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The World Meteorological Organization defines climate as the “average weather” or more specifically, the statistical description of the mean and variability of relevant quantities of certain variables (such as temperature, precipitation, or wind) over a period ranging from months to millions of years. Thus, climate refers to the long-term pattern of weather in a particular region (usually 30 years), including temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind, and other variables, influenced by a range of factors, including latitude, elevation, ocean currents, and atmospheric circulation patterns. Climate plays a critical role in shaping the natural environment and the human societies that depend on it. Nevertheless, the climate system undergoes constant transformations due to the interactions among its components, as well as external factors. These transformations or climate change refer to long-term shifts in temperatures and global weather patterns that have been observed in recent decades. Climate changes can arise naturally, triggered by phenomena such as alterations in the solar cycle or volcanic eruptions. However, persistent anthropogenic activities, which include activities such as the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas, as well as deforestation and certain agricultural practices, have been the primary driving force behind the increased concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere. These activities have significantly contributed to the observed climate changes, particularly since the 1800s, and have led to various environmental challenges and alterations in weather patterns. GHGs absorb infrared radiation, trapping heat and raising soil temperatures causing the Earth’s average temperature to rise, leading to a range of impacts such as sea level rise, more frequent and severe weather events, and changes to ecosystems.

Maize is a globally significant cereal crop, contributing to the production of essential food products and serving as a pivotal resource for diverse industrial applications. This study investigated the proximate analysis of maize hybrids from different FAO maturity groups in Serbia, exploring variations in polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, tocopherols, and fatty acids with the aim of understanding how agroecological conditions influence the nutritional potential of maize hybrids. The results indicate substantial variations in nutritional composition and antioxidant properties among different maturity groups. The levels of total polyphenols varied among FAO groups, indicating that specific hybrids may offer greater health benefits. Flavonoids and carotenoids also showed considerable variation, with implications for nutritional quality. Tocopherol content varied significantly, emphasizing the diversity in antioxidant capacity. Fatty acid analysis revealed high levels of unsaturated fatty acids, particularly linoleic acid, indicating favorable nutritional and industrial properties. The study highlights the importance of considering maturity groups in assessing the nutritional potential of maize hybrids.

Proizvodnja strnih žita u sezoni 2022/23. bila je obeležena značajnom klimatskom varijabilnošću i pojavom intenzivnih bolesti, posebno žute rđe. Ovi uslovi žnačajno su uticali na prinos i kvalitet zrna. Tokom sezone, bilo je izuzetno toplih jesenjih i zimskih perioda, umerenih temperatura u prolećnom delu vegetacije i obilnih padavina u fazama formiranja, nalivanja i sazrevanja zrna. Izazovi su se javili i u veži sa visokim troškovima ulaganja u proizvodnji, što je dovelo do smanjene upotrebe mineralnih đubriva. Udeo nedeklarisanog semena, sa nepoznatom upotrebnom vrednošću, dostigao je oko 60%, što je rezultat dugogodišnjih neodgovarajućih odnosa između primarnih proižvođača, otkupljivača pšenice i države.

Sunflower seeds are key agricultural commodities due to their nutritional and industrial value. This study aimed to analyze the distribution of targeted bioactive compounds and assess the physical properties across 27 sunflower seed genotypes, including parental lines and F1 and F2 hybrids, cultivated in Serbia. Various analytical techniques were employed to determine the chemical composition and physical characteristics of the seeds. This research revealed significant genetic variability in fatty acid profiles, with differences in polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acid levels among the genotypes. Hybrid seeds displayed variations in 1000-seed weight and bulk density compared to parental lines, which exhibited higher essential fatty acid contents and mechanical properties advantageous for industrial processing. These insights highlight the potential for refining breeding strategies to improve seed quality for specific industrial purposes. Overall, this study emphasizes the critical role of genetic selection in enhancing the nutritional and processing qualities of sunflower seeds, offering valuable perspectives for advancing agricultural and breeding practices.

Ovo tehničko rešenje je verifikovano i kategorizovano kao M82 na 28. redovnoj sednici MNO za biotehnologiju i poljoprivredu održanoj 24.05.2024. godine.

