New amylopectin self-pollinated lines of waxy maize subspecies

Background. Increasing the production of native and modified starch from maize requires raw materials with high starch content in grain. Materials and methods. An experimental panel of 780 simple high-starch maize hybrids produced with CMS-S and CMS-C lines underwent two-year testing. Starch content in the grain of the lines and their hybrids was assessed with IR spectrometry. Native starch content in the grain of hybrids with highest yields was measured at the All-Russian Research Institute of Starch and Starch-Containing Raw Materials Processing using the method proposed by L. P. Nosovskaya with coauthors. Responses to CMS were scored according to G. S. Galeev’s scale. Results. Grain starch content was found to vary from 58% to 72% DMB throughout the tested panel. IR spectrometry helped to identify 22 hybrids with high (72.03–72.67%) starch content, and 5 hybrids promising for deep grain processing, combining high protein (10.3–13.53%) and oil (3.77–5.03%) levels with high starch content (69.02–70.4%) in their grain. Native starch extraction using L. P. Nosovskaya’s method showed that grain starch content in the best 68 hybrids ranged from 70.03 to 71.95% DMB. The collection was ranked according to the main heterotic groups: 57 lines of Iowa Dent, 26 lines of Stiff Stalk Synthetic, and 28 lines of Lancaster. For CMS-S and CMS-C types, 33 and 6 maintainers, and 9 and 8 restorers were selected, respectively. The hybrids were distributed across the following FAO maturity groups for maize: FAO 200–299 (14 hybrids), FAO 300–399 (7), FAO 400–449 (21), and FAO 450–500 (29). Conclusion. Assessing agronomic and breeding prospects of the best 68 hybrids between high-starch maize lines and sterile testers proved their potential for producing native starch to at least 70–72% DMB. Five hybrids were identified as promising for yielding native starch (69.02–70.4% DMB), as well as protein (10.3–13.5% DMB) and oil (3.77–5.03% DMB) by-products during deep grain processing.

The article presents the results of researching the impact of foliar fertilization with microfertilizers Ecolist Mono Zinc and Rostok Corn, plant growth regulator Vimpel and bacterial preparation Biomag on the complex of economically valuable traits and productivity of maize hybrids of different maturity groups (early ripening group: Kharkiv 195 MV, (FAO 190), DKS 2960 (FAO 250), DKS 2949 (FAO 190), DKS 2971 (FAO 200), middle-early: DKS 3472 (FAO 270), DKS 3420 (FAO 280), Pereyaslavsky 230 SV (FAO 230), DKS 3871 (FAO 280) and medium-ripe: DK 391 (FAO 320), DK 440 (FAO 350), DKS 4964 (FAO 390), DK 315 (FAO 310)). The dependence of foliar fertilization usage and the starch content in corn grain is generalized. One-time foliar feeding provided a starch content increase by 0.1-0.5%, double feeding - by 0.85-1.30%. The yield of starch was in hybrids DK 391 - 8,748 t / ha, DK 440 - 8,821 t / ha, DKS 4964 - 9,559 t / ha, DK 315 - 9,314 t / ha with a single feeding and with a double feeding it was significantly higher - 9,220 t / ha, - 9,384 t / ha, 10,142 t / ha, 9,993 t / ha, accordingly. The highest yield of starch in all hybrids was provided by double application of microfertilizer Ecolist Mono Zinc (8,983-10,595 t / ha) and Rostok corn (8,721-10,597 t / ha), the increase in starch yield with the use of these fertilizers was 0.5-1.8 t / ha, relative to control (water supply). It is established that in dry years with high temperatures (2012) there is a decrease in starch content, regardless of the studied vegetation factors and cultivation technology. Foliar fertilization contributed to an increase in the starch content of the grain (by 0.1-0.46% in 2011-2013) compared to the control (without foliar fertilization). The highest starch content in the grain of the studied maize hybrids (70.92-76.72% and 71.45-76.72%) was provided by foliar fertilization with microfertilizers Ecolist Mono Zinc and Rostock corn. A decrease in the starch content was observed during crop treatment with the plant growth regulator Vimpel in the phase of 5-7 corn leaves on hybrids DKS 3420 by 0.36%, Pereyaslavsky 230SV by 0.11% and DKS 3871 by 0.5%, respectively.

