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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.

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.

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 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.

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.

The experimental data on effect of Bloom & Grow and Immune System fertilizers on growth, development, yield and grain quality of spring durum and soft wheat in light gray forest soils of the Chuvash Republic are presented. The results of two research years revealed that in plants treated with fertilizers, the growth period ‘seedling-ripening’ is reduced by 7-8 days, height of the treated soft wheat plants exceeded the control variant by 12.5 cm, length of the main spike - by 0.4 cm, number of grains per spike - by 6.1, and grain mass per spike - by 0.23 g. Plants of spring durum wheat treated with micronutrient fertilizers exceeded the control variant by 25.1 cm in plant height, length of the main spike, number of grains in it and grain weight significantly exceeded the control variant. The 1000 seed mass exceeded the control variant by 7.28 grams. The increase in the yield of spring soft wheat was 0.89 t/ha (26.3%), and durum wheat - 0.93 t/ha (28.6%). Application of Bloom & Grow and Immune System fertilizers led to an increase in gluten content in spring soft and durum wheat grains, and an improvement in gluten deformation rate to group 1 with the accumulation of minerals.

Imported rice is perceived to have better cooking properties than locally grown rice in Nigeria and it has increased its market share while reducing patronage for local rice. Rice in Nigeria has many applications, including consumption as whole cooked grain or dumpling or use as an adjunct in making beverages. Eighteen varieties of parboiled milled local rice and three imported rice varieties, coded Ip1, Ip2 and Ip3, were studied for their cooking and functional properties using standard methods. There was a significant (p

Societal Impact Statement Micronutrients such as zinc and iron are critical for human health. For the world's population that relies on cereal products to obtain micronutrients, the bioavailability (absorption of nutrients in the gut) can be hindered by an anti‐nutritional compound, phytate. Phytate accumulation in grain is affected by soil properties including phosphorus availability and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Here, we investigated the effects of AM fungi and soil phosphorus fertilization on micronutrient bioavailability in durum wheat and found that fertilization greatly decreased the bioavailability of micronutrients, but AM fungi can take up more micronutrients, which can lead to improved bioavailability when the soil is not fertilized. Summary The bioavailability of micronutrients (zinc [Zn] and iron [Fe]) in cereal crops such as durum wheat is critically important for human nutrition. Bioavailability is a product of complex interactions between plant phosphorus (P) uptake and storage in grain (as phytate), and plant micronutrient uptake. The bioavailability of Zn and Fe in cereal grain is affected by soil nutrient concentrations and associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, but has been scarcely studied. A geographically diverse collection of 101 durum wheat genotypes was surveyed for grain bioavailability of Zn and Fe. Ten genotypes were then selected and grown with and without AM fungal inoculation and soil P fertilization to understand the effects of manipulating soil P availability and uptake on micronutrient bioavailability. The strongest negative effect on grain micronutrient bioavailability was soil P fertilization, however, it also led to increased grain weight. Crop variety selection had the greatest variation in the P‐fertilized soil, but AM fungal inoculation had a positive effect on bioavailability in one variety in the non‐fertilized soil. In order to grow more nutritious durum wheat crops, variety selection and AM fungal inoculation are important considerations. In general, there is a trade‐off between grain weight (yield) and micronutrient bioavailability in grain that could be addressed through breeding P‐deficiency tolerant varieties.

Malting quality will be greatly deteriorated when barley plants suffer from post-anthesis drought stress, however there is a marked difference among barley genotypes in the responses of malting quality to drought stress, and the molecular mechanisms underlying the genotypic difference remain unclear. We made transcriptome and metabolome analysis on the developing grains of two barley genotypes differing in the responses to drought stress. Post-anthesis drought treatments led to decreased grain weight and β-glucan content, increased grain protein content and β-amylase activity. Drought stress enhanced H2O2 and heat-shock protein accumulation in the two barley genotypes, with the drought-tolerant genotype showing higher capacity of scavenging H2O2 and reducing misfolded protein accumulation than the drought-susceptible genotype. Moreover, the drought-tolerant genotype was more efficient in redistributing assimilates stored in the vegetative tissues into the developing grains. After re-watering to relieve drought stress, the drought-tolerant genotype can further modify auxin transport and ethylene signaling, enhancing redistribution of assimilates into grains. Transcriptome comparisons and weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) identified some key genes regulating the responses of malting quality traits to drought stress, such as RLK-LRR, β-glucosidase and HSP . In conclusion, less change of main malting quality traits in the drought-tolerant genotype under post-anthesis drought stress is attributed to its higher capacity of alleviating the stress injury through scavenging ROS and redistributing the metabolites stored in the vegetative organs into the developing grains.

The current paper has presented experimental data on the growth, development, productivity and grain quality of spring durum and bread wheat after use of bio products Bloom & Grow and Immune System on light-gray forest soils of the north of the Chuvash Republic. The trials on the durum wheat cultivation in the conditions of the Chuvash Republic were carried out for the first time. The results of two-year study have showed that the plants treated with bio products had a 7–8 days’ shorter vegetation period. At the same time, the height of the treated bread wheat plants significantly has exceeded the control variant on 12.5 cm; the main head was on 0.4 cm longer, the number of grains in it was 6.1 pieces more, and the grain weight was larger on 0.23 grams. The height of the spring durum wheat plants treated with micronutrients has exceeded the control variant on 25.1 cm, and the length of the main head, the number of grains in it and the grain weight have significantly exceeded the indices of the control variant. 1000-grain weight has exceeded the value of the control variant on 7.28 grams. It has been established that the productivity increase of spring bread wheat was 0.89 t/ha (26.3%) and that of durum wheat was 0.93 t/ha (28.6%) compared with the control variant. The use of bio products Bloom & Grow and Immune System has resulted in an increase of gluten content in spring bread and durum wheat, and in an improvement of the gluten deformation rate to group 1 with the accumulation of minerals. The current study conducted in the vegetation period of 2018–2019 has showed that the bio products Bloom & Grow and Immune System are effective, and combine the properties of a growth stimulator and an immune modulator.