This study investigated the relationship between yield, thousand kernel weight (TKW), and crude protein of soft white winter wheat–club variety (Barbee) and soft white winter wheat common variety (Zvezdana) susceptible to leaf rust and powdery mildew under different cultivation practices. Results revealed divergence in associations between yield, TKW, and crude protein loss of winter wheat varieties susceptible to obligate pathogens. Under the same level of leaf rust infection, N-input limited yield loss of the two varieties but not to the same extent. TKW loss was affected only by variety × cultivation practice and was significantly correlated with yield loss (r = −0.727, p = 0.011) and crude protein loss (r = −0.600, p = 0.05) only in club winter wheat. We suspected that Ninput affects the difference in the relationship between yield and TKW loss among varieties. Crude protein and yield loss had a low association (R2 = 18%, p = 0.05). Finally, this study indicated that more attention should be paid to the determination of pathogen pressure that triggers yield loss. It also pointed out that yield, TKW, and crude protein response to fungicides could differ in susceptible varieties. The contribution of fungicide to yield enhancement was highly associated with the specific reaction of the variety to pathogen infection rather than solely the disease level itself.

Wheat is the most important plant used for human consumption in Europe and represents the crop most widely grown in the organic agriculture. Moreover, wheat also represents the largest range of organic products available on the market. Because of its importance, for the improvement of organic wheat production great efforts and resources are invested. The main goal is to obtain high and stable yields. During the breeding process of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), when creating a new variety for organic use, it is necessary to incorporate genes responsible for high yield potential and adaptability to different production conditions. In order to determine the variability of grain yield, hectolitre weight, 1000 grain weight and plant height, collection of 30 winter wheat cultivars widely grown in the Pannonian Plain was chosen. The experiment was carried out in a typical Pannonian location at the experimental field of the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad, Serbia. The results showed significant variations in the examined traits between the chosen cultivars. Knowledge about the variability between the wheat cultivars could be used for selecting the most suitable ones for breeding in the organic agriculture of the Pannonian Plain.

The deficiency of micronutrients in the human diet is widely recognised as a global problem. The objective of this study was to assess the content of two essential minerals, iron and zinc, in milling streams of old heritage wheat cultivars that have not been produced for more than a half-century to discover potential parent lines with high mineral content for breeding. Kernel size of seven Serbian old wheat cultivars was evaluated for ash content, thousand-grain weight and share of specific kernel fractions. Three cultivars, Crnozrna, Rumska Crvenka and Stara Banatka, were selected as the most appropriate for milling and further analysis of mineral content in the milling streams. The cultivars were milled in a laboratory mill to obtain six flour and two byproduct streams. At the same time, iron and zinc content was determined on a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer. After mixing all six flour streams obtained from each cultivar, three different flour types were obtained. The flour with the highest ash content was the "1100" type originating from cultivar Stara Banatka, characterized by the highest iron and zinc content (54.9 mg/kg d. b. and 5.407 mg/kg d. b., respectively). It was estimated that consumption of a daily average bread portion (166 g according to national statistical data) made from Stara Banatka flour could provide about 90% of the recommended daily intake for iron. Therefore, Stara Banatka may be a target cultivar for wheat breeders searching for high-iron parent wheat lines., Nedostatak mikronutrijenata u ljudskoj ishrani predstavlja globalni problem. Cilj ovog rada je određivanje sadržaja dva esencijalna metala, gvožđa (Fe) i cinka (Zn) u frakcijama dobijenim pri mlevenju tradicionalnih starih sorti pšenice koje se nisu proizvodile više od pola veka u cilju pronalaženja frakcije sa visokim sadržajem esencijalnih metala koje bi poslužile za oplemenjivanje. Kod sedam starih srpskih sorti pšenica određeni su sledeći parametri veličine zrna: sadržaj pepela, masa hiljadu zrna i udeo specifičnih frakcija zrna. Crnozrna, Rumska Crvenka i Stara Banatka bile su odabrane sorte kao najpogodnije za mlevenje, radi kvantitativnog određivanja sadržaja Fe i Zn u dobijenim frakcijama. Mlevenje je izvršeno na laboratorijskom mlinu da bi se dobilo šest proizvoda mlevanja i dva nusproizvoda, a sadržaj Fe i Zn određen je atomskim apsorpcionim spektrometrom sa grafitnom kivetom. Namešavanjem šest proizvoda mlevenja svake sorte dobijene su tri različite vrste brašna. Najveći sadržaj pepela određen je za brašno tip „1100“, dobijeno iz sorte Stare Banatke, koje je takođe imalo najveći sadržaj Fe i Zn (54,9 mg/kg s.m. i 5,407 mg/kg s.m., redom). Konzumiranjem standardne porcije hleba u Srbiji (166 g/dan) dobijene od brašna Stare Banatke bilo bi moguće obezbediti oko 90% preporučenog dnevnog unosa Fe. Stoga, Stara Banatka predstavlja sortu koja bi mogla da bude izvor visokog sadržaja Fe i da se koristi za oplemenjivanje, radi stvranja novih linija pšenice sa visokim sadržajem ovog minerala.

