Use of a <i>polenta </i>industry by-product in the production of Argentine <i>alfajor </i>biscuits

We assessed the impact of environmental conditions and agronomic traits on maize grain quality parameters. The study was conducted using genotypes with distinct genetic constitutions developed specifically for late sowing in semi-arid environments. We evaluated the agronomic, physical, and chemical characteristics of eight maize open-pollinated varieties, six inbred lines, and three commercial hybrids. The yield of the open-pollinated varieties showed a positive correlation with protein content (r = 0.33), while it exhibited a negative correlation with the carbohydrate percentage (r = -0.36 and -0.42) in conjunction with the inbred lines. The flotation index of the hybrids was influenced primarily by the environmental effect (50.15%), whereas in the inbred lines it was nearly evenly divided between the genotype effect (45.51%) and the environmental effect (43.15%). In the open-pollinated varieties, the genotype effect accounted for 35.09% and the environmental effect for 42.35%. The characteristics of plant structure were associated with grain quality attributes relevant for milling, including hardness and test weight. Inbred lines exhibited significant genotype contributions to grain hardness, protein, and carbohydrate content, distinguishing them from the other two germplasm types. These associations are crucial for specific genotypes and for advancing research and development of cultivars for the food industry.

Maize production and productivity in western and southwestern parts of Ethiopia is affected by, the potential outbreaks of major diseases such as ear rot caused by Fusarium spp., dominantly Fusarium and Gibberella ear rots. Hence, maize genotypes including (commercial hybrids, open pollinated varieties (OPVs) and elite pre commercial hybrids) collected from Ethiopia were evaluated at Bako, Jimma and Hawassa Agricultural Research Centers in 2021 and 2022 cropping seasons to assess their resistance to Gibberella ear rot (GER) and Fusarium ear rot (FER). Local isolates of F. verticillioides and F. meridionale were used and the genotypes were inoculated by introducing conidial suspensions into the silk channels of the primary ears. Twenty (20) maize genotypes were used in this study arranged in split-plot design in all the environments. Maize genotypes were randomly assigned to main plots units and fungal species to subplot units. Result showed that maize genotypes exhibited resistant (R), moderately resistant (MR), moderately susceptible (MS) and susceptible (S) reactions to the inoculation. The percentage of resistant maize genotypes ranged from 25 to 45% for GER and 15 to 25%for FER across different environments. The genotypes BH661, BHQP548, CML 395/CML 202//CML 536-#, Damot (P3506W), DK 777, and Gibe3 exhibited lesser disease severity (R or MR) in most of the environments than did the susceptible genotypes (CML 395/CML202//P3812W(F2)-24–2-2–1-1–1-B-#, BH660, and BHQPY545) across all environments. Only one hybrid (BH660) showed high susceptibility to F. verticillioides, and another (BHQPY545) displayed high susceptibility to F. meridionale at Hawassa and Jimma. From the present study, it can be concluded that, the majority of maize cultivars displayed susceptibility to ear rot caused by at least one of these Fusarium spp. in most environments. Additionally, FER severity was significantly (P < 0.001) and positively (r = 0.45) associated with GER severity, suggesting that both pathogens share the same mechanisms of disease resistance. Moreover, agronomic traits such as kernel texture (r = 0.401, 0.261), ear aspect (r = 0.024, 0.310), husk cover (r = 0.147, 0.268), date of anthesis (r = 0.149, 0.09), and date of silking (r = 0.153, 0.09) were positively and significantly (p < 0.001) associated with GER and FER severity, respectively. While ear height was significantly (p < 0.001) and negatively (r = -0.164, -0.158) associated with GER and FER severity, respectively. Thus, selecting for resistance to one fungal species would likely result in indirect selection for resistance to the other fungal species. Therefore, it is suggested that, the usage of these maize genotypes in traditional breeding programs might face challenges due to undesirable gene linkages. Hence, further research on molecular markers may be necessary to overcome these obstacles and fully leverage the potential of these genotypes in breeding programs in the country.

