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Under the terms of the European Green Deal, including the transition to a green economy, decarbonisation, and a sustainable model of inclusive growth, Ukraine has committed itself to achieving climate neutrality by 2060. The military challenges caused by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine require an in-depth investigation and substantiation of mechanisms for developing promising areas of deep processing of domestic agricultural raw materials to ensure food security, domestic market development, and post-war economic recovery. The purpose of this study was to analyse and assess the potential for processing Ukrainian maize in the context of bioeconomy development, specifically to produce starch, bioplastics, and bioethanol. The study was conducted using a systematic approach with extrapolation methods, exponential smoothing, and confidence interval construction to assess the forecast. It was proved that Ukraine has all the opportunities to increase the production of a wider product line of deeply processed maize products. Realising the potential of maize processing as a biological and energy feedstock in the Ukrainian economy for post-war recovery depends on the creation of an innovative bioeconomy infrastructure, through strengthening strategic partnerships between agricultural producers, research institutions and public authorities, cluster development and export promotion. The practical value of this study lies in the developed recommendations for the implementation of maize processing opportunities for the development of the bioeconomy and acceleration of decarbonisation in Ukraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant height (PH) is associated with lodging resistance and planting density, which is regulated by a complicated gene network. In this study, we identified a spontaneous dwarfing mutation in maize, m30, with decreased internode number and length but increased internode diameter. A candidate gene, ZmCYP90D1, which encodes a member of the cytochrome P450 family, was isolated by map-based cloning. ZmCYP90D1 was constitutively expressed and showed highest expression in basal internodes, and its protein was targeted to the nucleus. A G-to-A substitution was identified to be the causal mutation, which resulted in a truncated protein in m30. Loss of function of ZmCYP90D1 changed expression of hormoneresponsive genes, in particular brassinosteroid (BR)-responsive genes which is mainly involved in cell cycle regulation and cell wall extension and modification in plants. The concentration of typhasterol (TY), a downstream intermediate of ZmCYP90D1 in the BR pathway, was reduced. A haplotype conferring dwarfing without reducing yield was identified. ZmCYP90D1 was inferred to influence plant height and stalk diameter via hormone-mediated cell division and cell growth via the BR pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought stress is a major factor affecting plant growth and crop yield production. Plant extracts as natural biostimulants hold great potential to strengthen plants to overcome drought impacts. To explore the effect of Polygonum minus extract (PME) in enhancing drought tolerance in plants, a study was set up in a glasshouse environment using 10 different treatment combinations. PME foliar application were designed in CRD and effects were closely observed related to the growth, physiology, and antioxidant system changes in maize (Zea mays L.) under well-watered and drought conditions. The seaweed extract (SWE) was used as a comparison. Plants subjected to drought stress exhibited a significant reduction in fresh weight, dry weight, relative water content (RWC), and soluble sugar, but they stimulated the phenolic, flavonoid, proline, glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidant enzyme (catalase, CAT; peroxidase, POD; superoxide dismutase, SOD) activities. Foliar application of PME improved fresh and dry weight (FW: 33.1%~41.4%; DW: 48.0%~43.1%), chlorophyll content (Chl b: 87.9%~100.76%), soluble sugar (23.6%~49.3%), and soluble protein (48.6%~56.9%) as well as antioxidant enzyme activities (CAT and POD) compared to CK under drought conditions. while decreasing the level of MDA. Notably, the mitigating effect of PME application with high concentration was more effective than those of SWE. Our study reveals that PME could alleviate drought stress by regulating osmoprotectant content and antioxidant defense system and can be used as an economical and environmentally friendly biostimulants for promoting maize growth under drought stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corn is one of the most important food crops in the world. Corn has a high nutritional content, such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Corn can also be processed into various food and beverage products. Corn production in Indonesia currently still does not meet national needs, one of the factors that causes this is the low productivity of corn. Various efforts have been made to increase corn productivity, one of which is by using fertilizers. The purpose of this study was to examine the response of corn growth and production with a combination of microbial consortium, NPK, and ortho salicylic acid. This study used experimental research methods. Data collection techniques in this study were carried out by literature study and observation. The data that has been collected is analyzed descriptively. The results showed that the consortium combination of 1 dose of 5 ml + NPK 15 gr + leaf fertilizer 3 ml was significantly different to increase the best growth in leaf area, total plant weight, corn weight, fruit diameter (base and middle). Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that the consortium combination of 1 dose of 5 ml + NPK 15 gr + Foliar fertilizer 3 ml can increase corn growth and production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In most of the coastal areas of the Ganges Delta, the land remains fallow in Rabi season as the slow drying process after harvest of transplanted Aman (T. Aman) rice increases the risks for obtaining low crop yields because of delayed sowing. Early sowing of dry season (Rabi) crops in this area is predicted to give higher yield than the current late sown condition because of more favourable temperature, soil water and less soil salinity stresses. The experiments were conducted during the Rabi seasons (December-May) of 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 in the Dacope Upazila of Khulna district to investigate the effect of sowing date and variety on yield attributes and yield of maize. The experiment comprised four sowing dates viz., 15 December, 30 December, 15 January and 30 January and three cultivars viz., BARI hybrid maize 16, Sunshine and NK 40. The highest plants (161 cm) with most leaves plant-1 (15.6) was found at the 15 December sowing with the cv. Sunshine. The maximum number of rows cob-1 (16.2), kernel row-1 (35.9), 100-grain weight (38.6 g), grain and stover yield (7.73 t ha-1 and 11.4 t ha-1, respectively) and the highest carbohydrate content (78.3%), was recorded from the 15 December sowing with the cv. BARI hybrid maize 16. The maximum protein content was recorded from 15 December sowing with NK40 (9.10%). The lowest plant height, rows cob-1, kernel row-1, 100 grain weight, grain yield and stover yield was obtained from late sowing (30 January) with NK 40. Early sowing (15 December) with BARI hybrid maize-16 improves yield and quality of maize than late sowing condition in the coastal region of Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive nitrogen (N) fertilizer application severely degrades soil and contaminates the atmosphere and water. A 2-year field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different N fertilizer strategies on wheat-summer corn rotation systems in yellow-brown soil areas. The experiment consisted of seven treatments: no N fertilization (CK), conventional fertilization (FP), optimized fertilization (CF), reduced N rates of 10% (90% FP), 20% (80% FP), 30% (70% FP), and a combination of controlled release with conventional urea at 7:3 ratio (CRU). The results indicate that under the condition of 80% FP, both CF and CRU treatments can increase the yield of wheat and corn for two consecutive years. Compared with FP treatment, the wheat yield of CF and CRU treatments increased by 3.62-2.57% and maize yield by 3.53-1.85% with N fertilizer recovery rate (NRE) of crops by 46.2-37.8%. The agronomic N use efficiency (aNUE) under CF treatment increased by 35.4-37.7%, followed by CRU, which increased by 30.5-33.9%. Moreover, compared with FP treatment, both CF and CRU treatment increased the content of organic matter (OM), total N (TN), and hydrolyzed N (HN) in the topsoil layer, and 70% FP treatment significantly reduced the HN content. Both CF and CRU treatments significantly increased the NO3 concentrations in the 0-20 cm soil depth during the wheat and maize season at maturity stages and decreased the residual inorganic N below the plow layer (40-60 cm). During the corn season, the CF and CRU treatments significantly reduced the NO3 concentration in the 40-60 cm soil layer from seedling to jointing. Considering various factors, CRU treatment under 80% FP conditions would be the best fertilization measure for wheat-corn rotation in yellow-brown soil areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corn tassel is an agricultural waste product that contains valuable phytochemicals and antioxidants with various potential uses. Proper post-harvest management is vital to maintain the bioactive compounds and favorable properties for processing. This study aimed to evaluate the responses of phenolics, anthocyanins, and antioxidant capacity of purple waxy corn tassels to different storage conditions and durations. Storage conditions (controlled vs. ambient) that varied in temperature and duration (ranging from 6 to 48 hours) significantly altered most of the observed parameters. Phenolics were more resistant to increased temperature and prolonged storage than anthocyanins. Determining the optimal storage duration was slightly complicated as the ideal duration for each observed parameter varied. The tassels can be stored at cold temperatures for up to 48, 6, and 24 hours to obtain the highest levels of phenolics, anthocyanins, and antioxidant activity, respectively. The correlation coefficients between phenolics and antioxidant activity were significant in both fresh and dried tassels. Optimizing the storage conditions to retain phenolics can also help maintain high levels of antioxidant capacity in corn tassels. Controlled storage conditions were the best way to retain tassel weight, phenolics, anthocyanins, and antioxidant capacity in the purple tassels of waxy corn. The most prolonged acceptable storage durations varied depending on the traits. The optimum light and oxygen exposures during storage and the best drying methods are still uncertain; therefore, further research is necessary to establish good handling practices for corn tassels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many parts of the globe, agricultural soil degradation and nutrient loss both contribute to the decline of soil quality. The utilization of various organic sources has provided meaningful trends in sustainable agriculture. The research was carried out to examine how biochar (B) and pig manure (PM) affected soil chemical properties as well as the growth and yield of maize for two years. A randomized complete block design was adopted with three replications. The soil was amended with biochar and pig manure at two rates (15 and 30 t ha-1): biochar (B15 and B30), pig manure (PM15 and PM30), biochar with pig manure (BPM15 and BPM30), respectively, and control (CK). The incorporation of biochar and pig manure together at 15 and 30 t ha-1 improved soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN) and available phosphorus (AP) compared to control. Individual use of pig manure at 15 and 30 t ha-1 significantly decreased compared to its combination in SOC, TN and AP. The