Pisa – Understanding how crops adapt to extreme weather events is becoming increasingly important in the context of climate change. A study coordinated by the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa, in collaboration with the Scuola Normale Superiore and published in the journal Plant Physiology, has identified a genomic region that may influence barley’s ability to germinate after heavy rainfall and flooding.
The research opens new perspectives for selecting crop varieties that are more resilient to climate-related stress. “This result shows that it is possible to identify barley accessions capable of germinating after extreme flooding events by exploring the rainfall patterns recorded in their areas of cultivation,” said Chiara Pucciariello, associate professor at the Institute of Plant Sciences and coordinator of the study.
First author Eva María Gómez Álvarez analysed a large collection of local barley varieties from Europe, Asia and Africa, combining genomic data with historical information on precipitation regimes in their regions of origin. The team identified a specific genomic region potentially involved in post-flood germination. Further analysis revealed genes linked to seed structure and dormancy, key processes for successful germination after extreme environmental conditions.