Statisticians use words deliberately and specifically, but not necessarily in the way they are used colloquially. For example, in general parlance ‘statistics’ can mean numerical information, usually data. In contrast, one large statistics textbook defines the term ‘statistic’ to denote ‘a characteristic of a sample, such as the average score’, and the word ‘parameter’ to denote ‘a characteristic of a population’. However, for statisticians, statistics means more than just numerical information or a characteristic of a sample. Statistics is also a discipline. It is relevant to all areas of scientific enquiry, and spans study design, data collection, developing methods of analysis and analysing data, interpreting results, and making predictions. Other words that statisticians use carefully, and very particularly, form the cornerstones of statistical reasoning, words such as probability, significance, likelihood. Why does this matter? Well, it may well explain why non-statisticians struggle with the ideas and concepts used by statisticians. The reader is confused by the terminology, not the least because the statistician uses familiar words in different ways, a jargon similar to other professional vocabularies.

The article presents results of 2019-2021 studies of economic and technological features of 10 spring triticale cultivars bred at the Yuriev Plant Production Institute of NAAS. The grain yield of spring triticale cultivars ranged from 4.07 to 5.00 t/ha. By growing period, the cultivars were medium-ripening (90-94 days); the plant height was 84-108 cm. The test weight was high (717-753 g/L); the thousand kernel weight was 38.1-40.9 g; the protein content was 11.9-13.0%; and the starch content was 58.2-60.1%. The flour strength (W-index) was 68-154; the gluten content was 17.7-22.0%; the GDI was 62-82 units; the dough resilience (P) was 35-69 mm; the dough extensibility (L) was 53-74 mm; and the dough equilibrium (P/L) was 0.6-1.3. The loaf volume was 400-500 mm 3 ; the total bread-making score was 7.4-8.8 points. There were direct correlations between the total bread-making score and three parameters: loaf volume (r = 0.86), gluten quality (r = 0.51) and dough resilience (r = 0.30).

Creating high-resistant starch rice by simultaneous editing of SS3a and SS3b.

Purpose. To determine the yield and quality of different kidney bean varieties. Methods. Field (determination of yield); laboratory (determination of the 1000 kernel weight and the protein and starch content in grain); mathematical and statistical analysis. Results. On average, over two years of research, the highest yield (3.31 t/ha) was obtained in ‘Podolianka’ variety, while the lowest (1.02 t/ha) in ‘Dvadesiatytsia’. The yield at the level of 2.04–2.72 t/ha was obtained in varieties ‘Bilosnizhka’, ‘Pervomaiska’, ‘Oniks’, ‘Bukovynka’, ‘Mavka’, ‘Zhuravka’, and ‘Shchedra’. However, the yield was 22–62% lower compared to ‘Podolianka’ variety. The yield of the rest studied varieties varied from 1.29 to 1.81 t/ha. The highest 1000 kernel weight was obtained in ‘Podolianka’ and ‘Bukovynka’ varieties (230 and 245 g, respectively). This indicator was the lowest in ‘Zlatko’ and ‘Dvadesiatytsia’, 106 and 113 g, respectively. In the rest of studied varieties, 1000 kernel weight ranged between 123 and 210 g. The highest protein content of 30.2% was obtained in ‘Onyx’ variety. In ‘Zhuravka’ and ‘Podolianka’ varieties, the protein content was 27.0–27.2%. The lowest protein content of 19.4% was obtained in the grain of ‘Dvadesiatytsia' variety. In the rest of varieties, this indicator was 20.0–26.0%. At the same time, the stability index of protein content formation was high – 0.94–0.99. The protein content of kidney bean grains in 2022 was higher (19.7–30.4%) and in 2021 lower (19.1–30.0%). The content of starch in kidney bean grains changed inversely proportional to the protein content, i.e., in 2021, this indicator was higher and in 2022 lower. However, the starch content changed little depending on the year, as the stability index was high and ranged between 0.97 and 0.99. Conclusions. The highest yield of 3.10–3.52 t/ha was obtained in ‘Podolianka’ variety. At the same time, the content of protein and starch in the grain was 26.4–28.0 and 40.5–41.5%, respectively; the 1000 kernel weight was 219–241 g. The highest protein content was in ‘Onyx’ variety – 30.0–30.4% for the yield of 2.00–2.64 t/ha. At the same time, 1000-kernel weight in this variety was 146–164 g. Kidney bean varieties react differently to weather conditions as the yield stability index varied between 0.52 and 0.88. However, the stability index for the formation of protein content was high – 0.94–0.99.

