From the report «Impact of the Farming System and Amino-Acid Biostimulants on the Content of Carotenoids, Fatty Acids, and Polyphenols in Alternative and Common Barley Genotypes«, by Rafał Nowak, Małgorzata Szczepanek, Karolina Błaszczyk, Joanna Kobus-Cisowska, Anna Przybylska-Balcerek, Kinga Stuper-Szablewska, Jarosław Pobereżny, Mohammad Bagher Hassanpouraghdam, and Farzad Rasouli, published at MDPI.
This study investigates how farming systems (conventional vs. organic) and the application of an amino‑acid biostimulant influence the accumulation of carotenoids, fatty acids, and polyphenols in three barley genotypes: two alternative black‑grain types (Hordeum vulgare var. nigricans and var. rimpaui) and a common yellow‑grain cultivar (H. vulgare). The authors aim to determine whether these alternative genotypes, known for their richer phytochemical profiles, respond differently to cultivation conditions and biostimulant treatment.
Across the experiments, the common barley consistently produced higher yields, regardless of farming system or biostimulant use. However, the black‑grain genotypes showed markedly superior nutritional profiles: higher levels of β‑carotene, lutein, polyphenols, and—uniquely—anthocyanidins. The amino‑acid biostimulant did not increase yield but significantly enhanced antioxidant compounds in the black genotypes, tripling lutein content and raising total phenolics by up to 40%. It also shifted fatty‑acid composition, generally reducing polyunsaturated fatty acids while increasing saturated and monounsaturated fractions.
Overall, the study concludes that black‑grain barley genotypes offer clear nutritional advantages, especially under organic cultivation and when treated with amino‑acid biostimulants. Their lower yield remains a practical limitation, but their enriched profile of bioactive compounds positions them as promising candidates for functional foods and health‑oriented cereal products. The common yellow‑grain barley remains agronomically superior but nutritionally less distinctive.