combined use of biochar and pig manure at 15 t ha-1 significantly increased compared to the lone addition of biochar in SOC, TN and AP. The application of organic amendments significantly increased plant height, dry matter yield, and grain yield in both years. The relationship pattern was measured between soil properties and agronomic characteristics. The use of biochar and pig manure separately or together offers strong potential to improve soil fertility and increase crop productivity in soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The low fertility of post-brick mining soil may be improved by applying biochar to the soil because biochar is an excellent soil amendment, although its quality varies depending on the raw materials used. Therefore, soil fertility, nutrient availability, and crop yields are affected by the type and amount of biochar added to soils. This study examined the effect of types and dosages of biochar on nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium availability of post-brick mining soil to increase maize yield. The treatment combinations of biochar dosages (0 t ha-1, 15 t ha-1, 30 t ha-1, and 45 t ha-1) and biochar types (coconut shell, wood, and rice husk biochars) were arranged in randomized block design with three replications. Each treatment plot measuring 4 m x 4.5 m was planted with maize seeds with a planting space of 80 cm x 25 cm. Urea (135 kg N ha-1), SP36 (36 kg P2O5 ha-1), and KCl (110 kg K2O ha-1) were applied as basal fertilizers. The results showed that at eight weeks after biochar application, the amount and type of biochar positively affected maize yield. The application of rice-husk biochar at 30 t ha-1 resulted in the highest maize yield. The application of each type of biochar at 45 t ha-1 yielded the highest increase in the availability of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On a global scale, maize is an important food, feed and industrial crop, with an increasing production area (Nagy, 2007 and 2021). Among the environmental impacts, extreme weathering factors caused by climate change are causing serious problems for crop stability, and maize is no exception. Precision farming is today's most innovative agrotechnical approach, which can greatly increase crop safety and reduce costs by exploiting the genetic potential of our soils and the hybrids we use (Torres, 2012). Sowing is one of the most important agrotechnical elements, and with good seeding we can ensure that we have all the requirements of a high yielding, high growing crop (Pepó, 2019). In the case of sowing, it is important to place the seed in moist soil to provide the optimum environmental conditions for the crop to ensure uniform emergence (Széles et al., 2020; Shrestha et al., 2018). Precision planting is the market leading technology in precision planters in the United States, and when cooperating with them we looked for methods to optimise the depth of sowing and to monitor the effect on yield by studying the initial development of the plants. The seeder was equipped with the company's SmartFirmer soil scanner integrated into the seed drill. Automatic seed depth adjustment based on soil moisture is an exceptional solution for uniform emergence and drought protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of the economic/economic impact of precision farming should be a priority area in digital agriculture, as the results, profitability, and efficiency indicators can have a significant decision-support effect on the development of both the agronomic and the technical regions of individual farms both in the longer and shorter term. Individual firms, companies, farmers, and family farms quantify the effectiveness of their farming processes. The modern age offers the possibility of digitally recording all the elements of farming technology, making it possible to analyse the cost-effectiveness of a farm more effectively and, in some cases, to carry out more detailed analyses. Nevertheless, the number of farms demonstrating their profitability with such precise economic calculations is still minimal. Our analyses were conducted on a 56,02 ha field of Balogh Farm-Tépe Ltd. The agricultural operations carried out were fully documented so that the inputs (seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, crop enhancers) were recorded in coordinates and kind, as well as the specif ic yields, grain moisture data, irrigation norms, and irrigation rotations. At the same time, the company's owner provided the data's monetary value. The main econometric indicators (yield, production value, cost of production, income, cost price) related to the evaluation of the enterprise management were evaluated along with the spatial data in the irrigated and non-irrigated tables. Our calculations show that a given year's climatic and market characteristics fundamentally determine the cost and income relations of a plot of land (and thus of an entire farm). In addition to additional inputs, introducing some elements of precision farming and intensification and increasing yields improves yield security and allows for excellent yield stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet corn producers and industries require more reliable cultivars which could be accomplished by hybrid breeding. However, progressive phenological growth may be affected by different factors. In this paper, we analyze the key factors that determine the growth and yield of sweet corn. Environmental factors such as temperature and photoperiod were strong determinants of dates of flowering and harvest which are often crucial to yield in diverse climates and agricultural systems, besides the country's pedological conditions, especially soil fertility, affected phenological development. The effectiveness of fertilization in improving sweet corn growth performance was significantly influenced by the soil characteristics, the water supply, the genotype, and the agrotechnological factors. Therefore, genetic improvement of hybrids should be incorporated into the climate and soil elements to