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Maize (Zea mays L.) kernels are exposed to mechanical and physical impacts during harvest, transport, handling, and processing. Between harvest and processing, there are losses in grain weight and reduced physical quality often occurs. Cracked or broken kernels are quality factors that reduce the efficient use and sales value of maize grain. The adverse influence of mechanical impact on maize kernels ranges from the development of small and large cracks of the pericarp to completely broken kernels, and dust generation. Increasing the amounts of broken kernels results in potential problems during storage due to faster spoilage of grain, difficult and uneven aeration during handling and grain drying, increased risk of spontaneous heating and explosion, increased animal health issues due to reduced utilization rate, and increased respiratory infections of humans and animals, and inefficient processing due to unfavourable ratio of high-value products to low-value products in dry and wet milling. The maize kernel structure, the production system, and the climatic condition’s during the maize growing season influence kernel hardness and brittleness or breakage susceptibility causing differences in the amount of breakage present. During artificial grain drying, high temperatures on the kernel surface lead to internal moisture gradients within grain kernels resulting in increased kernel crackage and breakage.

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Occurrence of Fusarium head blight FHB was documented during two consecutive years in June 2011 2012 under the natural conditions in winter wheat Triticum aestivum L. Observations were conducted at six different localities in four climatic regions in Slovakia. Incidence and severity of FHB were evaluated at the end of flowering stage in three replications. Each replication contained 100 spikes. These data served as a basis for FHB index calculations. Obtained FHB index values indicated that the environmental conditions of the year 2011 were more favourable to the development of FHB infection. Higher FHB index values were reached at localities with precipitation higher than 100% of long-term average. Although significantly higher incidence of heads with FHB symptoms was recorded in climatic region 02 quite warm, dry, hilly, correlation between the climatic regions was not confirmed. Except of the climatic conditions, the FHB development can be influenced by nitrogen application. The highest levels of FHB index was in coincidence with the highest and the lowest nitrogen rates applied. In all other cases, the effect of the mineral nutrition on head blight attack was unclear. Analyses of nitrogen forms applied revealed that nitrogen forms had no impact on FHB index value.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the performance of most suitable cultivar under the climatic conditions of Bagh. Five cultivars of Gladiolus namely Amsterdam, Applause, Fidelio, Peter pears and Priscilla were evaluated for their adoptability and performance. Results on vegetative characteristics showed that cultivars Applause and Amsterdam took less number of days for sprouting, Fidelio and Priscilla produced more plants per corm and Applause obtained maximum plant height. Results on floral characteristics showed that cultivar Applause and Peter pears were earlier for spike emergence, Priscilla and Peter pears took minimum days to flowering, maximum florets were produced by Peter pears and Applause, Applause obtained maximum spike length and Peter pears remained attractive for longer time. Results on corm and cormels characteristics showed that Peter pears produced more corms, Applause produced maximum cormels and gained maximum corm size, maximum corm weight was recorded in Fidelio. From the results we conclude that keeping in view the vegetative and reproductive characteristics Applause, Peter pears and Fidelio are recommended for general cultivation.

Copyright of Journal of Central European Agriculture is the property of Journal of Central European Agriculture and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of the study was to evaluate the performance of most suitable cultivar under the climatic conditions of Bagh. Five cultivars of Gladiolus namely Amsterdam, Applause, Fidelio, Peter pears and Priscilla were evaluated for their adoptability and performance. Results on vegetative characteristics showed that cultivars Applause and Amsterdam took less number of days for sprouting, Fidelio and Priscilla produced more plants per corm and Applause obtained maximum plant height. Results on floral characteristics showed that cultivar Applause and Peter pears were earlier for spike emergence, Priscilla and Peter pears took minimum days to flowering, maximum florets were produced by Peter pears and Applause, Applause obtained maximum spike length and Peter pears remained attractive for longer time. Results on corm and cormels characteristics showed that Peter pears produced more corms, Applause produced maximum cormels and gained maximum corm size, maximum corm weight was recorded in Fidelio. From the results we conclude that keeping in view the vegetative and reproductive characteristics Applause, Peter pears and Fidelio are recommended for general cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]