In Vitro Assessment of Biochemical Responses to Salinity Stress in Selected Palestinian Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Cultivars: Implications for Sustainable Cultivation Semiarid Regions
Supervisor Name
Sharaf Al-Tardeh
Supervisor Email
sharaft@ppu.edu
University
Applied Biology, Palestine Polytechnic University
Research field
Agricultural Science
Bio
Dr Sharaf Al-Tardeh, is the head of Department of Applied achemistry and Biology, the coordinator of applied biology program at Palestine polytechnic university (PPU) (since 2017) and chairman of Palestinian Society for Biological Sciences (PSBS) (since 2020). He has a PhD in plant Physiology and anatomy from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GREECE (2003- 2008). He has MSc. in Food Quality Management from Mediterranean.Agronomic Institute of Chania (MAIC), A constitute Institute of the International Center of Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM) (200-2002) and BSc. Biological Sciences/ Yarmouk University, Jordan (1996-2000). Al-Tardeh is a member of renewable energy & environment research unit (REERU) / (PPU) (since 2017), member of the national team to restore research priorities for the water, environment and agriculture sectors, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Palestine (since 2022). He has published numerous publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals and conferences. He was the Chairman of the Annual Conference of Palestinian Society for Biological sciences (4-5th, 2021). He is/was a supervisor and member of examination committees of more than 60 undergraduate students; one master student, four PhD student and one Post doc. Dr Al-Tardeh participated in many national and international workshops, visits and scientific activities. He holds many funded research projects i.e., Palestinian German Ccooperation (PALGER) program, Germany Palestinian Scientific bridge (GPSB), EUPI Research Grants, and Palestinian American Research Center (PARC). He has taught different courses for undergraduates. His research interests include but are not limited to plant stress physiology, anatomy and nutrition, soil amendments, wastewater treatment, Rehabilitation of the quarries and environmental pollutions.
Introduction and Problem statement: Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is a staple crop in Palestine, vital for food security and livelihoods. However, its cultivation has declined sharply in regions like the Hebron governorate due to abiotic stresses, particularly salinity and alkalinity. These stresses are exacerbated by quarrying activities, which contribute to soil degradation through dust deposition, altered water infiltration, and sodium ion accumulation. Previous studies on 10 certified Palestinian barley cultivars evaluated salinity and alkalinity resistance, complemented by soil amendments (biofertilizers, chemical fertilizers, biochar, and perlite-humus blends). However, the biochemical mechanisms underlying salinity tolerance during early growth stages remain poorly characterized. This study bridges this gap by analyzing key biochemical traits under controlled salinity conditions, offering insights to guide crop management and breeding programs in salt-affected regions. To achieve this, 10 healthy seeds will be planted in each Petri dish (triplicate) containing agar media supplemented by 0, 50, 80 120 mM NaCl. The Biochemical parameters i.e., leaf extract pH, relative water content, chlorophyll contents (SPAD-502 meter), chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm ratio), and ascorbic acid content (spectrophotometric assay) will be measured for 14-days old seedlings. At the end of the project, we will publish the results with expected outcomes such as identification of cultivars demonstrating superior salinity resilience, evidenced by stable chlorophyll retention, photosynthetic efficiency, and osmolyte synthesis (e.g., ascorbic acid). Moreover, identification of mechanistic insights into adaptive responses, such as ion homeostasis and oxidative stress mitigation. This study aims to: 1. Quantify biochemical responses of selected Palestinian barley cultivars to incremental saline stress (0, 50, 80, 120 mM NaCl). 2. Identify salinity-resilient cultivars through comparative analysis of stress-induced biochemical markers. 3. Elucidate physiological adaptations linked to salinity tolerance, informing future breeding programs and agronomic interventions. Significance of this study: This study addresses critical gaps in understanding barley’s biochemical adaptation to salinity, offering actionable data for stakeholders in arid and semi-arid regions. Outcomes will guide cultivar selection, soil management practices, and policy frameworks to mitigate agricultural losses in Palestine. Results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publication in a Scopus-indexed journal, ensuring global accessibility Key words: Hordeum vulgare; Salinity stress; Chlorophyll fluorescence; Osmoprotectants; Sustainable agriculture.
