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Grapes (Vitis spp.), cultivated globally for millennia, have emerged as a significant fruit commodity due to their exceptional nutritional profile and versatile applications in the food and beverage industry. This review comprehensively explores the intricate relationship between grape phytonutrients and quality attributes, providing a foundational understanding for optimizing grape production, processing, and consumption. The phytochemical composition of grapes is remarkably diverse, encompassing a rich array of phenolic compounds, including flavonoids, stilbenes, and anthocyanins. These bioactive molecules contribute significantly to grape organoleptic properties, such as color, flavor, and aroma, while also conferring potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticarcinogenic activities. The distribution and concentration of these phytonutrients vary across grape cultivars, developmental stages, and environmental factors, necessitating a comprehensive understanding for maximizing their beneficial attributes. Grape quality is a multifaceted construct influenced by a complex interplay of genetic, agronomic, and postharvest factors. Key quality parameters, including sensory attributes (flavor, aroma, texture), physicochemical properties (sugar content, acidity, pH), and compositional characteristics (phytonutrients, minerals, vitamins), collectively determine grape acceptability and market value. Moreover, postharvest handling and storage practices play a pivotal role in preserving grape quality and extending shelf life. By providing a holistic overview of grape characteristics, this review aims to contribute to the development of strategies for enhancing grape quality, expanding their utilization, and promoting human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two field experiments were conducted at Al-Hussainiya District, Sharkia Governorate, Northeast Delta Region, Egypt during the two successive winter seasons 2019/2020 and 2020/2021. This study was performed to investigate the response of five wheat cultivars i.e. Giza 171, Gemmeiza 12, Sids 14, Misr 1and Shandweel 1 to four N levels (0, 35, 70 and 105 kg /fad). The results showed that increasing N level up to 105 kg N/fad significantly increased plant height, number of tillers/m² at 15, 30 and 45 DAS, flag leaf area, chlorophyll content, protein content, protein yield/fad, carbohydrate content and carbohydrate yield/fad. Whereas the number of days to 50% heading was not significantly increased due to the increase of N level. The results cleared significant differences among wheat cultivars for plant height, number of tillers at 15, 30 and 40 DAS, flag leaf area, number of days to 50% heading and chlorophyll content, as well as protein and carbohydrate % and protein and carbohydrate yield/fad. Both Giza 171 and Gemmeiza 12 cultivars recorded the highest value of plant height, number of tillers/m² at 15, 30 and 45 DAS and flag leaf area as well as protein and carbohydrate yield/fad. However, Sids 14 cultivar recorded highest value towards the delay in 50% heading. The results also cleared that Gemmeiza 12 cultivar had the highest values of grain protein and carbohydrate content. However, the lowest value of protein and carbohydrate content was recorded by Shandweel 1 cultivar. In conclusion, wheat cultivars Giza 171 and Gemmieza 12 greatly responded to nitrogen fertilization under experimental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quinoa is a resilient crop known for its adaptability to diverse environmental conditions. This study examined the agronomic performance and ecological adaptability of quinoa across four distinct altitudes in the northwestern regions of China. Six quinoa genotypes were assessed for agronomic traits, phenology and yield performances, and nutritional quality characteristics in Yining city, Nilka County, Tekes County and Zhaosu County under varied environmental conditions. Our findings demonstrate significant variations in all measured traits, including agronomic and nutritional quality traits, across the various altitudes and genotypes. In Yining city, a warmer and lower altitude area, genotypes exhibit superior traits for fodder production, including increased branches, longer panicles, robust stems, and high seed protein content. Genotypes Jinli 1 and Beijing 2 achieve yields exceeding 3 tons per hectare (t/ha), highlighting the region's productivity. The Nilka and Tekes counties boasted the shortest quinoa crop cycles, with Jinli 1 yielding 4.05 t/ha seeds in Tekes