Search Results (81)

In the face of the global climate and ecological crisis, as well as growing consumer needs and demands, a transformation of the global food production and distribution system is necessary. The productivity and quality characteristics of Tritordeum make this cereal an effective tool in the sustainable modernization of the agricultural sector. However, this potential can be significantly limited in the supply chain by storage pests. This study aimed to assess the impact of Tritordeum resistance on the rice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae L.). The experiment used 11 Tritordeum breeding lines in comparison to three cereal species derived from conventional cultivation systems (common wheat Triticum aestivum L., durum wheat Triticum durum Desf., spring barley Hordeum vulgare L.). The research showed that Tritordeum may be a substrate on which S. oryzae feeds, although the intensity of the pest’s development varied depending on the line. The study also demonstrated that the hardness of the Tritordeum seed coat did not directly influence the development intensity of the analyzed beetles. It was noted, however, that the degree of infestation by these insects depended on the chemical profile of the infested kernels. The increased total protein content and lower fiber content (compared to common wheat) likely influence the development of Tritordeum resistance. This study demonstrates that Tritordeum possesses inherent resistance traits linked to its grain chemistry, providing a basis for breeding more storage-resistant cereal cultivars. Full article

The increasing demand for safe and durable feed materials highlights the need for processing methods that simultaneously enhance physical quality and reduce microbiological contamination. Extrusion technology offers a promising solution by combining thermal and mechanical effects that improve binding performance while inactivating fungal spores present in cereal grains. In this study, maize, barley, sorghum, soybean, and wheat grains naturally contaminated with fungal spores were subjected to extrusion prior to pelleting. The physical properties of the resulting pellets, including bulk density, physical density, and kinetic durability, were evaluated and compared with those obtained from ground (non-extruded) grains. Pellets containing extruded grains generally exhibited higher physical density, with the highest value recorded for pellets containing extruded mould-infected sorghum grain (1179.82 kg·m⁻³) and the lowest for pellets containing healthy soybeans (1063.63 kg·m⁻³). The kinetic durability of extruded cereal pellets increased on average by 4.02%, enhancing their resistance to mechanical stress during transport and storage. Microbiological analyses confirmed a significant reduction in fungal colony-forming units (CFUs) after extrusion and pelleting, ranging from 27% to 65%, depending on the cereal type. The most pronounced reduction was observed in maize-based pellets contaminated with mould spores, decreasing from 1.70 × 10⁵ to 6.03 × 10⁴ CFU·g⁻¹. These results demonstrate that extrusion is an effective method for producing cereal-based feed materials with improved physical quality and enhanced microbiological safety, contributing to more sustainable feed production. Full article

Cereal grains make up a significant part of both human and animal diets; therefore, they should meet pesticide residue standards and be characterized by the lowest possible concentrations of these residues. Known for its strong oxidizing properties, ozone is gaining popularity as a natural agent for eliminating chemical contaminants at the stages of production, processing, and storage of raw materials of plant origin. The present study is the first to assess the effect of ozonation on the behavior of 12 (seven systemic and five non-systemic) compounds. The procedure was conducted in two time variants (30 and 60 min) for three cereal types: barley, wheat, and rye. Treatment efficiency was confirmed through instrumental determination conducted using the LC–MS/MS technique based on the QuEChERS protocol. The level of systemic compounds was reduced by 37–82%, and of non-systemic ones by approximately 72–95%. The reduction in difenoconazole amounted to only 39%, whereas the highest decrease of 95% was recorded for deltamethrin. The rate of pesticide degradation occurred in the following sequence: rye > wheat > barley. The results show that ozonation of cereal grains may successfully support assurance of food and feed safety. Full article

The retrogradation of starch strongly influences the texture and stability of starchy foods. This study applied low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF NMR) to examine the effect of buckwheat hull (BH) fiber and green barley (GB) on water dynamics in normal (NPS) and waxy (WPS) potato starch gels. Relaxation times (T₁, T₂) and mean correlation times (τ_c) were monitored during 15 days of storage to evaluate changes in water mobility and starch–polymer interactions. Results showed that WPS, with its high amylopectin content, retrograded earlier than NPS. The addition of BH inhibited conformational changes associated with water binding in WPS gels, indicating that insoluble fiber entrapped water within the amylopectin network. Conversely, GB promoted higher τ_c values in WPS, reflecting enhanced ordering and reduced water mobility, while its impact on NPS was minor. In NPS systems, BH decreased τ_c, suggesting disruption of amylose-driven structural reorganization. These findings demonstrate that BH and GB exert opposite effects on starch retrogradation and highlight their potential as functional additives for tailoring texture and stability in starch-based food systems. Full article