Maize, the most important stable crop in Kenya is affected by drought stress mostly at flowering stages causing delay in silk emergence. The Anthesis to Silking Interval (ASI) is highly correlated to grain yields under drought stress as shown by experiments conducted at CIMMYT, Mexico. This study aimed at combining both earliness and short ASI in one maize genotype. Early-maturing, open pollinated varieties (OPVs) from Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), with a long ASI and late-maturing, inbred lines from CIMMYT with a short ASI were evaluated in a randomized complete block design trial repli- cated three times. F2 progenies arising from crosses between these two types of germplasm were generated and tested under drought stress conditions. There were significant differences among the OPVs and inbred lines, in all traits including ASI. ASI was significantly correlated to kernel weight (r=0.76), days to anthesis (r=-91), days to silking (r=-0.81) and to leaf senescence (r=0.86). F2 population of KVD2 x CML442 produced 74-80% of the early flowering genotypes of between 49 and 57 days and had an ASI segregation range of -2 to 10 days. The results showed that ASI and earliness can be combined and selected for in the same maize genetic background.

To explore trait variation, assess relative performance and establish association among yield and its associated traits in maize under organic system, 373 maize genotypes that consisted of landraces, open-pollinated varieties and single-cross hybrids were tested under organic management in Sikkim midhills. Data of 8 years (2009–2015 and 2019) for 12 agronomic traits viz., plant height, days to 50% tasselling, days to 50% silking, days to 75% dry husk, grain yield per ha, anthesis–silking interval, cob length, cob diameter, kernel rows per cob, kernels per row, number of cobs per plot and test weight were taken for analysis. Conventionally bred maize hybrids yielded 95.36% higher than the landraces and 58.60% higher than the open-pollinated varieties. Landraces displayed highest mean anthesis–silking interval of 7.18 days. In open-pollinated varieties, test weight showed a positive association with grain yield (0.37) while plant height (0.33) and kernels per row (0.34) were positively correlated to grain yield in case of landraces. Number of cobs per plot showed a very strong association with grain yield in hybrids (1.0). Kernels per cob and test weight contributed 24% to the variation in grain yield in open-pollinated varieties while anthesis–silking interval, days to maturity, number of cobs/plot, test weight and kernel per row accounted for 97% of the variation in grain yield in landraces. Grain yield in single-cross hybrids is contributed maximum (97%) by days to tasselling, silking, anthesis–silking interval, plant height and number of cobs per plot. The study indicates attaining high number of cobs per unit area along with emphasis on traits such as kernels per row, cob length and diameter for achieving higher yields in single-cross hybrids, selection of high test weight genotypes for open-pollinated varieties and emphasis on cob length, kernels per row and plant height for yield improvement in landraces.

Farmers adoption of hybrid varieties would reduce the large discrepancy between current low yields and achievable yields reported by researchers in yield evaluation trials. This is because hybrids wield superior genetic potential over improved open pollinated varieties (OPVs) and local varieties due their heterozygosity which explains their exhibition of high heterosis in yield and general performance. The current low yield necessitated the need to undertake this study to assess the relative yielding potentials of 3 hybrid varieties, 5 OPVs, 1 local variety and 4 inbred lines under three levels of Nitrogen fertilization in forest and transitional ecological zones in the Ashanti region of Ghana. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant interactions for genotype by location (G x L), genotype by nitrogen (G x N) and genotype by nitrogen and by location (G x N x L) for grain yield. Averaged across test environments (i.e. location by nitrogen levels), Mamaba, a Quality Protein Maize (QPM) hybrid recorded the highest mean grain yield of 4.73 t ha -1 whilst the highest yielding OPV, Golden Jubilee, recorded 2.91 t ha -1 ;Entry 5, the highest yielding inbred line however recorded grain yield of 0.72 t ha -1 . GGE biplot analysis for mean yield also showed that hybrids had better yielding abilities than OPVs under both low and high nitrogen fertilization and at different environments. In order to bridge the gap between the current low yields and achievable yields in Ghana, farmers would need hybrid seeds together with adequate levels of fertilizers.

This study was done to determine the effect of the grain yield and its related characteristics on 10 open-pollinated maize varieties and their 45 F1 hybrids using correlation and path coefficient analysis. A two-year study was conducted on maize genotypes at the University of Ilorin Teaching and Research Farm Ilorin, Nigeria, during 2005 and 2006 growing seasons. Positive and significant phenotypic and genotypic correlations were found for days to 50% tasselling with plant and ear heigh t, and grain yield with plant height, number of grains ear-1 and ear weight. Positive and significant environmental correlation was also recorded for grain yield with plant and ear height, and ear weight. The path analysis revealed that, days to 50% silking, ear weight and number of grains ear-1 had the highest direct effect on grain yield, while number of grains ear-1 had the highest moderate indirect negative effects on grain yield. Days to flowering, plant and ear height, number of grains ear-1 and ear weight could be the important selection criteria in improving open pollinated maize varieties and hybrids for high grain yield.Key words: Phenotypic, genotypic correlation, open pollinated varieties, yield characters