The current paper has presented the data on the efect of bio products “Extrasol”, “Rostok”, “Aquamix” and water-soluble “Aquarin 5” and “Aquarin 9” on productivity and yield structure elements of the intensive winter wheat variety “Niva Stavropoliya” and the half-intensive variety “Viktoriya” sown after oilseed fax on the fertilized felds. There has been established that the largest yields of the variety “Niva Stavropoliya” (5.59 t/ha) and of the variety “Viktoriya” (3.7 t/ha) were formed under the compound use of fertilizers and bio products as follow: Р60К40 before sowing (in a weedfree fallow) and N60Р60К40 (sown after oilseed fax) + N30 in the tillering phase + N30 in the phase of head formation + “Aquamix” (0.1 l/t in seed treatment) + “Aquarin 5” (2 l/ha in the tillering phase) + “Aquarin 9” (2 l/ha in the phase of head formation). There has been identifed that the main yield structure elements of the studied varieties showed their largest values under the compound use of the bio products “Aquamix” and water-soluble “Aquarin 5” and “Aquarin 9” on the fertilized felds. On average for 3 years the variety “Niva Stavropoliya” showed the increase of ‘number of ears’ from 413 pcs per m2 in the control variant, and to 432–467 pcs per m2 in the treated variants. the variety “Victoria 11” had 357 pcs per m2 in the control variant and 379–415 pcs per m2 in the treated variants. In addition, in comparison with the control variants, there has been identifed an increase of other yield structure elements, namely “number of grains per head”, “grain weight per head” and “1000-grain weight”.

The control of stored grain pests requires effective materials that are save for humans and environment, low cost, available and easy to obtain and do not need trained labor. Therefore, the current study suggested testing three silica forms in the form of nanoparticles, these were Aerosil 200, chemical and bio-silica for controlling Callosobrochus maculatus F. (Col., Bruchidae), Rhythopertha dominica fab, and Tribolium confusum (Jacquelin du Val). The obtained results showed that the percent mortality increased with the increasing of concentration and exposure period. Moreover, all the tested materials of nanoparticles had detrimental induction on mortality and offspring of the three tested insects. In addition the adults of C.maculatus were more susceptible followed by R.dominica and T.confusum with the three tested materials at the all concentrations used. Data obtained revealed that the activity of chemical silica had the first rank followed by Aerosil 200 and bio-silica where the LC50 of chemical silica ranged between 0.14-1.54 one day posttreatment with significant distinction compared to Aerosil 200 (0.15-2.65) and bio-silica (2.43-7.35)g/kg grain. The findings obtained showed that the three forms of silica had deterrent action on the all tested immature stages at the all levels of concentrations. Also results clarified the egg stage was the most susceptible compared to larvae and pupae ones. The all treatments reduced the emerged adults and the losses of grain weight. Consequently the present study explained that the three used forms of silica are promising materials for controlling the tested insects as safe alternatives to the synthetic insecticides.

An experiment on response of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties to different levels of nitrogen under rain fed condition was conducted at ITM University Gwalior (M.P.) to find at the optimum levels of nitrogen and suitable wheat varieties to grid region of Madhya Pradesh. Three levels of nitrogen (40, 60 and 80 Kg ha-1) in main plot and four Varieties (PBW613, C-306, PBW644 and PBW660) in sub plots were tested in split plot design with four replications. Number of plants per meter length, plant height, dry matter, and days to maturity; number of ear heads m-1 row length, spike length, number of spike lets per spike, grains per spike and grain weight per spike, and grain, straw and biological yield increased significantly with increase in nitrogen level from 40 to 60 Kg ha-1. Among varieties maximum shoot length, dry weight accumulation, number of grain spike-1, weight of grain spike,-1 length of spike and grain and straw yield and biomass was observed in variety C306 as compared to all other varieties. For the grid region of northen Madya Pradesh, growing of wheat variety C306 with 60 Kg N ha-1 under rain fed condition found promising.

Field experiments were conducted at Sakha, Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt; to investigate the effect silica combined with mineral nitrogen on rice yield, and stem borer Chilo agamemnon Bles. Applying potassium ore combined with 92 kg N/fed. Produced the highest panicles/m2 (814.31) compared to other silica applications or lower nitrogen levels. The same trend was observed with panicle weight. One-thousand grain weight was higher in Egyptian hybrid 1 than in Giza 178. The grain yields were also highest with potassium ore for both cultivars at the rate of 92 kg N/fed. Rice stem borer infestation was higher in hybrid than in inbred cultivar. Both dead hearts and white heads gradually increased by the increase of nitrogenous applications; from 2.65 to 4.14 % dead hearts, and from 3.77 to 5.59 % white heads due to nitrogenous increase from 23 to 92 kg/fed., respectively. The highest dead hearts (4.92 & 5.28) and white heads (9.42 & 7.06 %) were detected in plots without silica. From the data of this experiment, it could be concluded that Egyptian hybrid 1 yielded more than Giza 178, particularly with using 92 kg N/fed., combined with potassium ore at 500 kg/fed.. It was found that silica applications reduced the stem borer infestation, regardless of the cultivar and nitrogen rates.

