Quality Of Maize Grains Research Articles

English

A field experiment was conducted in two consecutive seasons (2009 and 2010) to assess the effect of two microbial fertilizers, chicken manure, urea and their possible combinations on the performance of a maize variety (Hudeiba 45). The bio fertilizers used were Azospirillum brasilense (A), Azotobacter sp (B) and chicken manure (CM) at a rate of 7t/ha). Urea (46% N) was applied at rates of 120kg/ha (N) and 40kg/ha (T). The combinations used were Azospirillum brasilense with urea (A+T), Azotobacter sp with urea (B+T), A+CM and B+CM in addition to control. The field experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with four replicates. Four seeds were sown in holes with 20 cm between holes in 4×4 m2 plots with 5 ridges 70 cm apart. Sowing was carried out in the last week of October in 2009 and the first week of November in 2010. The fertilizers were applied on one side of the ridge and plants were irrigated at seven days intervals. Data were collected on cob length, cob diameter, number of rows/cob, number of seeds/row, 100-grain weight, grain yield/plant and grain yield/ha. Data were collected for yield components at physiological maturity and for grain yield after harvesting. The moisture, ash, fat, crude fiber, crude protein, tannins and carbohydrates contents of the grains were determined. Results showed that biofertilizers have significantly (p < 0.05) increased crop productivity. CM increased the grain yield (t/h) by 20 and 30% over the control in 2009 and 2010, respectively. Application of chicken manure solely or in combinations with Azosprillum barasilence or Azotobacter sp have also increased grain yield and its components. The combinations of N2 fixer inoculants with manure and/or urea improved grain quality of maize under field conditions. Key words: Azosprillum barasilence, Azotobacter sp, maize, chicken manure, grain yield.

Reproductive development and grain quality in maize in response to application of Zn alone or with B in soil low in available Zn and B

ABSTRACTA pot culture experiment was conducted on a soil marginally deficient in diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) extractable zinc under the glass house conditions of Lucknow University to observe the effect of zinc (Zn) alone and a combination of Zn with boron (B) on the growth and reproductive yield of maize. Studies conducted on plant height, dry matter and reproductive yield and tissue element concentration in leaves and grains at harvest showed significant increase over the control. Activities of enzymes, carbonic anhydrase and superoxide dismutase determined in comparable middle leaves increased with the application of both the nutrients. Pollen diameter, pollen-producing capacity of mature anthers, grain protein, starch and phytate content were also positively correlated with the addition of nutrients. The residual value of available Zn and B in soil left after the removal of crop was found good enough to sustain the next crop.

Quality of grain maize stored in &lt;i&gt;Gombisa&lt;/i&gt; and sacks in selected districts of Jimma Zone, Ethiopia

Quality of maize grains (Variety: Bako Hybrid-660, BH-660) stored in two storage containers ( Gombisa and Sacks) for 180 days was studied in two agro ecologies: intermediate (IAE)- and lowland (LAE) of Jimma zone, Ethiopia. Crude protein, crude fat, dry matter, total carbohydrate and ash contents were influenced significantly by storage periods in Gombisa ( p 0.05). Grains stored in Gombisa under IAE showed significantly lower dry matter and total carbohydrate contents than in Sacks. The study showed maize grain quality deteriorations in Gombisa because of favorable moisture, relative humidity and temperature conditions for maize weevil ( Sitophillus zeamais ) and angoumois grain moth ( Sitotroga cerealella ) attacks during 180 days of storage. Keywords: Agro-ecologies, Chemical composition, Gombisa , Maize grain quality Sack

Grain quality in Maize (Zea mays L.): breeding implications for short-season drought environments

Total and extractable starch, oil, protein, and amino acids of maize (Zea mays L.) are important to farmers and ranchers because of their various end uses including ethanol and feedstock nutrition. The objectives of this study were: (1) to evaluate grain quality traits in different water regimes and (2) to discuss the implications for breeding maize quality cultivars in water stressed (WS) environments. Ninety-four partial diallel crosses including 47 diverse maize inbreds and checks were tested in 12 WS, well watered (WW), and random drought (RDT) environments in 2013 and 2014. The changes in mean grain extractable (<1.33 %) and total starch (<0.74 %), oil (<2.2 %), cysteine (<2.91 %) and lysine (<2.81 %) contents in WS and RDT were small while the changes in grain protein (+6.58 % in WS and +3.46 % in RDT) and methionine (+4.41 % in WS and −1.86 % in RDT) content were large compared to WW environments. Additive genetic variance was most important across stresses and the largest variance was estimated in WS environments. The narrow-sense heritability (h 2 ) was found to be high (>0.40) for all traits in WW environments except for grain protein and amino acid contents. The mid-parent hybrid correlation was strong (>0.62) for all traits across stresses except for amino acid content ( 0.60). However, they were less associated with grain protein content and amino acid content (<0.49). Therefore, while breeding for better ethanol maize varieties could be based on multi-location testing in WS environments, breeding for healthier feedstock protein products could be conducted across environments.

