Multi-omics responses of barley seedlings to low- and high-LET irradiation: in search for crop radioresistance improvement

Ionising radiation (IR) is a stress factor which causes DNA damage and oxidative stress in living cells. The research interest to biological responses to IR is increasing due to development of nuclear and space technology and persistent risks of releasing radionuclides into the environment. As a crop, barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) possesses high nutritional value, drought tolerance, and adaptability to different soil types and environmental conditions, making it a potential candidate crop for phytoremediation and for space agriculture research. Barley can be used to produce various food products, including flour, bread, and beer, and as a foraging crop, which could be useful for sustaining future human settlements on other planets or space missions.