A field experimental study was conducted during rabi season (2016-17) at Research farm of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore to study the effect of enhanced dose and differential time of nitrogen application on the performance of irrigated hybrid maize (Zea mays L.). The experiment was laid out in a Factorial Randomised Block Design with three replications. The treatments comprised of two factors, in factor A, nitrogen at two levels viz., N1 - Recommended dose (250 kg/ha), N2 - Enhanced (125% of RD) dose (313 kg/ha) and factor B consists of differential time of nitrogen application viz., T1 - application of nitrogen in three uneven splits (25% as basal, 50% on 30 DAS and 25% on 45 DAS), T2 - application of nitrogen in four even splits (25% each at basal, 15 DAS, 30 DAS and 45 DAS), T3 - application of nitrogen in four uneven splits (20% as basal, 30% on 30 DAS, 30% on 45 DAS and 20% on 60 DAS), T4 - application of nitrogen in five even splits (20% each at basal, 15 DAS, 30 DAS, 45 DAS and 60 DAS) and T5 - application of nitrogen in five uneven splits (10% as basal, 20% on 15 DAS, 30% on 30 DAS, 30% on 45 DAS and 10% on 60 DAS). The growth characters viz., plant height, dry matter production, leaf area index and CGR were significantly influenced by application of nitrogen at enhanced dose (125% RD) when compared to the recommended dose (100% RD). Enhanced N dose (125% RD) also showed a significant increase in yield attributes viz., cob length, cob weight, number of grains per cob hundred grain weight, shelling percentage, grain yield and stover yield of maize over the recommended dose. Among the differential time of nitrogen application, nitrogen in five even splits was comparable with application of N in five uneven splits in producing higher grain and stover yield of hybrid maize.

Low zinc (Zn) availability in various agricultural soils including Vertisols adversely affects wheat production. The variations among the wheat genotypes to produce high grain yield and Zn uptake under low Zn supply were investigated to find out the Zn-efficient genotypes. Twenty-five different wheat genotypes were evaluated in the field with two levels of Zn, viz., low (no Zn fertilizer) and high (20 kg of Zn ha−1 applied as Zn sulfate heptahydrate (ZnSO4.7H2O) (21% Zn)) along with three foliar applications of Zn at ear initiation, flowering, and milking stage of wheat growth. Thousand grain weight, grain yield, grain Zn concentration, and Zn uptake of wheat genotypes differed significantly and increased due to Zn application. Among the genotypes, grain yield efficiency index (i.e., relative grain yield) varied from 85.0 to 98.6 and Zn uptake efficiency (i.e., relative grain Zn uptake) varied from 60.9 to 88.5. Considering grain yield efficiency index and Zn uptake efficiency index, the genotypes were categorized as efficient and responsive (JW-3211, GW-322, PBW-502, HD-2864, UP-2554, HI-8627, GW-190, SUJATHA-HI-627), efficient and non-responsive (HD-2932, LOK-1, PBW-175), inefficient and responsive (HD-4672, GW-366, UP-2628), and inefficient and non-responsive (HW-2004, WH-147, HI-1418, DL-803-3, PBW-343, HD-2733, UP-2565, JW-17, C-306, AKW-4627, HI-1500). The efficient and responsive genotypes are the most useful ones as they provide higher yield under low Zn supply and also respond to Zn fertilizer application. The inefficient and responsive genotypes may be utilized by the plant breeders to identify the responsive traits for their incorporation in modifying the efficient and non-responsive genotypes.

The article discusses the results of a four-year study (2016-2019) of breeding lines of spring soft wheat of the selection of Federal Agricultural Research Center of the North-East named N.V. Rudnitsky in the soil and climatic conditions of the central and southern parts of the Volga-Vyatka region. The promising lines C-65, C-103, H-154 were selected as they exceeded the regionalized standard variety Simbirtsit in average yields (3.41...3.56 t/ha; the increase is 0.04...0.19 t/ha), and in terms of potential yield (5.61…6.93 t / ha; the increase is 0.48...1.80 t/ha). According to the long-term average indicators of the crop structure, the selection lines П-57, P-63, С-65 and С-103 were attributed to the sources of valuable properties. Genotypes P-63, H-154 showed higher values and stability of gluten formation in grain relative to the variety Simbirtsit (22.8-24.1%; the increase to the standard is 3.1 - 4.4%). Using the variation coefficient, the degree of variability of economically useful traits (productive bushiness, plant height, ear length, number of grains per ear, grain weight per ear, 1000 grain mass, yield, gluten content in grain) was determined in different ecological environments. It has been established that the variability values of individual characteristics of productivity in one variety are not always consistent with each other and have genotypic conditionality. Yield stability can be closely related to the level of variation of individual elements of its structure. Genotypes that were more stable in yield indicated high variability of productive bushiness and low variability of plant height, grain weight per spike, and mass of 1000 grains. It has been shown that from practical point of view the most valuable genotypes were the ones with steadily high values of the spike length and the number of spike grains, as having a high adaptive response to cultivation conditions.Conflict of interest: the authors stated that there was no conflict of interest.

Summary Increasing grain yield has always been the primary goal of crop breeding. KLUH/CYP78A5 has been shown to affect seed size in several plant species, but the relevant molecular mechanism is still unclear and there are no reports of this gene contributing to yield. Here, we demonstrate that modified expression of TaCYP78A5 can enhance wheat grain weight and grain yield per plant by accumulating auxin. TaCYP78A5 is highly expressed in maternal tissues, including ovary and seed coat during wheat development. The constitutive overexpression of TaCYP78A5 leads to significantly increased seed size and weight but not grain yield per plant due to the strengthening of apical dominance. However, localized overexpression of TaCYP78A5 in maternal integument enhances grain weight and grain yield per plant by 4.3%–18.8% and 9.6%–14.7%, respectively, in field trials. Transcriptome and hormone metabolome analyses reveal that TaCYP78A5 participates in auxin synthesis pathway and promotes auxin accumulation and cell wall remodelling in ovary. Phenotype investigation and cytological observation show that localized overexpression of TaCYP78A5 in ovary results in delayed flowering and prolonged proliferation of maternal integument cells, which promote grain enlargement. Moreover, naturally occurring variations in the promoter of TaCYP78A5‐2A contribute to thousand‐grain weight (TGW) and grain yield per plant of wheat;TaCYP78A5‐2A haplotype Ap‐HapII with higher activity is favourable for improving grain weight and grain yield per plant and has been positively selected in wheat breeding. Then, a functional marker of TaCYP78A5 haplotype Ap‐HapII is developed for marker‐assisted selection in wheat grain and yield improvement.

