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Grain size and flag leaf angle are two important traits that determining grain yield in rice. However, the mechanisms regulating these two traits remain largely unknown. In this study, a rice long grain 5 (lg5) mutant with a large flag leaf angle was identified, and map-based cloning revealed that a single base substitution followed by a 2 bp insertion in the LOC_Os05g40384 gene resulted in larger grains, a larger flag leaf angle, and higher plant height than the wild type. Sequence analysis revealed that lg5 is a novel allele of elongated uppermost internode-1 (EUI1), which encodes a cytochrome P450 protein. Functional complementation and overexpression tests showed that LG5 can rescue the bigger grain size and larger flag leaf angle in the Xiushui11 (XS) background. Knockdown of the LG5 transcription level by RNA interference resulted in elevated grain size and flag leaf angle in the Nipponbare (NIP) background. Morphological and cellular analyses suggested that LG5 regulated grain size and flag leaf angle by promoting cell expansion and cell proliferation. Our results provided new insight into the functions of EUI1 in rice, especially in regulating grain size and flag leaf angle, indicating a potential target for the improvement of rice breeding.

The aim of the study was to examine the impact of microbiological and organic fertilizers on morphological and productive characteristics of triticale during a three-year period (2009/10–2011/12). A two-factorial field experiment was arranged using a randomized block design with four replications. The object of the study was the triticale winter cultivar Odisej, and the following treatments were applied: a control variant without fertilization, microbiological fertilizer “Slavol” (Agrounik Serbia) 5.0 l ha-1, organic fertilizer “Biohumus Royal offert” (Altamed RS) 3.0 t ha-1 + microbiological fertilizer “Slavol” (Agrounik Serbia) 5.0 l ha-1. The results showed that the expression of the characteristics was significantly affected by the environment. The lowest values were obtained in the first year when the most unfavourable meteorological conditions were observed. The application of microbiological fertilizer had no impact on the stem length and grain weight per spike, but it significantly increased the number of fertile spikelets (3.7%), spike length (7.7%) and grain yield (18.6%). The combined application of fertilizers provided better results for all the examined characteristics, while in comparison with the control, the differences ranged from 4.3% for the number of fertile spikelets to 46.5% for grain yield. The strongest correlation was determined between the spike length and the number of fertile spikelets (r = 0.939**). The obtained results lead to the conclusion that under variable environmental conditions, the application of fertilizers has a significant impact on morphological and productive characteristics of triticale, and consequently on the stability of this crop production in the organic farming system. Cilj istraživanja bio je ispitivanje uticaja biohumusa i biofertilizatora na morfološke i produktivne osobine tritikalea u trogodišnjem periodu (2009/102011/12). Poljski ogled je postavljen kao dvofaktorijalni, po metodi blok sistema sa slučajnim rasporedom tretmana u četiri ponavljanja. Predmet ispitivanja bila je ozima sorta tritikalea, Odisej, a ispitivan je uticaj sledećih tretmana: kontrola bez đubrenja, biofertilizator (5,0 l ha-1), biohumus (3,0 t ha-1) + biofertilizator (5,0 l ha-1). Rezultati su pokazali da spoljašnja sredina ima značajan uticaj na ekspresiju ispitivanih osobina. Najmanje vrednosti dobijene su u prvoj godini, koja je imala i najnepovoljnije meteorološke uslove. Đubrenje je imalo statistički značajan uticaj na većinu ispitivanih osobina. Primena biofertilizatora nije uticala na dužinu stabla i masu zrna u klasu, ali je značajno povećala broj plodnih klasića (3,7%), dužinu klasa (7,7%) i prinos zrna (18,6%). Kombinovanom primenom đubriva postignuti su bolji rezultati za sve ispitivane osobine, a razlike u odnosu na kontrolu bez đubrenja kretale su se u nivou od 4,3% za broj plodnih klasića do 46,5% kod prinosa zrna. Najjača korelaciona povezanost ustanovljena je između dužine klasa i broja plodnih klasića (r = 0,939**). Dobijeni rezultati upućuju na zaključak da, u promenljivim uslovima spoljašnje sredine, primena dobro izbalansiranih formula organskih i mikrobioloških đubriva ima značajan uticaj na morfološke i produktivne osobine tritikalea, a samim tim na stabilnost proizvodnje ovog useva u sistemu organskog gajenja.

The current study was carried out on the basis of the Institute of Seed Production and Agrotechnologies, located in the Ryazan Region in 2010–2019, in order to determine the participation share of tillering shoots in the formation of spring wheat productivity in various agro-weather conditions. The objects of the study were the varieties ‘Lada’, ‘Agata’, ‘RIMA’, ‘Maestro’ developed by the Federal Research Agro-Engineering Center VIM. The mean productivity of the studied spring wheat varieties, depending on the level of moisture supply of the growing seasons, had a significant range of 2.20–5.29 t/ha. The mean density of the stems varied from 216 to 620 pcs/m2 among the varieties. The minimum value of 153–253 pcs/m2 was formed under severe drought conditions. When moisture supply improved, the indicator sharply increased in 2.6 times. There has been established that in more humid conditions (HThC 0.98–1.55) the plants were able to realize their potential tillering to a greater extent, the general indicators of tillering among the varieties ranged from 1.06 to 1.23 and 1.63 to 2.11. There was estimated an effect of secondary shoots on productivity, which was 35.2% on average in the trial, and from 10.6% to 48.3% depending on the genotype and environmental conditions. There has been found a shoot formation decrease in 2.4 times of the variety ‘Lada’ under a moisture deficit. There has been determined that the variety ‘RIMA’ had the lowest tillering coefficient for all vegetation periods, and grain weight per a main spike mainly contributed to its productivity. During the moisture deficit periods, the share of the effect of lateral shoots in the variety ‘Agata’ was at the level of mean values, and on 9.9% and 13.1% more than in the varieties ‘Lada’ and ‘RIMA’, respectively. The maximum value of the productivity on the lateral shoots was formed by the variety ‘Maestro’, the productivity share of the secondary shoots during all periods was higher than that of all varieties and amounted to 39.1–48.3%.

Fusarium graminearum and Zymoseptoria tritici cause economically important diseases of wheat. F. graminearum is one of the primary causal agents of Fusarium head blight (FHB) and Z. tritici is the causal agent of Septoria tritici blotch (STB). Alternative control methods are required in the face of fungicide resistance and EU legislation which seek to cut pesticide use by 2030. Both fungal pathogens have been described as either hemibiotrophs or necrotrophs. A microbial fermentation-based product (MFP) was previously demonstrated to control the biotrophic pathogen powdery mildew, on wheat. Here we investigated if MFP would be effective against the non-biotrophic fungal pathogens of wheat, F. graminearum and Z. tritici. We assessed the impact of MFP on fungal growth, disease control and also evaluated the individual constituent parts of MFP. Antifungal activity towards both pathogens was found in vitro but MFP only significantly decreased disease symptoms of FHB in planta. In addition, MFP was found to improve the grain number and weight, of uninfected and F. graminearum infected wheat heads.