The introduction of new high-yielding wheat cultivars and the intensification of high year-to-year variability require an additional update of information about environmental effects on main wheat quality parameters lacking for newly released cultivars in Serbia. This study aimed to determine the effect of growing seasons on the technological properties of new Serbian wheat cultivars and examine the relationships among the quality traits in different growing seasons. The experiment was set up in three growing seasons (2016-17, 2017-18, and 2018-19). A total of 13 recently developed wheat cultivars in Serbia and the five most widespread local cultivars were evaluated to compare differences in end-use quality. Also, the influence of climatic conditions on technological quality was examined and relations among them. Modern Serbian cultivars have improved grain yield but lower technological quality than the widespread Serbian cultivars. Changes in farinograph resistance and degree of softening were related to the differences in growing seasons, cultivars, and their interaction, while growing seasons had the highest effect on bread volume and extensograph parameters energy and ratio resistance, and extensibility variation. Moreover, a strong positive correlation was found between protein content, sedimentation value, wet gluten content, water absorption with extensograph extensibility, and negative correlation with the second parameter of extensograph, resistance ratio, and extensibility.

Sorte dvoredog pivskog ječma se u Institutu za ratarstvo i povrtarstvo u Novom Sadu stvaraju u kontinuitetu više od 70 godina. Tokom dugogodišnjeg rada na selekciji i oplemenjivanju cilj je bio razvoj novih sorti sa poboljšanim karakteristikama koje će obezbediti visok potencijal za prinos i zadovoljiti kriterijume kvaliteta za industriju slada. Cilj ovoga rada bio je da se ispitaju sorte dvoredog ječma stvorene u Institutu za ratarstvo i povrtarstvo i registrovane u poslednjih pet godina i 4 sorte stranih kompanija koje se nalaze u komercijalnoj proizvodnji u Srbiji za potrebe industrije slada. Genotipovi su imali dvorede i šestorede tipove klasa i pripadali su ozimim i jarim formama. Ispitivano je 9 sorti ječma u 2019/20. godini i 10 sorti u 2020/21. godini na 3 lokaliteta: Rimski šančevi, Sombor i Kikinda. Ogled je postavljen po slučajnom blok dizajnu na 10 m2 u četiri ponavljanja uz primenu standardne agrotehnike., The breeding of varieties of two-row barley has been continuously applied at the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops in Novi Sad for more than 70 years. The goal during these years of research and improvement was to develop new varieties with enhanced traits to achieve maximum yields and meet quality standards for the malt industry. The study examined two-row barley varieties created at the Institute and registered in the past five years, along with four varieties from foreign companies used in commercial production in Serbia for the malt industry. The genotypes varied in spike types, including two-row and six-row, and belonged to either winter or spring forms depending on the sowing time. The research involved testing nine barley varieties in the 2019/20 season and ten varieties in the 2020/21 season at three different locations: Rimski šančevi, Kikinda, and Sombor. The trial was conducted using a randomized block design with 10 m2 plots and four replications, employing standard agronomic practices.