In Japan, harvested buckwheat is classified as standard (SBG) and non-standard buckwheat groats (NBG) based on their density, though NBG are used as feed or incinerated. This study aimed to investigate the potential of NBG as a new food by comparing the cooking, physicochemical, and nutritional properties and in vitro starch digestibility of SBG and NBG. The thousand grain weight and whole grain ratio were significantly less for raw NBG (21.72 g and 75.06%) than for raw SBG (27.51 g and 89.39%) (p

Low light is a common environmental factor that adversely affects rice yields. This study was conducted to evaluate the combined effect of hill density and nitrogen (N) fertilizer rate on yield attributes in hybrid rice under low-light conditions. Field experiments were conducted in 2014 and 2015. Two hybrid rice cultivars (Y-liangyou 1 and Luoyou 9348) were grown under combinations of three hill density levels (high, 40 × 104 hills ha−1; moderate, 27 × 104 hills ha−1; low, 14 × 104 hills ha−1) and two N rate levels (high, 240 kg ha−1; moderate, 143–148 kg ha−1), and shaded from heading to maturity. Grain yield was highest in the combination of high hill density and moderate N rate and significantly declined with decreasing hill density combined with increasing N rate for both cultivars in both years. Averaged across two cultivars and two years, grain yield declined by about 4% for each 10% decrease in hill density combined with each 10% increase in N rate. A significant reduction in spikelet filling percentage was observed with decreasing hill density combined with increasing N rate in Y-liangyou 1 in 2015 and Luoyou 9348 in 2014. The same trend was observed for grain weight in Y-liangyou 1 in 2014 and Luoyou 9348 in 2015. These results indicate that adopting the practice of decreasing hill density combined with increasing N rate can result in poor grain filling and consequently yield decline in hybrid rice under low-light conditions.

Penelitian ini menggunakan rancangan petak terbagi dengan perlakuan bekas tanam merupakan petak utama sedangkan perlakuan lainnya merupakan anak petak yang terdiri dari 2 (dua) faktor dan diulang sebanyak 3 kali. Faktor pertama rotasi tanam Kedelai-Padi dan Jagung-Padi. Faktor kedua perlakuan komposisi pupuk, P0 (kontrol), P1 (100% kompos), P2 (50% kompos + 50% N anorganik), P3 (75% kompos+ 25% N anorganik). Perlakuan (L2P1) menghasilkan berat 1000 butir tertinggi sebera 25,28g, L2P3 menghasilkan kadar amilosa tertinggi seberat 20,51%, L1P0 menghasilkan kadar amilopektin sebesar 58,42%. Perlakuan L2 menghasilkan berat gabah kering panen seberat 0,92kg/petak, menghasilkan berat 1000 butir seberat 25,10g, kadar amilosa sebesar 19,23% dan perlakuan L1 menghasilkan kadar amilopektin tertinggi sebesar 54,39%. Perlakuan (P2) menghasilkan panjang tanaman tertinggi 102,67cm, P1 menghasilkan berat 1000 butir sebesar 24,36g, P3 menghasilkan kadar amilosa sebesar 20,00%, P0 menghasilkan kadar amilopektin sebesar 57,72%.

Çevreye, insanlara, hayvanlara ve bitkilere en fazla zararı olan ağır metallerden birisi kadmiyum (Cd)’dur. Cd’nin bitkilerde meydana getirdiği fizyolojik, morfolojik ve biyokimyasal hasarları belirlemek için yapılan çalışmalar son zamanlarda artış göstermiştir. Bu çalışmada Cd’nin tane sorguma farklı dozlarda uygulanmasıyla bitkinin morfolojik özelliklerinde meydana gelen etkilerin belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Araştırmada; Batı Akdeniz Tarımsal Araştırma Enstitüsü’nden temin edilen üç farklı tane sorgum çeşidi (Akdarı, Beydarı ve Öğretmenoğlu) bitkisel materyal olarak kullanılmıştır. Uygulanan kadmiyum (Cd) dozları (25, 50, 75, 100, 125 ppm) şeklindedir. Çalışma, 2017 yılında Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi Araştırma Seralarında 3 tekrarlamalı olarak yürütülmüştür. İncelenen özellikler; bitki boyu, bitki gövde çapı, bin tane ağırlığı, salkım uzunluğu, gövde oranı, yaprak oranı ve salkım oranı olmuştur. Değerlendirme sonucunda Cd dozlarının artmasıyla birlikte, bitki boyunun, bitki gövde çapının, bin tane ağırlığının, salkım uzunluğunun ve salkım oranının düzenli bir şekilde azaldığı gözlemlenirken, gövde oranının ise Cd (kadmiyum) dozlarının artmasına paralel olarak arttığı belirlenmiştir. Çalışma sonucunda insanlar ve bitkiler için son derece toksik olduğu bilinen Cd elementinin çalışmada kullanılan tane sorgum çeşitlerinin (Akdarı, Beydarı ve Öğretmenoğlu) kadmiyum dozlarından 25 ppm ve üzerindeki seviyelerde olumsuz etkilendiği görülmüştür. Toprak pH’ sının da göz önünde bulundurulduğunda hafif alkali topraklar için 25 ppm ve daha yüksek dozlarda sorgum bitkisinin morfolojik yönden olumsuz etkilendiği ve verim amaçlı yetiştiricilik için uygun olmadığı düşünülmektedir

