Content Of Grains Research Articles

Fusariotoxins Concentration in Common Wheat Grain Depending on the Farming System (Organic vs. Integrated vs. Conventional) and Changes During Grain Processing

Currently, the EU is focusing on less intensive agrotechnology and sustainable development. It is important to minimize the occurrence of mycotoxins (including Fusariotixins) in food, and to monitor mycotoxin concentration in the food chain. Therefore, this study evaluated Fusarium mycotoxin contamination, specifically type A and B trichothecenes and ergosterol concentration, in wheat grain from a three-year field experiment (2019–2021) conducted at IUNG-PIB in Osiny (Poland), along with its byproducts (bran, flour, bread). Four wheat cultivars were grown under different farming systems: organic (ORG), integrated (INT), and conventional (CONV). Ergosterol was analyzed using HPLC with an absorbance detector while Type A and B trichothecenes were analyzed using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Results showed that the farming system significantly influenced type B trichothecenes concentration in grain, with the highest concentration established in ORG-grown wheat. However, the grain concentration from the INT farming system was comparable to that from CONV. Type A trichothecenes concentrations were low and not significantly affected by the farming system. Bran exhibited the highest ergosterol and mycotoxin concentration, while flour and bread exhibited the lowest.

Use of microbiological preparations in the cultivation of promising soybean varieties in the Oryol region

We studied the effect of microbiological preparations on increasing the yield of soybeans of different varieties. The work was carried out in the conditions of the Oryol region in 2019–2023. Objects of research: soybean varieties Leader 1, Mezenka, Orleya, Osmon, Zusha, as well as Biostim Start preparations, Rizoform Soya, Organit Р, Organit N, Pseudobacterin 3, Biodux, used in pre-sowing seed treatment and foliar feeding of soybean plants in phases 1…3 of trifoliate leaves and budding. The highest increase in soybean yield (6.0 %) compared to the control is provided by inoculation of seeds of the Zusha variety with Rizoform Soya in combination with Biostim Start. Pre-sowing seed treatment in combination with foliar fertilizing with preparations Organit Р, Organit N, Pseudobacterin 3, Biodux in the presence of native races of rhizobacteria in the soil contributed to the introduction of microorganisms included in their composition into the rhizosphere community of plants with subsequent participation in the activation of nitrogen nutrition processes of the latter. On average, for varieties, the number and weight of nodules in the variant with pre-sowing treatment and 2 foliar applications increased by 57.6 and 65 %, respectively, compared to the control, nitrogenase activity – by 67.3 %. The use of a combination of the preparations Organit Р, Organit N, Pseudobacterin 3 and Biodux by pre-sowing seed treatment and one foliar feeding in the phase 1…3 of trifoliate leaves provided the greatest increase in the yield of the Leader 1 variety 0.29 t/ha, Zusha – 0.35, Mezenka – 0 .40 t/ha. The maximum increase in protein content in grain was observed in the Mezenka variety in the variant with pre-sowing seed treatment and 1 or 2 foliar fertilizers – by 1.1 and 1.0 %, respectively.

Assessment of grain starch content and responses to CMS-S and CMS-C in high-starch maize hybrids

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.

Drought Stress, Elevated CO2 and Their Combination Differentially Affect Carbon and Nitrogen in Different Organs of Six Spring Wheat Genotypes

This study aimed to analyze the combined impact of CO2 and drought stress at the flowering stage on carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and CN ratios in leaves, stem, and grains of bread wheat. Six diverse bread wheat genotypes, comprised of two commercial checks, two landraces, and two synthetics derivatives, were grown at two levels of CO2, i.e., 400 ppm and 800 ppm, and drought stress was imposed at the flowering stage through progressive soil drying. Stem, leaf, and grain samples were taken at maturity and concentrations of C and N were determined. Our results indicate that the threshold value of fraction of transpirable soil water (CFTSW) at which it diverges towards closure of stomata was different among genotypes and a higher range of values was estimated under elevated CO2. Drought significantly increased C levels in leaves and N levels in grains but decreased N levels in leaves, which increased CN ratios in leaves. In contrast, drought significantly reduced CN ratios in grains. Genotypes differed significantly in N content in grains, where the landrace derivative L2 maintained the highest N content. Moreover, pronounced changes in leaf N and CN ratios were induced by the combination of elevated CO2 and drought stress. Additionally, combined correlation and biplot analyses indicate a strong positive association of grain CN (GCN) with grain number, weight, and grain yield. These effects possibly interact with drought to strongly interfere with the impact of elevated CO2. The differential performance of the tested genotypes shows that selection of appropriate germplasm is essential to maintain agricultural production.