Small noncoding RNAs are recognized as crucial regulators of seed germination, but their role in seed aging remains unclear. To address this, we performed RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) on barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) seeds with varying viability levels after long-term storage in hermetically sealed containers since the 1972 harvest. This globally unique material, characterized by genetic homogeneity and contrasting germination capacities, enabled an in-depth analysis of microtranscriptomic changes during germination. We identified 62 known miRNAs from 11 families and 234 novel miRNAs, with miR159, miR168, and miR166 showing consistently high expression across all germination stages and viability groups. Differential expression analysis revealed 28 miRNAs whose abundance varied significantly with seed viability and germination phase. Functional predictions supported by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT–PCR) and degradome-based target identification indicated that these miRNAs regulate key developmental and metabolic pathways. Several isomiRs exhibited sample-specific expression, suggesting the viability-dependent activation of distinct molecular mechanisms. Gene Ontology analysis highlighted processes related to nucleic acid binding, nuclear organization, and cytoplasmic metabolism as central during germination. We propose that miRNA profiles may reflect an “epigenetic inheritance”—a molecular memory of aging stored in seeds—rather than solely a response to current conditions. This concept may help explain aging-related phenotypes such as delayed germination and reduced vigor, warranting further investigation. Full article

In embedding systems, protein–polysaccharide complexes can be utilized as wall materials to improve the bioavailability and activity of bioactive substances during delivery. This study used the antisolvent precipitation method to manufacture gliadin from highland barley distillers’ grains (HBDGG)–chitosan (Cs) nanoparticles. Using a variety of characterization techniques, the microstructure and interaction mechanism of HBDGG-Cs nanoparticles were examined, and their stability was assessed. In comparison to HBDGG, the results indicated that the addition of Cs enhanced the intensity of UV absorption and reduced the intensity of fluorescence. The content of α-helix dropped, while β-sheet, β-turn, and irregularly coiled content rose in the complexes. Hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interactions, and electrostatic interactions were the primary forces that formed the nanoparticles. The contact force between HBDGG and Cs enhanced the stability of the nanoparticles. The particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), and zeta potential were 526.10 ± 11.78 nm, 0.20 ± 0.06, and 51.31 ± 0.66 mV, respectively, at a mass ratio of 1:1 between HBDGG and Cs. The nanoparticles exhibited good ionic, acid-base, and storage stability in addition to being widely distributed. This work offers a theoretical foundation for employing HBDGG-Cs nanoparticles to deliver bioactive components in food as well as a novel method for the comprehensive usage of HBDGG and Cs. Full article

Young barley leaves have been proven to distinguish themselves as highly potent in antioxidant activity, resulting from a high content of bioactive compounds. Due to their short storage time, it is crucial to prolong their shelf life. One of the methods that can be used is spray-drying, as it enables the production of powders that are highly valued in the food industry. This paper aimed to analyze the possibility of producing young barley leaf juice with improved properties. Juices were spray-dried with and without carriers at 100/60 °C inlet/outlet temperature using air of 1.5 g/m³ humidity as the drying medium. Maltodextrin (MD), Nutriose^® (N), and Arabic gum (AG) were used in a ratio 1:3 carrier/juice solids. The results proved that dehumidified air application enabled the production of young barley leaf juice powder, that was free of the carriers, of high retention coefficient (RC) of chlorophyll A and B (80.84 ± 6.56% and 87.05 ± 5.21%, respectively). No statistical difference was noted between variants with maltodextrin (chlorophyll A: 91.22 ± 5.07%, chlorophyll B: 71.72 ± 5.44%), Nutriose^® (chlorophyll A: 72.24 ± 5.32%, chlorophyll B: 67.04 ± 12.41%), and carrier-free powder; thus, the elimination of a carrier can be considered to effectively produce a “clean” label, functional product. The highest degradation among the tested bioactive compounds was noted for vitamin C. Full article

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is a novel and versatile technology, which is not yet used in the food and agricultural sector for barley processing. In lab-scale applications, the technology shows potential in extending shelf life and ensuring food safety and quality, e.g., during storage. CAP reactive nature counteracts insect pests, fungi, and bacteria, but also improves seed germination and facilitates plant growth not only under stress conditions. Its generation does not require water, chemicals, or solvents and consumes little energy due to low operating temperatures (<60 °C) with a short time span that makes additional production steps (e.g., cooling) obsolete. Therefore, CAP is a sustainable technology capable of further optimising the use of limited resources with the potential of offering solutions for upcoming environmental challenges and political requirements for replacing existing practices and technologies due to the growing impact of climate change. This review summarises recent developments and findings concerning CAP application in barley production and processing with air as the process gas. Furthermore, this comprehensive overview could help identify further research needs to overcome its current technical limitations, e.g., efficiency, capacity, etc., that hamper the upscale and market introduction of this environmentally friendly technology. Full article

