Research Article

Effect of Hydrogen Sulfide on Physiological and Biochemical Parameters in Two Barley Varieties Under Drought Stress

Volume: 32 Number: 4 October 12, 2026

Effect of Hydrogen Sulfide on Physiological and Biochemical Parameters in Two Barley Varieties Under Drought Stress

Abstract

Abiotic stresses reduce barley growth and yield by elevating the free radicals such as reactive oxygen (ROS), nitrogen (RNS), carbonyl (RCS), and sulfur species (RSS) in plant cells. Among these, hydrogen sulfide (H2S), classified as RSS, serves as a signalling molecule and growth regulator in stress responses. However, the optimal sodium hydrosulphide (NaHS; an H2S donor) concentrations for barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) remain unknown. In this study, two barley cultivars (Kalaycı-97 and Yaprak) were treated with exogenous NaHS at different concentrations (0.1, 0.3 and 0.5 mM) and then exposed to drought stress. The results showed that NaHS applications increased chlorophyll content, reduced root length, and altered plant growth responses in a dose- and genotype dependent manner under drought conditions. Furthermore, it increased endogenous H2S levels in both varieties under drought conditions, leading to a decrease in H2O2 levels, an indicator of oxidative stress. In conclusion, it was shown that NaHS, particularly at concentrations of 0.3 mM and 0.5 mM, helped reduce the detrimental effects of oxidative stress in both varieties, and that genotypic differences played a significant role in this regulation. These findings highlight that NaHS regulates drought tolerance in a genotype-specific manner, strengthening enzymatic antioxidant defenses in the susceptible Kalaycı-97 while activating non enzymatic mechanisms in the tolerant Yaprak. 

Keywords

Supporting Institution

The authors declare that no funds, grants, or other support were received during the preparation of this manuscript.

Ethical Statement

The authors declare that this article did not contain any studies involving human participants or animals.

Thanks

This research is part of Gamze Baltacıer's doctoral research. Gamze BALTACIER's doctoral studies are supported by the Council of Higher Education 100/2000 (CoHE 100/2000) Doctoral Scholarship Programme. The authors are therefore grateful to CoHE for this scholarship programme.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Plant Physiology

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

October 12, 2026

Submission Date

September 10, 2025

Acceptance Date

April 29, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 32 Number: 4

APA
Baltacıer, G., & Acar, O. (2026). Effect of Hydrogen Sulfide on Physiological and Biochemical Parameters in Two Barley Varieties Under Drought Stress. Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 32(4), 916-927. https://doi.org/10.15832/ankutbd.1781794
AMA
1.Baltacıer G, Acar O. Effect of Hydrogen Sulfide on Physiological and Biochemical Parameters in Two Barley Varieties Under Drought Stress. J Agr Sci-Tarim Bili. 2026;32(4):916-927. doi:10.15832/ankutbd.1781794
Chicago
Baltacıer, Gamze, and Okan Acar. 2026. “Effect of Hydrogen Sulfide on Physiological and Biochemical Parameters in Two Barley Varieties Under Drought Stress”. Journal of Agricultural Sciences 32 (4): 916-27. https://doi.org/10.15832/ankutbd.1781794.
EndNote
Baltacıer G, Acar O (October 1, 2026) Effect of Hydrogen Sulfide on Physiological and Biochemical Parameters in Two Barley Varieties Under Drought Stress. Journal of Agricultural Sciences 32 4 916–927.
IEEE
[1]G. Baltacıer and O. Acar, “Effect of Hydrogen Sulfide on Physiological and Biochemical Parameters in Two Barley Varieties Under Drought Stress”, J Agr Sci-Tarim Bili, vol. 32, no. 4, pp. 916–927, Oct. 2026, doi: 10.15832/ankutbd.1781794.
ISNAD
Baltacıer, Gamze - Acar, Okan. “Effect of Hydrogen Sulfide on Physiological and Biochemical Parameters in Two Barley Varieties Under Drought Stress”. Journal of Agricultural Sciences 32/4 (October 1, 2026): 916-927. https://doi.org/10.15832/ankutbd.1781794.
JAMA
1.Baltacıer G, Acar O. Effect of Hydrogen Sulfide on Physiological and Biochemical Parameters in Two Barley Varieties Under Drought Stress. J Agr Sci-Tarim Bili. 2026;32:916–927.
MLA
Baltacıer, Gamze, and Okan Acar. “Effect of Hydrogen Sulfide on Physiological and Biochemical Parameters in Two Barley Varieties Under Drought Stress”. Journal of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 32, no. 4, Oct. 2026, pp. 916-27, doi:10.15832/ankutbd.1781794.
Vancouver
1.Gamze Baltacıer, Okan Acar. Effect of Hydrogen Sulfide on Physiological and Biochemical Parameters in Two Barley Varieties Under Drought Stress. J Agr Sci-Tarim Bili. 2026 Oct. 1;32(4):916-27. doi:10.15832/ankutbd.1781794

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