Background.Crop yield is a compound and complex character in breeding programs. A stable high yield is determined by the genotype, environmental impacts, and their interaction. A comprehensive assessment of cultivars based on their adaptability, plasticity and stability makes it possible to select among the studied assortment the most promising, potentially high-yielding and environmentally flexible plant forms adaptable to a wide range of environmental conditions.Materials and methods. Evaluation of 146 accessions representing two-row (subsp.distichonL.) and six-row (subsp.vulgare) barleys (Hordeum vulgareL.) was performed in 2015–2017 to measure the adaptability, stability, plasticity and homeostasis of barley yield. Experimental data were statistically processed using the methods of the two-way ANOVA and correlation analysis.Results and conclusion. It was established that barley yield formation was almost equally determined by the genotype (34.3%), environmental conditions (31.9%), and genotype × environment interactions (33,7%), showing that the tested barleys were relatively well adaptable to climate changes in the Northern Trans-Urals. Barley yield was more closely associated with grain weight per plant (r = 0.72) and the number of productive stems per area unit (r = 0.63), and to a lesser extent with seed germination rate in the field (r = 0.39) and 1000 grain weight (r = 0.37). Strong correlations were observed for the yield with the adaptability coefficient (r = 0.94), environmental plasticity index (r = 1.00), and compensatory capacity (r = 0.96). Cvs. ‘Abyssinian 14’ (k-23504, var.pallidum) and ‘Kharkovsky 70’ (k-23683, var.nutans) exhibited a set of adaptive and productive properties.

There have been presented the study results of 11 collection hulled oats samples in comparison with the standard variety ‘Krechet’ conducted at the Falenskaya selection station of the FARC the North-East (the Kirov region) in 2018–2020. The purpose of the current study was to identify sources stable on the trait ‘1000-grain weight’ for the breeding of hulled oats by estimating the adaptability parameters. The soil of the experimental plot was sod-podzolic, medium loamy, the meteorological conditions were contrasting in temperature and precipitation. In the favorable year of 2019, the 1000-grain weight was the highest (34.6–45.9 g), the index of environmental conditions was positive (Ij = 1.6). In the unfavorable year of 2020, the 1000-grain weight was 31.3–41.8 g and the index of environmental conditions was negative (Ij = -1.5). There have been identified the adaptable sources (IEP = 1.08–1.00) ‘15330 KSI 590/05’ (Russia), ‘15388 Saltaret’ (Moldova), ‘15423 Prelekst’, ‘15426 Werva’ (Germany); the stable sources according to the relative stability of the trait (St2 = 0.99–0.91) ‘15280 55 h 2106’, ‘15331 CSI 2167/03’ (Russia), ‘15297 Geszti’ (Hungary), ‘15388 Saltaret’ (Moldova), ‘15428 Bohum’ (Poland), ‘15420 Leniak’ (Germany); the sources with a high level of intensity (I = 24.5 and 19.30%) – ‘15329 CSI 639/05’, ‘15330 CSI 590/05’ and homeostaticity (Hom = 25.28–11.96) ‘15280 55 h 2106’ (Russia), ‘15297 Geszti’ (Hungary), ‘15388 Saltaret’ (Moldova); the sources responsive to favorable growing conditions (Kp = 1.11–1.28) ‘15329 KSI 639/05’, ‘15330 KSI 590/05’, ‘15331 KSI 2167/03’ (Russia), ‘15414 Enostar’ (Germany); the most adaptive sources in terms of the sum of ranks ‘15330 CSI 590/05’ and ‘15329 CSI 639/05’ (Russia), ‘15388 Saltaret’ (Moldova), ‘15426 Werva, ‘15414 Enostar’ (Germany). There have been identified significant direct correlations between indicators of stability and homeostaticity (r = 0.96), intensity and coefficient of responsiveness (r = 0.73).

Around the world, salinity a critical limiting factor in agricultural productivity. Plant growth is affected by salt stress at all stages of development. The contemporary investigation focused on Chaetomorpha antennina aqueous extracts (SWEs) to decrease the effects of salt strain on rice germination, growth, yield, and the production of key biological and biochemical characters of the rice, Oryza sativa L. (Poaceae). SWE improved the germination capacities of rice seedlings by promoting their emergence 36.27 h prior to those that had been exposed to saline stress. The creation of 79.647% longer radicles by SWE treatment on salt-stressed seeds which boosted the establishment effectiveness of seeds produced under salt stress longer radicles resulted in plants that were 64.8% taller. SWE treatment was effective in revoking the levels of protein (26.9%), phenol (35.54%), and SOD (41.3%) enzyme levels that were previously constrained by salinity stress. Additionally, SWE were also efficient in retaining 82.6% of leaf water content and enhancing the production of photosynthetic pigments affected by salt exposure earlier. The improvement in plant functionality was evident from the display of increase in tiller numbers/hill (62.36%), grain yield (58.278%), and weight (56.502%). The outcome of our research shows that SWEs protected the plants from the debarring effects of salinity by enhancing the plant functionality and yield by mechanistically enriching their physiological (germination and vegetative growth) and biochemical attributes (leaf RWC, photosynthetic pigments, protein, phenol, and SOD). Despite the increase in TSS and starch levels in rice grain exposed to salinity stress, SWE improved the grain protein content thus cumulatively enhancing rice nutrition and marketability. The current investigation reveals that the extracts of C. antennina can help alleviate rice plants from salt stress in an efficient, eco-friendly, as well as economical way.

Identifying traits for improving sink-strength is a bottleneck to increasing wheat yield. The interacting processes determining sink-strength and yield potential are reviewed and visualized in a set of 'Wiring Diagrams', covering critical phases of development (and summarizing known underlying genetics). Using this framework, we reviewed and assembled the main traits determining sink-strength and identified research gaps and potential hypotheses to be tested for achieving gains in sink-strength. In pre-anthesis grain number could be increased through: (i) enhanced spike growth associated with optimized floret development and/or a reduction in specific stem-internode lengths and (ii) improved fruiting efficiency through accelerated rate of floret development, improved partitioning between spike or optimized spike cytokinin levels. In post-anthesis grain sink-strength could be augmented through manipulation of grain size potential via ovary size and/or endosperm cell division and expansion. Prospects for improving spike vascular architecture to support all rapidly growing florets, enabling the improved flow of assimilate, are also discussed. Finally, we considered the prospects for enhancing grain weight realization in relation to genetic variation in stay-green traits as well as stem carbohydrate remobilization. The Wiring Diagrams provide a potential workspace for breeders and crop scientists to achieve yield gains in wheat and other field crops. Research of the authors on physiology and genetics of wheat yield potential has been funded by many different sources over the years. Most recent grants include the International Wheat Yield Partnership (IWYP) projects funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Research Council of the UK (e.g., IWYP48 BB/N021061/1, IWYP64 BB/ N020871/2, IWYP163 BB/S005072/1, and IWYP25FP), as well as projects funded by other donors (State Research Agency of Spain: AGL2015-69595-R and RTI2018-096213-B-100).

The current study was carried out in the southern part of the Rostov region at the FSBSI “Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy” in 2018–2020. The purpose of the study was to investigate the combined effect of mineral fertilizers and treatments with the growth retardant ‘Moddus’ on productivity of the barley variety ‘Marusya’. In the course of the study, there was identified high responsiveness of the facultative barley variety ‘Marusya’ to the use of mineral fertilizers. Without fertilization, the productivity was 3.46–3.59 t/ha, and 0.87–1.57 t/ha when using the fertilizers. The maximum productivity and protein percentage were established in the variants with the introduction of N79P82K57 according to the active ingredient, with 5.81 t/ha and 0.55 t/ha, respectively. The treatment of plants with the growth retardant ‘Moddus’ contributed to productivity increase on 0.13–0.22 t/ha on average over the years of study. Under the effect of the growth retardant ‘Moddus’, the number of productive heads increased on 5–19 pieces/m2 , there was also a tendency to an increase in the number of grains per head and grain weight per head. The growth retardant ‘Moddus’ contributed to a decrease in plant height on 3.6–5.6 cm, at the same time there was a tendency to increase length of head on 0.2–0.5 cm in comparison with the control variant. Mineral fertilizers effectively increased nature weight of the facultative barley variety ‘Marusya’. Without fertilization, nature weight of grain was 579 g/l and 584 g/l, and when using fertilizers, it increased on 16–27 g/l or 2.7–4.6%. Productivity increase in the variant when treating with the growth retardant ‘Moddus’ resulted in an increase of the indicator of conditional net income over the control variant on 745–1884 rubles/ha.

Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv. is a stronger competitor of rice for resources than other weeds. An adequate knowledge of the biology, ecology and critical period of competition of E. crus-galli...

The present study was undertaken to analyze diallel data using GGE biplot model to gather information about genetic interrelationships among parents and identification of heterotic combinations for yield and yield components in bread wheat varieties. For this purpose, 8 bread wheat genotypes tested across in half-diallel crosses design, GGE biplot technique was used. Parents included the genotypes of Kouhdasht, Karim, Ehsan, Mehregan, N-92-9, Line 17, N80-19 and Atrak. The hybrids obtained from the one-way cross (28 hybrids) in agricultural years of 2016-17 were evaluated as randomized complete block design in two replications on the research farm of Gonbad Kavous University. The evaluated traits included the grain yield, weight of spike grains, number of grains in spike and number of spikes. Additive main effects and genotype × environment interaction (GGE) were employed in the evaluation of genotypes; analyses showed significant (P< 0.01) G × E, (genotype × environment interaction) with respect to plant seed yield. GGE biplot analysis showed that Karim was as the best general combiners for grain yield, number grain per spike and grain weight per spike, whereas Ehsan had the highest GCA effects for number of spikes. Ehsan and Karim had higher specific combining ability than other genotypes. The studied genotypes for this trait were divided into two heterotic groups where the first group included the genotypes of Kouhdasht, N-92-9, N80-19 and Atrak and the second group contained the genotypes of Line 17, Mehregan and Karim. Mehregan line had a weak combining ability with all testers and N-92-9 had also more power than others. Based on the biplot, the Karim genotype with high general adaptation was introduced as the ideal genotype in terms of grain yield, spike number, grain number per spike and grain weight, so the Karim genotype can be adapted to obtain high yield hybrids.

In order to objectively assess the degree of similarity of varieties and hybrids by a set of indicators and to interpret a large amount of data in breeding practice, methods of multidimensional statistics are used, including factor and cluster analyzes. The study included 42 maize hybrids (FAO 100-499) of the selection of various scientific institutions of Russia, which were assessed according to the following characteristics: the length of the interphase stage of seedlings - flowering of panicles and ears, plant height, ear attachment height, grain yield, number of grains per ear, crude protein and crude fat content. Factor analysis made it possible to calculate the correlation coefficients between the variables under consideration and to reveal high positive correlations between the interfacial stages of a panicle seedlings–flowering and seedlings–-flowering of ears (r = 0.99), plant height and ear attachment height (r = 0, 81), the length of the interphase periods and the ear height (r = 0.77). A significant correlation coefficient was determined between the traits, the length of the interphase periods, seedlings – flowering of panicles and ears with grain yield (r = 0.34 and 0.36, respectively), grain yield and number of grains per ear (r = 0.37). When calculating the weights of the variables for the components, it was found out that the largest contribution (variance 54.814%) to the first hypothetical factor was made by the following signs: interphase periods of panicle seedlings–flowering and of ear seedlings–flowering, plant height, ear attachment height, grain yield, 1000 grain weight. The use of cluster analysis made it possible to group the studied hybrids at 32 iteration steps (Euclidean distance - 7.340) into 10 clusters with different breeding values. The hybrids that make up the clusters are characterized by a similar set of features within the clusters and significant differences between the clusters, confirmed by the method of unorganized repetitions of one-way ANOVA.

The aim of the study was to investigate the systems of genetic control of the trait “grain weight per main spike” in spring barley in the system of diallel crosses to optimize the breeding process for yield. Six varieties of barley were used as parental forms: Condor and Omskiy naked 1 (hulless), Margret, Lun, Nutans 553, and Anna (hulled). Crosses according to the full diallelic scheme were performed in 2008 and 2009. Field experiments were carried out in the forest-steppe of Penza region in 2009 and 2010 with contrasting hydrothermal regimes. In most hybrid populations, the grain weight per spike was inherited according to the type of overdominance and complete dominance of the parent with a high value of the trait. The analysis of the combining ability by B.Griffing showed that both additive and non-additive effects were present in the control of the trait; their balance varied by years and genotypes. The correlation coefficients between the general combining ability (GCA) and the degree of the trait in parental varieties (r=0.76...0.96) indicate that the selection of pairs for crosses can be carried out on the basis of high values of grain weight per spike, especially in a dry year. Genetic analysis by B.Hayman showed the prevalence of the effects of overdominance in the control of the trait; in 2009, complementary epistasis was also registered. Overdominance and non-additive effects in the control of a trait complicates selection in early generations, which is confirmed by the differences between the values of heritability coefficients in the broad sense (H2=0.79...0.94) and in the narrow sense (h2=0.24...0.59). The largest number of dominant genes controlling the grain weight per spike was found in Margret in both years of research and Anna in the dry year. These varieties are also distinguished for the consistently positive effects of GCA and are recommended as donors of the trait for breeding

The present study aimed to estimate genetic parameters of 20 common bean genotypes, commercial and regional bean on weed interference. The agronomic characters analyzed were: average stem diameter (ASD); average plant length (APL); number of pods per pot (NPP); number of locules per pod (NLP); number of grains per pod (NGP); percentage of empty locules (% EL); total grains per pot (TGP); total grain weight per pot (TGW) and average grain weight (AGW). High heritability values were found for most of the characters studied, except for NGP and EL; in addition to great genetic variability among genotypes. Therefore, for most of the characteristics of agronomic interest studied, simple selection methods can be applied with great potential to identify superior genotypes and consequent genetic progress in common bean breeding.

Emmer wheat (Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccum) is one of the most promising gene sources for drought tolerance improvement of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum ssp. durum). Achieving desired results requires a conscious choice of crossing parents based on general and specific combining ability (GCA and SCA) and also understanding the genes action involved in controlling the desired traits. In this study a 12 × 12 full diallel cross was performed using four emmer and eight durum wheats. The 132 hybrid progenies along with their parental lines were field evaluated under water-stressed and non-stressed conditions. Based on the Griffing diallel analysis both GCA and SCA effects were highly significant for all measured traits under both water treatments indicating possibility of improvement for drought tolerance. In this respect, the amount of additive effect was higher than the non-additive suggesting the chance for genetic advancement through selection. Based on Hayman's graphical analyses under the two water conditions it was revealed that several grain yield component traits were under the control of partial dominance. In contrary, grain yield and most morphological traits showed either dominance or over-dominance gene action. Grain yield had a significant positive correlation with the number of kernels per spike, kernel diameter, grain weight per spike and harvest index. These traits also had greater share of additive effects, relatively high narrow-sense heritability and high Baker ratio suggesting effective indirect selection for grain yield. Most durum × emmer hybrids had grain yield and drought tolerance indices better than the parents indicating that Iranian emmer wheats have a great genetic potential for drought tolerance improvement of durum wheat.