Cilj ovog rada je bio da se u datim agroekološkim uslovima ispitaju dinamika nakupljanja suve materije u zrnu i visina prinosa u zavisnosti od hibrida kukuruza različite dužine vegetacije. Ogled je postavljen po RCB dizajnu sa 12 hibrida, u četiri ponavljanja, na oglednom polju Rimski Šančevi, Instituta za ratarstvo i povrtarstvo. Praćenje dinamike nakupljanja suve materije u zrnu je vršeno u periodu od svilanja do fiziološke zrelosti, na svaka tri dana, za svaki hibrid. Prikupljeni podaci o dinamici suve materije u zrnu su analizirani u programu SegReg. Na osnovu vremenske analize, kod svih hibrida je nakupljanje suve materije pratilo linearni trend do maksimuma tj. prelomne tačke, od koje se sadržaj suve materije nije menjao. Kod najranijeg hibrida (NS-1) je maksimalni sadržaj suve materije (0.255g) postignut 39 dana nakon svilanja (DNS), dok je kod najkasnijeg hibrida (NS-12) maksimalni sadržaj suve materije iznosio 0.249g i postignut je 42 DNS., The aim of this study was to examine the dynamics of dry matter accumulation in the grains of maize hybrids of different maturity groups and their yield in the provided agroecological conditions. The trial was organised as a RCB design, with 12 hybrids in four replications, and was conducted at the Rimski Šančevi experimental field of Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops in Novi Sad (IFVCNS). The progression of dry matter accumulation in the grain was monitored in the period from silking to physiological maturity, at three-day intervals, for each hybrid. Collected data were analyzed in the SegReg program. The dry matter accumulation followed a linear trend until the breaking point (linear plateu regression), from which its content remained stable. The earliest hybrid (NS-1) achieved the maximum dry matter content (0.255g) at 39 days after silking (DAS), while the latest hybrid (NS-12) reached its maximum dry matter content (0.249g) at 42 DAS.

Prilikom stvaranja novih sorti pšenice (Triticum aestivum L.), pored visokog potencijala za prinos i dobrog tehnološkog kvaliteta neophodno je i inkorporirati gene odgovorne za otpornost prema poleganju, niskim temperaturama i adaptabilnost na različite uslove proizvodnje. NS Lenija, nova sorta ozime pšenice stvorena u Institutu za ratarstvo i povrtarstvo (Institut od nacionalnog značaja za Republiku Srbiju) nastala je veštačkim ukrštanjem tri divergentna roditelja: sorte Kupava (Rusija) i sorti Donna (Srbija) i Arija (Srbija). Ukrštanjem ovih roditelja uspešno su iskombinovani geni odgovorni za visok potencijal za prinos, dobar tehnološki kvalitet, adaptabilnost i stabilnost, koji omogućavaju da se ova sorta može uspešno gajiti u agroekološkim uslovima Jugoistočne Evrope. Tokom trajanja dvogodišnjih ogleda Komisije za priznavanje sorti, NS Lenija je uspešno prošla DUS test (različitost, uniformnost i stabilnost), i na 7 ispitivanih lokaliteta ostvarila je u proseku značajno veći prinos zrna u odnosu na prosek prinosa zrna sorti standarda. Prilikom ocena hemijsko-tehnoloških osobina, svrstana je u kvalitetnu klasu II, u farinogramsku kvalitetnu grupu A-2, i u tehnološku grupu poboljšivača., During the creation of new wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum L.), in addition to high yield po tential and good technological quality, it is necessary to incorporate genes responsible for resistance to lodging, low temperatures and adaptability to different production conditions. NS Lenija, a new winter wheat cultivar developed at the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops (National Institute of the Republic of Serbia) was created by crossing the three divergent parents: cultivar Kupava (Russia) and the cultivars Donna (Serbia) and Aria (Serbia). By crossing these parents, genes responsible for high yield potential, good technological quality, adaptability and stability were successfully combined, enabling this cultivar to be successfully cultivated in the agroecological conditions of Southeast Europe. During the two-year trials of the Commission for the registration of varieties, NS Lenija successfully passed the DUS test (distinctness, uniformity and stability), and on the 7 tested locations achieved a significantly higher average grain yield compared to the grain yield of the check cultivars. When evaluating its chemical and technological properties, it was classified in quality class II, farinograph quality group A-2, and in the technological group of improvers.

