Crossbreeding reveals the scale and genetic architecture of local adaptation in a predominantly selfing Hordeum spontaneum

Environmental variation can be large across a wide range of spatial scales resulting in complex patterns of local adaptation across species ranges. We analyzed the scale, genetic mechanism and direct climatic causes of local adaptation in a widely distributed grass Hordeum spontaneum. We performed artificial crosses of maternal plants representing the same Negev desert population with plants originating elsewhere. Pollen donors were plants from other Negev desert populations, non-desert Israeli populations sampled along an aridity gradient, and accessions covering the entire species range. Our study included planting of inter-population hybrids under favorable and simulated desert experimental conditions, followed by analysis of their performance, variation in adaptive traits and relationship with climatic parameters at sampling locations. The combined results of parental phenotypic variation and performance of hybrids were consistent with local selection, reflecting the importance of both regional and local climates. The adaptive genetic differentiation of barley desert populations had a complex architecture. None of the three effects (additive, dominance and epistasis) were fully responsible for this differentiation. Although genetic effects not related to extrinsic selection appear to contribute to genetic differentiation in barley, epistatic effects arising from local selection clearly predominated. The short-term effect of gene flow by pollen was generally negative, indicating that a majority of the new allele combinations created by recombination were maladaptive. However, the long-term effect of occasional pollen flow from other desert populations appears to be positive, as some new recombined genotypes were superior in fitness to the maternal plants even in the F2 generation.

Diagnosis of Hordeum vulgare Genomic Profile: Review

This review represent plants genetic diversity (PDG) generally in crop plant and especially in Barley (Hordeum vulgare), can be studied (PDG) and stored as a (PGR) plant genetic resources as gene bank , DNA library for saved genetic material at long time and crops improvement can be utilized in breeding programs strategies in future. In this study observed the significance of plant genetic diversity (PGD) and (PGR) especially on agriculturally important crops , analysis of plant genomic using molecular markers. Barley is a well important studies crops using as a model for study genetic plant, cultivated barley Hordeum vulgare easily hybridization by genetic fingerprinting with wiled barley Hordeum spontaneum. The molecular markers showed their relation with locus of geographic factors and imposed stresses. Here, discussed barley genomic through relationship between genotype and phenotype traits using molecular markers useful for genetic physiological maps construction.

Evaluation of a Set of Hordeum vulgare subsp. spontaneum Accessions for β-Glucans and Microelement Contents

Barley is one of the oldest domesticated crops in the world and is mainly used for feed and malt and to a lesser extent as food. The use of barley as food is a tradition in communities in some countries of North Africa, Europe, and Asia. However, due to the health-promoting properties of barley grain, there is an increasing interest in such use. The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) has a global mandate for barley improvement and holds rich in-trust collections of cultivated and wild Hordeum species. The present study aims to evaluate 117 accessions of Hordeum spontaneum for their contents of β-glucan and microelements for breeding new varieties with enhanced nutritional value. The bulked seed accessions of Hordeum spontaneum were grown over two seasons, and the single plant derived seeds from these accessions were compared to 36 elite lines and varieties of cultivated barley in the second season in Morocco. The results showed large differences in β-glucan and microelements in both the bulk and the single plant seed accessions. The contents of β-glucans ranged from 1.44 to 11.3% in the Hordeum spontaneum accessions and from 1.62 to 7.81% in the cultivated barley lines. Large variations were found for the microelements content, but no differences were noticed between the wild and the cultivated species. However, some accessions of Hordeum spontaneum had higher combined contents of Iron, Zinc, and Selenium. Such accessions are used in interspecific crosses to develop biofortified barley germplasm and varieties.

Phenotypic Evolution of The Wild Progenitor of Cultivated Barley (Hordeum Vulgare Subsp. Spontaneum (C. Koch) Thell.) Across Bioclimatic Regions In Jordan

Climate change affects the evolutionary potential and the survival of wild plant populations by acting on fitness traits. Resurrection approach was applied to investigate the phenotypic changes during the evolution of the wild progenitor of cultivated barley, Hordeum spontaneum K. Koch in Jordan. We compared 40 Hordeum spontaneum K. Koch populations collected in Jordan in 1991 with 40 Hordeum spontaneum K. Koch populations collected from the same sites in 2014. In the comparison we included seven Hordeum vulgare checks (one local landrace and six improved varieties). The analysis of the phenotypic data showed that the populations were aggregated according to their ecological geographical pattern in two groups with a significant (p < 0.0001) correlation between groups. Four heritable traits, namely plant height, biological yield, number of tillers, and awn length, determined the phenotypic structure of the populations. The two populations collected at 23 years distance, diverged in two distinctive phenotypic structure categories; a conserved structure and an evolved structure with a reduction in the phenotypic trait diversity in the population collected in 2014. These results reveal the value of combining phenotypic and environmental data to understand the evolution and adaptation of the population to climate change over a long period and the consequences on the wild progenitor of cultivated barley collection to avoid loss of genetic materials.

