Correlation analysis of HMW sub-units and baking quality-related traits in Indian wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars

High molecular weight (HMW) glutenin subunits and baking quality-related traits were studied in 50 Indian wheat landraces. Scoring of germplasm based on electrophoresis patterns using the Payne method showed that the quality scores varied from 4 to 8. Based on this scoring, 13 cultivars were ranked as superior. Cluster analysis based on electrophoresis patterns and Jaccard similarity criteria divided the cultivars into five groups, with 13 cultivars in the first cluster. There was no similarity between the grouping pattern based on HMW glutenin sub-units and quality-related traits. In the present study, the quality of the flour of six wheat varieties was weak, so these varieties were only suitable for biscuit making. The flour of 31 wheat varieties showed medium strength. The remaining 13 wheat varieties had strong flour. Considering the great variation observed for quality-related traits and HMW glutenin sub-units, it can be concluded that these cultivars are potential sources of desirable quality traits for use in bread wheat breeding programmes to improve bread-making quality.

Role of gypsum and sulphur application in ameliorating saline soil and enhancing rice productivity

The main objective of this work was to study the importance of applying gypsum and sulphur to the soil to inhibit the hazardous effects of soil salinity stress on the vegetative growth and yield quantity and quality of rice plants (Oriza sativa L., cv. Sakha 101) grown on a salt-affected soil irrigated with low quality water from the El-Salam (El-Shikh Zaid) Canal. Two field experiments were carried out during two successive seasons (2011, 2012) at Sahl El-Tina plain, village 4, Gilbana town. Gypsum was applied at a rate of 10.7 Mg ha−1)1 while sulphur was added in two forms, as elemental sulphur at a rate of 4.8 Mg ha−1) or as sulphuric acid at a rate of 1190 L ha−1. The results could be summarized as follows: The highest values of rice yield and its attributes as well as nutrient content and uptake were obtained after treatment with sulphuric acid. The treatment effects decreased in the order: sulphuric acid > sulphur > gypsum > control. The highest proline content (21.3 μmol g−1) was recorded after the gypsum treatment.

Relationship between the physiological properties and yield of winter wheat varieties on chernozem soil

The relationship between the yield, chlorophyll content and leaf area index of five winter wheat genotypes was investigated in two different growing seasons on chernozem soil. The results suggest that the genotype and the nutrient supply had a considerable influence on both the yield and the physiological traits, while the growing season modified the parameters in a significant manner. The results proved that the chlorophyll content and leaf area index had a direct influence on the yield; varieties developing larger leaf area and leaf chlorophyll content had higher yields even in different seasons, but the yield was significantly influenced by the decline in the chlorophyll content after flowering. It could be concluded that studying the chlorophyll content and leaf area values simultaneously during the more important phenological phases (especially from flowering to the early period of grain-filling) makes it possible to predict the yield from the trends.

Effect of soil drought on the yield structure, protein and phenolics content in Pisum sativum and Lupinus luteus

The aim of this study was to determine the susceptibility to drought of selected genotypes of pea and yellow lupine. An analysis was made of the changes in protein and phenolics content and how they affect the yield parameters. The plant material consisted of six genotypes of pea and yellow lupine. Seedlings (plants with 5–6 leaves) were subjected to drought at 25% field water capacity for 2 weeks. Soil drought decreased the relative water content (RWC) in the leaves of pea and lupine. On the 14th day of drought the increase in protein content was almost two-folds higher in lupine plants than in pea. The phenolics content showed an increase in both pea and lupine plants on the 1st day of drought (20% and 15%, respectively), while on the 14th day the phenolics content decreased by 2% in pea, and was not significantly different in lupine. Soil drought reduced the values of almost all yield components. Only the 1000-seed weight increased under drought conditions. Based on the drought susceptibility index values for RWC, protein and phenolics content, seed yield and biomass, the least drought-susceptible genotypes were Batuta (pea) and Morocco 4 (lupine), as they had the lowest values of these parameters.

Path analysis of genotype × environment interaction in wheat-barley disomic addition lines

In order to locate QTLs controlling the phenotypic stability and drought tolerance of yield and yield components in barley, seven disomic addition lines were sown together with their parents (donor and recipient) in a randomized complete block design with three replications under four rainfed and irrigated conditions. The descriptive diagram of yield and yield components exhibited a genotype (G) × environment (E) interaction and moderate variability over different environments, indicating the possibility of selection for stable and drought-tolerant entries. The AMMI stability value (ASV) and yield stability index (YSI) discriminated addition lines 2H and 4H as the most stable and droughttolerant.Path analysis revealed that the relative contribution of the number of seeds per plant (NSPP) (0.71) to grain yield (GY) was higher than that of the number of seeds per spike (SPS) (−0.44) and of thousand-seed weight (TSW) (−0.14). Therefore, the contribution of NSPP to the stability of GY over different environments was higher than that of other yield components. In other words, the instability of GY was caused by TSW and SPS in different environments. Path analysis on the drought susceptibility index revealed that most of the QTLs controlling drought tolerance and drought susceptibility in barley are located on chromosomes 3H and 6H, respectively.