The sensory profile of polenta and the connections between technological attributes and varieties of maize have not been extensively studied. Thus, it is necessary to understand the possible effect of its consumption on consumers' health in terms of postprandial glucose levels and molecules associated with healthy activities. This work aims to study polenta's technological and sensory properties from different maize genotypes and evaluate their digestibility and the potential contribution of bioactive compounds on health. A commercial hybrid, two open-pollinated varieties, and three inbred lines were used. Grain physical determinations and physical-chemical semolina traits were determined. Polenta's technological quality was evaluated after simulated cooking. In vitro digestion was performed for polentas, and a sensory evaluation test was conducted. A significant correlation was found between semolina polyphenols and rapidly digestible starch (r = -0.6). Panellists characterised the genotype C6006 as having a good flavour, sandier mouthfeel, and low consistency. Also, the polenta from the hybrid exhibited sensory attributes more closely resembling commercial polenta in terms of maize odour, flavour, and consistency. The higher content of polyphenols presents in semolina affected the digestion of polenta, showing a lower proportion of rapidly digestible starch and a lower amount of bioaccessible protein fraction.

Thirty-one commercial maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids and open-pollinated varieties (OPV’s) were screened in separate greenhouse trials with a resistant inbred line MP712W as reference genotype for host suitability to Mel-oidogyne incognita race 2 and Meloidogyne javanica. Approximately 10 000 eggs and second-stage juveniles (J2) of the appropriate root-knot nematode species were inoculated on roots of each maize seedling 10 days after plant emergence. The numbers of eggs and J2 per root system were counted, while it was also calculated g- 1 root. In addition, percentage resistance in relation to the most susceptible genotype and nematode reproduction factors (Rf) were calculated for the maize genotypes screened. Substantial variation existed among the maize hybrids and OPV’s with regard to the nematode parameters evaluated. A number of genotypes could be regarded as highly resistant to M. incognita race 2 based on the fact that they supported less than 10% of the population of this root-knot nematode species, compared to that supported by the most susceptible genotype. Several hybrids and OPV’s were identified with Rf values less than one for M. incognita race 2 and M. javanica respectively, indicating antibiosis resistance to these parasites. Screenings of maize genotypes in this study have provided a clear indication of the genetic variability within the maize genome, also with regard to susceptibility of the crop to root-knot nematodes. This substantiates the fact that maize could not be regarded as a non-host to root-knot nematodes on a generic basis, particularly in terms of commercial hybrids. It is suggested that commercial maize hybrids are screened on a continuous basis against root-knot nematodes, which would facilitate selection of hybrids that are less susceptible to both nematode species but that would perform optimally in soils conducive to root-knot-nematode infestation.

The study evaluates the effects of genotype, maturity, and growing location on the functional and pasting properties of freshly harvested orange maize hybrids and open-pollinated varieties (OPVs). Eight fresh orange maize hybrid and eight fresh maize OPV, including the control, were harvested at three stages: 20, 27, and 34 days after planting (DAP). The freshly harvested maize samples were lyophilized and characterized for the pasting and functional properties using standard laboratory methods. The peak viscosity, final viscosity, and swelling power of the OPVs increased between 20 and 27 DAP. Additionally, the water absorption capacity increased between 20 and 27 DAP for the maize hybrids, with a decreasing trend between 27 and 34 DAP. However, genotypes 2, from the orange maize hybrid, and 5, amongst the OPV, were outstanding with the highest peak viscosities, indicating good final product quality. The combined ANOVA for the fresh orange maize hybrid and OPV showed a highly significant effect (p ≤ 0.01 and p ≤ 0.001) for the maturity and location on the pasting and functional properties except for the pasting temperature, final viscosity, and pasting time which showed no significant effect. In contrast, the location by genotypes by maturity interactions had no significant effects on the pasting and functional properties of the fresh maize hybrid and the orange OPV except only for the setback, which was highly significant at p ≤ 0.001. Nutritionists, food scientists, and maize breeders could use the information from this study to select the best maize genotypes at the appropriate harvesting period suitable for the production of the preferred maize-based products of consumers.