Background Diethyl aminoethyl hexanoate (DA-6), a plant growth regulator, has many beneficial effects on agricultural production. DA-6 has been applied to many plant species, but the molecular mechanism by which spraying DA-6 after anthesis regulates wheat grain filling is still unknown. Results In this study, we used four DA-6 concentrations: C0 (0 g/L), C2 (2 g/L), C4 (4 g/L), and C6 (6 g/L). The results showed that C4 and C6 led to a significantly higher 1000-grain weight and seed protein content than C0 during two wheat growing seasons. We then subjected samples at 24 days after anthesis (at which point the grain weight increased rapidly) to transcriptome analysis. Flag leaf (L), seed (S), and stem (T) samples under C6 and C0 were used for RNA-seq. The seed samples under C6 compared with C0 (S6vsS0) presented the most differentially expressed genes (DEGs; 2164). Plant hormone signal transduction (p = 1.97 × 10− 4), protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER; p = 9.04 × 10− 11) and starch and sucrose metabolism (p = 1.90 × 10− 10) pathways were the most markedly enriched pathways in the flag leaves, stems, and seeds, respectively. DEGs involved in sucrose synthesis in the flag leaves, protein processing in ER in the stems, and starch synthesis and protein processing in ER in the seeds were significantly upregulated under C6 compared with C0. Conclusions Overall, we propose a model for spraying DA-6 after anthesis to regulate metabolic pathways in wheat, which provides new insights into wheat in response to DA-6. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12870-019-1925-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The influence of varietal characteristics, weather conditions and growing zones on the quality indices of bread winter wheat bred at the V.M. Remeslo Myronivka Institute of Wheat has been studied. For 2015/16–16/17, 10 bread winter wheat varieties were analyzed, among which promising lines with high grain quality indices and ecosystem impact on valuable economic characteristics and properties were identified. By 1000 grain weight, the best data were in the Polissia zone, the variety Horlytsia myronivska formed 60.9 g in the conditions of 2016/17. Increased indicators of protein were observed in the Forest-Steppe in 2015/16. During the years studied the variety MIP was distinguished with stable high sedimentation index (71.3 ml) in 2016/17. By «raw» gluten content the varieties Hratsiia myronivska and MIP Kniazhna exceeded the standard. The variability of weather conditions in the locations of the experiment was established. The variation in yield and grain quality indices in bread winter wheat varieties in different location zones was noted. It was revealed that the features of the climatic conditions of the years 2015/16 and 2016/17 in the Forest-Steppe and Polissia zones significantly influenced on the periods of growth and development of bread winter wheat. The variation in weather conditions and the duration of interphase periods of wheat in different ways affected yields and grain quality indices. The highest yield of 8.06 to 9.65 t/ha, 1000 grain weight 49,7–60.9 g, protein content 9.8–11.8 %, sedimentation index 51,3–71.3 ml, the content of «wet» gluten 22.6–30.0 % was obtained for high humidity in the zone of Polissia in 2016/17 (553 mm) and the air temperature regime at the level of average long-term indicators (7.8°С).

Summary Starch is the most important form of energy storage in cereal crops. Many key enzymes involved in starch biosynthesis have been identified. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of starch biosynthesis are largely unknown. In this study, we isolated a novel floury endosperm rice (Oryza sativa) mutant flo16 with defective starch grain (SG) formation. The amylose content and amylopectin structure were both altered in the flo16 mutant. Map‐based cloning and complementation tests demonstrated that FLO16 encodes a NAD‐dependent cytosolic malate dehydrogenase (CMDH). The ATP contents were decreased in the mutant, resulting in significant reductions in the activity of starch synthesis‐related enzymes. Our results indicated that FLO16 plays a critical role in redox homeostasis that is important for compound SG formation and subsequent starch biosynthesis in rice endosperm. Overexpression of FLO16 significantly improved grain weight, suggesting a possible application of FLO16 in rice breeding. These findings provide a novel insight into the regulation of starch synthesis and seed development in rice.

In the conditions of the Ryazan region the Institute of Seed-growing and Agrotechnologies (Branch of the Federal Budgetary Scientific Institution “Federal Research Agro-Engineering Center VIM”) carried out a comprehensive estimation of winter, spring wheat and breeding material obtained on the basis of crossing with the winter component in 2011-2017. Over the years of research, the winter wheat varieties “Lgovskaya 4” (6.90 t/ha), “Viola” (6.82 t/ha), “Nemchinovskaya 24” (6.68 t/ha) and the spring wheat varieties “Dariya” (3.93 t/ha), “Krestiaynka” (3.84 t/ha), “Kollektivnaya 1” (3.60 t/ha) produced high yields. The winter wheat varieties “Volz-hskaya 15”, “Nemchinovskaya 24”, “Mironovskaya 29”, “Mironovskaya semi-intensive” were found to have the largest kernel weight per head (1.93-2.10 g). The best winter forms used in the hybridization of spring wheat allowed us to create a number of promising lines with high productivity potential and a complex of valuable traits. Over three years (2015-2017), in the control breeding nursery there were identified 4 spring wheat lines with high productivity, where the winter form was taken as one of the parental forms for hybridization. The highest average value of this indicator (5.91 and 5.15 t/ha) was established in the lines “(Priokskaya x Moskovskaya 39 (oz.))F10”, “(Moskovskaya 39 (oz.) x Fora)F10” respectively. The line “(Priokskaya x Moskovskaya 39 (oz.))F10” produced the maximum yield of 6.89 t/ha, the line “(Voronezhskaya 10 х Moskovskaya 39 (оз.))П0” produced the minimum yield of 4.18 t/ha. The lines “(Priokskaya x Moskovskaya 39 (oz.))F10” and “(Kollektivnaya 1 х Nemchinovskaya 24 (оз.))П0” possess good grain weight of 757 and 793 g/l respectively, high technological properties of grain, namely 32.8 and 27.0% of raw gluten in flour, the 1-st group IDK, 340 and 278 a. u. of flour power, falling number of 296 and 377 c, bread volume of 1113 and 1330 cm3.