stabilize sweet corn yields in various agroecosystems. Decisions made in the sowing period are very significant, as up to 30% of the obtained yield may depend on making the proper choice. Deviation from the optimum date (either early or late sowing) may decrease yield. When deciding about the sowing date of maize, one needs to consider climate, soil quality, geographical location, temperature, weed infestation, sowing seed quality, and the ripening time of the hybrid to be produced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important crop in relation to its production and consumption. Production of maize is constrained by soil infertility and poor quality seed. Microbial technologies like seed treatment with Bacillus bacteria improves the productivity of maize on infertile soil. However, due to variations in maize growth environments and Bacillus species, this review was conducted to identify the common species of Bacillus species used for seed treatment, and provide an overview of the effect of seed treatment with Bacillus on maize growth and yield. Results show that Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus pumilus and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens were the dominant species used for seed treatment. Bacillus was used as both a biofertiliser and biopesticide. The conspicuous positive effects of Bacillus were in plant height, shoot and root length, and shoot dry matter depending on the species. In terms of grain yield, Bacillus subtilis (8502 kg ha-1), Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (6822 kg ha-1) and Bacillus safensis (5562 kg ha-1) were the bacterial species that had an overall pronounced effect. The highest increase in grain yield was in the interactive effect of Bacillus megaterium + Bacillus licheniformis (18.1%) and sole Bacillus subtilis (15.6%), while Bacillus pumilus reduced grain yield by 4.8%. This shows that the improvement of maize productivity using Bacillus bacteria requires careful selection of the species for seed treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water deficit stress is considered as one of the most important factors affecting soil microbial activities in dry and semi-dry ecosystems, which reduces microbial activity by limiting access to nutrients. To evaluate the effect of water stress (30%, 50%, 70%, and 100% of field capacity), urea chemical fertilizer (100, 200, and 300 kg/ha), and the impact of biological fertilizers (inoculation with mycorrhiza alone, co-inoculation with mycorrhiza and nitrogen-fixing bacteria, co-inoculation with mycorrhiza and azospirillum, and control) on the yield characteristics of Zea mays hybrid Sc706, a field experiment was conducted as a split-split plot in a randomized complete block design with three replications in two cropping seasons (2018-2019 and 2019-2020) on a farm in Firoozabad, Fars province, Iran. Dual and triple interactions of water stress, urea chemical fertilizer, and biological fertilizer showed significant differences in all yield characteristics. In most traits, the application of urea chemical fertilizer (200 and 300 kg/ha) along with biological fertilizers (mycorrhiza-azospirillum and mycorrhiza-nitrogen-fixing bacteria treatments) produced the best results. Overall, it can be concluded that the use of 200 and 300 kg/ha of urea fertilizer along with a combination of biological fertilizers, mycorrhiza-azospirillum and mycorrhiza-nitrogen-fixing bacteria, can be suitable options for improving the yield and morpho-physiological characteristics of corn under regional conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The success of hybrid breeding programs across the world depends on an understanding of the impacts of gene activity, combining ability, and heterosis on desired characteristics. This project's major goals included the identification of better-inbred lines and hybrids based on combining prowess and heterosis effects in genotypes of super-sweet maize (Zea mays L. Saccharate) and the research of genetic factors and gene activity influencing agronomic attributes. In 2021, three inbred lines (as female parents) were crossed with three testers (as male parents) using the line-to-tester mating design. In a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications in 2022, nine F1 hybrids with six parental lines were assessed for thirteen agronomic variables, including tillering potential (TP), conservable grain yield (CGY), and yield components. The findings showed that for all the attributes under study, the genotyperelated mean squares and their distributions to parents crosses, and parents' crosses were significant (P 0.05). Numerous agronomic characteristics, including TP, CGY, plant height, and tassel length, were considerably influenced by additive gene action, while others were influenced by non-additive gene action, according to the ratio of 2GCA / 2SCA and narrow-sense heritability (Hns2). For CGY and TP characteristics, the SSBas-1 and SSChall-5 combination showed positive specific combining ability (SCA) benefits. Most hybrids also showed positive heterosis and SCA effects, which explained the heterosis in the hybrid's performance. The best general combiners for the majority of the analyzed traits were the parents SBas-1 among the lines and Chal-3 among the testers, which might be employed in further research to create high-yielding super-sweet corn hybrids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gibberellin (GA) functions in plant growth and development. However, genes involved in the biosynthesis and regulation of GA in crop plants are poorly understood. We isolated the mutant gad5-1 (GAAssociated Dwarf 5), characterized by dwarfing, short internodes, and dark green and short leaves. Map-based gene cloning and allelic verification confirmed that ZmGAD5 encodes ent-kaurenoic acid oxidase (KAO), which catalyzes KA (ent-kaurenoic acid) to GA12 conversion during GA biosynthesis in maize. ZmGAD5 is localized to the endoplasmic reticulum and is present in multiple maize organs. In gad5-1, the expression of ZmGAD5 