Pre-germination treatment with hydrogen peroxide as a controlled elicitation strategy to improve chemical properties of hydroponic barley fodder

Abstract

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is one of the most used species for hydroponic green fodder. The chemical properties of fodders may be enhanced through use of various strategies during crop production, including stress applications. In this context, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is used as a stress factor in controlled elicitation, a technique used to increase secondary metabolites in food. The aim of this research was to evaluate the possibility of using controlled elicitation with H2O2 for enhancing the chemical properties of hydroponic barley fodder. H2O2 was applied to the seeds as a pre-germination treatment at three concentrations: 50, 100 and 150 mM. Morphological changes, enzymatic defence-related activities (superoxide dismutase, catalase, chalcone isomerase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase), total phenolics content, and antioxidant capacity were evaluated. Significant increases in total phenolics content, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity and ABTS antioxidant capacity were obtained when seeds were treated with 50 mM H2O2. Plant growth was promoted with 100 mM and 150 mM H2O2 treatments, and germination of seeds with 100 mM H2O2. It was established that controlled elicitation using H2O2 increased some morphological and biochemical variables of hydroponic barley fodder related to food properties.