Susceptibility of Aromatic and Non- aromatic Rice to Sitophilus oryzae L. and their Influence on the Insect and Infestation Rate under Sub-Himalayan Plains of West Bengal

Relative susceptibility of local aromatic and non-aromatic rice grains to rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae L. (Curculionidae, Coleoptera) was studied under laboratory conditions in the sub-Himalayan plains of West Bengal in two seasons (viz. winter and spring-summer) during 2020-2021. Results revealed that after 9 weeks of storage, the highest mean grain weight loss due to S. oryzae varied from 14.30% to 20.89% in the two types of rice grains in two seasons. The corresponding highest mean grain damage % ranged from 36.89 % to 41.56%. The grain weight loss and grain infestation % were always higher in the aromatic rice (Uttar Sugandhi) compared to non-aromatic rice (Jaldhepa) and also in the spring-summer season than the winter months. Carbohydrate and protein content of grains were reduced to the extent of 9.08% to 15.28% and 18.62% to 32.58% in aromatic and non-aromatic rice during winter and spring-summer seasons respectively as a result of infestation of S. oryzae. During winter and spring-summer seasons, from 5 pairs of adult weevils, a total of 188.60 and 142.20 and 264 and 237 number of adults were produced in aromatic and non-aromatic rice cultivars respectively at 9 weeks after their release. The adult population was always female biased.

Micronutrients concentration and content in corn as affected by nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilization

AbstractThe interaction between nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) fertilizers significantly impacts the uptake of micronutrients in corn, influencing their availability in soil and uptake by plants. Understanding the interaction of macro‐ and micronutrients is a prerequisite to targeting nutrient balance in crop production. Therefore, a 2‐year field experiment was conducted to determine the effect of NPK fertilization on micronutrient uptake of rain‐fed corn (Zea mays L.). A randomized complete block design was employed with 12 treatments replicated three times. Different combinations of N, P, and K fertilizer rates were investigated for micronutrient concentration and uptake in rain‐fed corn. Findings revealed the order of nutrient accumulation in corn plants: iron (Fe) > manganese (Mn) > zinc (Zn) > copper (Cu). Nitrogen application influenced nutrient concentrations and uptake. Increasing N rates increased micronutrient concentrations in corn grain, except for Cu. Interestingly, Cu content in grains exhibited no correlation with nutrient supply, biomass, or other concentrations. As the N application rate increased, micronutrient content increased at early growth stage and physiological maturity. Phosphorus application showed negligible impact on grain micronutrient concentration and uptake. However, K application notably increased Mn, Fe, and Cu uptake in grains. This study underscores the need to consider not only grain yield but also nutritional quality when determining optimal NPK rates in rain‐fed corn cultivation.

Co-application effects of rice husk biochar and different types of nitrogen fertilizers on rice yield, yield components, and nitrogen use efficiency