is severely reduced, and the levels of the direct substrate of KAO, KA, is increased, leading to a reduction in GA content. The abnormal phenotype of gad5-1 was restored by exogenous application of GA3. The biomass, plant height, and levels of GA12 and GA3 in transgenic Arabidopsis overexpressing ZmGAD5 were increased in comparison with the corresponding controls Col-0. These findings deepen our understanding of genes involved in GA biosynthesis, and could lead to the development of maize lines with improved architecture and higher planting-density tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Flowering time (FT) is a key maize domestication trait, variation in which allows maize to grow in a wide range of latitudes. Although previous studies have investigated the genetic control of FT-related traits per se, few studies of FT hybrid performance have been published. We characterized the genomic architecture associated with hybrid performance for FT in a hybrid panel by testcrossing Chang 7-2 with 328 Ye478 × Qi319 recombinant inbred lines (RILs). We identified 11 quantitative trait loci (QTL) for hybrid performance in FT-related traits, including a major QTL qFH10 that controls hybrid performance and heterosis in a summer maize-growing region. However, this locus acts in regulating FT traits per se only in a spring maize-growing region. We validated ZmCCT10 as a candidate gene for qFH10 and found that differences between hybrids and their parental lines in DNA methylation in the differentially methylated region (DMR, -700 to -1520) of the ZmCCT10 promoter affected gene expression pattern and thereby FT in the summer maize-growing region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fallowed uplands dominated by Chromolaena odorata, Hyptis suaveolens, Tithonia diversifolia, Imperata cylindrica and other grasses were selected and their effects on the emergence of associated weed species, the nutrient status of the soil and subsequent maize yield were examined. A survey was conducted to estimate the floristic composition in each field in 2017 and 2018. Five fallowed fields and one arable field were used during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. The trial was laid on each field in a Randomized Complete Block Design with 3 replicates. Zero tillage was adopted for the fallow land while the arable field was ploughed, harrowed, and ridged. Weed, soil, and grain yield data were collected and subjected to analysis of variance at P=0.05. The results showed that weed composition and emergence pattern differed marginally among the five fallowed fields. Tridax procumbens, Brachiaria lata and Cyperus rotundus were the most associated weed species. Soils under T. diversifolia and C. odorata were rich in organic carbon and total porosity and low in bulk density with an average return biomass to the soil amounting to 23.18 - 27.18g/m². The continuously managed arable field showed maize grain yield of 2.72 t/ha compared with fallowed fields dominated by T. diversifolia (2.64 t/ha) and C. odorata (2.38 t/ha). Tithonia diversifolia and C. odorata contributed positively to reducing weed emergence and improving soil nutrients. Small-holder farmers can re-incorporate the tested weed species into the cropping system to reduce herbicide usage and improve maize grain yield in the Nigerian southern Guinea savannah. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize has attracted the attention of local governments due to its high yield potential and economic prospects, but the strategic value of this commodity has not been specific to particular locations. Therefore, this study aimed to assess degraded land suitability and determine the regional comparative advantages for maize development in the Gorontalo sustainable agriculture areas. The suitability class was assessed using Automatic Land Evaluation System software, while comparative advantages were determined using inputoutput and regional analysis. The input-output analysis was based on maize farming data from interviews with 80 farmers. This study also employed location quotient, specialization index, and localization index analyses based on maize, rice, and soybean production data for 2014, 2016, and 2018. The results showed that land degradation caused by soil erosion was dominated by moderate, heavy, and very heavy categories. Most of the actual land suitability for maize was classified as marginal suitable (S3) but became very suitable (S1) and moderately suitable (S2) after the limiting factors were improved. Furthermore, maize was profitable for the land suitability classes of S1, S2, and S3, and the commodity was most concentrated in Mootilango District. Based on the results, land management recommendations followed a pattern of recommendation I > II > III > not recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potassium (K) is an essential macronutrient for plant growth and development and influences yield and quality of agricultural crops. Maize (Zea mays) is one of the most widely distributed crops worldwide. In China, although maize consumes a large amount of K fertilizer, the K uptake/utilization efficiency (KUE) of maize cultivars is relatively low. Elucidation of KUE mechanisms and development of maize cultivars with higher KUE are needed. Maize KUE is determined by K+ uptake, transport, and remobilization, which depend on a variety of K+ channels and transporters. We review basic information about K+ channels and transporters in maize, their functions and regulation, and the roles of K+ in nitrogen transport, sugar transport, and salt tolerance. We discuss challenges and prospects for maize KUE improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the use of heterosis in maize breeding has increased crop productivity, the genetic causes underlying heterosis for nitrogen (N) use efficiency (NUE) have been insufficiently investigated. In this study, five N-response traits and five low-N-tolerance traits were investigated using two inbred line populations (ILs) consisting of recombinant inbred lines (RIL) and advanced