Two major and stable QTLs for spike compactness and length were detected and validated in multiple genetic backgrounds and environments, and their pleiotropic effects on yield-related traits were analyzed. Spike compactness (SC) and length (SL) are greatly associated with wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain yield. To detect quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with SC and SL, two biparental populations derived from crosses of Chuanmai42/Kechengmai1 and Chuanmai42/Chuannong16 were employed to perform QTL mapping in five environments. A total of 34 QTLs were identified, in which six major QTLs were repeatedly detected in more than four environments and the best linear unbiased prediction datasets, explaining 7.13–33.6% of phenotypic variation. These major QTLs were co-located in two genomic regions on chromosome 5A and 6A, namely QSc/Sl.cib-5A and QSc/Sl.cib-6A, respectively. By developing kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) markers that linked to them, the two loci were validated in different genetic backgrounds, and their interactions were also analyzed. Comparison analysis showed that QSc/Sl.cib-5A was not Vrn-A1 and Q, and QSc/Sl.cib-6A was likely a new locus for SC and SL. Both QSc/Sl.cib-5A and QSc/Sl.cib-6A had pleiotropic effects on other yield-related traits including plant height, thousand grain weight and grain length. Therefore, the two loci combined with the developed KASP markers might be potentially applicable in wheat breeding. Furthermore, based on the spatiotemporal expression patterns, gene annotation, orthologous search and sequence differences, TraesCS5A01G301400 and TraesCS6A01G090300 were considered as potential candidates for QSc/Sl.cib-5A and QSc/Sl.cib-6A, respectively. These results provided valuable information for fine mapping and cloning of the two loci in the future.

Background. The grain coat plays a major role in the development of rye cultivars with low levels of water-soluble pentosans (WSP). Grain coat thinness is a diagnostic trait for low WSP (arabinoxylans) content. To improve the technology of low-pentosan rye breeding, it becomes important to study the effect of changes in the anatomy of low-pentosan grains on morphological characteristics.Materials and methods. Grains with thin coats (transparent) were identified with the LFS-1 diaphanoscope in the populations of 7 commercial winter rye cultivars grown in Russian Federation. Anatomical and morphological features of seed coats were studied on thick- and thin-coated grains identified in the rye cultivars ‘Era’ and ‘Vyatka’. The thickness of grain coats and the aleurone layer were assessed according to L. N. Lyubarsky.Results and conclusions. In thin-coated rye grains, we found a reduction in the thickness of the pericarp and seed coats by 50–70% and in the aleurone layer by 32.1–39.6%, compared to thick-coated grains. With a constant cell size in “transparent” grains, a decrease in the thickness of the aleurone layer and coat occurs at the expense of the reduction in not only the cell walls, but also the intercellular space. The pericarp in the tissues of the second multicellular layer contains the bulk of the protective biologically passive WSP. It was proved that there were no significant changes in grain parameters, such as length, width and relative volume, depending on coat thinness. Significant differences were found in the 1000 grain weight. In “transparent” grains the index increased by 5.2–19.7%, compared with “nontransparent” ones.

A study was conducted during the period of three concessive years from 2016/2017 to 2018/2019 in the experimental field of the Institute of Agriculture - Karnobat, Southeastern Bulgaria with the aim to investigate the variability, heritability, and correlation between grain yield and yield-related traits of breeding lines of facultative barley under rainfed conditions and to select lines with desirable agronomic traits for including in further breeding work for the development of facultative barley varieties for Bulgarian environments. The traits: number of days to heading, plant height, spike length, spikelet number per spike, grain number per spike, grain weight per spike, and grain yield were recorded. The analysis of variance indicated significant differences between 6-rowed facultative barley genotypes in the studied traits. Most of the traits under the study showed the relatively low phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variation. The estimates for heritability in broad-sense were high for the number of days to heading, grain weight per spike, and 1000-grain weight and very high for plant height and spike length suggesting a possibility for improvement of those traits through selection based on phenotype. Whereas low heritability of grain yield was found indicating that the phenotypic selection could be ineffective under these specific conditions. Grain yield of facultative barley accessions showed a significant positive correlation with spike length, spikelet number per spike, grain number per spike and grain weight per spike. The traits with the highest positive direct effect on grain yield were grain number per spike and 1000-grain weight while days to heading had a highly negative direct effect on grain yield. A combination of high heritability and high direct on grain yield in 1000-grain weight and days to heading shows that those traits may be used in early-generation selection in breeding of high-yielding facultative lines. The accession TX01D236 had a significantly higher grain yield compared to check varieties and could be included in future breeding work.

An experiment was carried out at Agricultural Research Station, Vaigaidam, Theni district of Tamil Nadu from 2007 to 2019 with an objective of developing a variety by deriving the grain quality characters from the traditional rice variety Seeragasamba and yield and yield attributing characters from ADT 43. The promising culture VG 09006, a cross derivative of ADT43/Seeragasamba was released as VGD 1 during 2019 by the State Variety Release Committee, Tamil Nadu. It is a medium duration variety (129 days) with erect, high tillering and non lodging plant habit. This variety is recommended for samba/late samba seasons of Dindigul, Theni, Trichy, Perambalur, Karur, Coimbatore, Erode, Dharmapuri, Vellore and Virudhunagar districts of Tamil Nadu. It recorded an overall mean grain yield of 5859 kg/ha at 101 locations, which was 32.56 and 13.80 per cent increased grain yield over Seeragasamba (4420 kg/ha) and TKM 13 (5149 kg/ha), respectively. It is moderately resistant to leaf folder, blast and brown spot under field conditions. The rice is white, fine (short slender) with a 1000 grain weight of 8.9 g which is less than Seeragasamba (11.6 g) and all other popularly grown rice varieties viz., TKM13 (13.8 g, CO 51 (16.0 g) and ADT 43 (15.5 g). Key wordsBriyani rice, Quality rice, Seeragasamba, aromatic rice, VGD 1

In recent years, the production of natural and recyclable, environmentally friendly products has come to the fore rather than textile and textile products produced from petroleum resources. One of the materials used in the production of these products is the Jute plant. This study was carried out in a laboratory environment under controlled conditions between 2019 and 2020. In the study, some physical (shape-size, surface area, average arithmetic-geometric diameter, sphericity, thousand grain weight) and physiological properties (germination percentage and time, average shoot-root lengths) of seeds belonging to two different varieties of Jute plant (Corchorus capsularis L. and Corchorus olitorius L.) were determined. According to the data obtained; It has been determined that C. capsularis variety has a short and oval structure, while C. olitorius variety has a medium and oval structure. Furthermore, the germination rate was determined as 74.5% in C. capsularis seeds and 63.5% in C. olitorius seeds.

Rice grain yield is determined by three major “visible” morphological traits: grain weight, grain number per panicle, and effective tiller number, which are affected by a series of “invisible” physiological factors including nutrient use efficiency and photosynthetic efficiency. In the past few decades, substantial progress has been made on elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying grain yield formation, laying a solid foundation for improving rice yield by molecular breeding. This review outlines our current understanding of the three morphological yield-determining components and summarizes major progress in decoding physiological traits such as nutrient use efficiency and photosynthetic efficiency. It also discusses the integration of current knowledge about yield formation and crop improvement strategies including genome editing with conventional and molecular breeding.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum. L) grain size is considered to be one of the main criteria of yield constituents by wheat breeders. In order to detect phenotypic diversity and relationship between thousand kernel weight, a collection of 204 landraces from different parts of Pakistan was planted across two years (2012-2014). High throughput method based on seed imaging was used to measure the kernel size and shape. The correlation analysis revealed significant positive correlation between thousand kernel weight (TKW) with perimeter of vertical (PV), thickness (T), area of vertical (AV), area of horizontal (AH), perimeter of horizontal (PH), width (W) and Length (L). Bioplot showed that accessions with high seed shape parameters have higher TKW. By taking TKW as a dependent variable multiple regression analysis was performed. Regression summary indicated that 31% of the variations in TKW are explained by the independent variables. It was shown that grain thickness, length and width are most important for predicting TKW. Based on image analysis this study provides useful information about the relationship between TKW, kernel size and shape in Pakistani wheat landraces that may help to improve grain weight in a breeding program.