The Nitrogen (N) recovery index in rice paddy soils has never been exceeded by more than 30%, regardless of using proven fertilizer management strategies and amounting to significant N being out of rice plant use. Biochar application and the newly released N biofertilizers (singly or in combination) increase the N use efficiency by increasing the soil nutrient retention capacity. Therefore, a two-year pot experiment was conducted to explore the effects of the co-application of rice husk biochar and nitrogen fertilizers on rice yield, yield components, and nitrogen use efficiency indexes. The applied treatments were rice husk biochar at three levels (0, 20, and 40 tha−1) and N fertilizers at three levels (0, chemical (Urea), and N-biofertilizer). The most effective combination treatments (200 kg N ha−1 in source of urea plus 40 tha−1 rice husk biochar) significantly (p ≤ 0.01) increased the grain yield (2.38 times), straw and biological yield (2.83 and 2.62 times, respectively), N content of soil N (59%), nitrogen uptake efficiency (2.92 times), and nitrogen internal efficiency (59%), whereas, nitrogen recovery efficiency decreased by about 52%. Moreover, the maximum increase in N content of grain and harvest index was recorded at combination application of 20 tha−1 biochar plus urea by about 48 and 15%, respectively. It can be concluded that the co-application of rice husk biochar and N fertilizers has substantial advantages over their single applications in terms of N fertilizer recovery, N uptake. Thus, it might be an effective way to enhance rice yield.

Influence of Nitrogen Levels and Microbial Inoculation on Growth, Yield and Straw of Direct Seeded Basmati Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Background: Rice, a staple cereal, serves as the primary food for almost 50% of the world¢s population. Nitrogen is the predominant mineral element found in crops and serves as the primary constraint on Rice production. Direct-seeded rice cultivation has emerged as a potential alternative to traditional transplanting method. The goal is to provide insights that may be used to build sustainable agricultural methods that are specifically designed for Basmati rice production. Methods: This study aim to evaluate the effect of different N application levels (M1: 0 kg ha-1, M2: 40 kg ha-1 and M3: 60 kg ha-1) options as first factor with four microbial inoculation treatments (S1-Control, S2-Azosprillum (618g/ha) + Streptomyces’s (618g/ha), S3- Consortium (1235 g/ha) and S4-AMF (1235 g/ha). The experiment was conducted using a split-plot design (SPD) with three replications. Result: The study revealed that the maximum yield and yield attributes viz. plant height (116.47 cm), effective tillers ( 354.13 m2),leaf area index (2.64), no. of grains per panicle(84.17), length of panicle (24.66 cm), no. of filled grains per panicle (125.0), grain yield (54.30 q ha-1), straw yield ( 80.42 q ha-1), biological yield (134.72 q ha-1) and 1000-grain weight (24.64 g), maximum protein content (%) in grains (8.73%), straw (5.78%) was recorded in M3S2 i.e. 60 kg N ha-1 with azosprillum (618 g/ha) + streptomyces's (618 g/ha) significantly highest compared to other nitrogen levels and microbial inoculation treatments. Hence, the application of N @ 60 kg ha-1 along with azosprillum (618 g/ha)+Streptomyces¢s (618 g/ha) can be suggested to achieve higher rice grain yield, yield attributes and nitrogen content in grain and straw in DSR.

Quantitative assessment of Cd sources in rice grains through Cd isotopes and MixSIAR model in a typical e-waste dismantling area of Southeast China

Identification of Cd sources and quantification of their contribution to rice grain Cd is crucial for controlling accumulation of this toxic metal in rice grains. However, accurate assessment of the contribution of different Cd sources to grain Cd concentration in rice under actual field conditions is a challenge. In this study, we determined Cd concentration and their isotopic compositions in rice grains with respect to three potential Cd sources around an e-waste dismantling area in Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province, China. Results demonstrated that average Cd concentrations in grains, surface soils, atmospheric deposition and surface water were 0.32, 0.91, 1.99 mg kg−1 and 2.02 μg L−1, respectively. The δ114/110Cd values of grains, surface soils, surface water and atmospheric deposition ranged from 0.00 ‰ to 0.31 ‰, −0.21 ‰ to 0.14 ‰, −0.04 ‰ to 0.47 ‰, and − 0.25 ‰ to −0.18 ‰, respectively. The MixSIAR model indicated that contribution of soils, irrigation water and atmospheric deposition to grain Cd was 56.8 %, 24.8 % and 18.4 %, respectively, demonstrating soils as the major source of grain Cd in the study area. This study also highlighted significant contribution of irrigation water and atmospheric deposition to Cd concentration in rice grains. The Cd isotopic analysis provides a practical approach for source apportionment of grain Cd and data support for controlling Cd accumulation in rice around the e-waste dismantling area.