backcross (ABL) populations, derived from crossing Ye478 with Wu312. Both populations were crossed with P178 to construct two testcross populations. IL populations, their testcross populations, and the midparent heterosis (MPH) for NUE were investigated. Kernel weight, kernel number, and kernel number per row were sensitive to N level and ILs showed higher N response than did the testcross populations. Based on a highdensity linkage map, 138 quantitative trait loci (QTL) were mapped, each explaining 5.6%-38.8% of genetic variation. There were 52, 34 and 52 QTL for IL populations, MPH, and testcross populations, respectively. The finding that 7.6% of QTL were common to the ILs and their testcross populations and that 11.7% were common to the MPH and testcross population indicated that heterosis for NUE traits was regulated by non-additive and non-dominant loci. A QTL on chromosome 5 explained 27% of genetic variation in all of the traits and Gln1-3 was identified as a candidate gene for this QTL. Genome-wide prediction of NUE traits in the testcross populations showed 14%-51% accuracy. Our results may be useful for clarifying the genetic basis of heterosis for NUE traits and the candidate gene may be used for genetic improvement of maize NUE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize growth and development are regulated by light quality, intensity and photoperiod. Cryptochromes are blue/ultraviolet-A light receptors involved in stem elongation, shade avoidance, and photoperiodic flowering. To investigate the function of cryptochrome 1 (CRY1) in maize, where it is encoded by ZmCRY1, we obtained two ZmCRY1a genes (ZmCRY1a1 and ZmCRY1a2), both of which share the highest similarity with other gramineous plants, in particular rice CRY1a by phylogenetic analysis. In Arabidopsis, overexpression of ZmCRY1a genes promoted seedling de-etiolation under blue and white light, resulting in dwarfing of mature plants. In seedlings of the maize inbred line Zong 31 (ZmCRY1a-OE), overexpression of ZmCRY1a genes caused a reduction in the mesocotyl and first leaf sheath lengths due to down-regulation of genes influencing cell elongation. In mature transgenic maize plants, plant height, ear height, and internode length decreased in response to overexpression of ZmCRY1a genes. Expression of ZmCRY1a were insensitive to low blue light (LBL)-induced shade avoidance syndrome (SAS) in Arabidopsis and maize. This prompted us to investigate the regulatory role of the gibberellin and auxin metabolic pathways in the response of ZmCRY1a genes to LBL treatment. We confirmed a link between ZmCRY1a expression and hormonal influence on the growth and development of maize under LBL-induced SAS. These results reveal that ZmCRY1a has a relatively conservative function in regulating maize photomorphogenesis and may guide new strategies for breeding high density-tolerant maize cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change-induced heat stress combines two challenges: high day- and nighttime temperatures, and physiological water deficit due to demand-side drought caused by increase in vapor-pressure deficit. It is one of the major factors in low productivity of maize in rainfed stress-prone environments in South Asia, affecting a large population of smallholder farmers who depend on maize for their sustenance and livelihoods. The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) maize program in Asia, in partnership with public-sector maize research institutes and private-sector seed companies in South Asian countries, is implementing an intensive initiative for developing and deploying heat-tolerant maize that combines high yield potential with resilience to heat and drought stresses. With the integration of novel breeding tools and methods, including genomics-assisted breeding, doubled haploidy, fieldbased precision phenotyping, and trait-based selection, new maize germplasm with increased tolerance to heat stress is being developed for the South Asian tropics. Over a decade of concerted effort has resulted in the successful development and release of 20 high-yielding heat-tolerant maize hybrids in CIMMYT genetic backgrounds. Via public-private partnerships, eight hybrids are presently being deployed on over 50,000 ha in South Asian countries, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a global cereal crop whose demand is projected to double by 2050. Along with worsening of farmland salinization, salt stress has become a major environmental threat to the sustainability of maize production worldwide. Accordingly, there is an urgent need to decipher salt-tolerant mechanisms and facilitate the breeding of salt-tolerant maize. As salt tolerance is a complex trait regulated by multiple genes, and maize germplasm varies widely in salt tolerance, efforts have been devoted to the identification and application of quantitative-trait loci (QTL) for salt tolerance. QTL associated with ion regulation, osmotic tolerance, and other aspects of salt tolerance have been discovered using genomewide association studies (GWAS), linkage mapping, and omics-based approaches. This review highlights recent advances in the molecular-level understanding of salt stress response in maize, in particular in (a) the discovery of salt-tolerance QTL, (b) the mechanisms of salt tolerance, (c) the development of salttolerant maize cultivars, and (d) current challenges and future prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant cultivation has been considered an important industry since ancient times, providing raw materials for various industries and, not least, food for the world's population. This study presents aspects related to the analysis of profitability and production costs for one of the most important crops, corn cultivation. The research aimed to analyse the profitability of corn production in representative farms in Botoșani county, in order to highlight the current situation and establish methods and strategies for action to increase performance and market position. A series of criteria were established for