The use of large quantities of mineral fertilizers causes many environmental problems. The aim of this study was to study the effect of minerals, organic and bio-fertilizers on yield and it’s components of three synthetic varieties of maize and the possibility of replacing part of the mineral fertilizers with organic or bio-fertilizers. The layout of the experiment was Randomized Complete Blocks Design in split plots arrangement with three replicates. The experiment included three synthetic varieties of maize in the main plots and five fertilizer treatments in the sub plots. The results showed that maize varieties had non-significant difference in all studied characters except the number of rows per ear; Baghdad-3 gave the highest mean of the number of rows per ear (14.98 row ear-1). Also, the results indicated that there were significant differences among fertilizer treatments in all studied characters, the application of 50% mineral fertilizer + spraying seaweed extract at 10% had the highest means of number of ears per plant (1.43 ear plant-1), number of rows per ear (15.08 row ear-1), number of grains per row (39.34 grain row-1) which led to highest grain yield (9077 Kg ha-1), while the application of mineral fertilizer as recommended gave the highest mean of 500 grain weight (111.78 g).

Padi merupakan salah satu sumber karbohidrat utama bagi masyarakat Indonesia. Upaya pengembangan varietas baru sangat bergantung pada ketersediaan plasma nutfah sebagai sumber material genetik. Salah satu cara dalam pengembangan varietas baru melalui persilangan buatan untuk menciptakan keragaman dengan menggunakan kultivar lokal dan varietas/galur unggul. Tujuan penelitian ialah untuk mengeksplorasi korelasi, heterosis, aksi gen, dan heritabilitas arti luas pada delapan karakter padi, yang dapat digunakan dalam melakukan seleksi. Kegiatan persilangan buatan telah dilakukan dengan menggunakan satu galur unggul dan empat kultivar padi lokal yang memiliki karakter beragam. Empat populasi hasil persilangan (F1) ditanam menggunakan rancangan acak lengkap dengan empat ulangan, serta lima tetua (galur unggul dan padi lokal) sebagai pembanding. Hasil perhitungan korelasi menemukan bahwa terdapat satu variabel yang menunjukan korelasi pada hampir semua karakter yaitu bobot malai. Heritabilitas tinggi terdapat pada karakter umur panen, panjang malai, jumlah gabah permalai, bobot 1000 biji dan tinggi tanaman. Persilangan yang menunjukan fenomena heterosis negatif ialah pada B14081H-296 x Salak dan Dampak x Carogol sehingga memiliki umur panen yang lebih pendek dari rata-rata kedua tetua dengan aksi gen dominan sebagian dan aditif.

The current paper has presented the results of the estimation of productivity of the winter wheat varieties ‘Krasa Dona’, ‘Polina’ and ‘Yubiley Dona’ when using liquid complex fertilizers ‘Strada N + Mono Sulfur (S)’, ‘Strada P + Mono Sulfur (S)’ and ‘Diform Silicon-potassium’. The treatment of winter wheat plants was carried out in the form of foliar top-dressings in the stages of tillering and stem extension. The study was carried out on the basis of the FSBSI “Agri- cultural Research Center “Donskoy” in 2019-2020. The trials were laid in the crop rotation of the laboratory for primary seed production and seed study. The purpose was to study the effect of liquid complex fertilizers on the productivity of the studied winter wheat varieties. When using fertilizers for all varieties, there was a tendency to an increase in the density of the productive stand on 18-61 pcs/m2 in comparison with the control. The variety ‘Krasa Dona’ showed the best indicators of the traits ‘number of grains per head’, ‘grain weight per head’ and ‘1000 grain weight’ being fertilized with ‘Strada N + S’ (43 pcs., 2.19 g and 45.7 g) and ‘Diform Silicon-potassium’ (46 pcs., 2.30 g and 46.5 g). The variety ‘Polina’ showed good results after being treated with ‘Strada P + S’ (48 pcs., 2.30 g and 42.1 g) and ‘Diform Silicon-potassium’ (51 pcs., 2.43 g and 42.4 g). The variety ‘Yubiley Dona’ showed the greatest increase of the trait ‘number of grains’ with the fertilizer ‘Diform Silicon-potassium’. The trait ‘1000 grains weight’ had an increase of 2.3 g, and ‘grain weight per head’ was 0.29 g. The treatment with fertilizers did not affect the trait ‘plant height’. The highest productivity of the variety ‘Krasa Dona’ was obtained when being fertilized with ‘Strada N + S’ (9.4 t / ha) and ‘Diforma Silicon-potassium’ (9.5 t/ha); the productivity of the variety ‘Polina’ increased after ‘Strada P + S’ (8.8 t/ha) and ‘Diform Silicon-potassium’ (9.1 t/ha), and the productivity of the variety ‘Yubiley Dona’ increased after ‘Diform Silicon-potassium’ (8.9 t/ha). The maximum economic effect (19080 rubles/ha) with 9.5 t/ha of productivity was obtained from the variety ‘Krasa Dona’ after the treatment with the fertilizer ‘Diform Silicon-potassium’. The experimental results have shown that the use of complex fertilizers has a positive effect on the productivity of winter wheat plants.

O arroz está entre os grãos mais consumidos e produzidos no mundo, sendo responsável por alimentar em torno de 2,5 bilhões de pessoas, porém muito se perde devido ao ataque de insetos no armazenamento. Baseado nisso, se objetivou avaliar o uso da terra de diatomácea em grãos de arroz com casca quando infestados por adultos de Sitophilus zeamais. Foram utilizados grãos com teor de umidade inicial de 12 e 14%, sendo cada umidade tratada com doses de 0, 500, 1500 e 2500 g t-1 em dois períodos de infestação: 1 hora e 15 dias após a aplicação. Cada dose foi composta de cinco repetições contendo 100 g de grãos e 20 insetos adultos, para cada teor de umidade e período de infestação. Aos 30 e 60 dias após cada infestação, a mortalidade e emergência de Sitophilus zeamais foram analisadas. Perda de peso dos grãos e teor de umidade foram verificados somente aos 60 dias. Grãos livres de tratamento apresentaram menores valores de mortalidade de Sitophilus zeamais, diferindo estatisticamente dos demais, independente dos períodos de infestação. Independente do teor de umidade inicial e período de infestação, doses de terra de diatomácea de 1500 e 2500 g t-1 apresentaram mortalidade de Sitophilus zeamais entre 98 e 100%. Todos os tratamentos apresentaram teor de umidade final abaixo de 12%. Maiores perdas de peso foram verificadas em grãos com maior teor de umidade inicial. Desta forma, pode-se concluir que a terra de diatomácea apresenta ação satisfatória no controle de S. zeamais em grãos de arroz com casca quando estes entram em equilíbrio higroscópico abaixo de 12%.

The article presents a new variety of soft winter wheat Verochka, created in the North Caucasian Federal Research Center. On average, over the years of study (2018-2020), the excess in grain yield over the standard was high and reliable and amounted to 1.21 t / ha. The new genotype is distinguished by an increased formation of productive stems per 1 m2, a high grain weight of an ear and a weight of 1000 grains. Reliably and significantly exceeds the standard variety Thunder in frost resistance and disease resistance. Verochka is characterized by high quality grain and bread, high drought resistance and lodging resistance. The new variety is well recommended for growing on all fertilized predecessors using intensive and medium-intensity technologies on farms of all forms of ownership.

Foxtail millet has the potential to be developed as a healthier food alternative because of its high nutritional value. Disease such as leaf blight caused by Bipolaris setariae is one of the limiting factors in Foxtail millet productivity. One of the efforts to control the pathogen is by utilizing resistant varieties. In this study, two candidate varieties and two germplasm accessions were tested to determine the level of resistance to Bipolaris setariae leaf blight. The study was arranged based on a complete randomized design with six replications. Each test material was inoculated with the spore suspension at 4 WAP. Disease intensity was observed based on the disease scoring at 7, 9, and 11 WAP. AUDPC value is calculated based on the intensity of the attack at a particular observation time. Grain weight was recorded and statistically analyzed. The two candidate varieties of foxtail millet Pagamogo and Tedamude from Nagekeo Regency showed a moderately resistant response to leaf blight and had the lowest AUDPC values of 907.69 and 912.31. The highest increase in AUDPC values was observed in the initial observation period at 0-49 DAP.