Changes in the powdery mildew resistance and biomass of wheat genotypes at normal and elevated atmospheric CO2 levels

Over the last two centuries the atmospheric CO2 level has exhibited a consistent rise, leading to an increase in the greenhouse effect. This level is now 35% higher than it was before the industrial revolution. On the basis of various scenarios from the Special Report on Emissions it is expected to rise from the present level of 385 ppm to 650–970 ppm by the end of the 21st century.Plant biomass and resistance of winter wheat to various powdery mildew pathotypes were investigated at normal (400 ppm) and enhanced (700 ppm) atmospheric CO2 levels in a greenhouse. Wheat cultivars Ukrainka and Mv Hombár, and 12 lines from the mapping population developed from their cross and exhibiting different level of resistance were tested.The results showed that the atmospheric CO2 level had little influence on the resistance of winter wheat to powdery mildew infections based on the percentage of leaf area covered whole plant percentage severity. In response to higher atmospheric CO2 level there was an increase in the aboveground biomass of the winter wheat genotypes tested in the present work, leading to an increase in plant height and in stem and leaf weight. However, the number of tillers and the grain yield did not increase compared with the values recorded at normal atmospheric CO2 level.

Effect of irrigation intervals and fertilizers on chemical composition, minerals and fatty acids of safflower (Carthamus Tinctorius L.) seed

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of different irrigation intervals (every 7 and every 14 days) and fertilizers (farmyard manure, pellet granules and urea) on the composition of safflower seed and its oil stability. Fertilizers have a significant effect on the carbohydrate, fat, ash and protein contents of safflower seed oil. Pellet granules slightly increased the carbohydrate content, while farmyard manure increased the fat and oil contents of safflower seed oil. On the other hand, urea and farmyard manure increased the fibre content compared with pellets, which slightly decreased it. Irrigation every 7 days increased the protein content. Farmyard manure significantly (P < 0.05) increased the mineral content (iron, potassium and calcium). The use of FTIR spectroscopy revealed that the period of storage significantly (P < 0.05) affects oil stability. The peak intensities (absorbencies) recorded for oil stored at zero time changed after storage for 1, 2 and 3 days, indicating a clear effect of storage time on the oil, and the bands 3008, 2923, 2854, 1747, 1654, 1463, 1377, 1238, 1163, 1099 and 723 exhibited a clear decrease in the intensity of the individual group vibrations, indicating a decrease in oil stability.

Effects of nutrient supply and sowing time on the yield and pathological traits of winter oilseed rape

The fertilizer response of oilseed rape (Brassica napus var. oleifera f. biennis L.) was investigated on the chernozem soil in Eastern Hungary in a three-year experiment with two sowing times. The results proved that oilseed rape had high fertilizer (N+PK) demand. In the experiments, N = 210 kg ha−1 +PK proved to be the optimal fertilizer dose. The yield-increasing effect of fertilization was 800 to 1300 kg ha−1, depending on the year. The maximum yield (5000 kg ha−1) was obtained in the year with least infection. The excellent natural nutrient-providing ability of chernozem soil was confirmed by the high yield level (3000–4200 kg ha−1) of the control treatment (N = 0 kg ha−1 +PK). The results showed that the specific fertilizer utilization efficiency of oilseed rape decreased if the dose of N+PK fertilizer was increased (being 19–27 kg/1 kg NPK in the control treatment and 11–12 kg/1 kg NPK in the N = 210 kg ha−1 +PK treatment). On the other hand, fertilization improved the water utilization from 4–8 kg/1 mm precipitation + irrigation water to 11–14 kg/1 mm precipitation + irrigation water. The results of these studies confirmed that hybrid rape had excellent adaptability to the sowing time. The results of Pearson’s correlation analysis showed a strong correlation (0.6*–0.9**) between the spring precipitation and temperature and the most important diseases (Sclerotinia, Alternaria, Peronospora, Phoma) attacking oilseed rape.

Comparative study of viability measurement methods in crop plants

The aim of the present study was to find the best way of measuring the viability of root and leaf samples from various plant species (pea, wheat and maize) exposed to different concentrations of the heavy metal Cd. A comparison was made of three viability tests, namely electrolyte leakage measurements, and TTC and NBT reduction. The results suggested that electrolyte leakage was the most useful method for measuring leaf viability, being simple, fast, reliable and reproducible. The TTC reduction measurement proved the most useful for maize roots, while NBT reduction was the best method for detecting the viability of pea and wheat roots.

Correlation between stability, structural indicators and organic matter in soils used for growing malting barley

Soil structure stability depends on several factors and its assessment is conducted using different methods and prediction indices. One of the indicators is soil organic matter (SOM), since this helps to keep mineral particles together against destabilizing forces such as wetting and raindrop impact. However, previous studies have emphasized the relationship between aggregate stability and SOM content without considering its type or quality. Therefore, in this study the association between the quality and content of SOM and the structural stability of the surface layer was evaluated in three soils used for growing malting barley in the southern part of Hidalgo State, Mexico. With simple random sampling nine observation points were selected in each soil, where samples were taken in order to determine the stable aggregate size distribution, particle size distribution, content and fractionation of SOM, and the prediction indices of surface sealing and crusting derived from these characteristics. The soils showed low structural stability (except in Apan), as shown by the percentage runoff recorded in the field. There was a close association between the size (from 4 to 2 mm and <0.25 mm) of water-stable aggregates and the different fractions of SOM, while the fulvic acid (FA) fraction had a negative relationship with smaller aggregates (R = −0.84). Finally, it was found that only the FAO crusting index was able to predict the structural stability level in the soil.