This study explores metabolic responses of germinating barley seeds upon the application of pulsed
electric fields (PEF). Malting barley seeds were steeped in aerated water for 24 h and PEF-treated at
varying voltages (0 (control), 110, 160, 240, 320, 400 and 480 V). The seeds were then allowed to finish
germination in saturated air. It is shown that exposure of germinating barley to PEF affects radicle
emergence without significantly affecting the seeds’ gross metabolic activity, as quantified by isothermal
calorimetry. An exploration of protein 2-DE profiles of both the embryo and the starchy endosperm
showed that, at the studied time scale, no significant changes were found in proteins present at
concentrations higher than the detection limit. However, western blotting demonstrated that a-amylase
concentration decreases in the PEF-treated seeds.