County, exhibiting high protein and fat content alongside low saponins, making it a prime location for yield production. Zhaosu County, with its cooler climate and fertile chernozem soil, elicited high 1000 seed weight and more robust protein response than Nilka and Tekes counties, illustrating the impact of soil fertility on nutritional composition. Correlation analyses further elucidated that the plants characterized by shorter flowering times, crop cycles, compact inflorescence, and taller heights exhibited superior seed yields. Our study contributes significant insights into the ecological adaptability and nutritional dynamics of quinoa, with implications for sustainable crop production and food security in diverse agroecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is a dioecious species therefore manual or mechanical pollination must be carried out to obtain better yield and quality of fruits. An experiment was conducted at Date Palm Research Centre, Agricultural Research Station, S.K. Rajasthan Agricultural University, Bikaner from March 2019 to July 2020 to evaluation of most efficient technique of hand pollination. The female spath of Halawy cultivar were pollinated with various pollen techniques viz., inserting 5–6 strands/bunch (T1), 5% pollen dust (T2), 10% pollen dust (T3), 15% pollen dust (T4), 1 g/l suspension of pollen grain (T5), 2 g/l suspension of pollen grain (T6), 3 g/l suspension of pollen grain (T7) and 4 g/l suspension of pollen grain (T8). All the treatments were arranged in randomized block design. The maximum fruit set (77.13%) was recorded in treatment of inserting 5–6 strands/bunch (T1), whereas, minimum fruit drop (12.87%) was recorded with 3 g/l pollen suspension treatment (T7). The maximum yield of fruit/bunch (6.87 kg), yield/palm (38.16 kg), fruit weight (7.31 g), fruit length (3.86 cm), fruit diameter (2.02 cm), volume of fruit (8.11 cc), and pulp weight (6.08 g) was recorded with 3 g/l pollen suspension treatment (T7). The minimum fruit drop percentage (12.87%) and number of fruits/kg (135.13) were also recorded with 3 g/l pollen suspension treatment (T7). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acid lime (Citurs aurantifolia Swingle) belongs to the family Rutaceae and widely grown in tropical and subtropical regions of India. India is the largest producer of acid lime in the world. In India, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Bihar are grown in larger area. In Tamil Nadu, commercially cultivated in Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Turicorin, Dindigul, Madurai, Theni, Virudhunagar and Perambalur districts. Fruits are being used for preparation of pickles and beverages. They are rich in vitamin C, minerals and salts. Micronutrients such as Zinc, Iron and boron play a vital role in acid lime for growth and development. With this background, the present experiment on studies on the effect of micronutrients in acid lime var. PKM-1 was conducted at Citrus Research Station (TNAU), Sankarankovil during 2020-21 to study the effect of micronutrients on growth, yield and quality of acid lime. Foliar application was given twice in a season viz., the first spray was given during peak flowering stage and next spray during fruit set stage on selected five trees for each treatment at farmer's field. The trial was laid out in a randomized block design (RBD) with thirteen treatments and replicated thrice. The treatments details are 0.5 % Ferrous sulphate (T1), 1.0 % Ferrous sulphate (T2), 0.5 % Zinc sulphate (T3), 1.0 % Zinc sulphate (T4), 0.5 % Copper sulphate (T5), 1.0 % Copper sulphate (T6), 0.5 % Manganese sulphate (T7), 1.0 % Manganese sulphate (T8), 0.1 % borax (T9), 0.3 % borax (T10), 0.5 % Ferrous sulphate + 0.5 % Zinc sulphate + 0.5 % Copper sulphate + 0.5 % Manganese sulphate + 0.1 % borax (T11), 1.0 % Ferrous sulphate + 1.0 % Zinc sulphate + 1.0 % Copper sulphate + 1.0 % Manganese sulphate + 0.3 % borax (T12) and control (T13). Results revealed that T12 recorded the highest values of growth and yield contributing traits such as plant height (5.50 m), number of fruits per plant (652.20), fruit weight (41.50 g), number of seeds (8.11) and yield per plant (15.87 kg/tree) and quality traits viz., TSS (6.48 oBrix), juice content (35.50 ml), ascorbic acid content (35.02 mg/100g), acidity (9.10 %) and B:C ratio (2.15) and followed by T11 whereas the lowest values was observed in control (T13). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Anadolu (1300-0225) is the property of Anadolu Dergisi 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.)

