RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Sugar Beet Extract Acts as a Natural Bio-Stimulant for Physio-Biochemical analysis of Hordeum Vulgare L. under Induced Salinity Stress JF bioRxiv FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory SP 2021.08.19.457015 DO 10.1101/2021.08.19.457015 A1 Noor Ali Shah A1 Sami Ullah A1 Muhammad Nauman Khan A1 Sajjad Ali A1 Muhammad Adnan A1 Amjad Ali A1 Muhammad Ali A1 Ajmal Khan A1 Said Hassan A1 Wisal Muhammad Khan YR 2021 UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/08/19/2021.08.19.457015.abstract AB Change in climate of the entire globe due to elevated temperature and minimum annual rainfall in barren zone frequently leads to salinity of soil. The current study was aimed to evaluate the importance of sugar beet extract (SBE) as a bio-stimulant to improve the adverse damages of induced salinity stress (40mM) on growth, oosmolytes and antioxidant defense system of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Pot experiment was carried in green house under different concentrations of SBE (10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%) pre-soaked seeds of Hordeum vulgare for 5 hours SBE was analyzed for glycine betaine (100mmol/kg), betalains (1.3mg/l), phenolics (1.30g/100ml), flavonoids (0.59mg/ml), carotenoids (0.23ml/100ml), vitamin E (0.002%), vitamin C (8.04g/100ml), sugar (8g/100ml), protein (1.39mg/100ml), and oxalic acid (38mg/100ml) while Ca (13.72mg/l), Mg (7.121 mg/l) and K (11.45mg/l) contents were also determined. We found significant improvement in germination parameters of Hordeum vulgare L. via SB extract on coefficient of velocity of emergence (CVE), mean emergence time (MET), germination energy (GE), timson germination index (TGI), germination rate index (GRI) and time to 50% emergence (E50) under induced salinity stress. However, photosynthetic pigments, e.g., chlorophyll and carotenoids were enhanced using 40% SB extract, soluble sugar, protein, proline, POD, MDA with 50% SB extract while SOD and H2O2 in 20% SBE, respectively. Our findings suggested that SB extract promotes both agronomical and physiological attributes, is a positive way to enhance our economy by increasing crop yields in arid and semi-arid areas along with plant tolerance to under induced salinity stress.Highlights The recent study is of utmost importance owing to the following reasons: ➢ Changes in climatic condition results in salinity, droughts, floods, earthquakes, fluctuation in temperature and other environmental hazards.➢ Salinity stress has myriad of damaging effects on crop growth and productivity and becoming a global issue of major concern especially in the Asian countries including Pakistan. Statistical analysis showed that 6.30 million of lands is affected with salinity.➢ Barley (Hordeum Vulgare L.) being an important crop of economic and nutritional value has been facing salinity stress condition in Pakistan, resulting in productivity reduction and ultimately paving the way for food scarcity and crippling economy.➢ The sole purpose of this research article is to assess and ameliorate the physio-biochemical responses via application of sugar beet extract as bio-stimulants in Barley (Hordeum Vulgare L.) grown under induced salinity stress; in order to cope with the dire consequences of salinity stress especially in the southern areas of Pakistan being badly affected by salt stress.➢ Furthermore, there is a great need for adaptive measures suggested by the present research and other findings made by researchers in pursuit of tackling this alarming global menace.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.AbbreviationsSBEsugar beet extractCVEcoefficient of velocity of emergenceMETmean emergence timeGEgermination energyTGItimson germination indexGRIgermination rate indexPODPeroxidaseMDAMalondialdehydeSODSuperoxide dismutaseH2O2Hydrogen peroxideROSreactive oxygen speciesAsAAscorbic acidCATCatalaseTSStotal soluble sugars (TSS)G1Germinated seed percentage at day first