Mycotoxin contamination in agricultural goods is a major global problem due to its negative impact on human and animal health. The principal mycotoxin producers are fungal species from the genera Fusarium, Aspergillus, Alternaria, and Penicillium. The toxigenic fungal species produce the mycotoxins as secondary metabolites when they invade agricultural commodities during crop cultivation in the field (preharvest) or after harvesting or during transport and storage. This study was designed to investigate the levels of Fusarium mycotoxins, viz., fumonisin (FUM), zearalenone (ZEN), and deoxynivalenol (DON) in cereal grain samples collected from Muscat, Sultanate of Oman during 2023-24. A total of 90 cereal grain (wheat, corn, rice, barley) samples from local markets at Muscat, the Plant Quarantine Department, Oman, and Oman Flour Mills Company were analyzed using competitive enzyme immunoassay kits. Furthermore, Fusarium spp. associated with the contaminated grain samples were isolated, and their mycotoxin-producing potential was assessed. The results indicated that FUM, ZEN, and DON levels were below the detection limit (LOD) in 81%, 97%, and 44% of the samples, respectively. Two out of fifteen corn samples and one out of thirty-seven wheat samples tested exceeded the maximum permissible limit for FUM and ZEN, respectively, as set by the European Commission. A total of 19 Fusarium spp. associated with the contaminated grain samples were isolated and identified through molecular techniques. Sixteen isolates of F. verticillioides, one isolate of F. thapsinum, and two new Fusarium species were identified based on nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer and elongation factor 1-alpha sequences. Two isolates of F. verticillioides (FQD-1 and FQD-20) produced FUM levels exceeding 2000 µg kg⁻¹. The maximum ZEN concentration was observed in F. verticillioides FQD-20 (9.2 µg kg⁻¹), followed by F. verticillioides FQD-2 (2.8 µg kg⁻¹) and Fusarium sp. FOFMC-26 (2.5 µg kg⁻¹). All tested Fusarium strains produced DON, with levels ranging from 25.6 to 213 µg kg⁻¹, with F. thapsinum FQD-4 producing the highest level (213 µg kg⁻¹). To our knowledge, this is the first report on the occurrence of Fusarium mycotoxins and mycotoxigenic Fusarium spp. in food commodities in Oman. Full article

Current crop management worldwide is shifting toward the use of environmentally friendly products. With this objective, we developed a new phytosanitary product with biostimulant properties based on the encapsulation of garlic extract at a lower dose (<0.1%) in chitosan nanoparticles as a seed nano-priming agent. In the present study, the morphology of the nanoparticles, their stability under prolonged storage conditions, and their efficacy as a biostimulant are evaluated on cereals in rainfed crops, and the activities were correlated with a transcriptomic analysis. The nanoparticles showed a spherical shape and had a maximum size close to 200 nm with satisfactory stability at 4 °C, reducing the probability of aggregation processes in the nanoparticles. The biostimulant properties of the nano-priming agent were evaluated in a field experiment with wheat, barley, and oat seeds at 30 and 90 days, showing that plants treated with nanoparticles showed significant differences with higher values in root development, leaf length, and total plant weight. Finally, through a RNA-SEQ analysis of the treated wheat seeds, we have confirmed that the nano-treatment showed a higher increases in regard to development, metabolism, and plant response genes compared with untreated seeds. Full article

The increasing demand for sustainable and efficient energy storage materials has led to significant research into utilizing waste biomass for producing activated carbons. This study investigates the impact of the structural properties of activated carbons derived from various lignocellulosic biomasses—barley straw, wheat straw, and wheat bran—on the electrochemical performance of supercapacitors. The Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis reveals the presence of key functional groups and their transformations during carbonization and activation processes. The Raman spectra provide detailed insights into the structural features and defects in the carbon materials. The electrochemical tests indicate that the activated carbon’s specific capacitance and energy density are influenced by the biomass source. It is shown that the wheat-bran-based electrodes exhibit the highest performance. This research demonstrates the potential of waste-biomass-derived activated carbons as high-performance materials for energy storage applications, contributing to sustainable and efficient supercapacitor development. Full article