A field experiment was conducted in the (Juwaba) Arund area of Ramadi city in the spring and autumn seasons 2017. To study the effect of intercropping systems and maize varieties on the yield and its components and the quality characters of maize crop, maize varieties (booth 106, 5018, 5012 and French cultivar) were used. The experiment was carried out according to the design of (RCBD) and in the order of the split plot, cultivar wear arranged in Maine poke the main plots and the secondary plots occupies (the intercropping systems). The results showed that the intercropping system 1: 2 was superior in number of ears per plant which gave 1.48 and 1.70 ear in the spring and autumn seasons respectively, also it was superior in the average of 500 grains weight in the spring season by giving 155.4 gm, also the same system in the grain yield in the autumn season by giving 10.96-ton ha-1. While the cultivars, The French cultivar was superior in spring season in seed yield which gave the highest value 7.99 ton ha-1, while the cultivar 5018 was superior in the autumn season by giving the highest grain yield was 11.48 ton ha-1, while the qualitative characters, sole crop for maize was excellence in the percentage of oil on the rest of the farming systems in the autumn season only gave higher mean about 4.74% ,while the intercropping system 1:2 exceeded the in percentage of protein in seeds about 10.32% in spring and autumn seasons.

Combining ability analysis was carried out with ten parents and twenty four F1’ s in Line × Tester mating design for the grain quality and nutritional traits viz., protein content, iron content and zinc content. The results showed that the dominance genetic variance is higher than that of additive genetic variance which indicated the predominance of non additive gene action for protein content, iron content, zinc content, hulling percentage, milling percentage, head rice recovery, kernel length, kernel breadth, kernel L/B ratio, linear elongation ratio, amylose content, gel consistency and gelatinization temperature whereas additive gene action was observed for kernel length after cooking. Among the lines, NLR 34449 was the best parent as it exhibited significant per se and gca effects for iron content, zinc content and important quality traits. In testers, CR Dhan 310 was found to be the best general combiner for protein content and Kodai for iron and zinc content which recorded highly significant positive gca effects. The hybrid ASD 16/ Kodai showed significant and desirable per se performance and sca effects for the nutritional traits viz., protein content, iron and zinc content. The hybrid RNR 15048/CB 14740 was adjudged as the best for the characters viz., kernel length, kernel L/B ratio, kernel length after cooking. These hybrids could be recommended for heterosis breeding to improve the nutritional and grain quality traits.

Copyright of Menoufia Journal of Plant Production is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) 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.)

Copyright of Anbar Journal of Agricultural Sciences 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.)

Fifty peanut stem necrosis tolerant groundnut varieties were evaluated for their genetic diversity with respect to kernel yield, yield attributing characters and qualitative traits at Agricultural Research Station (ARS), Kadiri. The genotypes were classified into eight clusters, based on Mahalanobis D2 statistic. Results on inter-cluster distances revealed maximum diversity between genotypes of cluster IV and VIII. Intra-cluster distance was highest for cluster VIII, indicating the existence of high variability within this cluster. A perusal of the results on cluster means revealed high for pod yield per plant, kernel yield per plant, haulm yield and 100 kernel weight for cluster II, while days to 50 per cent flowering, number of filled pods per plant, sound mature kernel per cent and protein content were more for cluster IV. Similarly, high SPAD Chlorophyll Meter Reading (SCMR) for cluster V indicated the desirability of genotypes from these clusters for improvement of kernel yield and disease resistance. Further, SCMR at 60 days after sowing, protein content, harvest index per cent and 100 kernel weight accounted for 80.98 per cent of the total genetic divergence indicating their importance in the choice of parents for hybridization programme

Alfalfa is one of the most important crops mainly grown for forage and hay production in the world. Present study was aimed to investigate the green herbage and hay yield as well as some quality parameters such as acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), digestible dry matter (DDM), crude protein, dry matter contents, organic matter, crude oil and raw fiber of 9 different alfalfa cultivars. This study was conducted during two consecutive years (2015 and 2016) at two locations in Turkey (Sivas -Center and Sivas-Altinoluk). The mean values of ADF, NDF, DDM, crude protein (CP), green forage yield and dry forage yield were 43.73%, 52.69%, 50.70%,19.71%, 59163 kg ha-1 and 13866 kg ha-1 respectively. Dry forage yield reflected a positive and highly significant correlation with plant height, number of tillers and fresh forage yield. The varieties called Delta and Azzura performed very well for both locations during the whole period of study and also expressed a great level of winter resistance. Kayseri is a local cultivar in Turkey and it is revealed to be poor in terms of all the studied traits. According to the results of the study, it was concluded that the cultivars, Delta and Azzura, could be successfully grown in the continental climate regions of Turkey, and they could be also used in the breeding program of alfalfa to develop alfalfa varieties with high winter resistance and high yield and quality of forage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Henan Agricultural Sciences is the property of Editorial Board of Journal of Henan Agricultural Sciences 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.)

