaf length. Population structure analysis classified these genotypes into 7 subpopulations. Marker-trait associations identified SSR markers linked with stress tolerance and yield-related traits. Notably, markers EBMAG0781, BMAG0323, and SCSSR04163 exhibited significant associations with various morphological and physiological traits under both conditions. These findings emphasize the extensive genetic diversity present in wild barley and its potential for breeding programs aimed at enhancing barley’s adaptation to diverse environmental.

Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) holds significant importance due to its diverse applications and nutritional benefits. The nuts are rich in essential amino acids, antioxidants, fiber, healthy fats, and minerals, making them highly valuable for human nutrition. However, pistachios are significantly challenged by salinity stress, which negatively affects their growth and metabolism. Understanding the impact of salinity stress on pistachios is crucial for developing effective strategies to enhance their tolerance, improve growth, and ensure sustainable production in saline environments. To investigate the effects of salinity on energy metabolism and amino acid composition, we monitored key metabolites and free amino acid levels in UCB-1 pistachio leaves at 7- and 21-day salt stress treatments using Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) and Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC). Our findings revealed that salinity affected nearly all analyzed metabolites, with varied patterns observed at different time points. Notably, all free amino acids except threonine accumulated significantly in response to salt stress. Meanwhile, reductions in 3PGA, Fru1,6bP, and Glu6P+Fru6P (glycolysis and Calvin cycle intermediates) suggest a decrease in photosynthetic activity, which may ultimately impact respiration rates. These results demonstrate that salinity stress affects both amino acid metabolism and central carbon metabolism, with the magnitude and pattern of these changes depending on the duration of exposure. The observed metabolic adjustments likely represent an adaptive response, enabling the plant to partially mitigate the detrimental effects of salt stress.

Hordeum vulgare subsp. spontaneum , the wild progenitor of cultivated barley, shares the same chromosome number with domesticated forms and exhibits no significant biological barriers to interspecies crossing. Roots are essential for water uptake, nutrient acquisition, and structural support, making them key determinants of plant performance under drought stress. The present study aimed to investigate the diversity in root group responses to water deficit across 114 genotypes of wild barley. The experiment was conducted in an Augmented Block Design with two soil moisture regimes: normal conditions at 90%–95% field capacity (FC) and water stress at 50%–55% FC. Genotypes were classified into nine groups based on mean root length and root tissue density, calculated within a 95% confidence interval, under both moisture regimes. Discriminant analysis revealed that the three main discriminant functions explained 95.3% and 94.2% of the total variance under normal and water stress conditions, respectively. Analysis of variance revealed that the genotype × stress interaction effect was not significant for root diameter under drought stress. However, seedling length, root dry weight, root surface area density, and chlorophyll content were significant at p < 0.05, while all other measured traits were significant at p < 0.01. Mean root trait analysis demonstrated considerable variation among genotypes, indicating broad genetic diversity in root and shoot characteristics. Cluster analysis classified the root groups into three clusters under both water stress and normal conditions. These findings provide insights into the adaptive potential of wild barley roots under drought, supporting their use in breeding for stress tolerance.