Usled napretka u oplemenjivanju kao i u samoj biljnoj proizvodnji, prinos zrna pšenice je više nego udvostručen tokom poslednjih nekoliko decenija u Jugoistočnoj Evropi kao i u Republici Srbiji. Takođe, ranija istraživanja su ustanovila vezu između dinamike starenja i glavnih komponenti prinosa zrna i drugih agronomskih osobina kod pšenice. Ubrzanjem starenja biljke skraćuje se period nalivanja zrna što može imati negativan uticaj na konačnu masu zrna ukoliko su mehanizmi za eksploatisanje resursa stečenih u fotosintetskom periodu nedostupni. Zbog navedenog, stay-green fenotip pšenice bi mogao da bude jedan od ciljeva u oplemenjivanju, budući da je duže trajanje zelene lisne površine povezano sa mehanizmima i osobinama koje ublažavaju negativan uticaj spoljne sredine tokom perioda nalivanja zrna. U cilju utvrđivanja varijabilnosti stay-green osobina tokom više godina kontinuirano su praćeni različiti vegetacioni indeksi kod istorijskog seta sorti pšenice., Due to the progress in both plant breeding and crop production, over the last few decades wheat grain yield has more than doubled in southeastern Europe, as in the Republic of Serbia. Also, earlier studies have reported the relationship between senescence dynamics and grain yield main components, along with other agronomic wheat traits. Acceleration of plant senescence reduces the duration of grain filling, and may have a negative impact on the final grain weight if the mechanisms to exploit the resources gained during the photosynthetic period are unavailable. Therefore, a stay-green phenotype could be one of the breeding aims, since the longer duration of green leaf area is related to mechanisms and traits that alleviate negative environmental effects during the grain filling. In order to determine the variability of stay-green traits, over several years, various vegetative indexes were continuously monitored in a historical set of wheat cultivars.

Pšenica (Triticum spp.) je jedna od najadaptabilnijih biljnih vrsta, zbog sposobnosti da se prilagodi variranju uslova spoljne sredine. Međutim, visoke temperature, količina i raspored padavina tokom rasta i razvića biljke i nalivanja zrna utiču na fiziološko-biohemijske procese, a time i na kvalitet zrna pšenice. Visoka tehnologija gajenja poljoprivrednih useva smanjuje negativan uticaj meteoroloških uslova. Sa druge strane, tehnološki razvoj i intenzivirana poljoprivredna proizvodnja uzrokuju globalne klimatske promene. Cilj ovog rada bio je da se analizira uticaj abiotskih faktora (minimalna, maksimalna i srednja temperatura vazduha i suma padavina) na kvalitet zrna ozime pšenice. Analizirano je dvadeset sorti ozime pšenice, domaćeg i stranog porekla, tokom dve vegetacione sezone (2021/2022 i 2022/2023) Istraživanja su izvedena na oglednom polju (Rimski šančevi) i u laboratoriji Instituta za ratarstvo i povrtarstvo, Novi Sad, Srbija., Wheat (Triticum spp.) is one of the most adaptable crop species due to its ability to adjust to the variations of the environmental factors. However, high temperatures, precipitation quantity and distribution during plant development and grain filling affect biochemical processes and consequently grain quality. Advanced technology in growing agricultural crops decreases the negative impact of meteorological conditions. On the other hand, increased technological development and intensified agricultural production cause global climate change. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of abiotic factors (minimum, maximum and optimum average temperature and precipitation sum) on the quality of winter wheat grain. Twenty national and international winter wheat cultivars were analyzed in two growing seasons. The trial was carried out on the experimental fields and in laboratories of the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops.

Widespread usage of intercropping systems has been limited because of a lack of knowledge about the key factors that affect the performance of intercrop components. We used general linear modelling to explain the effect of different cropping systems on the relationships among yield, thousand kernel weight (TKW), and crude protein of cereal crops under the same agro-ecological conditions and naturally occurring inocula of obligate pathogens. The results of our study showed that the yield variation under extreme fluctuations in climatic conditions could be lowered through intercropping cultivation. The disease indices of leaf rust and powdery mildew were highly dependent on the type of cultivation. The relationships among the levels of pathogenic infection and yield performances were not straightforward and were highly dependent on the yielding potentials of the cultivars. Our study indicated that changes in yield, TKW, and crude protein, as well as their relationships during intercropping cultivation, were cultivar specific and, therefore, not the same among all cereal crops exposed to the same agro-ecological conditions.