Contact toxicity of filter cake and Triplex powders from Ethiopia were evaluated against the rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (Linnaeus). The study was aimed at determining the lethal and effective concentrations and times for both powders against S. oryzae. The lethal concentrations for 50 and 99% mortality (LC50 and LC99) of filter cake and Triplex against S. oryzae were determined at 14 d after exposing 10 adults for 12 h to concrete arenas inside Petri dishes treated with filter cake concentrations of 0.5–8 g/m2 and Triplex concentrations of 1–9 g/m2. Lethal times for 50 and 99% mortality (LT50 and LT99) were determined at 14 d after exposing adults for 1–24 h to 3 g/m2 of filter cake and 9 g/m2 of Triplex. Effective concentrations (EC50 and EC99) and times (ET50 and ET99) for 50 and 99% reduction of adult progeny production were determined from reduction in adult progeny production relative to production in control treatments at 42 d after exposure to filter cake and Triplex. LC50 and LC99 values for S. oryzae adults were 0.70 and 8.49 g/m2, respectively, when exposed to filter cake and 2.27 and 21.38 g/m2, respectively, when exposed to Triplex. The corresponding LT50 and LT99 values were 3.13 and 27.21 h, respectively, for filter cake and 4.72 and 38.60 h, respectively, for Triplex. EC50 and EC99 values for progeny reduction were 0.57 and 7.95 g/m2, respectively, for filter cake and 2.77 and 18.82 g/m2, respectively, for Triplex. The corresponding ET50 and ET99 values were 2.57 and 17.73 h, respectively for filter cake and 3.39 and 24.74 h, respectively, for Triplex. S. oryzae exposed to filter cake produced significantly less number of insect damaged kernels and grain weight loss than those exposed to Triplex. Filter cake was more efficacious against S. oryzae than Triplex.

There is concern over the impact of global warming on rice production due increased heat stress, coupled with decreased relative humidity (RH). It is unknown how rice yield and quality are affected by heat stress and decreased RH during the grain filling stage. We conducted experiments in controlled growth chambers on six rice cultivars, varying in heat tolerance using 12 combinative treatments of three factors: two RH levels (75% and 85%), three temperature levels (the daily maximum temperature at 33 °C, 35 °C, and 37 °C), and two durations (8 d and 15 d after anthesis). Results showed that RH75% with temperature treatments significantly reduced grain weight, which was higher than RH85%. The same trend was also observed for both head rice rate and chalkiness. R168 was the most heat-tolerant cultivar, but it still had some differences in grain weight, head rice rate, and chalkiness between the two RH regimes. The lower RH was most detrimental at 35 °C, and to a lesser extent at 33 °C, but had a negligible effect at 37 °C. Our results provide a better understanding of temperature and RH’s interaction effects on rice quality during the grain filling stage, suggesting that RH should be considered in heat tolerance screening and identification to facilitate rice breeding and genetic improvement.

Foliar nitrogen (N) fertilizer application at later stages of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) growth is an effective method of attenuating drought stress and improving grain filling. The influences or modes of action of foliar application of various nitrogen forms on wheat growth and grain filling need further research. The objective of this study was to examine the regulatory effects of various forms of foliar nitrogen [NO3–, NH4+, and CO(NH2)2] on wheat grain filling under drought stress and to elucidate their underlying mechanisms. The relative effects of each nitrogen source differed in promoting grain filling. Foliar NH4+-N application notably prolonged the grain filling period. In contrast, foliar application of CO(NH2)2 and NO3–-N accelerated the grain filling rate and regulated levels of abscisic acid (ABA), z-riboside (ZR), and ethylene (ETH) in wheat grains. Analysis of gene expression revealed that CO(NH2)2 and NO3–-N upregulated the genes involved in the sucrose–starch conversion pathway, promoting the remobilization of carbohydrates and starch synthesis in the grains. Besides, activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) were increased, whereas the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) declined under foliar nitrogen application (especially NH4+-N). Under drought stress, enhancement of carbohydrate remobilization and sink strength became key factors in grain filling, and the relative differences in the effects of three N forms became more evident. In conclusion, NH4+-N application improved the antioxidant enzyme system and delayed photoassimilate transportation. On the other hand, foliar applications of NO3–-N and CO(NH2)2 enhanced sink capacity and alleviated drought stress injury in wheat.

Identification of “donors” possessing superior traits to adapt to low phosphorus (P) soils is a primary requirement to develop efficient crop plants for sustainable agricultural production. Diverse wheat (Triticum aestivum L., 89) and triticale (×Triticosecale Wittmack, 15) genotypes were phenotyped in soil with low and sufficient P for two seasons and once in the hydroponic system. Principal component analysis of relative biomass and grain weight revealed four clusters each for wheat and triticale. In low P soil, genotypes in the efficient cluster showed lesser reduction in total biomass, grain weight, total P uptake, and harvest index (HI), and improved P acquisition efficiency (PAE) and P harvest index (PHI) as compared to the inefficient cluster. In hydroponics, reduction in total biomass was less while root biomass and PAE increased at low P in the efficient genotypes. Out of 22 (soil) and 38 (hydroponics) P-efficient wheat genotypes, nine were overlapping in both screens while in P-inefficient cluster, out of 23 (soil) and 5 (hydroponics), three were common. A few P-efficient genotypes identified were DL784-3, DBW 16, and GW 322 and triticale TREAT, whereas P inefficient were C306 and ABACUS PVR (triticale). The selections in hydroponics are likely to be relevant in the field as demonstrated by overlapping of genotypes in both the mediums. Genotypic variations in P efficiency were strongly associated with P utilization rather than P uptake.