Abscisic acid improves drought resilience, growth, physio-biochemical and quality attributes in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) at critical growth stages

Wheat is an important staple crop not only in Pakistan but all over the globe. Although the area dedicated to wheat cultivation expands annually, the quantity of wheat harvested is declining due to various biotic and abiotic factors. Global wheat production and output have suffered as a result of the drought, which is largely driven by a lack of water and environmental factors. Organic fertilizers have been shown to reduce the severity of drought. The current research was conducted in semi-arid climates to mitigate the negative effects of drought on wheat during its critical tillering (DTS), flowering (DFS), and grain filling (DGFS) stages through the application of three different abscisic acid treatments: ABA0 (0 mgL−1) control, ABA1 (100 mgL−1) and ABA2 (200 mgL−1). Wheat growth and yield characteristics were severely harmed by drought stress across all critical development stages, with the DGFS stage being particularly vulnerable and leading to a considerable loss in yield. Plant height was increased by 24.25%, the number of fertile tillers by 25.66%, spike length by 17.24%, the number of spikelets per spike by 16.68%, grain count per spike by 11.98%, thousand-grain weight by 14.34%, grain yield by 26.93% and biological yield by 14.55% when abscisic acid (ABA) was applied instead of the control treatment. Moreover, ABA2 increased the more physiological indices (water use efficiency (36.12%), stomatal conductance (44.23%), chlorophyll a (24.5%), chlorophyll b (29.8%), transpiration rate (23.03%), photosynthetic rate (24.84%), electrolyte leakage (− 38.76%) hydrogen peroxide (− 18.09%) superoxide dismutase (15.3%), catalase (20.8%), peroxidase (− 18.09%), and malondialdehyde (− 13.7%)) of drought-stressed wheat as compared to other treatments. In the case of N, P, and K contents in grain were maximally improved with the application of ABA2. Through the use of principal component analysis, we were able to correlate our results across scales and provide an explanation for the observed effects of ABA on wheat growth and production under arid conditions. Overall, ABA application at a rate of 200 mgL−1 is an effective technique to boost wheat grain output by mitigating the negative effects of drought stress.

Comparison of nutritional, antioxidant, physicochemical, and rheological characteristics of whole and sprouted wheat flour

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a staple food used to prepare various ready-to-eat items. Germination increases the nutritional content of grains while decreasing the anti-nutrient content. The current study investigated the effects of sprouting on the nutritional, antioxidant, physicochemical, and rheological properties of wheat flour.Sprouting of whole wheat flour was performed, and comparisons were made for nutritional composition, gluten content, soluble dietary fibers, total phenolic and antioxidant activity, anti-nutrients, and rheological properties of whole wheat flour and sprouted wheat flour.Sprouting improved the nutritional composition of wheat flour. Results revealed significant improvements in ash, proteins, dietary fibers, insoluble fibers, and protein digestibility. The study indicated a positive correlation of sprouting time with phenolics and antioxidant activities of processed wheat flours. Sprouting reduced tannin and phytates contents and anticipated elevation in water absorption, dough stability, dough development time, the mixing time and sedimentation time. However, a significant decrease in the falling number of germinated wheat flours was observed, along with an improved color profile of the treated flours.This study suggests 72 h sprouting as a viable approach to improve the nutrient digestibility, nutritional profile, and antioxidant potential of wheat, thus depicting processed flour with improved functional attributes.