Ovaj rad predstavlja rezultate sakupljanja lokalnih genetičkih resursa strnih žita u Srbiji u periodu 2020-2021, koje je imalo za cilj dobijanje informacija o trenutnom stanju očuvanja, upravljanja i korišćenja starih sorti i populacija pšenice, ječma, ovsa i raži. Tokom dve godine, prikupljeno je ukupno 12 uzoraka - akcesija, od kojih sedam ječma, dve ovsa, dve raži i jedne pšenice iz četiri regiona Srbije. Gajenje i čuvanje lokalnih populacija i starih sorti strnih žita pretežno je zabeleženo u udaljenim planinskim predelima južnih i jugozapadnih delova Zlatiborskog okruga. Najviše uzoraka prikupljeno je sa planinskih visoravni Peštera, gde lokalni poljoprivredni proizvođači još uvek gaje nekoliko lokalnih populacija i starih sorti na malim površinama za ličnu upotrebu, poput populacija ječma buškat, grbavac i pivac. Ove lokalne sorte su visoko cenjene od proizvođača zbog svojih osobenosti, kao što su otpornost na polegavanje i/ili bolesti, hranljivih vrednosti za ljudsku i stočnu ishranu. Ovi usevi se gaje ili kao pojedinačni usevi ili u mešavini, npr. ječam i pšenica (tzv. polovica), na manje plodnim zemljištima sa minimalnim ulaganjima, što se ogleda u nižim prinosima. Sačuvani su tradicionalni recepti u kojima se koriste lokalne žitarice. Prikupljeni uzorci su opisani, umnoženi, uključeni u poljski ogled i poslati na dugoročno čuvanje u nacionalnu banku gena Republike Srbije i svetski trezor semana na Svalbardu. Svi prikupljeni uzorci su umnoženi radi morfološke karakterizacije. Takođe, ovi genetiči resursi su podeljeni drugim proizvođačima i lokalnim bankama semena kako bi ocenili podobnost starih sorti i populacija u različitim agroekoloških uslovima, i podstikli razmenu i čuvanje semena među poljoprivrednicima. Prikupljeni genetički resursi imaju značajnu vrednost za aktivnosti predoplemenjivanja i proučavanja genetičke raznovrsnosti., This study presents the outcomes of a two-year collection mission conducted in Serbia during the period of 2020-2021. The mission aimed to gather genetic resources of small grains and obtain information regarding their conservation, management, and utilization. A total of 12 samples were collected, comprising seven accessions of barley landraces, two of oats, two of rye, and one variety of wheat from four regions in Serbia. The preservation of local traditional cereals was predominantly observed in remote and mountainous areas of the southern and southwestern parts of the Zlatibor district. Most samples were collected from the Pester mountain plateaus, where local farmers still cultivate a few traditional varieties on small plots for personal use. These local varieties are highly esteemed by farmers due to various attributes, such as resistance to lodging and diseases, nutritional value for both human consumption and animal feed. The cultivation of these crops occurs either as sole crops or in crop mixtures, on less fertile soils with minimal inputs, resulting in modest yields. Traditional recipes using local cereals have been preserved. The collected accessions were described and stored for the long term in the Serbian National Gene Bank and the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. All collected samples were multiplied for morphological characterization through field trials and distributed to farmers for on-farm evaluations. There have been recent initiatives to establish local community seed banks and encourage seed exchange among farmers. The gathered genetic resources hold significant value for pre-breeding activities and genetic diversity studies.

NS Modena je sorta pšenice priznata od strane Uprave za zaštitu bilja Ministarstva poljoprivrede, šumarstva i vodoprivrede Republike Srbije.

NS Tijara je sorta ozime pšenice priznata od strane Uprave za zaštitu bilja Ministarstva poljoprivrede, šumarstva i vodoprivrede Republike Srbije.

