Biochemical responses of barley seeds to the cumulative effects of treated wastewater irrigation

Treated wastewater (TWW) may still contain residual pollutants and chemicals that can accumulate in plant tissues and seeds, potentially disrupting plant metabolism and physiological processes. In this study, we investigated the cumulative effect of TWW on the primary metabolites and bioactive profile of barley produced seeds. Our study shows that irrigation with TWW for one cycle, two cycles, and three cycles increased the seed production while did not deteriorate the primary and the secondary metabolites of the produced seeds. Additionally, the TWW irrigation induces cycle-dependent phenolic metabolism. These results indicate that prolonged irrigation with TWW promotes the defence machinery in the produced seeds and induces some metabolic changes in seeds over cycles. However, there is no negative cumulative effects on primary and secondary metabolites of the produced seeds. Hence, long-term TWW irrigation does not affect the nutritional quality of barley seeds.