The environmental and agronomic benefits and trade-offs linked with the adoption alternate wetting and drying in temperate rice paddies

ContextAlternating wetting and drying (AWD) is an irrigation practice, alternative to continuous flooding, to improve the agro-environmental sustainability of rice cultivation. Benefits include reduction in water consumption, methane (CH4) emissions and arsenic (As) concentrations in grain. However, drainage periods during AWD can negatively affect nitrogen (N) use efficiency by the crop and grain yields, while increasing nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and cadmium (Cd) contents in grain. ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to provide a holistic evaluation of AWD adoption in temperate rice cropping systems, including associated trade-offs. We hypothesized that the adoption of AWD in water seeded rice paddies can reduce the global warming potential (GWP) without affecting plant N uptake or introducing yield gaps, and also maintain a high quality of rice grain by limiting the uptake of metal(loid)s present in the soil, thereby resulting in an overall positive agro-environmental performance. MethodsIn a two-year field experiment in NW Italy two alternative irrigation practices involving water seeding followed by AWD management of different severity (AWDsafe and AWDstrong) were evaluated relative to the conventional water seeding and continuous flooding (WFL), comparing three different rice varieties. Yields and yield components, plant N uptake, apparent N recovery (ANR), metal(loid) concentrations in grain, and CH4 and N2O emissions were evaluated. ResultsAWDsafe and AWDstrong maintained or increased yields compared to WFL depending on varieties, despite an increase in sterility. There were no consistent differences in N uptake and ANR. Both AWDsafe and AWDstrong significantly reduce As concentration in grain, but significantly increase Cd and nickel (Ni). AWDsafe and AWDstrong reduced CH4 emissions by 45–55 % and 40–73 %, respectively, compared toWFL, while no increase in N2O emissions was observed. This resulted in a reduction in the GWP of 46 and 54 % with AWDsafe and AWDstrong, respectively. Conclusions and ImplicationsAWD was shown to be effective for mitigating GHG emissions from temperate rice cropping systems while maintaining high yield performance comparable or higher than WFL. AWD may represent a viable alternative to continuous flooding to improve agro-environmental sustainability of temperate rice cropping systems, but the trade-off between decreasing As and increasing Cd and Ni contents in the grain may represent an important concern for food safety with the adoption of this alternative water management practice.

Predicting Cd accumulation in crops and identifying nonlinear effects of multiple environmental factors based on machine learning models

The traditional prediction of the Cd content in grains (Cdg) of crops primarily relies on the multiple linear regression models based on soil Cd content (Cds) and pH, neglecting inter-factorial interactions and nonlinear causal links between external environmental factors and Cdg. In this study, a comprehensive index system of multi-type environmental factors including soil properties, geology, climate, and anthropogenic activity was constructed. The machine learning models of the tree-based ensemble, support vector regression, artificial neural network for predicting Cdg of rice and wheat based on the environmental factor indexes significantly improved the accuracy than the traditional models of linear regression based on soil properties. Among them, the tree-based ensemble models of XGboost and random forest exhibited highest accuracies for predicting Cdg of rice and wheat, with R2 in the test dataset of 0.349 and 0.546, respectively. This study found that soil properties, including Cds, pH, and clay, have greater impacts on Cdg of rice and wheat, with combined contribution rates accounting for 65.2 % and 29.7 % respectively. Since wheat sampling areas are located in central and northern China, they are more constrained by precipitation and temperature than rice sampling areas in the south. Geologic and climate factors have a greater impact on Cdg of wheat, with a combined contribution rate of 49.9 %, which is higher than the corresponding rate of 20.9 % in rice. Furthermore, the Cdg of rice and wheat did not exhibit an absolute linear relationship with Cds, and excessively high Cds can reduce the bioconcentration factor of Cd accumulation in crops. Meanwhile, other environmental factors such as temperature, precipitation, elevation have marginal effects on the increase of Cdg of crops. This study provides a novel framework to optimize traditional soil plant transfer models, as well as offer a step towards realizing high precision prediction of Cd content in crops.