Ovo je sorta ozimog ječma NS Talos priznata od strane Ministarstva spoljne trgovine i ekonomskih odnosa Bosne i Hercegovine., This is a winter barley cultivar NS Talos released by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The study compiles the achievements of a two-year collecting mission conducted in 2020 and 2021 period in Serbia, which aimed at collecting small grains genetic recources and information about the state of their conservation, management and use. In total 12 samples were collected, namely seven accessions of barley landraces, two of oats, two of rye and one wheat variety in four regions of Serbia. The local traditional celeals were mostly preserved in remote and mountainous parts of southern and south-western parts of Zlatibor district. Most of the samples were collected at Pester mountain plateaux, where local farmers still grow very few traditional varieties on small areas for personal use. The local varieties are valued by farmers for different traits, some for resistance to lodging and diseases, some for their nutritional value for human consumption and animal feed. These local crops are cultivated either as a sole crop or in crop mixtures so-called „polovice“, on poorer soils with very low inputs, achieving modest yields. Recipes for traditional dishes from local cereals are preserved. The accessions were described and deposited in the long-term storage in Serbian National gene bank and Svalbard Global Seed Vault. All collected samples were multiplied for morphological characterization in field trials and distribution to farmers for on-farm evalutation. Recently, there have been initiatives to establish local community seed banks and promote seed exchange among farmers. The collected genetic resources could be a valuable material for pre-breeding activities and genetic diversity studies.

For thousands of years, cereal grains have been a primary source for the nutrition of the human population and during the period after major crops’ domestication, agriculture radically transformed human societies worldwide. The most important cereal species in agriculture are maize, rice, wheat, triticale, rye, barley, oats, sorghum, and millets, with a total yield of more than 2750 million tonnes (FAOSTAT, 2021). For the majority of the population, cereal crops remain the major source of calories. In developing countries, cereals provide about 60% of the calories, while in the poorest countries cereal parts in daily calories uptake reach more than 80% (Awika, 2011). On the other hand, in the developed world, approximately 30% of the calories come directly from cereals. Moreover, cereals are essential for animal feed in about 36% of world consumption and industrial.

Determination of different quality traits in plant breeding program often requires fast, reliable and non-destructive analytical techniques. During the last two decades, nearinfrared (NIR) spectroscopy has been most often used for measuring of chemical composition: protein, moisture, oil and other parameters 1 . The NIR techniques possess a number of advantages, but also a disadvantage that these devices are relatively large and weight more than 8 kg. The aim of the study was to examine possible using of handheld grain quality analyzer for protein content examination in wheat samples. The protein and water content of 13 wheat cultivars was determined by standard methods of Kjeldahl digestion and drying methods, respectively. Protein content was calculated on dry matter. Furthermore, this quality trait was also determined by handheld GrainSense Analyzer (Oulu, Finland) which weight is 820 grams without batteries 2 . The results of the study showed that the correlation between commonly used method and handheld grain quality analyzer is positive with r = 0.951. From results it can be concluded that handheld analyzer can be successfully used for protein determination in wheat samples.

This study investigates distribution of three micronutrients in milling streams of three common wheat cultivars to estimate nutritive value of white and brown flours. Among the analysed wheat cultivars, the majority of flour streams of NS Todorka showed a higher content of soluble micronutrients than the other two investigated wheat cultivars. It is necessary to improve bioavailability of Fe and Zn in flours since these micronutrients were mostly in insoluble form. In contrast, considering average Serbian portion sizes for bread, bread made from flour Type '110' could supply almost 75% of the recommended daily intake for Mn.

Whole kernels of cereals are the most important source of magnesium. This mineral has several positive effects on human health. However, the human body cannot absorb 100% of magnesium from plant sources during digestion. Additionally, the wheat flour milling process usually produces refined flour with a substantially lower content of magnesium. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of milling of two wheat cultivars on total and soluble magnesium distribution in milling fractions, with the purpose of creating wheat bread with a precisely defined magnesium content. Ash content, thousand grain weight (TGW), and kernel size were analysed in five wheat cultivars. Two most statistically distinguished wheat cultivars according to these analyses (Moma and Todorka) were milled in a laboratory mill to gain as many flour frac-tions as possible (eleven). Magnesium was extracted from the flour and its content was measured by inductively coupled plasma. The results showed that the level of soluble magnesium in refined white flours (T-500 with ash content between 0.46-0.60d. m.%) is approximately 17% and is available for uptake in the human body. Also, by milling the Moma cultivar in an industrial mill with a capacity of 100 t per day gave 6.6 t more brown flour (T-1000 with ash content between 1.05-1.15 d.m.%) than the Todorka cultivar. Furthermore, the daily consumption of brown bread (produced from brown flour) in Serbia would satisfy about 60% of the daily magnesium requirements.