Specific aspects of plant cultivation require tests under fully controlled environmental conditions with restricted energy supply, such as orbit-based space laboratories and low-light conditions. For these growing conditions, super dwarf plants have been developed as model crops, and a gibberellin- deficient Super Dwarf Rice genotype was proposed as a model crop for space flight plant experiments. We tested this genotype in a climate chamber experiment under different illumination and nitrogen supply levels to assess its suitability under scenarios with limited resource availability. A 25% reduction in illumination led to a 75% reduction in yield, mainly due to a 60% reduction in formed tillers and 20% reduction in grain weight, and a 80% reduction in illumination caused total yield loss. Leaf area under reduced illumination was significantly lower, and only marginal changes in the dimensions of leaves were observed. Plant photosynthesis was not significantly different between control and 75% illumination. This was explained by a higher photochemical efficiency under lower light conditions and a reduced mesophyll resistance. Therefore, we concluded that this genotype is well-suited for plant experiments under space and light-limited conditions since it kept its small stature and showed no shade avoidance mechanisms, such as leaf elongation, which would complicate experiments under low-light conditions. Nitrogen concentrations of 2.8 and 1.4 mmol/L led to no differences in plant growth. We concluded that a nitrogen concentration of 1.4 mmol/L is sufficient for this genotype under the light intensities.

The effects of irrigation regimes (full irrigation and water-withholding at anthesis) and postanthesis nitrogen (N) supplies (LN, 0; MN 20; and HN, 40 kg N ha−1) on grain yield and its components in winter wheat were studied, with attention to biomass gain by assimilation and its loss by respiration. Fully irrigated wheat responded to N fertilization with increased grain number (GN) and decreased grain weight (GW), whereas drought-stressed wheat responded with greater GN without significant changes in GW. Apparent whole-plant respiration (RA) was not influenced by increased postanthesis N fertilizer. Thus, in drought-stressed wheat, the total biomass and stem reserves at maturity were increased by increasing N supply. These results suggest that high N supply at anthesis satisfied the grains’ increased demand for N by increasing postfloral assimilation, and the surplus assimilates not only compensated for the low-N-induced biomass loss by respiration but also may have increased the stem reserves.

The application of exogenous plant growth regulator can improve plant resistance to drought stress. The effects of application of exogenous cytokinin (CTK), brassinolide (BR), or gibberellic acid (GA) at the silking time on the grain quality of two waxy maize hybrids under drought stress at grain formation stage were studied. Grain weight of both hybrids was unaffected by exogenous phytohormones under control conditions but increased under drought conditions with the application of BR. The grain starch content in response to drought varied with hybrid and phytohormone. Starch granule size and protein content in grains were increased by drought under all conditions, but various phytohormones exerted different forms of influence. The starch &lambda, max in Yunuo7 was unaffected by single or interaction of phytohormones and water deficit, &lambda, max in Jingkenuo2000 with BR was unaffected but with CTK or GA increased by drought. Relative crystallinity was reduced by drought without the application of phytohormone, but with phytohormones in response to drought it was different. Flour peak viscosity was reduced by drought. The value was increased with BR spraying under control and drought conditions. Retrogradation percentage under drought conditions was unaffected by exogenous phytohormones in Jingkenuo2000. In Yunuo7, retrogradation percentage was unaffected by BR but reduced by CTK and GA. In conclusion, spraying phytohormones at the silking stage can affect grain weight and starch quality, grains with a sticky taste can be improved by applying BR, and grains with low retrograde tendency can be produced by applying CTK.

Cytokinins (CKs) are a class of phytohormones playing essential roles in various biological processes. However, the mechanisms underlying CK transport as well as its function in plant growth and development are far from being fully elucidated. Here, we characterize the function of PURINE PERMEASE1 (OsPUP1) in rice (Oryza sativa L.). OsPUP1 was predominantly expressed in the root, particularly in vascular cells, and CK treatment can induce its expression. Subcellular localization analysis showed that OsPUP1 was predominantly localized to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Overexpression of OsPUP1 resulted in growth defect of various aerial tissues, including decreased leaf length, plant height, grain weight, panicle length, and grain number. Hormone profiling revealed that the CK content was decreased in the shoot of OsPUP1-overexpressing seedling, but increased in the root, compared with the wild type. The CK content in the panicle was also decreased. Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis using several CK type-A response regulators (OsRRs) as the marker genes suggested that the CK response in the shoot of OsPUP1-overexpressing seedling is decreased compared to the wild type when CKs are applied to the root. Genetic analysis revealed that BG3/OsPUP4, a putative plasma membrane-localized CK transporter, overcomes the function of OsPUP1. We hypothesize that OsPUP1 might be involved in importing CKs into ER to unload CKs from the vascular tissues by cell-to-cell transport.

Why this research Matters Grain size is potentially yield determining in wheat, controlled by the ubiquitin pathway and negatively regulated by ubiquitin receptor DA1. We analyzed whether increased thousand grain weight in wheat da1 mutant is translated into higher grain yield and whether additional carbon provided by elevated (e)CO2 can be better used by the da1, displaying higher grain sink strength and size. Yield‐related, biomass, grain quality traits, and grain dimensions were analyzed by two‐factorial mixed‐model analysis, regarding genotype and eCO2. da1 increased grain size but reduced spikes and grains per plant, grains per spike, and spikelets per spike, independent of eCO2 treatment, leaving total grain yield unchanged. eCO2 increased yield and grain number additively and independently of da1 but did not overcome the trade‐off between grain size and number observed for da1. eCO2 but not da1 impaired grain quality, strongly decreasing concentrations of several macroelement and microelement. In conclusion, intrinsic stimulation of grain sink strength and grain size, achieved by da1, is not benefitting total yield unless trade‐offs between grain size and numbers can be overcome. The results reveal interactions of yield components in da1‐wheat under ambient and eCO2, thereby uncovering limitations enhancing wheat yield potential.