Meloidogyne incognita race 2 and Meloidogyne javanica are widely distributed in South Africa where they cause enormous crop yield losses. Host-status of commercial maize ( Zea mays L.) genotypes to the two nematode species was investigated under greenhouse conditions. Thirty-two maize genotypes, for each nematode species were arranged in a randomised complete block design, with six replicates. The experiments were conducted in summer and repeated in autumn. Fifty-six days after inoculating each treatment with 10 000 juveniles, reproductive factors and penetration indices (PIs) were subjected to analysis of variance and means separation achieved using Duncan's multiple-range test. Reproductive factors suggested that three open-pollinated varieties, namely: OBATAMPA, QPM-SR and QS-OBA were non-host to both M. incognita race 2 and M. javanica in all trials. Certain hybrids and OPVs were also non-hosts to the two nematode species, although the result was not consistent throughout all the trials. Penetration indices suggested that OBATAMPA had post-infectional non-host status, whereas QPM-SR and QS-OBA had pre-infectional non-host status. In conclusion, results of this study demonstrated that non-host status to M. incognita race 2 and M. javanica existed in certain maize genotypes that are commercially available in South Africa. Also, in some of the genotypes, the non-host status was introgressible.

Deficiencies of vitamin A, iron, and zinc are widespread in sub-Saharan Africa, where the diets are mainly plant-based and the intakes of animal products are low. The overall objective of this investigation was to determine the extent of genetic variation of these micronutrients in 16 yellow-seeded improved maize varieties, 109 maize inbred lines (60 from mid-altitude and 49 from lowland/savannah agroecologies), and 162 cassava clones resistant to the cassava mosaic disease. The yellow-seeded improved maize varieties were analysed for physical and chemical characteristics and total carotene content; the maize inbred lines and cassava clones were analysed for iron and zinc content. The results showed statistically significant and large genotypic differences in total carotene content among the 16 yellow-seeded improved, open-pollinated maize varieties. The total carotene content ranged from 143 to 278 μg/g. Significant genotypic variation was also observed for iron and zinc concentrations in maize inbred lines and cassava storage roots. Iron concentration ranged from 15 to 159 ppm for mid-altitude and from 14 to 134 ppm for lowland maize inbred lines; zinc concentration ranged from 12 to 96 ppm for mid-altitude inbreds and from 24 to 96 ppm for lowland inbred lines. For cassava storage roots, the range was 4 to 95 ppm for iron and 4 to 18 ppm for zinc. A strong and positive relationship was observed between iron and zinc concentrations for both mid-altitude and lowland maize inbred lines, but this relationship was weak for the cassava clones. The potential exists for improving carotene, iron, and zinc contents in maize and cassava genotypes through plant-breeding.

Status of carotenoids in elite and landrace maize genotypes: Implications for provitamin A biofortification in Tanzania

Rye (Secale cereale L.) is mainly a European cereal with about 75% of the global production growing in Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany, and Ukraine. It has the best overwintering ability, and the highest tolerance to drought, salt, or aluminium stress from all small-grain cereals. Harvest is used for bread making, feed, and in growing demands for ethanol and biomethane production as a renewable energy source. Hybrid rye is competitive to triticale and wheat also on better soils and grown in Germany on about 70% of the total rye acreage. Rye developed in the Middle East as a secondary crop, cultivated rye has its greatest diversity in landraces and populations from Central and East Europe. Their utility for breeding has considerably increased by progress in marker-based introgression of donor chromosome segments. Resistance breeding is presently focused on leaf and stem rust (Puccinia recondita, P. graminis f.sp. secalis), ergot (Claviceps purpurea), and Fusarium diseases. Leaf blotch (Rhynchosporium secalis) and soilborne viruses might gain more attention in the future. Main breeding goals are grain yield, straw shortness, lodging resistance, high kernel weight, tolerances to pre-harvest sprouting and abiotic stresses. Population varieties comprise open-pollinated and synthetic varieties. Both are derived from self-incompatible breeding populations which are steadily improved by recurrent half- or full-sib selection. Open pollinated varieties (OPVs) constitute selected fractions of those populations whereas synthetic varieties are composed of specifically selected parents from which they can identically be reconstituted. Most modern population varieties contain germplasm from two or more genetically distant gene pools. Hybrid breeding is based on self-fertile gene pools and cytoplasmic genic male sterility (CMS) is used as hybridizing mechanism. Long-lasting breeding cycles are needed for the development of seed parent lines since testcrossing is only possible after the inbred lines have been converted to CMS analogues by repeated backcrossing. Options to speed up this process are discussed. Development of restorer lines is straightforward once effective restorer genes have been introduced to the respective breeding populations. Recurrent improvement of fertility restoration is most efficiently accomplished by recombining selected inbred lines after the first or second testcrossing stage. Commercial hybrid seed production requires well-skilled farmers, careful seed processing, and deliberate logistics since rye produces huge amounts of pollen which may be transported over long distances. Even the slightest genetic contamination of the CMS pre-basis and basis seed production may render the respective seed lots worthless for subsequent multiplication. To reduce the cost of the final step of seed production, the CMS seed parent and the pollinator parent are grown as a mixture in a 95:5 ratio. Thus, only about 95% of the certified seed consists of true hybrid seed. Whereas the remainder 5% are randomly intermated plants of the pollinator. However, the latter generally are poor competitors and therefore do not impair the yielding performance of the ‘hybrid’ stand. In the last decades, population and hybrid breeding led to substantial progress in grain yield and other traits.

