Kernel Weight Research Articles

Effects of Combined Application of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Growth, Yield and Grain Quality of Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Varieties

Wheat is one of the most important cereal crops in the highlands of Ethiopia and particularly in Arsi Zone. However, its yield is low due to intensive continuous cultivation, suboptimal fertilizer application and nutrient depletion especially in the highlands of Arsi, Ethiopia. For this reason, an experiment was carried out during the 2017 cropping season at Munesa District, Oromia Seed Enterprise Lole farm to determine the effects of integrated organic and inorganic fertilizers on growth, yield and grain quality of bread wheat. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with factorial arrangement in three replications using two bread wheat varieties (Hidase and Kingbird) as test crop and nine fertilizers combinations (control, 5 tons vermicompost, 10 tons farmyard manure, 0.1t NPS+0.025t UREA, 0.1t DAP+0.025t UREA, 0.05t NPS+0.025t UREA+2.5t VC, 0.05t NPS+0.025t UREA+0.5t FYM, 0.05t DAP+0.025t UREA+0.25t VC, 0.05t DAP+0.025t UREA+ 0.5t FYM). Days to heading and maturity, spike length, plant height, tiller number, spikelet number, biomass yield, grain filling period, grain yield, thousand kernels weight and harvest index were significantly (p<0.001) affected by the effects of varieties and fertilizers. Days to physiological maturity and grain filling were also significantly (p<0.001) influenced by the interaction effects of fertilizers and varieties. Higher growth, yields and quality of wheat were obtained from Hidase as compared to Kingbird variety. Highest yield of bread wheat (6.2t ha-1) was obtained from the combined application of 2.5t VC + 0.05t NPS + 0.025t UREA ha-1 fertilizers; while application of 0.05t DAP+0.025t UREA gave statistically similar yield and yield components with the highest yield. However, grain protein contents and hectoliter weight were only significantly (p<0.001) influenced by combined fertilizer applied. Therefore, it be conclude that combined application of 0.05t NPS + 0.025t UREA + 2.5t VC fertilizers had significantly improved the yields and qualities along better economic returns of wheat and Hidase variety of wheat was superior as compared to Kingbird variety in performances.

Registration of Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Variety Kulumsa for the Midlands of Ethiopia

Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a crucial crop in Ethiopia, and breeders test newly developed elite lines for superiority to existing cultivars to boost national productivity. Recently, commercial wheat varieties with higher genetic gain for economic traits have been released, which outperform older varieties. One such variety is Kulumsa, which has the pedigree “PFAU/MILAN/5/CHEN/ AEGILOPSSQUARROSA(TAUS)/BCN/3/VEE#7/BOW/4/PASTOR/6/2*BAVIS#1/7/BORL14” and selection history “CMSS13B00513S-099M-099NJ-099NJ-15Y-0WGY”. It was developed and released by Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center for mid to high altitudes of wheat-growing agroecology of Ethiopia. Kulumsa has higher grain yield performance than the check and has good agronomic characteristics and medium maturing type compared to the current varieties. It consistently out-yielded other tested bread wheat genotypes over two years. Compared to Wane, Danda'a, and Lemu checks, Kulumsa demonstrated significant improvement in agronomic characteristics and enhanced yield by 60%, 62%, and 68%, respectively. Wane (30.2g), Lemu (29.6g), and Danda'a (32.7g) have lower thousand kernel weights than Kulumsa (39.6g). Kulumsa had a 31%, 21%, and 34% thousand kernel weight advantage over Wane, Danda'a, and Lemu, respectively. The new variety has a better hectoliter weight than Wane, Lemu, and Danda'a by 18%, 13%, and 11%, respectively. The newly released bread wheat varieties are moderately resistant to stem rust, and yellow rust, and comparable for leaf rust disease and Septoria with the checks Wane, Danda'a, and Lemu. Kulumsa proved to be more resistant to stem yellow and leaf rust than all currently produced varieties in the mid to high-land part of wheat-growing agroecology. It offers new hope for farmers of Ethiopia and has a white grain color with good general acceptance for bread with high quality.