Effect of Various Fertilizer Systems on the Productivity of Spring Wheat in a Long-Term Stationary Experiment

The results of observations of the reaction of plants to the use of 6 fertilizer systems tested for 24 years in repeated sowing of spring soft wheat after stubble are presented. Visual and phenological observations of plants revealed the features of their growth and development on unfertilized and fertilized backgrounds. The determination of the contamination of the crop revealed the effect of fertilizers on the proportion of wheat and weeds in the sheaf mass during the formation phase of the grain. In most of the years of this experience, fertilizers did not increase the contamination of crops, only for 5 out of 18 years such a negative effect was noted. The indicators of the structure of the wheat harvest (the number of ears per 1 m2, earliness, and the weight of 1000 grains) improved with the use of fertilizers, especially in years with sufficient moisture. The gluten content in grain and flour when fertilizing in doses of N40–60 without P20 and against its background increased significantly, increasing the frequency of years with grade 3 wheat quality. An agrotechnical and economic assessment of 6 permanent wheat fertilizer systems after stubble identified 4 options with a payback rate close to obtaining 10 kg of grain per 1 kg of the active ingredient of fertilizers.

Assessment of zinc sources and levels for urea coating to achieve higher productivity and soil fertility in spring maize (Zea mays)

An experiment was conducted during 2021 and 2022 at the research farm of ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research, Ludhiana, Punjab to study the efficacy of zinc oxide and zinc sulphate for urea coating to achieve higher productivity in maize (Zea mays L.). Experiment was laid out in a randomized block design (RBD) comprised of 11 treatments, viz. no Zn; 0.05% of Zn through ZnO; 0.12% of Zn through ZnO; 0.24% of Zn through ZnO; 0.47% of Zn through ZnO; 0.95% of Zn through ZnO; 0.26% of Zn through ZnSO4; 0.52% of Zn through ZnSO4; 1.03% of Zn through ZnSO4; 2.07% of Zn through ZnSO4; and 4.15% of Zn through ZnSO4, replicated thrice. Results indicated that grains/cob and cob weight/plant recorded higher with 1.03%, 2.07% and 4.15% of Zn through ZnSO4 compared to no Zn. Zn at 2.07% (5.68 and 6.36) and 4.15% (5.71 and 6.37) through ZnSO4 recorded higher grain yield followed by 0.95% of Zn (5.50 and 6.23) through ZnO and 1.03% (5.42 and 6.25) of Zn through ZnSO4 in 2021 and 2022. A higher Zn content in grain was registered with 4.15% (27.70 and 27.87 mg/kg) and 2.07% (26.33 and 27.67 mg/kg) of Zn through ZnSO4. Overall, Zn at 2.07% through ZnSO4 was found suitable for urea coating to enhance productivity, soil enzymatic activities and residual soil fertility in spring maize.

Influence of parameters of the carbohydrate-amylase complex and protein content in grain on the baking quality of Winter Rye

The studies were carried out in 2018–2022. in the Samara region in order to identify the influence of the parameters of the carbohydrate-amylase complex and protein content in grain on baking properties in order to use the most informative indicators in the selection of winter rye for baking in the conditions of the Middle Volga region. The material was 4 varieties and 3 promising lines – Saratovskaya 7 (standard), Bezenchukskaya 87, Bezenchukskaya 110, Antares and lines GK-80, GKNP-3, GKNP-4. The soil is ordinary chernozem, medium deep, medium loamy, predecessor is pure fallow, repeated four times. The main parameters that determine the state of starch and influence the rheological properties of rye dough and baking evaluation reached: the «falling number» indicator – 188…255 s, the maximum viscosity on the amylograph – 424…570 u. a. The relationship between the height of the ammylogram and the «falling number» in 2019, 2020 and 2022. was strongly positive (r= 0.95; r= 0.89; r= 0.92). In 2020 and 2021 There was a positive correlation between the height of the amylogram and the volumetric yield of bread (r = 0.86; r = 0.82), the falling number also in these years was significantly positively correlated with the volumetric yield of bread (r = 0.65; r = 0.76). On average, over the years of research, the content of water-soluble pentosans, depending on the variety, varied from 2.46 to 3.00 %. In 2019, the highest values of this indicator were noted – 2.70…3.55 %, the volume of bread was also the highest – 520…655 cm3, and only this year a positive relationship was noted between the values of these indicators (r = 0.72). The relationship between pentosans and the «falling number», which is also responsible for the baking properties of winter rye, was significantly positive in 2019, 2020 and 2022. (r= 0.80; r= 0.78; r= 0.70). Protein content was positively correlated with bread volume yield (r=0.80; r=0.75) only in 2018 and 2019. A negative correlation was established between protein content and amylogram height in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022. (r= –0.80; r= –0.80; r= –0.82; r= –0.78). There is also a negative relationship between protein content and the number of falls in 2019, 2020 and 2022 (r = –0.84; r = –0.80; r = –0.67). When selecting varieties of winter rye for baking, it is necessary to carry out conjugate selection based on the height of the amylogram and the «falling number» while stabilizing the protein at an acceptable level of 12.0…12.8 %.