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium spp. fungi and is widely found in moldy corn, wheat, barley, and other grains. ZEA is distributed to the whole body via blood circulation after metabolic transformation in animals. Through oxidative stress, immunosuppression, apoptosis, autophagy, and mitochondrial dysfunction, ZEA leads to hepatitis, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, abortion, and stillbirth in female animals, and decreased sperm motility in male animals. In recent years, due to the influence of climate, storage facilities, and other factors, the problem of ZEA pollution in global food crops has become particularly prominent, resulting in serious problems for the animal husbandry and feed industries, and threatening human health. Resveratrol (RSV) is a natural product with therapeutic activities such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. RSV can alleviate ZEA-induced toxic effects by targeting signaling pathways such as NF-κB, Nrf2/Keap1, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR via attenuating oxidative damage, inflammatory response, and apoptosis, and regulating cellular autophagy. Therefore, this paper provides a review of the protective effect of RSV against ZEA-induced toxicity and its molecular mechanism, and discusses the safety and potential clinical applications of RSV in the search for natural mycotoxin detoxification agents. Full article

Rhyzopertha dominica causes significant economic losses in stored cereals. Insects’ digestive tract microbiome is crucial for their development, metabolism, resistance, and digestion. This work aimed to test whether the different chemical properties of different wheat and barley grain cultivars cause disturbances in insect foraging and rearrangements of the structure of the R. dominica microbiome. The results indicated that grain cultivars significantly influence the microbiome, metabolism, and insect foraging. Most observed traits and microbiome structures were not correlated at the species level, as confirmed by ANOSIM (p = 0.441). However, the PLS-PM analysis revealed significant patterns within barley cultivars. The study found associations between C18:2 fatty acids, entomopathogenic bacteria, an impaired nitrogen cycle, lysine production of bacterial origin, and insect feeding. The antioxidant effects also showed trends towards impacting the microbiome and insect development. The findings suggest that manipulating grain chemical properties (increasing C18:2 and antioxidant levels) can influence the R. dominica microbiome, disrupting their foraging behaviours and adaptation to storage environments. This research supports the potential for breeding resistant cereals, offering an effective pest control strategy and reducing pesticide use in food production. Full article

The increasing food crisis in times of ecological threats has challenged conventional agriculture to transform into a more efficient and sustainable agri-food system. The global priority of these activities has become, among others, the responsible and effective use of already produced food. This study aimed to assess the impact of the natural resistance of cereal grains to consumption by storage pests. The study presented here analyzed the impact of selected chemical factors from the grain of six species of cereals (wheat, triticale, rye, barley, oat, corn) on the development of one of the most dangerous storage pests—the lesser grain borer Rhyzopertha dominica F. The increased development of this beetle on the tested grain was determined based on the number of progeny, the mass of dust produced, and the loss of grain mass. Moreover, the correlations between the above-mentioned development parameters of the pest and the content in the grain of dry matter, crude ash, total protein, crude fat, starch, and water-soluble carbohydrates (WSCs) were examined. The results showed that the tested pest developed most intensively on barley and triticale grains and was least abundant on oat and corn grains. Chemical analysis of the selected grain showed that the low number of the R. dominica progeny population was correlated with a higher crude fat content and a lower total protein content in the cereal grain, and therefore, these chemical properties could affect the development of the pest. Knowledge of these relationships can be used in cereal breeding programs and when recommending cereals for more extended storage. This directly translates into improved local and global nutritional and food security. Moreover, it may also contribute to the reduction of pesticide use at the storage stage, which is one of the basic requirements for agricultural production in a sustainable agriculture system. Full article

The aim of this study was to assess the advantages of an industry-scale microfluidizer system (ISMS) to prepare whole-grain highland barley pulp (WHBP) compared with colloid milling. Storage stability was evaluated by particle size, gravity separation stability, and rheological properties, as well as the microstructure observation by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLMS). The results showed that colloid milling failed to effectively homogenize the material, while ISMS sample surfaces were compact and smooth at higher pressures according to visual observation and SEM. The Turbiscan stability index of WHBP by ISMS was much lower as a result of colloid milling, demonstrating ISMS can improve WHBP stability. WHBP by colloid milling displayed a three-peak particle size distribution pattern, while a single-peak pattern was evident after ISMS treatment. A higher shear rate decreased the apparent viscosity, suggesting that WHBP was a shear-thinning fluid. According to CLMS, ISMS can successfully improve homogenization by disrupting the structures of oil bodies, proteins, and starches. The WHBP prepared by ISMS exhibited a higher β-glucan level than that prepared by colloid milling, and showed a significant increase in β-glucan level with ISMS pressure. These findings indicate that using ISMS to produce WHBP is viable for enhancing its storage stability and nutritional value. Full article