VARIATION OF CHLOROPHYLL AND CAROTENOID PIGMENTS IN SOME WINTER WHEAT FLAG LEAF UNDER DIFFERENT FERTILIZER REGIMES

Five Romanian winter wheat genotypes were analyzed during two experimental years (2019-2020) under four different regime fertilizers for chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoid contents from flag leaf, respectively, number of grains/spike, weight of grains/spike, thousand kernel weight. The results showed that the application of additional fertilization increase the analyzed traits, also causing an increase of traits variability. Regarding the variation of photosynthetic pigments from flag leaf as an effect of different fertilizer levels, their concentration is specific to each variety. The highest value of chlorophyll a type is observed in Cezara variety (665.83 mg/kg DW) at N150 kg s.a./ha fertilization level applied in a boot stage. The variation of chlorophyll b concentration in flag leaf is similar to chlorophyll a concentration as a reaction of different nitrogen dose aplication, the highest value for this type of chlorophyll being registered in T. 109-12 at F4 (519.64 mg/kg DW). Carotenoid concentration from flag leaf varies from 3.93 mg/kg DW at Dumitra variety (F3) to 97.63 mg/kg DW at Andrada variety in F2 fertilization level.

Changes in the relationships between pomological characteristics in hazelnuts according to the picking manually from the branch and the ground

This research was carried out to determine the relationships between pomological characteristics of hazelnuts collected manually from the branch and the ground. The research was carried out in three different orchards belonging to a producer, which contains Tombul, Foşa and Çakıldak hazelnut varieties in Kocaali district of Sakarya province (Türkiye). The orchards, located at an altitude of 300 m, face north. Hazelnut samples of Tombul, Foşa and Çakıldak varieties were collected from the branch in the first (2009) and second year (2010), on 12-15 August, 15-18 August and 22-25 August, respectively, and from the ground on 24-27 August, 27-30 August and 4-7 September, respectively. Nut weight, nut size, shell thickness, kernel weight, kernel size, kernel cavity, kernel percent, shriveled kernel ratio, good kernel ratio, full and average blanching ratios were determined in dried fruits. Correlation analysis was performed between the properties examined separately in the two groups of samples. In the samples collected from the branch and the ground, the highest variation was seen in the shriveled kernel ratio and the lowest in the good kernel ratio. It was determined that all of the significant correlation coefficients in the samples collected from the branch were positive, and the highest correlation coefficients were between full blanching ratio-average blanching ratio, nut weight-kernel weight and nut size-kernel size, respectively. In the samples collected from the ground, more significant correlations, and also negative significant relationships were found between the investigated properties. It was determined that the highest positive correlations were found between nut size-kernel weight, nut weight-kernel weight, full blanching rate-average blanching rate, nut weight-kernel size and nut size-kernel size, respectively; the highest negative correlations were found between the shell thickness-good kernel ratio, the shell thickness-kernel size, and the shriveled kernel ratio-good kernel core ratio, respectively. It can be said that the samples collected manually from the ground in hazelnut were more homogeneous than those collected from the branch in terms of the quality characteristics examined; in the samples collected from the ground, the good kernel ratio and kernel size were negatively affected by the shell thickness, the shriveled kernel ratio was positively affected, and there were no differences between the samples in terms of other relations.

Breeding value and homeostaticity of the spike performance and its constituents in medium tall winter bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) accessions in relation to resistance to the pathogens of powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis (DC.)...