Effect of nitrogen-sulphur nutrition and inhibitors of nitrification on the yield and quality of maize grain

Effect of nitrogen-sulphur nutrition and inhibitors of nitrification on the yield and quality of maize grain

Effect of Long-term Application of Chemical Fertilizer on the Quality of Summer Maize

The study on the effect of fertilization on the quality of maize grain was conducted based on continue application of fertilizer for 26 and 36 years in gleyic cambisols. The amounts of protein, starch, fat and amino acid were determined and the amino acid was analyzed by cluster analysis. The results showed: Long-term fertilization 26 years showed that N2K and N2P processing protein content as high as 9.01, 9.01%, lowest comparing CK treatment is 5.52%; all fertilizer treatments reduced the summer maize starch content, including N2PK deal with relatively high starch content is 57.55%; N2K processing crude fat content as high as 5.95%; N2P processing total amino acids and essential amino acid content is the highest, 8.13 and 3.22%, respectively. Long-term fertilization 36 years (2013) summer maize grain each nutrition indicators in line with 26 years change rule.

Mortality of insects and quality of maize grains in hermetic and non-hermetic storage

ABSTRACT Due to the need to improve the quality and safety of foods, chemical methods used to control grain pests have been replaced by alternative methods. For example, modified atmosphere within the storage units has been used. Therefore, the objective was to evaluate maize grain quality and mortality of insects of the species Sitophilus zeamais and Tribolium castaneum in hermetic and non-hermetic environments for 50 days of storage. The hermetic units consisted of polyethylene "bags" with capacity for 60 kg. A cage with 20 adults of each species and 200 g of maize was placed inside each unit. The oxygen level was quantified every five days. Evaluations of insect mortality and survival occurred at 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 days of storage. At 0, 30 and 50 days, density, moisture and fungal incidence analyses were conducted. The airtight system is efficient in the control of insects, with satisfactory mortality values for both species. Insects favor the development of fungi during the storage, regardless of the storage system.

Influences of Some Preceding Winter Crops and Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates on Yield and Quality of Intercropped Maize with Cowpea

A field study was conducted in Mallawi Agricultural Experiments and Research Station, Agricultural Research Center (ARC), El-Minia governorate, Egypt to decrease mineral nitrogen (N) inputs of maize with good yield quality and increase farmers' benefit. Local maize cultivar T.W.C. 310 was grown under intercropping and sole cultures in one row/ridge that received three mineral N fertilizer rates (75, 87.5 and 100% of the recommended N rate of maize), while local cultivar of cowpea seeds Keraim ‐ 1 were drilled in one row and two rows/ridge under intercropping and sole cultures, respectively. A split split plot design with three replicates was used. Quality of maize grains was tested in the laboratories of Seed Technology Research Department, Field Crops Research Original Research Article

Alternatives of storage of corn grains for the conditions of the brazilian cerrado

The storage of grains under technical conditions in favorable environment ensures grain quality and regulates the supply of raw material for food production. For this reason, the objective of this study was to evaluate the different forms of storage (aerated silo, non-aerated silo, silo bags and airtight) of grains produced in the Brazilian cerrado, over time (zero, three and six months), for different physical qualities of maize (normal grains, whole grains and broken grains). The research was conducted at the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), Chapadao do Sul Campus (CPCS), Grain Postharvest Laboratory. To determine the physical-chemical quality and the physical properties of grains over six months, samples were taken from the stored lots. Analysis of variance and comparison of means by Tukey’s test were conducted at 5% probability. The six-month storage time was the main factor contributing to the reduction of the quality of maize grains. Storage alternatives with aeration, non-aeration, bags and airtight environment did not influence the physical properties of maize grains. The broken maize grains showed the worst physical and chemical quality during storage time, while the batch of whole corn grains differ in quality during storage. It was concluded that airtight storage and storage in aerated silos were the conditions that best preserved the physical and chemical quality of maize grains over time.