Genome wide association mapping of Pyrenophora teres f. maculata and Pyrenophora teres f. teres resistance loci utilizing natural Turkish wild and landrace barley populations

Unimproved landraces and wild relatives of crops are sources of genetic diversity that were lost post domestication in modern breeding programs. To tap into this rich resource, genome wide association studies in large plant genomes have enabled the rapid genetic characterization of desired traits from natural landrace and wild populations. Wild barley (Hordeum spontaneum), the progenitor of domesticated barley (H. vulgare), is dispersed across Asia and North Africa, and has co-evolved with the ascomycetous fungal pathogens Pyrenophora teres f. teres and P. teres f. maculata, the casual agents of the diseases net form of net blotch and spot form of net blotch, respectively. Thus, these wild and local adapted barley landraces from the region of origin of both the host and pathogen represent a diverse gene pool to identify new sources of resistance, due to millions of years of co-evolution. The barley - P. teres pathosystem is governed by complex genetic interactions with dominant, recessive, and incomplete resistances and susceptibilities, with many isolate-specific interactions. Here we provide the first genome wide association study of wild and landrace barley from the Fertile Crescent for resistance to both forms of P. teres. A total of 14 loci, four against P. teres f. maculata and ten against Pyrenophora teres f. teres, were identified in both wild and landrace populations, showing that both are genetic reservoirs for novel sources of resistance. We also highlight the importance of using multiple algorithms to both identify and validate additional loci.

Weed Flora of Vineyards in Diyarbakır Province, Turkey

Background: Viticulture occupies an important place in agricultural production of Diyarbakır province, Turkey. However, weeds significantly impair the productivity of vineyards in the province. The knowledge of weed flora of a particular region is crucial to develop region-specific weed management strategies. Methods: This study was carried out to determine the weed species, their densities and frequency of occurrence in 78 vineyards of 13 districts in Diyarbakır province. Exploratory surveys were conducted to record the occurrence, density and coverage area of weed species. A 1×1 m quadrate was used, which was randomly placed in vineyards and weed species falling within the quadrate were noted. Result: A total 165 weed species and 128 taxa belonging to 35 botanical families (1 parasitic, 16 monocotyledons and 18 dicotyledons) were identified from the surveyed area. The weed species’ density over the whole province was 91 weeds m-2. Avena sterilis L. was the most widespread weed with the highest density (9.93 plants m-2) in the surveyed area followed by Fumaria asepale Boiss. (7.18), Galium tricornutum (4.85), Ranunculus arvensis (3.82), Silene aegyptiaca (3.70), Bromus sterilis (3.64) Lamium purpureum (3.58), Hordeum spontaneum (3.35), Anthemis sp. (3.07), Crepis alpina (2.94), Thlaspi perfoliatum (2.91), Alopecurus myosuroides (2.81), Bongardia chrysogonum (2.80), Scandix pecten-veneris (2.24), Cynodon dactylon (1.71), Hypecoum procumbens (1.69), Lolium perenne (1.41), Sorghum halepense (1.33), Sinapis arvensis (1.24), Buglossoides arvense (1.22), Daucus carota (1.21), Trifolium nigrescens (1.21), Vicia hybrida (1.05), Senecio vernalis (1.04) and Ornithogalum narbonense (1.02). The most prevalent weed were L. purpureum (66.68%), Papaver sp. (66.49%), S. vernalis (65.82%), Anthemis sp. (65.10%), A. sterilis (63.07%), R. arvensis (60.44%), Convolvulus arvensis (56.76%), Carduus pycnocephalus (55.79%), G. tricornutum (55.43%), Fumaria asepale (55.05%), Crepis alpina (54.08%), Thlaspi perfoliatum (51.95%) and S. arvensis (51.04%).

Phenotypic response of barley landrace and its wild progenitor Hordeum spontaneum from Jordan to salt stress

Populations of barley landrace [Hordeum vulgare (L.)] and wild barley progenitor [Hordeum spontaneum (L.)] were collected from 13 diverse eco-geographical regions in Jordan. In addition to two check varieties (Rum and Acsad 165) were collected from farmers’ fields. In total, 28 genotypes were evaluated during germination, early seedling and maturity stages for salt tolerance. Barley populations were exposed to tap water of 0.85 dS m-1 and saline solutions (NaCl, CaCl2 and MgSO4) of 4, 8, 12 and 16 dS m-1. Final germination percentage, the lengths of shoot and seminal root, growth and yield related traits were significantly decreased by increasing the level of salinity. Proline content was increased by increasing the level of salinity. A high level of salinity of 16 dS m-1 had a strong impact on reduction of grain yield and other agronomic traits in the examined populations. A considerable variation among populations was detectable. Barley landrace and wild barley that were collected from Tafila region were the most tolerant grown populations in Jordan. Interestingly, the ranking pattern of these two populations at the germination and seedling related-traits was consistent with the ranking pattern at the maturity phase. In conclusion, this study indicates that barley landrace and wild barley populations are potential donors for genes of salt tolerance that can be used to enhance salinity tolerance in barley.