Cadmium (Cd) stress causes serious disruptions in plant metabolism, physio-biochemical responses, crop yield, and grain quality characteristics. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the role of molybdenum (Mo) in mitigating Cd-induced adversities on plant growth, yield attributes, and grain quality characteristics of a popular aromatic rice cultivar ‘Xiangyaxiangzhan’. The Mo was applied at 0.15 mg kg−1 soil in both control (no Cd) and Cd-contaminated (100 mg kg−1) soils. A treatment with Mo-free (−Mo) soil was also maintained for comparison. The results showed that Cd toxicity significantly (p < 0.05) reduced plant dry biomass, grain yield, photosynthetic efficiency, and pigment contents, and impaired chloroplast ultra-structural configuration and simultaneously destabilized the plant metabolism owing to higher accumulation of hydrogen peroxide, electrolyte leakage, and malondialdehyde contents. However, Mo supply improved grain yield and 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline content by 64.75% and 77.09%, respectively, under Cd stress, suggesting that Mo supply mitigated Cd-provoked negative effects on yield attributes and grain quality of aromatic rice. Moreover, Mo supply enhanced photosynthesis, proline, and soluble protein content, and also strengthened plant metabolism and antioxidant defense through maintaining higher activities and transcript abundance of ROS-detoxifying enzymes at the vegetative, reproductive, and maturity stages of aromatic rice plants under Cd toxicity. Collectively, our findings indicated that Mo supply strengthened plant metabolism at prominent growth stages through an improved enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defense system, thereby increasing grain yield and quality characteristics of aromatic rice under Cd toxicity.

Copyright of Journal of Plant Production is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) 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.)

Copyright of Yuzuncu Yil Universitesi Journal of Agricultural Sciences (YYU J Agr Sci) is the property of Yuzuncu Yil University 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.)

【Objective】The present paper was conducted to identify effect of using durum wheat to improve common wheat in Yunnan plateau area. 【Method】12 new wheat lines from the distant hybridization of inter-gener and 19 new wheat lines from interspecific hybridization were used for the study materials. The difference of yield traits and quality traits of 31 new wheat lines obtained from two different ways was studied by t-test. 【Result】The yield and effective spikes of the inbred wheat lines by the distant cross of durum wheat and common wheat are higher than the inbred wheat lines by the cross of common wheat and common wheat, but the grain weight and grain number per ear were lower. The yield difference was very significant(t = 3. 311**), and the difference of effective panicles was very significant(t = 2. 157*), but there was no significant difference in 1000 grain weight and grain number per spike(t =-0. 806, t =-0. 349). The standard rate of water absorption, bulk density, stable time and hardness value of the inbred wheat lines by the distant cross of durum wheat and common were higher than that of the new wheat lines obtained from interspecific hybridization, but protein content, wet gluten, formation time, sedimentation value and powder yield were lower. All quality traits of new wheat lines obtained from two different ways were no significant difference. 【Conclusion】In the Yunnan plateau area, durum wheat resources could be used improving yield of common wheat by increasing the effective panicle, but the improvement effect of quality traits was not significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on grain quality characters of 31 pre-released cultures and high yielding varieties of rice revealed that the quality traits viz., kernel breadth, kernel length/ breadth ratio, test weight and water uptake registered high variability estimates both at genotypic and phenotypic level. The lowest genotypic coefficient of variation was observed in volume expansion ratio, kernel length after cooking and amylose content. Hence and amylase content may be considered as important selection indices to bring improvement in physical and chemical traits in rice.

In this study, sausage from spiny dog fish (Squalus acanthias) was produced. The purpose of study was to determine sausage made from shark meat was consumable or not. In order to find out quality characters of shark meat, paste and products, physical and chemical analysis were carried out. No significant differences for pH were observed among the meat, paste and product (P>0.05). Due to similar studies; the quantity of seperated gel and seperated fat, water holding capacity and loss of weight caused by cooking method were found low in paste of sausage while process efficiency was found high. In addition, chemical analysis of water (moisture), protein and fat amounts were not higher than the required values. In conclusion, the quality evaluation results indicated that shark (by-catch fish species) meat can be used for sausage processing.

Studies were conducted on 20 rice hybrids with checks to assess the genetic variability, heritability and correlationamong the genotypes for fifteen grain quality characters and grain yield. Seeds collected from the thirteen hybridsand check varieties were used for grain quality analysis. To assess the cooking qualities, a total of 30 unbrokenmilled grains were measured for their length and breadth before cooking. After cooking the grains in water for 10minutes, they were cooked in boiling water for 20 minutes. The cooked grains were drained by placing on mottingpaper. The ratio of kernel length after cooking to kernel breath after cooking was expressed as kernel elongationratio. The linear elongation ratio and breadth-wise elongation ratio was calculated as ratio of kernal length aftercooking to kernal length and ratio of kernal breadth after cooking to kernel breadth respectively. The ratio of volumeexpansion and the increase in weight after cooking of the kernels was also recorded. The hybrids viz., TNRH 160,TNRH 180, TNRH 174, TNRH 173, TNRH 179 recorded medium slender grain type, high head rice recovery, highmilling percentage, high LER and low BER and intermediate GT. These hybrids are not having aroma which ispreferred by south Indians. Hence, these hybrids will be exploited.