Growth, yield and quality of maize with elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide and temperature in north–west India

An experiment was conducted growing maize (Zea mays L.) in open top chambers (OTCs) to determine the effects of elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and temperature on growth, yield, yield attributes and grain quality of maize. Maize (var. PEHM 5) was grown with two levels of carbon dioxide i.e., ambient (400ppm) and elevated (550±20ppm) and three levels of temperature i.e., ambient, ambient +1.5°C and ambient +3.0°C during kharif (July–October) seasons of 2013 and 2014 in New Delhi, India. Elevated CO2 increased grain yield of maize by 53.7% and harvest index (HI) by 2.9% compared to ambient CO2. Stover yield and yield attributes such as cob length, cob diameter, grain weightcob−1, number of grainscob−1 and 100 grain weight also increased with elevated CO2. However, elevated CO2 decreased N concentrations in grain by 11.0% and P content by 19.0% but increased K content by 5.0% over ambient CO2. Elevated temperature by 1.5°C and 3.0°C decreased grain yield by 4.9% and stover yield by 37.0% but increased HI by 6.0% compared to ambient temperature. Elevated temperature levels positively affected grain N, P and K concentrations in grain. Simultaneous elevation of CO2 and temperature increased leaf area index, number of grainsrow−1, grain yield and harvest index but decreased days to 50% tasseling, cob length, cob diameter, grain weightcob−1 and crude protein content in grain. Test weight, stover yield and total biomass increased at elevated CO2 with ambient +1.5°C temperature but decreased at elevated CO2 with ambient +3.0°C temperature. The results indicated that elevated CO2 had positive effects whereas elevated temperature had negative effects on growth and yield of maize. With elevation of both CO2 and temperature, elevated CO2 reduced the negative effects of elevated temperature on yield and yield components of maize.

English

Plants are frequently exposed to various biotic and abiotic stresses that impair their growth, development and limit the productivity. In the present work the objective was to evaluate the effect of saline stress on the germination and biochemical alterations by the expression of enzymatic systems in corn seeds treated with different concentrations of NaCl. Hybrid maize seeds (H1, H2, H3) were used during 2013 cropping season and solutions of sodium chloride (NaCl) to simulate the saline stress. The respective concentrations of NaCl (mol.m-3) were zero (0.0 g/L); 25 (1.46 g/L); 50 (2.93 g/L); 75 (4.39 g/L) and 100 mol.m-3 (5.85 g/L), diluted into water. In order to evaluate the physiological potential of these seeds, we realized the germination test with four replications of 50 seeds, distributed between three germitest papers moistened with NaCl solutions, described above. The evaluation was performed on the seventh day, with the first count realized determining the percentage of normal seedlings on the fourth day after planting. The biochemical evaluation was performed by the expression of isoenzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), esterase (EST), catalase (CAT), alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH) and alpha amylase. Seeds of the three tested hybrids have lower germination when placed in conditions of greater concentration of salinity. The hybrid H3 that presents higher tolerance to salinity and hybrid H1 are most susceptible during the germination process. The hybrid with higher vigor, H3 had higher activity of alpha amylase and catalase enzyme groups. Esterase and alcoholic dehydrogenase were not effective in measuring the quality of maize grains under salt stress conditions. Key words: Zea mays, physiological quality enzyme.

Effect of Environmental Factors on Fusarium Species and Associated Mycotoxins in Maize Grain Grown in Poland.

Maize is one of the most important crops and Poland is the fifth largest producing country in Europe. Diseases caused by Fusarium spp. can affect the yield and grain quality of maize because of contamination with numerous mycotoxins produced by these fungi. The present study was performed to identify the prevailing Fusarium species and the environmental factors affecting their frequencies and the contamination of grain with the main mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZON) and fumonisin B1 (FB1). Thirty kernel samples were collected in three locations in 2011 and in seven locations in 2012 from three hybrids. On average, 25.24% kernels were colonized by Fusarium spp. (424 strains were isolated). Fusarium verticillioides and F. temperatum were the most prevalent species, F. subglutinans, F. proliferatum and F. graminearum were in minor abundance. In total, 272 isolates of F. verticillioides and 81 isolates of F. temperatum were identified. Fusarium temperatum frequency ranged from 1.70% to 28.57% and differences between locations were significant. Fumonisin B1 was found in all tested samples. DON was found in 66.67% and ZON in 43.33% of samples. Rainfall amount positively affected F. temperatum and F. subglutinans frequency in opposite to mean temperatures in July. On the other hand, relationships between frequency of these species and historical data from 1950–2000 for annual temperature range were negative in contrast to the coldest quarter temperatures.