The present study was carried out at the Maize Researches Department in General Commission for Science agriculture Research (G-C-S-A-R) Damascus, Syria. This study aimed at estimating the potence ratio and phenotypic correlations and path analysis coefficient analysis for protein, oil, and starch content in grain, grain yield per plant and 100-kernel weight. Twenty eight single cross hybrids were produced using a half diallel cross in 2008 cropping season and consequently evaluated during 2009 cropping season. Potence ratio results indicated that partial and over-dominance gene effects played a major role in inheritance of protein, oil, and starch content in grain while, over-dominance gene effects were the most dominant in the inheritance grain yield per plant and 100-kernel weight. Positive and high significantly correlations were observed between protein and oil content in grain (0.366) and between grain yield and100-kernel weight (0.386). Potence ratio estimates indicating partial and over-dominance towards the higher starch, oil, protein, for 100 grain yield per plant over-dominance gene effects played a major role in inheritance of this trait. Path analysis results showed the contribution of oil content in grain, 100-kernel weight and grain yield per plant for protein content in grain variation account 15.55%, and the relative important of oil content in grain reach to 13.40%. So, it can be considered as selection criteria which may lead to improve protein content in maize grain.

Abscisic acid (ABA) plays an important regulatory role in the grain filling process, which in turn will affect the final yield and quality of rice. The ABA biosynthesis genes of OsNCED3 and degradation gene OsABA8ox3 affect the ABA content, and then further regulate the ABA signaling. During the development of rice panicle, compared with primary grains (superior grains) growing on primary branches, secondary grains (inferior grains) growing on secondary branches exhibit characteristics. However, little is reported on the physicochemical characteristics of starch between superior and inferior grains in ABA related transgenic lines. In this study, OsNCED3 and OsABA8ox3 transgenic plants were used as materials. The results showed that compared with the WT, the OsNCED3-RNAi lines on grain weight was consistent with the trend of superior and inferior grains, while the OsABA8ox3-RNAi lines affected superior or inferior grains. The total starch and soluble sugar content of grains decreased in both OsNCED3-RNAi and OsABA8ox3-RNAi lines, and the total starch content of superior and inferior grains in OsABA8ox3-RNAi lines decreased. The starch granule size distribution of all samples showed a bimodal and increased proportion of starch grains with large granule size, in which the influence on inferior grains was greater than that of superior grains, which eventually led to a significant increase in their average granule size. The apparent amylose content of inferior grains increased significantly in most lines. The swelling power of the superior grains decreased significantly, while that of the inferior grains increased significantly. Fourier analysis showed that the order degree of starch granule surface decreased in the superior grains of the RNAi line, while it increased in the inferior grains of the OsABA8ox3-RNAi line but decreased in the OsNCED3-RNAi lines. In the superior grains, the relative crystallinity of starch decreased in the OsNCED3-RNAi lines, but remained unchanged or increased in the OsABA8ox3-RNAi line. In inferior grains, the relative crystallinity of starch decreased in the ABA synthesis RNAi line, but increased in the OsABA8ox3-RNAi line. In summary, the influence of ABA on the physicochemical properties of inferior grains is greater than that of superior grains.

ABSTRACTFermentation performance of eight waxy, seven nonwaxy soft, and 15 nonwaxy hard wheat cultivars was compared in a laboratory dry‐grind procedure. With nitrogen supplements in the mash, the range of ethanol yields was 368–447 L/ton. Nonwaxy soft wheat had an average ethanol yield of 433 L/ton, higher than nonwaxy hard and waxy wheat. Conversion efficiencies were 91.3–96.2%. Despite having higher levels of free sugars in grain, waxy wheat had higher conversion efficiency than nonwaxy wheat. Although there was huge variation in the protein content between nonwaxy hard and soft wheat, no difference in conversion efficiency was observed. Waxy cultivars had extremely low peak viscosity during liquefaction. Novel mashing properties of waxy cultivars were related to unique pasting properties of starch granules. With nitrogen supplementation, waxy wheat had a faster fermentation rate than nonwaxy wheat. Fermentation rates for waxy cultivars without nitrogen supplementation and nonwaxy cultivars with nitrogen supplementation were comparable. Ethanol yield was highly related to both total starch and protein content, but total starch was a better predictor of ethanol yield. There were strong negative relationships between total starch content of grain and both yield and protein content of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS).