Identification of sources of group resistance in winter bread to the pathogens B. graminis (DC.) E.O. Speer f. sp. tritici Em. Marchal and S. tritici Rob. et Desm. and of high performance of the spike and its constituents is a necessary and relevant step towards the creation of comprehensively valuable and adaptable genotypes. The paper presents the results of evaluation of the breeding value and homeostaticity of the spike performance and its constituents in medium tall winter bread wheat in relation to resistance to powdery mildew and Septoria leaf blotch. New sources of consistently high group resistance to the powdery mildew and Septoria leaf blotch pathogens have been identified: Kyivska 17, Zorianka, Sicheslava, and Svitiaz (UKR). We have selected accessions with high performance of the spike and its constituents in combination with high breeding value and homeostaticity of these characteristics: the kernel weight per spike (Kyivska 17 (Sc = 1.8; Hom = 21.9) (UKR)); the kernel number per spike (Svitohliad (Sc = 37.8; Hom = 554.1), Stritenska (Sc = 36.4; Hom = 452.5), Svitiaz (Sc = 35.8; Hom = 451.8), MIP Lada (Sc = 33.6; Hom = 572.7) (UKR), and Manella (Sc = 33.1; Hom = 460.8) (NLD)); and the thousand kernel weight (Kyivska 17 (Sc = 42.9; Hom = 1053.7), Sicheslava (Sc = 42.6; Hom = 873.2) (UKR), and Turanus (Sc = 41.3; Hom = 707.5) (AUT)). It was found that the percentage of accessions with high homeostaticity of the thousand kernel weight, the kernel number per spike and the kernel weight per spike was 63.6%, 31.8%, and 22.7%, respectively. In the medium tall winter bread wheat accessions, there were strong positive correlations between the breeding value of the kernel weight per spike and resistance to Septoria leaf blotch (r = 0.77, P < 0.01) and between the kernel number per spike and resistance to powdery mildew (r = 0.71, P < 0.01). Significant positive correlations were observed between the breeding value of the thousand kernel weight and resistance to Septoria leaf blotch (r = 0.61, P < 0.01), between the homeostaticity of the thousand kernel weight and resistance to Septoria leaf blotch (r = 0.51, P < 0.01) and between the breeding value of the kernel number per spike and resistance to Septoria leaf blotch (r = 0.56, P < 0.01). The selected sources of high group resistance to powdery mildew and Septoria leaf blotch, high performance of the spike and its constituents in combination with the breeding value and homeostaticity of these traits are valuable starting materials to create highly promising winter bread wheat cultivars, which would be adaptable to limiting biotic factors.

Selection of Superior Properties of Walnut Genotypes in Ereğli-Halkapınar (Konya) and Ayrancı (Karaman) Walnut Population

This selection study was conducted to determine the walnut genotypes with superior characteristics grown from seeds in Ereğli and Halkapınar districts of Konya province and Ayrancı district of Karaman province between 2019-2022. In 2021 on the fruits taken, 8 genotypes in total, including 5 genotypes in shelled walnuts and 4 genotypes in kernels (1 genotype received high scores in both shelled and kernel walnuts) were found to be promising. In 8 genotypes selected, the shelled weight is 10.66-26.31 g, the kernel weight is 5.32-9.82 g, the kernel percentage is 37.33-57.91%, the shell thickness is between 1.06-1.90 mm, the shell color is “light” in 1 genotype, “moderate” in 4 genotypes, “dark” in 3 genotypes, kernel color is in 1 genotype “extra light”, “light” in 7 genotypes, remove of kernel from the shell was “easy” in all genotypes. Shell adhesion was “good” in all genotypes, cracking of the shell was detected “easy” in 7 genotypes, “moderate” in 1 genotype, shell texture was “smooth” in 3 genotypes, “moderate” in 4 genotypes, and “rough” in 1 genotype. Remove of kernel from the shell was determined “easy” in all genotypes. Kernel fill and healthy kernel percentage was determined as 100% in all genotypes. At the end of the research, 6 of the selected genotypes showed homogamy, 1 showed protogeny and 1 showed protandry flowering properties.