the identification of farms, among which we mention: the area in which they carry out their economic activity - the Dorohoi-Darabani area, the size of farms between 1500-2500 ha and a homogeneous structure of agricultural crops. As for the methodology used in the research, it was based on the diagnostic analysis of the expenditure made at the farm level in 2019-2020. Research results have shown that the profitability and costs of an enterprise are of great significance to it, because with the help of indicators such as variable cost, fixed cost, total cost per hectare, economic profitability, financial profitability, etc. can determine the position of the enterprise in relation to the competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Iraq Journal of Market Research & Consumer Protection / Al-Mağallaẗ al-ʿIrāqiyyaẗ li-Buḥūṯ al-Sūq wa-Ḥimāyaẗ al-Mustahlik is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The object of the study is to investigate the suitability of some maize hybrids (Zea mays) from Seed Origin: Croatia (Hybrids Institute of Zagreb BC), Standard (NS 640 and NS 640 Hybrids). There were investigated six maize hybrids: BC 288, BC 354, BC 394, BC 408, BC 418, BC 5982, while the comparative hybrids (Standard) are NS 444, Standard NS 640. The research was conducted in two agro-climatic regions of Kosovo (in Arbnesh, on the research farm of the Agriculture Institute of Kosovo, Peja -- Dukagjini's Plain, and in Pestovo -- Kosovo's Plain, the private property of the company called "Pestova". There were investigated these parameters; the height of the stump placement on the stalk, the height of the plant, the number of trams per plant, the length of the tram, the weight of the tram, the weight of grains on the tram, grain weight, humidity, the weight of 1000 grains (Absolute P.), seed protein content (%), the content of seed fat (%). The agro-climatic and pedological data of Kosovo, compared to the yields obtained in maize culture indicate that the genetic potential of hybrids cultivated here is not exploited. The obtained results showed that there were statistically significant differences at different levels for traits investigated across the hybrids included in the plots relative to the standard (NS 444, NS 640.) and between localities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This publication describes a study that measured how much uneven corn emergence. This publication provides some management recommendations for what to do planting process. My research takes this approach as a basis when examining the different tillage systems and their impact on the environment. In this context, conventional and a variety of no-tillage systems are examined in this paper. As a next step, it is examined how the environmental conditions created by the different tillage systems influence the emergence of maize hybrids. The analyses are carried out in a multifactorial, long-term tillage field experiment. The same batch of the same hybrid seed was sown in several crop years, and the effects of environmental conditions on the emergence process were examined. Environmental effects and emergence-related uptake were measured in the examined plots. The first emergence time measurements of the sown crop in the plots of each treatment were compared and relationships between these factors were investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing the yield stability in crop production is very important. Foliar fertilizers can be suitable for this purpose. In our study the effects of different foliar fertilizers were investigated for maize production. The experiment was set up in three replications, using random block design on the area of Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences in Szeged. The soil deeply salt meadow chernozem. The examined maize hybrid was DKC 4555. We applied three foliar fertilizers individually and combined with each other. 2021 was unfavourable year for maize. The amount of precipitation was lower by 113.58 mm than the average in the vegetative period of maize. We processed the obtained data by single factor variant analysis. The yield of the untreated control plot was 2.44 t ha-1. By using of foliar fertilizer treatments, we got higher yields (2.48-3.14 t ha-1). Although the foliar fertilizer treatments resulted in maximum 29% higher yield in this experiment, but statistically it was not significant. Based on our results we can establish, that using foliar fertilizers can improve the yield stability of maize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Europe, there has been a significant change in the way tillage is approached in recent years. This change is due to a growing awareness among farmers, politicians and society as a whole that soil is not a renewable resource in itself. From an agricultural point of view, the greatest impact on soil condition can be achieved through the use of the applied tillage systems. My research takes this approach as a basis when examining the different tillage systems and their impact on the environment. In this context, conventional and a variety of no-tillage systems are examined in this paper. As a next step, it is examined how the environmental conditions created by the different tillage systems influence the emergence of maize hybrids. The analyses are carried out in a multi-factorial, long-term tillage field experiment. The same batch of the same hybrid seed was sown in several crop years, and the effects of environmental conditions on the emergence process were examined. Environmental effects and emergence-related uptake were measured in the examined plots. Measurements of environmental effects included air temperature, precipitation, soil temperature measured at seeding depth, as well as % cover of stem residue on the surface in the treated plots. The first emergence time measurements of the sown crop in the plots of each treatment were compared and relationships between these factors were investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on the growth, phosphorus (P) uptake, and yield