Lead (Pb) caused interruptions with normal plant metabolism, crop yield losses and quality issues are of great concern. This study assessed the physio-biochemical responses, yield and grain quality traits and Pb distribution proportions in three different fragrant rice cultivars i.e., Meixiangzhan-2, Xinagyaxiangzhan and Basmati-385. Plants were exposed to 400, 800, and 1,200 ppm of Pb while pots without Pb were taken as control (0 ppm). Our results showed that Pb toxicity significantly (P < 0.05) reduced photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll contents and carotenoids) and inducted oxidative stress with increased production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malanodialdehyde (MDA) and leaves leachates; while such effects were more apparent in Xinagyaxiangzhan than other two rice cultivars. Pb stress differentially affected the production protein, proline and soluble sugars; however the production rates were higher at heading stage (HS) than maturity stage (MS). Furthermore, Pb stress altered superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidases (POD), catalases (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidases (APX) activities and glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) production in all rice cultivars at both HS and MS. All Pb levels reduced the yield and yield components of all rice cultivars; nonetheless such reductions were observed highest in Xinagyaxiangzhan (69.12%) than Meixiangzhan-2 (58.05%) and Basmati-385 (46.27%) and resulted in grain quality deterioration. Significant and positive correlations among rice yields with productive tillers/pot and grains per panicle while negative with sterility percentage were also observed. In addition, all rice cultivars readily taken up the Pb contents from soil to roots and transported upward in different proportions with maximum in roots followed by stemss, leaves, ears and grains. Higher proportions of Pb contents in above ground plant parts in Xinagyaxiangzhan possibly lead to maximum losses in this cultivar than other two cultivars; while less damage in Basmati-385 might be related to strong anti-oxidative defense system and lower proportions of Pb contents in its aerial parts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of 9 CMS lines and 6 restoring lines through incomplete diallel cross combination, 54 combination varieties were taken as research materials in this paper, and their 7 quality indexes of brown rice rate, head rice rate, chalky grain rate, chalkiness degree, amylose content, gel consistency and grain type (length/width) were analyzed. The results showed that the 7 quality traits difference of series of varieties with different sterile lines was the biggest, to the most significant level. The 7 quality traits difference of series of varieties with different restoring lines was a little, the majority of the difference was not significant, the little difference reached significant level; And the 7 quality traits the difference between restorer line itself was large, the quality characteristic of restorer lines in the varieties of difficult to express or show less, grain quality characteristics of the breed sterile lines played a determining role. The study also showed that in accordance with the high quality rice of 7 quality requirements, in 9 male sterile lines Chuangu A, Zhongzhe A and Yixiang 1A with the majority of species could reach high quality rice standards, and was the ideal male sterile line in high quality breeding of hybrid rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taken the flue-cured tobacco variety ‘Yunyan 87' as tested materials, the experiments in the uniform design with 4 factors and 5 levels, including transplanting time,nitrogen fertilizer, remained leaves and plant density, were conducted for 2 years in succession, the chemical component contents and yields of flue-cured tobacco under different cultivation modes in Xianfeng county, Hubei province were determined, and the influencing factors to quality characters and flavor type in flue-cured tobacco were analyzed, meanwhile the flavor types and the influencing factors of quality characters were studied with a stepwise discriminatory analysis and regression analysis. The results showed that total soluble sugars, reducing sugars and nitrogen/nicotine ratio influentially determined flue-cured tobacco flavor types. According to stepwise discriminatory analysis results, cultivation modes N1, N4 and N5 produced the intense-to-delicate intermediate flavor type whereas cultivation modes N2 and N3 were the intense-to-intermediate flavor type. The regression analysis revealed that a suitable cultivation mode transplanting time was April 30, nitrogen fertilizer was 3 g/plant, and remained leaves was 23, which would provide a suitable cultivation mode for characteristic tobacco production with high yield and good quality in Xianfeng county. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The studies formulated with grain amaranth cv. suvarna to trace the duration and stage of physiological maturation by observing the developmental changes with tagged inflorescences revealed that the seeds attained physiological maturation 30 days after 50% anthesis with the physical indices of maximization of spike length, dry weight of spike and seed. The moisture content of seed at the time of maturation was 20.3%, while the dry weight of seed was 90 mg/100 seeds and the germination was 94%. The visual indices for maturation were the turning of spike to white group 155C color and the seed to orange white group 159B. The delayed harvest of spike, 5 days after physiological maturation (35 days after 50% anthesis) leads to shattering of seeds up to 6%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking sixteen japonica rice varieties from Yunnan of China and Korea growing at three locations with different altitudes in Yunnan Plateau as test materials, this paper studied the effects of different ecological conditions on their grain quality, including brown rice length (BRL), brown rice width (BRW), length-width ratio (L/W), chalky rate (CR), whiteness (WH), amylose content (AC), protein content (PC), and alkali digestion value (ADV), and their starch RVA profile, including peak viscosity (PKV), hot viscosity (HTV), final viscosity (FLV), breakdown viscosity (BDV), setback viscosity (SBV), consistence viscosity( CTV), peak time (PeT), and pasting temperature (PaT). Of all the test parameters, SBV had the largest coefficient of variation. The coefficients of variation of BRL, CR, AC, PC, ADV, FLV, SBV, and PeT of Yunnan varieties were higher than those of Korean varieties, while the BRW, L/W, WH, PKV, HTV, BDV, CTV, and PaT of Korean varieties had higher coefficients of variation than those of Yunnan varieties. With increasing altitude, the BRL, BRW, L/W, WH, AC, ADV, FLV, and CTV of Yunnan varieties, and the BRL, BRW, WH, PC, PKV, HTV and BDV of Korean varieties decreased significantly, while the CR, PC, HTV, and PeT of Yunnan varieties, and the L/W, AC, ADV, SBV and CTV of Korean varieties increased significantly. The CR of Korean varieties had no obvious change. The PKV, BDV, and PaT of Yunnan varieties and the PaT of Korean varieties increased after an initial decrease, whereas the SBV of Yunnan varieties and the FLV and PeT of Korean varieties were in reverse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper discusses the results of investigations from 1991-1994. Their purpose is to estimate the influence of under-plant crops with straw on the yielding and nutritive value of table potato cv. Bronka. This experiment investigated such combinations of organic fertilization as control treatment (without organic fertilization), farmyard manure, and also under- -plant crops of red clover, a mixture of red clover with Italian ryegrass, Italian ryegrass over-ploughed in whole or in form of after-harvest residues in combination with straw. The content of dry matter and macroelements (N, P, K, Ca, Mg) was marked in investigated organic fertilizers. In the first years after organic fertilization table potatoes were cultivated. During the harvest, the yield of tubers, dry mass was estimated on each field, and then tests were made to mark the content of dry mass, starch, C vitamin and total protein. The under-plant crops over ploughed in whole in combinations with straw gave needed more organic matter, about 45.1%, than farmyard manure. But after-harvest residues with straw relating to this feature were equal to farmyard manure. Among the investigated forms of fertilization the highest rate of macroelements were put into the soil in the mixture of red clover with Italian ryegrass over ploughed in whole in combinations with straw. The highest yields of dry mass of tubers were achieved from treatments which had been fertilized with red clover over ploughed in whole or in form of after-harvest residues in combinations with straw. The nutritive value of potato fertilized with red clover and also mixtures of red clover with Italian ryegrass over ploughed in whole or in form of after-harvest residues in combinations with straw was equal to the nutritive value of tubers fertilized with farmyard manure.

Twenty-five rice varieties were evaluated for their genetic diversity with regards to grain yield, yield components and grain quality characters. The varieties were classified into six clusters, based on Mahalanobis D2 statistics. Geographical and genetic diversity were observed to be unrelated, as varieties from diverse geographical regions were placed in the same cluster, while varieties from the same centre were grouped into different clusters. Results on inter-cluster distances revealed maximum diversity between varieties of cluster V and VI. Intra-cluster distance was maximum for cluster III, indicating the existence of variability within the cluster for the characters studied. A perusal of the results on cluster means revealed higher grain yield per plant, more number of productive tillers and number of filled grains per panicle for cluster II, while long panicle length and high head rice recovery were noticed for cluster VI, indicating the desirability of selection of varieties from these clusters for improvement of grain yield and the above yield and quality traits. Further, days to maturity and 1000 seed weight, together had accounted for 70.33 per cent of the total genetic divergence indicating their importance in the choice of parents for hybridization programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]