Prediction of Ear Weight, Kernel Weight and Viability in Maize Using Image Analysis

In maize breeding studies, it is becoming common to determine the ear and kernel characteristics by image analysis. While current methods focus on measurements that can be obtained directly by image analysis, it has not been adequately addressed whether different parameters such as weight and viability can be estimated using these measurements. This study aimed to determine whether it is possible to estimate the ear weight (g), kernel weight (g), single kernel weight (g) and viability (1/0) status of maize with the help of features (area, perimeter, width, length) extracted from images of the ear and kernel samples. In this study, 233 ear and 1242 grain samples belonging to 13 maize genotypes were used as material. Digital images of the ear samples were taken with a 5 MP camera and from the kernel samples with a desktop scanner. The ear weight reference data (DV1) and the kernel weight reference data (DV2) were obtained by weighing each sample on a precision balance. Single kernel reference data (DV3) was obtained with the measurements of single kernel weights. Kernel samples underwent paper germination test and reference data (DV4) related to viability was created. Regression models were developed by using the features obtained from image analysis (area, perimeter, width, height) for each reference data set as the predictor variable. As a result of the study, it was seen that the ear weight and kernel weight can be estimated with the help of the parameters extracted from the image analysis. While moderate success was achieved in the determination of single seed weight, it was difficult to determine the viability status based on the morphometric measurements of a single kernel in maize.

Nitrogen application and soil mulching improve grain yield of rainfed maize by optimizing source-sink relationship and grain filling process on the Loess Plateau of China

The kernel weight of maize (Zea mays L.) is largely regulated by the source-sink relationship during the grain-filling period. The source-sink coordination is the key to high grain yield, which is affected by many management practices, such as nitrogen application and soil mulching. Previous studies have mainly focused on qualitative descriptions of maize source-sink relationships, but the quantitative analysis of maize source-sink relationships under various nitrogen application rates and soil mulching practices have been poorly explored. A three-season (2020–2022) experiment was conducted on rainfed maize on the Loess Plateau of China, with two nitrogen rates (N0, 0 kg N ha–1; N180, 180 kg N ha–1) and three mulching practices (NM, flat cultivation with no mulching; SM, flat cultivation with full straw mulching; RF, ridge-furrow cultivation with transparent film mulching on the ridge). The results showed that compared with N0, N180 increased the maximum leaf area index (LAImax) by 29.6%, leaf area duration (LAD) by 31.4%, maximum 100-kernel weight (HGWmax) by 12.5%, source growth (SG) by 34.2%, sink capacity (SC) by 49.8%, source supply rate (SUR) by 23.4%, sink growth rate (SGR) by 50.7%, and finally increased grain yield by 37.2%. Compared with NM, SM and RF increased LAImax by 8.5% and 25.6%, LAD by 10.6% and 28.0%, HGWmax by 5.5% and 10.3%, SG by 13.6% and 41.6%, SC by 16.4% and by 35.5%, SUR by 8.7% and 35.5%, SGR by 16.3% and 37.1%, and finally increased grain yield by 8.2% and 26.7%, respectively. The structural equation modeling indicated that LAD mainly affected SG, and SG significantly affected source-sink relationships and grain-filling parameters, which mainly affected 100-kernel weight and the number of grains per spike, respectively. The number of grains per spike had a greater impact on the sink capacity than 100-kernel weight. In conclusion, nitrogen application and soil mulching enhanced grain yield of rainfed maize by increasing leaf source size, promoting source growth and grain filling, improving kernel number and optimizing source-sink relationships on the Loess Plateau of China. This study provides a better understanding of source-sink relationships for optimizing maize management practices and identifying key processes in modeling maize yield.

Characteristics of spring triticale cultivars bred at the Yuriev Plant Production Institute of NAAS

Characteristics of spring triticale cultivars bred at the Yuriev Plant Production Institute of NAAS

Dependence of the grain filling intensity and moisture-yielding ability on valuable economic features in corn