Purpose. To determine the spring barley grain quality depending on the pre-sowing treatment of seeds with systemic dressers and the bioagent.
 Materials and methods. The study was carried out in a nine-field fallow-cereal-row crop rotation of the Department of Plant Production and Variety Investigation of the Plant Production Institute named after V.Ya. Yuriev of NAAS in 2017–2020. To protect spring barley against pests and diseases, seeds were treated with systemic dressers belonging to different chemical groups and the bioagent prior to sowing (1–8 days before sowing).
 The soybean was a forecrop. Fertilization background was 6.6 tons of manure per hectare of the crop rotation area (aftereffect) plus N30P30K30. The farming techniques were conventional for the growing location. Significance of the obtained data was assessed by analysis of variance.
 Results and discussion. As to the brewing cultivars, Parnas and Inkluzive, without fertilizers the protein content in their grain after the pre-sowing treatment of seeds with fungicide Vitavax 200 FF or with insecticide Cruiser 350 FS was significantly lower (by 0.40% and 0.8%, respectively) than the control value (12.46%). When fungicides Vincit Forte, Insure Perform, Lamardor 400, Lamardor Pro, Scenic, Maxim Star, Supervin, Ultrasil Duo, bacterial agent Trichodermin, insecticide Taboo, or insecticides-fungicides was used for seed dressing, the protein content was not different from the control. In the fertilization (N30P30K30) experiments, the protein content in grain significantly increased when Scenic (by 0.84%), Lamardor Pro (by 0.88%), Trichodermin (by 0.94%), or Vitavax 200 FF (by 0.91%) was used. After the pre-sowing treatment of seeds with Record Quadro, Maxim Star, Vincit Forte, Supervin, Insure Perform, Taboo, or with Vibrance Integral, the protein content in grain was almost at the control level. In no fertilizer experiments, the protein output from 1 hectare in the control was 0.36 tons; after the pre-sowing seed dressing, it ranged from 0.30 tons (Vitavax 200 FF) to 0.39 tons (Taboo). In the fertilization experiments combined with pre-sowing seed dressing, the protein output from 1 hectare ranged from 0.56 tons (Vincit Forte, Insure Perform, Lamardor 400, Trichodermin) to 0.63 tons (Cruiser 350 FS) vs. 0.55 tons in the control.
 The fertilization caused a decrease in the starch content in grain. In the experiments with pre-sowing seed dressing combined with fertilization, the starch content in grain was lower than the control value.
 As to the grain cultivars, Vzirets and Ahrarii, after dressing without fertilizers the protein content in grain was within 9.77% (Vincit Forte) − 10.98% (Vitavax 200 FF) vs. 10.48% in control; after dressing combined with fertilization, it was − at the control level. When Insure Perform was applied for pre-sowing seed dressing without fertilizers, the protein content in grain was 9.70%, which was significantly lower than in the control. The protein output from 1 hectare without fertilizers was 0.40 tons in the control; after pre-sowing seed dressing, it was within 0.36 tons (Vincit Forte, Insure Perform, Lamardor 400, Scenic) − 0.45 tons (Junta Quadro). In the fertilization experiments combined with pre-sowing seed dressing, the protein output from 1 hectare was in the range of 0.59 tons (Lamardor Pro) − 0.73 tons (Junta Quadro) vs. 0.65 tons in the control.
 The content of starch in the grain cultivars was 62.83% in the control without fertilizers. This figure was significantly lower in the experiments with pre-sowing treatment of seeds with Vitavax 200 FF (by 1.25%), Cruiser 350 FS (by 1.37%), or with Lamardor 400 (by 1.41%). In the fertilization experiments, a significant decrease in the starch content in comparison with the control (61.93%) was observed when Scenic (-1.51%) was used for dressing.
 Conclusions. The effects of agents (fungicides, insecticides, insecticides-fungicides and bacterial agent Trichodermin) on the contents of protein and starch in spring barley grain were shown to be ambiguous.

It have been significantly demonstrated that Hexokinase (HXK), Granule-bound starch synthase (GBSS) and ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) are three critical enzymes in the starch biosynthetic pathway and are related to starch (amylose, amylopectin and total starch) content in lotus. It is important to develop functional markers in marker-assisted selection of lotus breeding. So far there have been few reports about lotus functional markers. In this study, based on insertion-deletions (INDELs) and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), we developed three functional markers, FMHXK-E1, FMGBSS-I8 and FMAGPL-I1. FMHXK-E1 was developed based on polymorphisms of two haplotypes of NnHXK. 26 lotus cultivars that the 320-bp fragment presented in NnHXK had a lower content of amylose and a higher content of amylopectin. FMGBSS-I8 was developed based on polymorphisms of two haplotypes of NnGBSS. The group containing 32 lotus cultivars with the 210-bp fragment had less amylose content and more amylopectin content. FMAGPL-I1 was developed based on polymorphisms of two haplotypes of NnAGPL (ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase large subunit gene). The group containing 40 lotus cultivars with the 362-bp fragment had less amylopectin, total starch content and more amylose content. According to the study, FMHXK-E1, FMGBSS-I8 and FMAGPL-I1 are closely related to lotus starch content. It could be provided research basis for molecular assisted selection of lotus starch content improve breeding efficiency.