Genótipos de milho com variabilidade genética contrastante apresentam potenciais produtivos diferentes. Isso pode ser causado, pelo menos em parte, por diferenças morfológicas no sistema radicular e nos parâmetros cinéticos de absorção de nutrientes. Este trabalho objetivou quantificar esses parâmetros em três cultivares de milho. Foram comparados um híbrido simples (HS), um híbrido duplo (HD) e uma variedade de polinização aberta (VPA). Determinaram-se os parâmetros de absorção (influxo máximo, Imax, constante de Michalies-Menten, Km, e concentração na solução onde a absorção cessa, Cmin) para N, P, K, Ca e Mg, além de atributos morfológicos radiculares, em experimentos efetuados em câmara de crescimento, com solução nutritiva. A morfologia das raízes variou pouco entre os genótipos, provavelmente por causa do cultivo das plantas em meio líquido. As diferenças entre genótipos quanto aos parâmetros cinéticos de absorção dependeram do nutriente. O Imax diferiu entre os cultivares para P; o Km, para N e P, e o Cmin, para N e K. A VPA, por apresentar maior variabilidade genética, deveria apresentar menores valores para Km e Cmin do que os híbridos. Contudo, isso só aconteceu para P em relação ao Km. O HS, por apresentar maior potencial produtivo, deveria expressar os maiores valores para Imax, mas isso não ocorreu com nenhum dos macronutrientes avaliados. Portanto, a absorção de nutrientes não parece ser um fator determinante nas diferenças de rendimento de grãos entre genótipos de milho com bases genéticas contrastantes.

Beneficial soil microbiota, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and rhizobia, provide essential agroecosystem services in smallholder farming systems. Such microorganisms have great potential to promote crop production and resilience under a changing climate in sub-Saharan Africa. However, their function is affected by agronomic management practices, crop genotype and soil quality, among other factors. In this work, we sought to determine the effect of soil quality and crop genotype on nodulation, percentage mycorrhizal colonization and growth of maize and cowpea crops. Soil samples were obtained from ten smallholder farms with known management history in Embu and Kitui counties of Kenya and analysed for physicochemical parameters. Greenhouse bioassays were then carried out, where the samples were put in sterilized pots in four replicates and maintained in a completely randomized design. Four cowpea and maize genotypes (locally grown landraces and recommended genotypes from Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization) were grown in pots for 40 days. After harvesting, nodulation in the case of cowpea, shoot dry weights and mycorrhizal root colonization were determined. Remarkably, cowpea genotypes differed significantly (p < 0.0001) in nodule number. The locally cultivated landrace (C2) recorded the lowest nodulation with 30.4 nodules plant−1, compared to the open pollinated varieties (OPVs): C1, 39.15; C3, 43.70; and C4, 40.6 nodules plant−1. Among the maize genotypes, the locally cultivated landrace (M3) recorded a significantly (p = 0.008) higher percentage of mycorrhizal root colonization (68.9%) compared to the OPVs: M1 58.1% and M2 65.3%, while the hybrid (M4) had the lowest root colonization of 57.8%. Soil characteristics influenced nodulation and mycorrhizal colonization, where soil P was positively correlated to cowpea nodulation. Soil organic matter, nitrogen, pH and calcium positively correlated with AMF maize root colonization. Our results demonstrate the strong effect of soil quality and crop genotype on AMF-rhizobia-legume symbiosis, which affects overall crop growth and production. These factors should therefore be critically considered during the development of efficient low-cost inocula for enhanced smallholder farmers’ crop production.