Ancient Hulled Wheat: An Antioxidant-Rich Crop for Boron-Contaminated Soils

This study investigated the boron (B) tolerance of four ancient hulled wheat species, examining their morphological, physiological, and antioxidant responses to varying B concentrations and the mitigating effects of exogenous glycine betaine (GB). Results revealed that B initially promoted root and shoot biomass, but higher concentrations induced growth inhibition, mitigated by GB application. B exposure increased total protein content and antioxidant enzyme activities at lower concentrations but decreased them at higher concentrations, indicating oxidative stress. Exogenous GB enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities and proline accumulation, alleviating oxidative damage. These findings suggest varying B tolerance among ancient hulled wheat varieties. GB effectively mitigated B-induced stress by bolstering antioxidant defenses and promoting osmotic adjustment. This highlights the potential of ancient hulled wheat as a genetic resource for developing B-tolerant wheat cultivars.