Purpose. To analyze the dependence of the corn grain filling intensity and moisture-yielding ability of corn grain on morphological and economic characteristics in each ripeness group of corn lines.
 Material and Methods. The study was carried out in the Laboratory of Introduction and Preservation of Plant Genetic Resources and the Laboratory of Corn Breeding and Seed Production of the Yuriev Plant Production Institute of NAAS in 2017-2019. The accessions were sown by the standard method in two-row plots of 9.8 m2 in three replications. The reference accessions were placed after every 20 plots: early ripening - F2 line; medium-early – UKh 52; medium-ripening - DS 103, UKhS 126, and SO 125; medium-late - А 619, Kharkivska 215, and KhА 408. During the growing period, the accessions were evaluated in the field 24 times for typicality. In the laboratory, the grain moisture was determined thermogravimetrically four times for each line during its ripening period, every ten days, starting on day 30 after pollination. For comparison, the moisture content in grain was also determined in the field using an AVD 6100 needle moisture meter for wood.
 Results and Discussion. Lines with the maximum yield of moisture per day were selected: six medium-early lines (LPL 79 A, UKhK 5, UChS 85, UKhK 590, UChS 85, SL 73-85-2 (Ukraine), СО 190 (Canada), and B 267 (Russia)), 24 medium-ripening lines (of them, 20 lines were bred in Ukraine; one line is from Russia (B 321), and three lines are from the USA (W 83, A 619, and B 143)), and 25 medium-late lines (20 Ukrainian lines (UKhK 472, KhLH 78, LNAU 18, ОV 1248, UKh 804, and others), two Russian lines, 1 Kazakhstanian line, and 1 line from the USA). We noted the dependences of the grain filling intensity, moisture release during ripening, and grain drying rate on morphobiological and so-called "specific" characteristics (peduncle length, sheath number, density of sheath adhesion to the ear, grain consistency). Corn lines with intensive grain filling and a set of valuable economic features were distinguished.
 Having studied inbred corn lines, we found a strong positive correlation between dry matter accumulation and performance (r = 0.90) and moderate positive correlations between dry matter accumulation and kernel number per ear (r = 0.45), between dry matter accumulation and plant height (r = 0.40), and between dry matter accumulation and ear attachment height (r = 0.39).
 Conclusions. The best lines were selected in each group of ripeness according to the intensity of moisture egress from grain and valuable economic characteristics. In the medium-early group, eight best lines were selected. However, only 6 lines had good economic characteristics. Most of the medium-early lines were superior to the reference accession, UKh 52, in terms of performance and thousand kernel weight. In the medium-ripening group, 24 best lines were selected in comparison with UChS 126 (reference accession).

Variation in seed morphology and selected oil parameters of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) from different agroclimatic zones in Tamil Nadu, India

Tamil Nadu, in southern India, has the second-largest number of neem trees in the country. The oil from the seeds has high economic significance for cottage industries in the region. This paper examines 28 Candidate Plus Trees (CPTs) selected from six agroclimatic zones in Tamil Nadu which exhibit exceptional traits such as superior growth and other desirable characteristics. We aimed to understand seed morphology variations and physicochemical properties in the oil across different regions. Significant differences were observed for morphometric traits. Fruit production correlated negatively with rainfall. 100-seed kernel weight and seed length correlated with oil percentage. Rainfall influenced seed breadth and pericarp weight. Clustering using morphological characters did not group genotypes from the same region; while soil type could distinguish them. Correlation helped us determine the prominent features which influence the traits of interest, which can be useful for breeding programs, cultivation practices, and the development of neem-based products in Tamil Nadu and beyond.

Modeling Spring Maize Grain Filling under Film Mulching and Nitrogen Application in a Cold and Arid Environment

