Pulsed Electric Field Treatment Modulates Gene Expression and Stress Responses in Fusarium-Infected Malting Barley

Malting is a critical step in barley (Hordeum vulgare) processing, transforming grain into a key raw material for brewing and food production. However, the process is often compromised by Fusarium spp., pathogens responsible for Fusarium Head Blight, which reduces grain quality and safety. Pulsed electric field (PEF) treatment, a promising non-thermal technology, has been studied for its potential to inactivate microbial pathogens and mitigate infection-related stress. In this study, we investigated transcriptional responses in barley infected with Fusarium spp. during malting, both with and without PEF treatment. RNA sequencing identified over 12,000 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) across four malting stages, with the third stage (24 h of germination) showing the highest transcriptional activity. DEGs were significantly enriched in pathways related to oxidative stress management and abscisic acid signaling, underscoring their importance in stress adaptation. Barley treated with PEF exhibited fewer DEGs in later malting stages compared to untreated samples, suggesting that PEF alleviates stress induced by both Fusarium infection and the malting process. Enrichment analysis further revealed that PEF treatment up-regulated stress-related pathways while down-regulating genes associated with photosynthesis and cell wall biogenesis. These findings provide novel insights into barley stress responses during malting and highlight the potential of PEF as a tool for enhancing malt quality under stress conditions.