Molecular assessment of metabolome alterations in Hordeum vulgare induced by net blotch.

Net blotch, which is caused by Pyrenophora teres Drechsler (anamorph Drechslera teres (Sacc.) Shoemaker), is a major foliar disease of barley (Hordeum vulgare) and leads to losses in yield of up to 44% under conductive conditions. The targeted breeding of stress-tolerant cultivated barley plants, that would allow for a reduction in harvest losses, requires new knowledge on key molecular markers associated with relevant agronomic traits, on quantitative metabolic responses of barley on Drechslera teres stress challenges, and the mechanisms underlying their biosynthesis. Therefore, an association study between resistance-associated quantitative trait loci (QTL) and pathogen-induced alterations of secondary metabolites will be performed by means of disease-phenotyping, cutting-edge metabolomics, and activity-guided fractionation techniques.