The grain-filling process is a key stage in ensuring a high yield of maize. Nitrogen is one of the nutrient elements most essential for maize, especially in cold and arid areas. To evaluate the effects of plastic-film mulching and nitrogen application on the maize grain-filling process, the impact of different plastic-film mulching (degradable plastic film, J; common plastic-film mulching, P) and nitrogen fertilizer levels (0 kg·ha−1, N0; 160 kg·ha−1, N1; 320 kg·ha−1, N2; 480 kg·ha−1, N3) on maize grain-filling characteristic parameters and final 100-kernel weight were tested in 2021 and 2022. The results showed that the interaction between film mulching and nitrogen application significantly (p < 0.05) affected the filling characteristic parameters and final 100-kernel weight of maize. The final 100-kernel weight was highest at the N2 nitrogen application level, which was 7.69–38.13% higher under degradable plastic-film mulching and 3.17–38.06% higher under common plastic-film mulching than at other levels. The nitrogen application level significantly (p < 0.05) increased grain-filling duration and rate. The duration time in reaching the maximum grain-filling rate under the N2 nitrogen application level was around 1.1967–5.7835 d under degradable plastic-film mulching and 2.8688–8.1704 d under the common plastic-film mulching, with the maximum and average grain-filling rate increased by 0.0595–0.2063 g·d−1 and 0.0447–0.1423 g·d−1 under degradable film mulching and 0.1418–0.3058 g·d−1 and 0.1082–0.2125 g·d−1 under common film mulching, respectively. The nitrogen application levels of N2 and N3 under two plastic-film mulching methods prolonged the duration of the rapid and slow increase period of grain filling and increased the grain-filling rate and the average rate. The average grain-filling rate at the N2 level increased by 0.0469–0.1759 g·d−1 and 0.0090–0.0454 g·d−1 under degradable film mulching and 0.1113–0.2581 g·d−1 and 0.0203–0.0648 g·d−1 under common film mulching, respectively. Therefore, common plastic film mainly prolonged the duration of the gradual increase period of grain filling and increased the grain-filling rate; meanwhile, the effect of degraded plastic film on the grain-filling rate increase and prolonging of the grain-filling duration was gradually highlighted during the rapid and the slow period of increase. In addition, the 320 kg·ha−1 of nitrogen application level under both common plastic-film mulching and degradable-film mulching was more conducive to prolonging the grain-filling duration of maize, which increased the grain-filling rate and 100-kernel weight, laying a foundation for a high yield of maize.

Resistance identification and nitrogen management of wheat under late spring coldness

AbstractLate spring coldness has a profound impact on yield and quality of wheat (Triticum aestivum), the reasonable fertilization management significantly improved yield, quality, and cold resistance of plants. Here, 10 predominant wheat varieties cultivated in the Huang‐Huai‐Hai region were selected to investigate the detrimental influence mechanism of late spring coldness on wheat growth and screen three varieties with a strong resistance to coldness. Additionally, under late spring coldness, the three varieties were applied with varying ratios of base to topdressing nitrogen fertilizer to investigate the consequences on the establishment of population structure and subsequent formation of yield and quality. The results showed that late spring coldness exerted severely detrimental effect on wheat organs development, including the increased occurrence of dead tillers, elevated mortality of young spikes, and significant decrease kernels. However, compared to N1 treatment (a nitrogen fertilizer distribution of 100% base+0% jointing+0% booting), the N2 treatment (50% base+50% jointing+0% booting) exhibited favorable outcomes under late spring coldness, such as the decreased basic seedlings and tillers, increased flag leaf area, and leaf area index, contributing to the higher spike number, grain number, and 1000‐kernel weight. Ultimately, the grain yields of Jinan 17, Huaimai 28, and Yan'nong 5158 reached their maximum values, with a 23.5%, 10.6%, and 24.2% increase, respectively, and the membership function analysis confirmed the most favorable effect of N2 treatment. These findings underscore the appropriately increased ration of topdressing nitrogen fertilizer during late spring coldness as a prerequisite for achieving both high yield and good quality of wheat.

INFLUENCE OF BACTERIA AND CHICKEN MANURE ON YIELD AND YIELD COMPONENTS OF BEAN (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

The effects of chicken manure and different bacteria applications on yield and yield components of beans were investigated in present study. The field experiment was conducted during the 2019 and 2020 at the experimental area of the Faculty of Agriculture, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design with three replications. Chicken manure (chicken manure + and chicken manure -) were main plots and bacteria applications (control; traditional; rhizobia; bontera; traditional + rhizobia; traditional + bontera; rhizobia + bontera; traditional + rhizobia + bontera) were sub-plots. All of the investigated characters were higher in second year than first year except for harvest index and hundred kernel weight due to especially June precipitation in second year. Application of chicken manure positively affected important yield components, chlorophyll content and yield. In general, the application of bacteria alone or together has positively affected yield and yield components. The highest yield was obtained from traditional+rhizobia+bontera application. Consequently; it was determined that the efficiency of bacteria increased with the application of chicken manure and positive results were obtained in yield and yield components of beans.