Влияние минеральных удобрений в различных сочетаниях на урожайность и качество зерна яровой мягкой пшеницы в условиях Предкамья Республики Татарстан

The results of two-year experiments to study the effect on the yield and grain quality of spring soft wheat of a full dose of mineral fertilizers in various combinations for pre-sowing cultivation, as well as foliar top dressing at a dose of N30 in the tillering and milk ripeness phase are reported. Fertilizers increased grain yield to varying degrees and had different effects on the technological qualities of grain. According to the grain yield of spring wheat of the Ulyanovsk 105 variety, on average for 2 years, the best options were: N90P90K30 (an increase of 3,6 t /ha) and N30P90K30 + N30 with top dressing in the tillering phase (an increase of 3,71 t/ha). According to the Tulaykovskaya Nadezhda variety, the best is the introduction of a complete mineral fertilizer (N30P90K30) with one and two top dressing (an increase in yield of 0,53 and 0,57 t/ha). Mineral fertilizers had a positive effect on grain quality in both varieties of spring wheat. The grain quality of the Ulyanovsk 105 variety is significantly improved under the influence of fertilizers. The vitreous content of the grain in the control was 52% in 2022 and 64% in 2023. In all variants with fertilizer, it is in the range of 60,0-79,0% in 2022 and 68,5-75,9% in 2023. In the Tulaykovskaya Nadezhda variety, the vitreous content of grain in 2022 increased from 45% in the control to 49 ...60% in other variants, and in 2023, respectively, from 57 to 60 ... 71%. The content of the mass fraction of gluten in the grain of the control variant in 2022 was 17,1%, protein 10,5%. The use of fertilizers contributed to an increase in the amount of gluten to 28,8%, protein to 11,6...13,8%. A similar situation was observed in 2023. The highest content of protein and gluten in the grain of the harvest of 2022 and 2023. it was observed in the variant with one and two nitrogen fertilizers (13,5...13,8% and 14,5...14,9%), 26,0...28,8 % and 33,0...33,6%, respectively.

Inhibition of microelement accumulation and disorder of saccharide and amino acid metabolism explain rice grain empty under dimethylarsinic acid stress.

Metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses revealed an intensification of energy metabolism in rice grains under DMA stress, possibly causing the consumption of sugars or non-sugars and the development of unfilled grains Excessive dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) causes rice straighthead disease, a physiological disorder typically with erect panicle due to empty grain at maturity. Although the toxicity of DMA and its uptake and transport in rice are well recognized, the underlying mechanism of unfilled grains remains unclear. Therefore, a pot experiment was conducted using a susceptible variety (Ruanhuayou1179, RHY) and a resistant one (Nanjingxiangzhan, NJXZ) via the metabolomic and transcriptomic approaches to explore the mechanisms of empty grains in diseased rice under DMA stress. The results demonstrate an increase in total and methylated As in grains of RHY and NJXZ under DMA addition, with RHY containing higher levels of DMA. DMA addition increased the soluble sugar content in grains of RHY and NJXZ by 17.1% and 14.3% compared to the control, respectively, but significantly reduced the levels of amino acid, soluble protein, and starch. The decrease of grain Zn and B contents was also observed, and inadequate Zn might be a key factor limiting rice grain yield under DMA stress. Notably, DMA addition altered the expression levels of genes involved in the transport of sugar, amino acids, nitrates/peptides, and mineral ions. In sugar and amino acid metabolism, the reduction of metabolites and the upregulated expression of genes reflect positive regulation at the level of energy metabolism, implying that the reduction of grain starch and proteins might be ascribed to generate sufficient energy to resist the stress. This study provides a useful reference for understanding the molecular mechanism of grain emptying under DMA stress.