A field experiment was carried out with 109 diverse indigenous genotypes of bread wheat along with four checks in Augmented Block Design for study of character association and path coefficient, divided in to 7 blocks of equal size. Each block had 15 plots of test entries along with 4 checks (viz. LOK-1, HD-2009, WH-147 and DBW-17). The trial was conducted at Main Experimental Station Research Farm of Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Faizabad (U.P.) during Rabi 2015-16. The observations were recorded on eleven quantitative characters viz., days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, plant height (cm), tillers per plant, spike length (cm), flag leaf area (cm), peduncle length (cm), 1000 grain weight (g), biological yield per plant (g), harvest index (%) and grain yield per plant (g). Results revealed that the experimental field was divided in 7 blocks. Each have had 15 plots of the entries with 4 checks.

Meiosis is the least explored stage for thermotolerance in wheat. We evaluated the impact of 5 d of moderate transient daily heat stress during meiosis in the main stem spike on physiological and grain yield traits in 30 diverse wheat cultivars which vary widely in heat tolerance and sensitivity. We found that a moderate heat stress event during meiosis in the main stem spike had lasting impacts on plant growth and reproduction in heat-sensitive, but not heat-tolerant, wheat cultivars. Heat-tolerant cultivars maintained grain yield, grain number and individual grain weight in the main stem spike and also total plant grain yield and biomass in the heat stress treatment relative to the control. Heat-sensitive cultivars responded to heat stress by producing fewer and smaller grains per spikelet on the main stem, fewer tillers, lower biomass and lower total plant grain yield in the high temperature treatment relative to the control. Heat-sensitive cultivars produced higher flag leaf chlorophyll content in the high temperature treatment relative to the control than heat-tolerant cultivars during the first 3 d of heat treatment. There was small reduction in pollen viability from 98% to 96% following heat stress during meiosis which was unrelated to heat tolerance or sensitivity. Moderate transient heat stress during meiosis did not greatly reduce the production of viable male gametes, but had long-lasting negative impacts on fertilization and subsequent seed production in heat-sensitive cultivars.

Introduction. One of the urgent direction in winter wheat breeding is to improve its adaptability, enhance the ability of varieties to give maximum productivity under certain environmental conditions.Methods. The objects of research were 290 samples of winter bread wheat of various ecological and geographical origin taken from the world collection of domestic and foreign selection. In order to estimate the adaptability parameters of the varieties according to the trait ‘1000-grain weight’ there have been selected 31 samples, in accordance with several economically valuable traits. The variety ‘Ermak’ was used as a standard variety.Results. The study has resulted in the identification of the collection samples with different adaptive properties. The samples with bi > 1 ‘Slavna’ (Si2 = 3.01), ‘Chornyava’ (Si2 = 5.64), ‘Etana’ (Si2 = 5.64) can be classified as the varieties of intensive type. The i samples with bi < 1 ‘Ermak’ (bi = 0.93), ‘L 19578’ (bi = 0.42), ‘Simonida’ (bi = 0.21) can be classified as the varieties of extensive type. The samples ‘Vinnichanka’ (bi = -0.07), ‘Zlatka’ (bi = -0.71), ‘Ling Xing 99’ (bi = -0.26) and ‘Sailor’ (bi = -1.22) were identified as adaptable and highly adapted. The samples ‘Vinnichanka’ (Si2 = 0.74), ‘EistanzueLo Benteveo’ (Si2 = 0.82), and ‘Zhong Ping 1597’ (Si2 = 0.23) showed their stability of the trait ‘1000 grain weight’. The samples ‘Zhong Ping 1597’ (Hom = 12119.6), ‘Shestopalivka’ (Hom = 3703.3) and others were characterized by high homeostaticity. The maximum breeding value were identified in the varieties ‘Ling Xing 99’ (Sc = 47.4), ‘Zhong Ping 1597’ (Sc = 46.5), ‘Shestopalivka’ (Sc = 46.3), ‘EistanzueLo Benteveo’ (Sc = 46.3), ‘L 19578’ (Sc = 46.3) and ‘Akter’ (Sc = 45.0). The identified genotypes have been recommended to be used into crossings to develop highly productive varieties adapted to the conditions of the southern part of the Rostov region.

Bu çalışma yağışa dayalı koşullarda farklı durum buğday çeşitlerinin adaptasyon kabiliyetini belirlemek amacıyla Mardin/Midyat ilçesi 2018-2019 kış yetiştirme sezonunda tesadüf blokları deneme desenine göre 4 tekrarlamalı olarak yürütülmüştür. Çalışmada, Güneydoğu Anadolu Bölgesine özgü 4 yerel (Bağacak, Sorgül, Menceki, Havrani) ve farklı şirketlerden temin edilen 4 ticari çeşit (Cesara, Svevo, Burgos ve Ovidio) durum buğdayı çeşidi kullanılmıştır. Araştırmada; başaklanma süresi (gün), bitki boyu (cm), başakta başakcık sayısı (adet), başakta tane ağırlığı (g), bin tane ağırlığı (g), tane verimi (kg/da), hektolitre ağırlığı (kg/hl), yaş gluten (%w/w), protein oranı (%) ve SDS Sedimantasyon (ml) özellikleri incelenmiştir. Araştırma sonuçlarına göre çeşitlerin ekolojik şartlardan önemli derecede etkilendikleri, başaklanma süresi 128.00-141.00 gün, bitki boyu 71.75-117.00 cm, başakta başakcık sayısı 18.15-22.13 adet, başakta tane ağırlığı 1.19-1.63 g, bin tane ağırlığı 26.52-37.96 g, tane verimi 133.50-198.75 kg/da, hektolitre ağırlığı 67.40-72.20 kg/hl, yaş gluten %16.20-34.35 ve protein oranı %15.85-19.40 ve sedimentasyon değeri 15.50-25.00 ml arasında değişmiştir. Yağışa dayalı şartlarda yerel ve ticari makarnalık (durum) buğday çeşitlerinin verim ve kalitesi üzerine önemli etkisinin olduğu görülmüştür.

Meta-QTL (MQTL) analysis is a robust approach for genetic dissection of complex quantitative traits. Rice varieties adapted to non-flooded cultivation are highly desirable in breeding programs due to the water deficit global problem. In order to identify stable QTLs for major agronomic traits under water deficit conditions, we performed a comprehensive MQTL analysis on 563 QTLs from 67 rice populations published from 2001 to 2019. Yield and yield-related traits including grain weight, heading date, plant height, tiller number as well as root architecture-related traits including root dry weight, root length, root number, root thickness, the ratio of deep rooting and plant water content under water deficit condition were investigated. A total of 61 stable MQTLs over different genetic backgrounds and environments were identified. The average confidence interval of MQTLs was considerably refined compared to the initial QTLs, resulted in the identification of some well-known functionally characterized genes and several putative novel CGs for investigated traits. Ortho-MQTL mining based on genomic collinearity between rice and maize allowed identification of five ortho-MQTLs between these two cereals. The results can help breeders to improve yield under water deficit conditions.