EFFECT OF FARMYARD MANURE, PHOSPHORUS AND ZINC ON YIELD, AND GRAIN QUALITY OF MAIZE (Zea mays l.)

Two field experiments were carried out during the summer seasons of 2013 and 2014 on maize plants (c.v. single hybrid 30K8) grown on a sandy loam soil at El-kassasin, Farm(30o 33׳ 31״ N- 30° 56׳ 7״ E, elev. 15.8 m), Ismailia Governorate, Egypt, to study the effect of FYM (0 and 10 m3 /fed), P (15, 30 and 45 kg P2O5/fed) and Zn as foliar spraying (0and 100 mg Zn/L) and their combinations on growth, yield and its components as well as grain quality of maize. The experiments were laid out in a split- split plot, arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The obtained results showed that application of FYM significantly increased the yield, yield components as well as some grain mineral contents and grain quality. All the studied characteristics were significantly affected by P- fertilizer. Application of P at the rate of 30 kg P2O5/fed resulted in the maximum plant height (250.75 cm), cob weight (306.08g), 100-grain weight (43.50 g), grain weight/ear (255.44 g), grain yield (3769.25 kg/ fed) and protein yield (478kg fed-1) as compared with the other P- fertilizer rates .Foliar application of zinc led to significant response of all studied characteristics. Application of FYM, p-fertilizer and foliar spraying of Zn in combination gave the best yield, yield components as well as some grain mineral contents and grain quality. Therefore, it could be concluded that the application of 10 m3 FYM/fed +30 kg P2O5/fed + foliar spraying of Zn (100 mg Zn/L) is the best formula for achieving the best crop and improving yield quality.

Qualidade de grãos de milho armazenados em diferentes temperaturas

A temperatura de armazenamento é um dos principais fatores que interferem na qualidade de armazenamento e, considerando a pequena quantidade de trabalhos realizados com grãos de milho, este estudo objetivou avaliar a qualidade de grãos de milho armazenados nas temperaturas de 5, 15, 25 e 35 °C, durante 12 meses. Foram realizadas análises de classificação dos grãos, teor de água, peso de mil grãos, percentual de germinação, condutividade elétrica e teor de lipídios no início, aos 3, 6, 9 e 12 meses de armazenamento; a análise de perfil de ácidos graxos foi realizada no início e ao final dos 12 meses. Os grãos foram classificados como Tipo 1 até os 6 meses de armazenamento porém após este período ocorreu uma redução drástica na qualidade sendo enquadrados como abaixo do padrão na temperatura de 25 °C. Os resultados de teor de água, peso de mil grãos, germinação, condutividade elétrica e perfil de ácidos graxos indicaram que as maiores alterações foram observadas nos grãos armazenados nas temperaturas mais elevadas principalmente a 25 e 35 °C indicando que o tempo de armazenamento seguro dos grãos nessas condições é menor quando comparado ao armazenamento em temperaturas mais baixas.

Influence of maize hybrid on bioethanol yield and quality of dried distillers' grains

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important cereal crops. and one of the most significant renewable raw materials for the production of energy and many different products. Bioethanol is a biofuel that is mostly used as a replacement for fossil fuels worldwide. Major by­product that arises from the fermentation process of corn is dried distillers' grains (DDG). Due to its high feeding value it represents an excellent component for livestock feed mixtures. The main goal of this study was to determine the technological quality of maize grain and the influence of maize hybrid on bioethanol yield and quality of this process' by-product, dried distillers' grains. Five maize hybrids developed at the Maize Research Institute, Zemun Polje, were investigated in this study. The lowest concentration of bioethanol in the fermentation medium after 44h of alcoholic fermentation (8.64% w/w) was obtained by hybrid ZP 560, and the highest (9.10% w/w) by hybrid ZP 600, while compared to the maximum theoretical bioethanol yield, the highest scoring hybrid was ZP 606 (93.59%) and the lowest ZP 505 (87.33%). The highest in vitro dry matter digestibility of DDG was determined in a sample obtained from hybrid ZP 505 (82.41%) and the lowest (77.12%) in the DDG sample of ZP 606. The chemical composition and physical characteristics of the grain, as well as other parameters of the production process have influenced the overall bioethanol yield. Hybrids created in the Maize Research Institute represent unique starting material for research of the possibilities of bioethanol, starch, food and animal feed production.