Breeding of white-grain varieties of grain sorghum The sorghum breeding has obtained a food trend. Therefore, beside the problems of selection of highly productive and early-maturing varieties, the improvement of sorghum quality is of great importance in selection nowadays. The purpose of the work is to evaluate white-grain varieties of sorghum selected by the FSBSI “ARC “Donskoy” through their principle indexes of quality. The study has been carried out on the base of FSBSI “Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy” in 2015-2017. The white-grain varieties “Khazine 28”, “Velikan” and “Zernogradskoe 88” approved to use have been used as the objects of research. The samples with dark-colored grain possess lower indexes of starch than the varieties with light-colored grain (r = -0.36 ± 0.08). It’s better to use the grain sorghum varieties with light-colored grain for the production of food starch, and this puts the corresponding tasks before breeding process. The studied varieties have large (74.5%) and very large (75.5-75.6%) starch content in grain. The yield of starch in them is 63.6-65.9%. Sorghum grain can be used as alternative raw instead of maize grain to obtain starch and starch products. The tannin content in sorghum grain has got a positive correlation with grain color (r = 0.80 ± 0.05). The white-grain varieties of grain sorghum “Khazine 28”, “Velikan” and “Zernogradskoe 88” possess a small content of tannin (0.2-0.8%) and an average content of protein (11.6-12.4%). There has been developed a new white-grain, early-maturing and highly productive variety of grain sorghum “Ataman” with 78.5% of starch in grain and 66.7% of starch yield.

The current paper has presented the results of breeding work on maize in the Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy”. The three-line and double interlinear middle early and middle ripening maize hybrids of various economic use ‘Zernogradsky 242 MV’, ‘Zernogradsky 282 MV’, ‘Zernogradsky 288 MV’, ‘Zernogradsky 299 MV’, ‘Zernogradsky 354 MV’, ‘Zernogradsky MV’, ‘Stepnyak MV’ were developed and included into the State List of Breeding Achievements from 2006 to 2020. The Competitive Variety Testing has identified a new high-heterosis simple hybrid ‘Zernogradsky 352 MB’ and the new early ripening hybrids ‘Krucha M × KB 215’, ‘Krucha M × SP 56/57’ with low harvesting grain moisture. The main method used to develop maize hybrids was an interline hybridization using heterosis in the first generation (F1 ). There have been determined the priority directions of further breeding, namely early ripeness, grain humidity-transfer intensity during ripening, drought resistance, high starch content in grain. There has been developed new initial material for each direction of breeding. There have been selected the introduced testers (‘Alpha M’, ‘Almaz M’, ‘Aurora S’, ‘Milena M’, ‘Istok S’) to develop early-ripening hybrids. There have been identified the early and middle-early ripening self-pollinated lines ‘C 207’, ‘RD 12’, ‘TVA 308’, ‘PLS 61’, ‘KB 215’, etc., with a high grain humidity-transfer intensity during ripening (0.95–1.30% per day), low harvest moisture content of grain (10.8–13.8%). There have been developed the new self-pollinated waxy maize lines (24/29/5, 25/64/10, 26/8, 26/4, 26/80, 24/28) with 68.1–69.8% of amylopectin starch in grain. There have been identified the new self-pollinated maize lines resistant to water stress (DS 498/217-3, DS 257/85-5, DS 498/203, KB 262, etc.) promising for breeding drought-resistant maize hybrids.

Editing of the soluble starch synthase gene MeSSIII-1 enhanced the amylose and resistant starch contents in cassava

A soil–pot culture experiment was conducted to study the individual and interactive effects of zinc (0, 5, and 10 mg kg−1 soil) and boron (0, 0.75, and 1.5 mg kg−1 soil) on growth, enzymatic activity, nutrient uptake, seed reserve content, and yield in wheat (var. HD2285) in a soil deficient in available zinc and hot water–extractable boron. Although the application of zinc and boron alone significantly increased the plant height, grain yield, total dry-matter yield, tissue zinc, and boron content in maize, maximum increase was obtained with the combined application of zinc and boron. The activities of enzymes peroxidase and starch phosphorylase decreased as compared to untreated control but the activity of carbonic anhydrase increased. Protein, starch, and phytate content of grains also increased with the application of the micronutrients. Moreover, in the absence of zinc, application of boron decreased the starch content of grains.