Ultrasensitive analyses of zearalenone in grain samples with a catalytic oxidation platform involving gold nanomaterials

Zearalenone (ZEN) contamination in cereals poses a serious threat to human and animal health, yet existing rapid test methods still suffer from poor stability and low sensitivity. The studied sensor reduces inspection time while enabling applications for on-site grain inspection. Specifically, a ZEN detector that can sensitively detect ZEN content in grains was developed. Ion implantation is an effective method for modifying screen-printed electrodes (SPEs). Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs; 5–10 nm) were uniformly implanted using screen-printed electrodes as a catalytic oxidation medium to generate an electrochemical sensor. The surface structure of the modified electrode was characterized using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results showed that differential pulse voltammetry had good linear electrochemical response to ZEN at 10 ng/kg to 10 mg/kg, with a detection limit of 1.1 ng/kg. We used AuNP-SPE sensors to detect ZEN in grain samples such as maize and oats.

Effect of Phosphorus levels with and without Phosphate solubilizing bacteria on growth, yield and quality of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) L.

A field experiment entitled “Effect of phosphorus levels with and without phosphate solubilizing bacteria on growth, yield and quality of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) in semi-arid region of South-Eestern Rajasthan was conducted during Kharif season of 2021 at the Experimental Farm of Agronomy, Mewar University, Gangrar, Chittorgarh (Rajasthan). The experiment consists of eight treatments, levels of phosphorus with and without PSB viz., 0, 20, 40 and 60 kg P2O5 ha-1, PSB, 20 kg P2O5 ha-1+PSB, 40 kg P2O5 ha-1 +PSB and 60 kg P2O5 ha-1 +PSB replicated four times laid down in RBD. Cowpea variety Pratap RC-19 was used with seed rate 15 kg ha-1. Growth attributes viz., plant height at 60 DAS and at harvest responded with 40 kg P2O5 ha-1 except 30 DAS where it responded with 60 kg P2O5 ha-1 over control. Primary and secondary branches per plant, number of trifoliate leaf of cowpea statistically significantly responded up to 40 kg P2O5. ha-1 at harvest. Similarly, root nodule number at 45 DAS responded up to 40 kg P2O5. ha-1 whereas nodule dry weight was responded up to 60 kg P2O5. ha-1 at 45 DAS over 40 kg, 20 kg P2O5 ha-1 and control. Yield attributing characters namely number of pods per plant and pod length were perceptibly increase, ed by application of 40 kg P2O5. ha-1 over 20 kg P2O5 ha-1 and control. Further, application of 60 kg P2O5 ha-1 remained statistically at par in enhancing yield attributes. 1000-grain weight, seeds per pod and harvest index was significantly higher up to 20 kg P2O5 ha-1 and control. Grain, straw and biological yields of cowpea perceptibly increased with the application of 40 kg and 60 kg P2O5. ha-1 but the higher dose of 60 kg P2O5 ha-1 remained statistically at par with 40 kg P2O5 ha-1. Improvement in N content both in grain and straw, P content in straw and K content both in grain and straw, protein content in grain and grain protein yield was significantly improved up to 40 kg P2O5. ha-1. P content in grain was responded with 60 kg P2O5 ha-1. Similarly, NPK uptake by both grain and straw and total uptake of nutrients (NPK)Nwas increased significantly under 40 kg P2O5. ha-1 over 20 kg P2O5 ha-1 and control. The dose of 60 kg P2O5 ha-1 remained statistically at par with 40 kg P2O5. ha-1 in enhancing gross and net returns and B:C over 20 kg P2O5 ha-1 and control.