Evaluation of quality attributes and the incidence of Fusarium sp. and Aspergillus sp. in different types of maize storage

Maize is a highly nutritious cereal used in food and feed. Since maize production is seasonal in Brazil and the supply of the food chain occurs throughout the year, this cereal must be stored and is susceptible to a loss of quality and the development of potentially toxigenic fungi such as Aspergillus sp. and Fusarium sp. Thus this study aimed to evaluate the quality of maize grains kept under different types of storage for 12 months. A 4 × 5 factorial experimental design was used, the factors being four types of storage (conventional polypropylene sacks, vertical metallic silos, airtight bags and cobs) and five time periods (0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months), using two maize varieties (2B688RR, 30K73H) produced in the 2012-winter crop in the town of Dois Vizinhos, state of Parana in the south of Brazil. The parameters evaluated in the experiment during each time period were: contents of moisture, ash, protein and lipids, the percentage of healthy kernels and the incidence of Fusarium sp. and Aspergillus sp. These genera were detected, respectively, in 85% and 22% of the samples. In both hybrids, the interaction between storage types and times influenced the moisture, ash and lipid contents, and also the incidence of Fusarium sp. in the hybrid 30K73H, and the percentage of proteins and healthy kernels in the hybrid 2B688RR. The percentage of healthy kernels in hybrid 30K73H was influenced by both the factors, individually, and the protein content only by storage time. The incidence of Fusarium sp. in the hybrid 2B688RR was influenced by both factors, individually, while the incidence of Aspergillus sp. was not influenced by the factors analyzed for either of the hybrids. Although small differences were found between the four types of storage, the hermetic polyethylene bags were shown to be a good option to maintain the maize grain quality.

Gene Action for Various Grain and Fodder Quality Traits in &lt;i&gt;Zea Mays&lt;/i&gt;

A Zea may is an important cereal crop. To nourish human and livestock, it is very important that the quality of maize grain and fodder must be higher. A study was conducted to evaluate maize accessions for grain and fodder quality traits. Results indicated that higher heritability was found for nutrient detergent fiber, fodder cellulose, fodder crude fiber, fodder crude and fodder moisture percentage while genetic advance was higher for fodder cellulose, fodder crude protein and fodder ash percentage. High significant genotypic and phenotypic correlation was found among grain protein, oil and starch percentage, nutrient detergent fiber, fodder cellulose, fodder crude fiber & protein and fodder moisture percentage. The higher cumulative additive effect was recorded for acid detergent fiber, fodder crude fiber; nutrient detergent fiber and fodder cellulose suggested that selections may be made to develop synthetic varieties for better quality. Higher dominance effect and degree of dominance indicated that selection may be useful for the development of good quality maize hybrids through heterosis breeding programme. Principle component bi-plot analysis indicated that B-11×EV-347, B-11, Sh-139, EV-1097×E-322, Sh-139×B-316, B-327×E-322, B-316, Raka-poshi, B-11×Pop/209, B-336×EV-340, B-327×E-322, B-327×F-96, EV-1097×E-322, Raka-poshi×EV-347, EV-1097×Pop/209 and EV-1097×EV-340 performed better for grain and fodder quality and may be used for improvement of grain and fodder quality of maize.

Fusarium temperatum as a New Species Causing Ear Rot on Maize in Poland.