The aim of this study was to assess the variation in grain quality traits among mutant lines of winter feed barley. Nine mutant lines derived from the advanced breeding line Kt3029 and 10 mutant lines derived from variety GA-Luttrell along with their parent forms were evaluated. The study was conducted at the Institute of Agriculture – Karnobat during the period 2015-2017. Test weight, 1000-grain weight, the content of protein, starch, lysine, fat, ash, and fibre were determined. Significant differences between the mutant lines and the parent forms for the studied traits were observed. Significantly higher protein content compared to parent was found in the grain of mutant lines 22/1-5, 22/2-10 and 22/1-12 from line Kt3029 and 26/1-1, 26/1-3 and 26/2-11 from variety GA-Luttrell. The grain of mutant line 26/2-12 had the best combination of protein and starch. Mutant lines 22/1-11 and 22/1-12 from Kt3029 and 26/1-1, 26/2-1 and 26/2-12 from variety GA-Luttrell showed a good combination between protein content and 1000-grain weight. Those mutant lines can be included in the breeding program for the development of varieties with improved feed quality.

Bu araştırma yerel cin mısır popülasyonlarının Osmaniye ili Sumbas ilçesi koşullarında verim performanslarının araştırılarak bu ekolojiye uygun yüksek verimli ve kaliteli cin mısır çeşitlerini belirlemek amacıyla 2014 yılında yürütülmüştür. Tesadüf blokları deneme desenine göre dört tekerrürlü olarak kurulan bu araştırmada 2 adet yerel cin mısır çeşidi ve 15 adet yerel cin mısır popülasyonu kullanılmıştır. Araştırmada incelenen popcorn genotiplerinin kalite özelliklerinin en düşük ve en yüksek değerler sırasıyla bin tane ağırlığının 128.79 - 181.06 g, patlamayan tane oranının % 0.02 - 0.08, patlama oranının % 0.93 - 0.98, 50 g tanenin patlama hacminin 15.55 - 21.78 cm3 g-¹, protein oranının % 8.44 - 16.65, yağ oranının % 3.003 - 6.65), kuru madde oranının % 86.65 - 88.003, nişasta oranının % 76.76 - 80.17 arasında değiştiği tespit edilmiştir. Sonuç olarak en yüksek protein ve yağ değeri Sakarya Han köyünden toplanan popülasyondan elde edildiği ve patlama oranının da iyi olduğu kaydedilmiştir. Yerel cin mısırı popülasyonlarından Bafra Koşuköy, Çanakkale Patlak, Balıkesir Beyaz Cin ve Çanakkale Beyaz Cin mısır populasyonları 1000 tane ağırlığı; Samsun Beyaz Cin ve Kdirli Cin mısır populasyonları patlama oranları; Çanakkale Sarı Cin, Samsun Merkez ve Bafra Koşuköy mısır populasyonları patlama hacmi; Sakarya Hanköyü protein, yağ ve nişasta oranları bakımından ve Edirne Beyaz Cin, Kadirli Cin ve Çanakkale Patlak mısır populasyonları kuru madde oranı yönünden ticari çeşit olan Nermin Cin ve Ant Cin 98’den daha yüksek değerlere sahip olduğu belirlenmiştir., This research was conducted in 2014 in order to determine the high-yielding and quality popcorn varieties by investigating the yield performances of landraces popcorn populations in Sumbas district conditions of Osmaniye province. This study was designed as a randomized block with four replications. Plant materials used in the trials were 2 local popcorn varieties and 15 local popcorn populations. The lowest and highest values of the quality characteristics of popcorn genotypes examined in the study were 128.79-181.06 g, 0.02-0.08%, 0.93-0.98 %, 15.55-21.78 cm3 g-¹, 8.44-16.65%, 3.003-6.65%, 86.65-88.003%, and 76.76-80.17% for one thousand grain weight, unpopped kernel rate, popping rate, the popping volume of 50 g grains, protein ratio, oil ratio, dry matter ratio, and starch ratio, respectively. As a result, it was recorded that the highest protein and oil ratiowas obtained from the population collected from Sakarya Hankoyu. It was determined that landraces popcorn populations sustained higher values than the commercial variety Nermin pop and Ant pop 98, Bafra Koşuköy, Çanakkale Patlak, Balıkesir White Gin and Çanakkale White Cin maize populations in terms of 1000 grain weight; Samsun White Cin and Kadirli Cin corn populations in terms of popping rates; Çanakkale Sarı Cin, Samsun Merkez and Bafra Koşuköy corn populations in terms of popping volume; Sakarya Hanköyü in terms of protein, oil and starch ratios and Edirne White Cin, Kadirli Cin and Çanakkale Popcorn populations in terms of dry matter ratio.

The current paper has presented the analysis results of the value of heterosis and the degree of phenotypic dominance of hybrids F1 obtained by saturating crossings of two-row and multi-row spring barley forms. The purpose of the study was to determine the value of heterosis and the degree of phenotypic dominance of the main quantitative traits of the multi-row hybrids of spring barley. The study was carried out in the laboratory for grain crops and groats breeding of the FSBSI FRC of Agrobiotechnologies of the Far East named after A. K. Chayka. There were studied 68 varieties of multi-row spring barley forms selected from the world collection of IPI of various ecological and geographical origin. The two-row varieties ‘Primorsky 98’, ‘Primorsky 44’, ‘Primorsky 89’, ‘Tikhookeansky’ and ‘Vostochny’ developed by FSBSI FRC of Agrobiotechnologies of the Far East named after A. K. Chayka were taken as maternal forms. Four multi-row barley varieties ‘Kazminsky’ (Khabarovsk Territory), ‘Peguis’ (Canada), ‘Kolchan’ (Altai Territory), ‘07N1’ (China) with valuable economic traits were taken as a paternal form. There was conducted a five-fold backcrossing of hybrids with paternal forms and there were selected the populations of multi-row genotypes. The most of the hybrids F1 manifested their heterosis simultaneously according to four traits, productive tillering, number of grains per main head, grain weight per main head, and grain weight per a plant. Only two hybrids ‘Primorsky 98 x Kolchan’ and ‘Primorsky 89 x Peguis’ showed a depression. There was identified heterosis by the traits ‘number of grains per main head’, ‘grain weight per main head’ in all hybrids. When analyzing the inheritance of the trait ‘grain weight per a plant’, there was established overdominance of this trait at the highest values of the hybrids ‘Tikhookeansky x Peguis’ (9.7) and ‘Primorsky 44 x 07N1’ (5.2), the heterosis degree was 50.4% and 82.2%, respectively. There has been established that three hybrids ‘Primorsky 98 x 07N1’, ‘Primorsky 44 x 07N1’, ‘Tikhookeansky x Peguis’ can belong to the most promising ones.

The results of the study of the inheritance of productivity traits by hybrids of the first generation of winter rye in the fields of the Samara Research Institute of Agricultural Sciences for 2012-2013 are presented. Inheritance of traits and heterosis (hypothetical and somatic) depend not only on the parental forms, but also on climatic factors. Heterosis for grain weight spike is positively correlated with an increased number of spikelets of the spike, number and weight of grains, and plants, weight of ear, degree of dominance and decreases with an increase in internode length (r=-0,23... -0,30). Heterosis for plant height correlated with an increase in the mass of 1000 grains and the "degree of dominance (hp)" plant height, hypothetical increases with increasing productive tillering (r=0,30±0,18), true - decreases with increasing number of grains per spike (r=-0,33±0,18). Heterosis for number of grains per spike increases with increasing number and weight of grain per spike and plant, weight of spike, heterosis for grain weight spike, "the degree of dominance (hp)" weight of grain per spike and number of grains and decreases with increasing the length of the top internode (r=-0,48... -0,49). The heterosis for 1000-grain weight manifested by increasing productive tillering, ear length, the heterosis of grain weight from the ear of heterosis for number of grains, the "degree of dominance (hp)" on the weight of grains in spike, weight of 1000 grains and decreases with increasing number of grains (r=-0,22 -0,33...), true of heterosis for plant height (r=-0,21... -0,22), "degree of dominance (hp)" the number of grains (r=-0,34... -0,38).