Magnitude and type of gene actions in a specific population are the main criteria for the parents' selection that will develop the best recombinants after hybridization. Information about the genetic control of complex traits is useful for the further development of efficient breeding programs. In order to identify action of genes for grain yield plant-1 and its correlation with main yield components, incomplete diallel crossing was applied. The field trial was conducted at the experimental field of the Agricultural Advisory Service in southeastern Europe, during season 2012-2013. Mean values of F1 generation showed that crosses Apache × Prima had the highest value of grain yield plant-1 and Jackson × Balkan had the lowest. Common type of inheritance for grain yield plant-1 was over dominance. The ANOVA revealed that this trait was controlled by additive and non-additive effects. The best general combiner for grain yield plant-1 was Apache, and two crosses (Dragana × Jackson; Balaton × Nevesinjka) showed significant SCA effects. Components of genetic variance showed that dominant was more important than additive component, and the total number of dominant genes were in excess over the number of recessive genes in all parents. Furthermore, moderately low value of narrow sense heritability (h2=31.96%) was observed for grain yield plant-1. Parent Sana contained maximum dominant genes, whereas parent Jackson had maximum recessive genes. Grain yield plant-1 was significantly correlated with tillers numbers plant-1 at genotypic level (rg=0.494). The results from this study might be helpful for creating new wheat cultivars with highyielding potential., Opseg i tip delovanja gena u novim populacijama su glavni kriterijumi za odabir roditelja koji će stvoriti najbolje potomstvo nakon hibridizacije. Informacije o genetičkoj kontroli kompleksnih osobina su korisne za dalje stvaranje efikasnih oplemenjivačkih programa. U cilju identifikacije prirode delovanja gena na prinos zrna po biljci i njegovu korelaciju sa komponentama prinosa upotrebljeno je nepotpuno dijalelno ukrštanje. Ogled je izveden u jugoistočnoj Evropi na oglednom polju Poljoprivredne savetodavne službe tokom sezone 2012-2013. Prema srednjim vrednostima F1 generacije, ukrštanje Apache × Prima je imalo najveći prinos zrna po biljci, a Jackson × Balkan najmanji. Najčešći način nasleđivanja za prinos zrna po biljci bila je puna dominacija. ANOVA je pokazala da je ova osobina kontrolisana i aditivnim i neaditivnim efektima. Apache se pokazao kao generalno najbolji kombinator za prinos zrna po biljci, a kod dva ukrštanja (Dragana × Jackson; Balaton × Nevesinjka) je ustanovljena značajnost posebnih kombinacionih sposobnosti. Komponente genetičke varijanse su pokazale da je dominacija važnija od aditivne komponente, a ukupan broj dominantnih gena je veći od broja recesivnih kod svih roditelja. Ustanovljena je umereno niska vrednost (h2=31,96%) heritabilnosti u užem smislu za prinos zrna po biljci. Maksimalan broj dominantnih gena je utvrđen kod roditelja Sana, dok je Jackson imao maksimalan broj recesivnih gena. Na genotipskom nivou, prinos zrna po biljci bio je u značajnoj korelaciji sa brojem produktivnih vlati (rg=0,494). Rezultati ovih istraživanja bi mogli biti od koristi za stvaranje novih varijeteta pšenice sa visokim potencijalom za prinos.

Barley breeding program in the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops Novi Sad has a very long tradition. The great effort focused on selecting and creating varieties with high yielding potential and good malting quality. This study aimed to analyse phenotypic variation during the historical period. The studied material consisted of 90 representative barley genotypes, which varied in a row number and growing types (6-rowed winter, 2-rowed winter and spring types) encompassing three different breeding periods. Field experiments were conducted in three growing seasons using a randomised complete block design with three replications. Eight important agronomic traits were evaluated during this period. The ANOVA showed that most of the analysed traits varied significantly between seasons, row types, and breeding periods. Comparison of three groups with different row types revealed earlier heading and flowering time of two-rowed than six-rowed types of winter barley.