Diseases caused by Fusarium spp. are probably the most important factors affecting the yield and grain quality of maize (Zea mays L.) in Poland. While Fusarium stalk rot problems were reported to be stable in all regions, ear rot tends to increase. This tendency probably results from warmer climate and conservation tillage techniques combined with maize- and wheat-dominated rotation systems increasingly practiced in these regions. Maize kernel samples were harvested from trials conducted with hybrids moderately resistant and susceptible to ear rot in three locations in 2011 (12 samples) and in seven locations in 2012 (20 samples) from regions of Poland where maize for seed production is grown for many years. For each sample, 56 kernels (1,792 total) were subjected to the investigation of fungal colonization as following: surface-disinfected in alcohol (15 sec), rinsed with distilled water, dried, placed on the water agar in petri plates, incubated 7 to 12 days at 22°C, and sub-cultured using the single spore technique on SNA. Pure cultures were grown on SNA at 22°C for 10 days to produce macroconidia of uniform size and form, as well as on PDA (1). The presence of Fusarium spp. was determined based on the SCAR-PCR markers and the translation elongation factor (tef-1α) sequence analyses (4). All samples were contaminated by Fusarium spp. at level ranging from 17.3 to 40.5% of kernels (444 strains were isolated). F. verticillioides was the most frequent species. The frequencies of F. temperatum (a recently described species closely related to F. subglutinans [3]) ranged from 2.3 to 54.3%, F. subglutinans from 0 to 37.9%, F. verticillioides 41.0 to 90.0%, and F. proliferatum from 0 to 11.5% of the total Fusarium strain number. After extraction and purification, Fusarium mycotoxins were detected using HPLC method. The majority of maize kernel samples contained fumonisins B1 to B3. Zearalenone and deoxynivalenol were not detected or their levels were below limit detections. Aggressiveness of 10 representative isolates (3 each of F. temperatum, F. verticillioides, and F. subglutinans, and 1 F. proliferatum) was evaluated under field conditions after kernel inoculation. Susceptible and moderate resistant inbreed lines were used. The experimental design consisted of a factorial arrangement with two factors and three replicates (7 plants per replicate). To produce inoculum, isolates were grown on a liquid SNA medium. After 2 weeks, cultures were filtered through cheesecloth and conidial concentrations were adjusted to ~106 spores ml-1. Inoculation of each ear was conducted 10 to 12 days after silking time using 1.5 ml of spore suspension. Control plants were inoculated with distilled water. Visual evaluation of ear rot severity was scored during harvesting time as the percentage of the ear area covering by mycelium (2). Differences of aggressiveness between genotypes, Fusarium spp., and isolates were statistically significant; ear area covered by mycelium ranged from 3.57 to 26.95% for F. temperatum, from 10.10 to 41.39% for F. subglutinans, from 5.90 to 14.33% for F. verticillioides, and from 9.57 to 17.14% for F. proliferatum. To our knowledge, this is the first report of F. temperatum causing ear rot of maize in Poland.

Sixteen cytosolic glutamine synthetase genes identified in the Brassica napus L. genome are differentially regulated depending on nitrogen regimes and leaf senescence

A total of 16 BnaGLN1 genes coding for cytosolic glutamine synthetase isoforms (EC 6.3.1.2.) were found in the Brassica napus genome. The total number of BnaGLN1 genes, their phylogenetic relationships, and genetic locations are in agreement with the evolutionary history of Brassica species. Two BnaGLN1.1, two BnaGLN1.2, six BnaGLN1.3, four BnaGLN1.4, and two BnaGLN1.5 genes were found and named according to the standardized nomenclature for the Brassica genus. Gene expression showed conserved responses to nitrogen availability and leaf senescence among the Brassiceae tribe. The BnaGLN1.1 and BnaGLN1.4 families are overexpressed during leaf senescence and in response to nitrogen limitation. The BnaGLN1.2 family is up-regulated under high nitrogen regimes. The members of the BnaGLN1.3 family are not affected by nitrogen availability and are more expressed in stems than in leaves. Expression of the two BnaGLN1.5 genes is almost undetectable in vegetative tissues. Regulations arising from plant interactions with their environment (such as nitrogen resources), final architecture, and therefore sink-source relations in planta, seem to be globally conserved between Arabidopsis and B. napus. Similarities of the coding sequence (CDS) and protein sequences, expression profiles, response to nitrogen availability, and ageing suggest that the roles of the different GLN1 families have been conserved among the Brassiceae tribe. These findings are encouraging the transfer of knowledge from the Arabidopsis model plant to the B. napus crop plant. They are of special interest when considering the role of glutamine synthetase in crop yield and grain quality in maize and wheat.

Phenotypic characterization of a mini cor collection for increased grain quality in maize

Agronomic traits of 18 populations comprising a mini core collection for increased grain quality of the Maize Research Institute Zemun Polje were studied, along with two standard kernel type commercial hybrids. For almost all the traits (except root lodging) a considerable genetic variability was found, enabling successful breeding for any of them using this populations. Based on the obtained results, two populations were found to have grain yield at the level of ZP 341 commercial hybrid (one of them is from former Yugoslavia, and another is the introduced one). These two populations will be first to introduce into commercial breeding programs, if it proves they have also favorable biochemical characteristics. On the other hand, three populations had grain yield in the range of 1, 60-1, 91 t/ha, that is even lower than for commercial inbreeds. They will be excluded from the further breeding programs. Most of the populations were earlier than the commercial hybrids, during vegetation and according to the grain moisture at harvest. This is very favorable from a breeding standpoint. The worst characteristic of the population was very high stalk lodging, compared to commercial checks.