The influence of previous crops (oat, maize, or rape) and six variety of hulled oats (Avena sativa L.) were assessed qualitatively and quantitatively as to yield, thousand grain weight, and grain size in observations from 2009 to 2012. Harvested grain samples were analysed for the presence of mycotoxins (T-2 and HT-2 toxins, deoxynivalenol, and nivalenol) using LC/MS–MS. Fusarium poae was the species most often found on oats. Flamingsprofi and Salo were the most sensitive varieties of oat. The sensitivity of the variety to lodging as well as the earliness of the variety was correlated with the occurrence of fusariosis on oats. The highest average occurrence of Fusaria on oat grains was after use of maize as the pre-crop. The oat samples were most often contaminated with nivalenol. Nivalenol positively correlated with the weight of a thousand grains of oat and negatively correlated with the oats grain falling through the sieve.

General combining ability (GCA) has been successfully used to evaluate the parental performance in hybrid breeding program, while the molecular basis of GCA still remains unknown. In this study, RNA-Seq was employed to compare the transcriptome profiles that determined the GCA for yield-related traits in two different barley genotypes. A total of 1051 differentially expressed unigenes (DEGs) including 599 up-regulated DEGs and 452 down-regulated DEGs were found between Baodamai 12 and Ximala 22. Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis revealed that many DEGs participated in metabolic process, stimulus response, catalytic activity and biosynthesis. Furthermore, 11 DEGs involved in the starch and sucrose metabolism pathway were discovered, among which eight up-regulated genes were related to beta-fructofuranosidase, pectinesterase, beta-glucosidase and hexokinase, while the other three down-regulated genes were related to sucrose-phosphate synthase, beta-glucosidase and hexokinase. These DEGs might contribute to the differences of GCA for grain weight between the two genotypes. The results may provide a new insight in the studying of the molecular basis of GCA and establish a foundation for further genomic research on the improvement of combining ability in barley breeding program.

Essential oil (EO) nanoemulsion is a new approach to formulate and convey insecticides and to minimize some of the common shortcomings associated with the conventional formulations of synthetic insecticides and also of essential oils. The aim of the present was to develop an oil-in-water (O/W) nanoemulsion of the essential oils of chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) and cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.), and assess their lethal and sublethal toxicity to the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum (Hersbt). The nanoemulsions of EO were characterized by droplet sizes of 341.4 and 387.1 nm for the chamomile and cumin, respectively. The polydispersivity (PDI), viscosity (cP), zeta potential (mV) and conductivity (mS/cm) of the nanoemulsions were also characterized. The cumin nanoemulsion exhibited higher lethal toxicity to the flour beetle, besides of compromising the insect weight gain while impairing their food consumption and conversion rate in sublethal exposure. Cumin EO nanoemulstion also sparked anti-feeding activity, reduced progeny production and prevented grain weight loss by the red flour beetle indicating its potential for stored product protection.

The F2 population was developed by crossing the adaptive yield variety of soybean with a variety without the Kunitz trypsin inhibitor in the mature grain. From the segregating F2 population 48 plants were taken. Their seeds were used to set up field experiment; part of the seed was saved for full-sib (FS) crosses. After yield testing, three lines marked as L6, L30 and L38 were chosen. Two FS cross combination, using saved seeds, were made (L30 x L38 and L6 x L30). Progenies of soybean full-sibs (FSF1:2) and each mother plant (F3:4) were grown, to make enough seed for testing in the field experiment. Data obtained in this experiment were processed to determine correlations of grain yield and other studied traits between mother's and proper full-sib progenies, using simple correlations and Spearman's rank correlations. A significant correlation into examinated traits between two types of progenies does not found, except for stem height and 1000 grain weight in the FS combination L30 x L38. The lack of correlation of plant characteristics between progenies of full-sibs and their mothers indicated the influence of lines used as fathers component. In both combinations of FS crosses, FSF1:2 progenies with better yield than the adapted parent (one without Kunitz trypsin inhibitor) were identified, which are considered promising for the further process of creating new varieties.

Grain-filling, as the final growth stage of rice, is sensitive to environmental temperature change. Previous studies mainly concerned about the effects of high temperature stress during grain-filling on rice growth, and most experiments were carried out with pot for cultivating rice and greenhouse for warming. This research investigated the response of rice grain-filling of superior spikelets (SS) and inferior spikelets (IS) of two japonica cultivars to elevated temperature during grain-filling stage under open-field warming conditions in lower reaches of Yangtze River Basin using free-air temperature enhancement facility. Results indicated that rice yield was not significantly changed by warming less than 4°C. SS and IS showed different responses to elevated temperature during the grain-filling stage, whereas there were similar trends between two cultivars and years. For SS, although elevated temperature enhanced its filling rate during the early grain-filling period, and caused a shorter grain-filling period and a lighter grain weight; for IS, elevated temperature improved its grain weight by enhancing its filling rate during middle and late grain-filling period due to the increased number of days with suitable temperature. For both SS and IS, key starch biosynthesis enzymes and indole-3-acetic acid content exhibited generally a similar dynamics trend with grain-filling rates, and these sink strength parameters presented higher levels under elevated temperature relative to natural temperature for IS during middle and late grain-filling period. Consequently, warming less than 4°C presented different influences on SS and IS; the improvement of IS filling under warming regime was associated with the intensification of grain sink strength.

Insufficient zinc (Zn) and water are key concerns in agricultural production, resulting in lower yields and nutritional qualities. The goal of the study was to figure out how water management and Zn application rates affect the growth and yield of rice. The experiment was carried out in a split-plot design with three replications. The treatments consisted of two factors, a) water management, like 1) Continuous flooding (CF) and 2) Alternate wetting and drying (AWD) system and b) Zn application like 1) Control (0% Zn), 2) 75% Zn, 3) 100% Zn, 4) 125% Zn, and 5) 150% Zn of the recommended dose. All the plots received an equal amount of NPKS fertilizers. The application of Zn in both AWD and CF systems had a significant effect on a number of grains panicle-1, 1000 grain weight and grain yield. The highest value for both yield contributing traits and yield was obtained by the application of 150% Zn in the AWD system. However, the lowest value was found in the control treatment of the CF system for both the yield components and yield. It is also evident that the growth rate of yield components and yield was increased with increased doses of Zn in both AWD and CF systems. In Bangladesh, farmers involved in rice cultivation may be benefited following the treatment of 150% Zn and AWD irrigation systems.

An experiment was conducted to determine variability, correlation, path coefficient and principal component analysis for seed vigour parameters viz. standard germination, seedling density, seedling length, seedling dry weight, seedling vigour index I and II, 1000 grain weight and grain yield plot-1. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed a wide range of variation existing in the material studied. The highest phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variance recorded for seedling vigour index II (21.16 and 20.95, respectively) and, moderate values for seed density, seedling length, seedling dry weight and seedling vigour index I. The maximum value for heritability (broad sense) was found for seedling vigour index II (98.77%) whereas grain yield plot-1 had moderately high heritability (62.09%). Significant positive correlation were reported between standard germination and seedling density, seedling length, seedling dry weight, seedling vigour index I, seedling vigour index II and 1000 grain weight and seedling vigour index I estimated highest direct positive effect on grain yield plot-1, followed by seedling vigour index II, 1000 grain weight and seedling density. The principal component (PC1 and PC2) having Eigen value >1 (significant), accounted 64.70% of total variation. Maximum value was explained by component 1 with 50.5% of total variation.