of maize in the presence or absence of tillage. The two-year field experiment was conducted in Kanagawa, Japan. Firstly, we investigated whether the presence of indigenous AMF communities in the roots, as determined by amplicon sequencing analysis, contributed to maize growth in Experiment 1, a 2-year field-based study. The findings revealed that the maize (Zea mays L.) in rotary tillage had higher P uptake, growth at the six-leaves collar stage, and yield, compared to no tillage. The AMF communities colonizing maize roots were altered by the presence or absence of tillage; specifically, tillage increased the dominance of the Gigasporaceae, whereas no tillage increased the dominance of the Acaulosporaceae. Based on these findings, we confirmed whether the inoculation of similar AMF strains, as analyzed in the field study of tillage practices on maize roots, produces growth-promoting effects for maize growth in a controlled pot experiment consistent with the results of the field experiment. For experiment 2, Dentiscutata cerradensis TK-1, Cetraspora pellucida SZ-3 (Gigasporaceae), Acaulospora morrowiae AP-5, and A. longula F-1 (Acaulosporaceae) were inoculated as AMF inocula for a pot experiment. The results showed that aboveground biomass did not change with any inoculum compared to the control. The P concentration in maize was higher for D. cerradensis TK-1 and C. pellucida SZ-3 inoculation than for the control. However, inoculation with A. morrowiae AP-5 and A. longula F-1 did not change P concentrations from the control. This indicates that D. cerradensis TK-1 and C. pellucida SZ-3 are more effective in promoting P uptake in maize than in A morrowiae AP-5 and A. longula F-1. Based on field and pot experiments, our findings suggest that tillage practices lead to alterations in the AMF communities that colonize the roots, and this shift may also contribute to changes in P uptake and crop growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2020 and 2021, a block trial was conducted with two herbicide preparations and four foliar feeding products for maize. The studies were carried out with maize, hybrid Knezha 509, grown under non-irrigated conditions after a wheat predecessor. The effect of the combined application of the herbicide preparations Stomp new 330 EK and Hemniko 24 SK and of the foliar microelement fertilizers for maize, Amalgerol, Vertex high N-34 and Foliar extra was studied. The influence of the studied treatment systems on maize height and grain yield was established. For the conditions of the experiment, the plants treated with a tank mixture of Hemniko 24 SC at a dose of 21 ml/da and Amalgerol at a dose of 500 ml/da had the highest height. The increase compared to economic control is 6.46% (for 2020) and 7.3% (for 2021). The highest grain yield (average for the study period) – 643.9 kg/da was obtained from the same variant of the experiment, and the increase compared to the economic control was 12.91%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable agriculture is a concept developed in the late 20th century to promote the production of crops using the biological capabilities of cultivated organisms while minimizing the human impact on agrocenoses. In recent years, the discovery of new types of bacteria that positively impact plant growth has opened up opportunities for the development of effective microbiological preparations and they offer promising prospects for adaptive crop production, enabling farmers to adjust to changing environmental conditions while reducing reliance on anthropogenic inputs. Corn, as the third most important grain crop after wheat and rice, is sensitive to a lack of moisture. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of adaptation and resistance of this plant to drought remains an urgent task. The aim of the work was to determine the effect of bacterization of Zea mays("Early gourmet 121") seeds by strains of rhizobacteria on the development of corn under conditions of artificial drought in a vegetation experiment. Strains of bacteria with known properties useful for plant growth and development were used – Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas putida, Azospirillum brasilense and Azotobacter chroococcum. The study investigated the indicators of seedlings and the content of mono-, oligo-, and soluble sugars in the leaves and the activity of polyphenol oxidase in the roots. The results showed that bacterization of seeds with suspensions of P. putida led to an increase in the length of roots in plants grown under moisture deficit conditions and significantly affected the above-ground parts. Positive effects on the mass of the above-ground parts were observed when seeds were bacterized with suspensions of P. putida, A. chroococcum and a mixture of bacterial suspensions and grown under sufficient irrigation. A similar positive effect occurred when seeds were bacterized only with a mixture of suspensions of the tested bacteria under drought conditions. Bacterization of corn seeds with P. putida or A. brasilense resulted in increased root mass and sugar accumulation in leaves when growing seedlings under conditions of moisture deficit. Additionally, inoculation of P. putida or A. chroococcum seeds increased the activity of polyphenol oxidase enzyme in seedling roots. While the bacteria showed a positive impact on corn development under some conditions, this effect was not observed when there was sufficient moisture. Therefore, we believe that a more promising approach for developing biological preparations based on beneficial microorganisms is to explore combinations of multiple soil bacteria strains. By identifying a mix of bacteria that can effectively stimulate plant growth in both stressed and favourable conditions, we can maximize the potential benefits for crop production. Such combinations of bacteria may enhance plant growth and yield not only during drought stress but also under optimal conditions, providing a more robust and reliable solution for crop management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]