k-Oligocarrageenan (OC) is an effective biostimulator and a protector against disease infections for plants. However, the effect of OC molecular weight (MW) on plant growth is not fully understood. In this work, OCs with three different MWs (42, 17 and 4 kDa) was prepared by varying the degradation reaction time using ascorbic acid as a reagent. The product structure was confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) data. The growth promotion for maize (Zea mays L.) plants was investigated by foliar spray application of the prepared OCs. Field trials were carried out in two years, 2018 and 2019. The results showed that among treatments, OC with 4 kDa exhibited the best performance in both crop growth and grain yield parameters which indicated increases compared to the control in plant height (6.9&ndash, 19.9%), length of ears (12.2%), diameter of ears (9.1%), fresh grain weight (17.8%), dry grain weight (20.0%) and grain yield (21.3%). Moreover, low MW OC augmented NP uptake in the plant growth while no effect on K uptake was observed. Therefore, OC with low MWs is potentially promising to apply as a promoter to enhance yield of crops.

Temperature and nitrogen (N) availability are two important environmental factors that may produce important changes in grain composition during grain filling of bread wheat. In this study, four wheat lines with the down-regulation of gliadins by means of RNA interference (RNAi) have been characterized to determine the effect of thermal stress and N availability on grain weight and quality; with focus on gliadin and glutenin protein fractions. Grain weight was reduced with heat stress (HS) in all RNAi lines, whereas gliadin content was increased in the wild-types. With respect to gliadin content, RNAi lines responded to HS and N availability differently from their respective wild-types, except for ω-gliadin content, indicating a very clear stability of silencing under different environmental conditions. In a context of increased temperature and HS events, and in environments with different N availability, the RNAi lines with down-regulated gliadins seem well suited for the production of wheat grain with low gliadin content., The Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Project AGL2016-80566-P) and the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) supported this research.

The aim of this study was to reduce the lodging and improve grain yield by evaluation the performance of some oat cultivars introduced into Iraq. A field experiment was conducted during two seasons of 2017-2018 and 2018-2019, included four cultivars (Genzania, Shafa, Carrolup and Hamel) under the influence of foliar spraying of ethephon at concentrations of 0, 500 and 1000 ppm, and foliar application of boron with concentrations of 0, 50 and 100 ppm. Using RCBD within split–split arrangement and three replicates. The results were revealed that Genzania was recorded the highest number of grains head-1 and grain yield 6.512 and 5.565 t ha-1 in the two seasons respectively. Shafa had the highest number of active tillers m-2 in both seasons and the highest single grain weight in the second season. Carrolup was produced the highest single grain weight in the first season. Spraying ethephon with concentrations of 500 and 1000 ppm increased stem diameter and number of active tillers m-2 for both seasons. Spraying 500 ppm of ethephon increased grain yield in the first season and reduced lodging rate in the second season. Ethephon with 1000 ppm reduced lodging rate in both seasons. Foliar application of boron with concentrations of 50 and 100 ppm increased plant height and grain yield in both seasons.

International audience; In Algeria, drought affects grain weight and modified its biochemical composition. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of two water supplies (100% FC, 30% FC) on grain weight and composition of five genotypes of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.). We also examined the effects of shading of peduncle, spike and the entire plant and excision of awns, flag leaves and foliar system on grain weight, starch and amylose/amylopectin ratio. From this study, we found that grain weight was significantly reduced by the application of water deficit. However, this action is greatly related to genotype type. It is admitted that this trait is strongly conditioned by the grain filling process. The morphological characteristics of plants were implicated to grain weight elaboration. Among organs studied, the photosynthetic rate of spick and reserves remobilization from stem announced determinant in grain filling. We found also that starch content which is associated to amylose/amylopectin ratio is strongly related to grain weigh. Finally, grains weight variations were associated to starch content and mainly related to the water supply condition.

The homologous genes to OsSUT1-5 in wheat were identified and detailed analysed. TaSUT1 was the predominant sucrose transporter group and it illustrated the genotypic variations towards drought during grain filling. Sucrose transporters (SUT) play crucial roles in wheat stem water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) remobilization to grain. To determine the major functional SUT gene groups in shoot parts of wheat during grain development, drought tolerant varieties, Westonia and Kauz, were investigated in field drought experiments. Fourteen homologous genes to OsSUT1-5 were identified on five homeologous groups, namely TaSUT1_4A, TaSUT1_4B, TaSUT1_4D; TaSUT2_5A, TaSUT2_5B, TaSUT2_5D; TaSUT3_1A, TaSUT3_1D; TaSUT4_6A, TaSUT4_6B, TaSUT4_6D; TaSUT5_2A, TaSUT5_2B, and TaSUT5_2D, and their gene structures were analysed. Wheat plants above the ground were harvested from pre-anthesis to grain maturity and the stem, leaf sheath, rachis, lemma and developing grain were used for analysing TaSUT gene expression. Grain weight, thousand grain weight, kernel number per spike, biomass and stem WSC were characterized. The study showed that among the five TaSUT groups, TaSUT1 was the predominant sucrose transporting group in all organs sampled, and the expression was particularly high in the developing grain. In contrast to TaSUT1, the gene expression levels of TaSUT2, TaSUT3 and TaSUT4 were lower, except for TaSUT3 which showed preferential expression in the lemma before anthesis. The TaSUT5 gene group was very weakly expressed in all tissues. The upregulated gene expression of TaSUT1 Westonia type in stem and grain reveal a crucial role in stem WSC remobilization to grain under drought. The high TaSUT1 gene expression and the significant correlations with thousand grain weight (TGW) and kernel number per spike demonstrated the contribution in Kauz's high grain yield in an irrigated environment and high TGW in Westonia under drought stress. Further molecular level identification is required for gene marker development.