Evaluation of Some Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Cultivars and Lines for Yield and Yield Components under Duzce Ecological Conditions

Wheat is an important cereal crop in terms of cultivation area and production in Turkey and around the world. Due to climate change, increasing world population, decreasing agricultural lands and waters, the demand for wheat and wheat-based products has increased in Turkey. The study was carried out to determine yield and yield components of some bread wheat genotypes under Duzce ecological conditions in 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 growing seasons. In this research, spike length, spikelet number per spike, grain number per spike, grain weight per spike, thousand kernel weight and grain yield were investigated. According to the two year results, spike length 8.3-11.9 cm, number of spikelets per spike 16.5-19.9, number of grains per spike 44.8-57.8, grain weight per spike 1.68-2.50 g, thousand kernel weight 40.8-51.2 g and grain yield ranged between 4611-7875 kg ha-1. The highest yielding genotypes were found as H8G3, H8G5, H9G4, Rumeli and Lucilla.

The yield performance of maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes under different planting times

Adoption of graded and certified seeds for planting has a high demand among the farmers at Kirkuk city, where maize has different way of consumption like a staple food, forge crop and raw material for industry. This study aimed to evaluate common domestic maize genotype, against the modern maize genotype under different summer planting times at the district of Kirkuk - Kirkuk governorate, Iraq. The study include two genotypes of maize, (Bohoth106 modern genotype and domestic maize genotype) and three planting times (early-July, mid-July and late-July). The experiment was established in three replicate blocks under randomized complete block design. The results showed that Bohoth106 which planted at mid-July had a significant performance, in traits kernels weight per ear (164.5 g), grain yield (11.2 t.ha-1), Stover yield (25.1 t.ha-1) and biomass yield (36.2 t.ha-1). Whereas, the lowest values were observed in the interaction between domestic maize with early-July planting time. Simple correlation coefficients revealed that grain yield positively and significantly correlated with leaf area index, Stover yield, biomass yield, grain Stover ratio and harvest index. According to the presented results farmers can cultivate Bohoth106 at mid-July till late-July to achieve high grain yield during summer planting time in Kirkuk district, Iraq. Keywords: Maize yield, Genotypes, Planting times, Regression relationship.

Influence of Fusarium head blight on technological quality of wheat

AbstractWheat is a cereal of special importance in the world cereal production. Fusarium head blight is one of the most important diseases of wheat caused by phytopathogenic Fusarium species that significantly reduce wheat production. This disease reduces grain yield and quality and causes the presence of harmful mycotoxins. The purpose of this study is to test the effect of Fusarium infection on wheat quality parameters in two wheat varieties Alföld and Mv Karéj. The results showed that Fusarium infection was higher in 2021 (91.47% and 95.20%) compared to 2020 (44.33% and 40.27%) in the two wheat varieties used Alföld and Mv Karéj respectively. In Alföld, Fusarium infection had a negative effect on protein content, test weight, thousand kernel weight, gluten content and Zeleny sedimentation index, whereas falling number was not affected. In Mv Karéj, Fusarium infection had a negative effect on test weight, thousand kernel weight, falling number and Zeleny sedimentation index, whereas protein content and gluten content were not affected. Although Fusarium infection reduced wheat quality, Mv Karéj showed a stable protein and gluten content whereas Alföld showed a stable falling number. Thus, Mv Karéj is more tolerant to Fusarium infection compared to Alföld.

Hotspot Regions of Quantitative Trait Loci and Candidate Genes for Ear-Related Traits in Maize: A Literature Review.

In this study, hotspot regions, QTL clusters, and candidate genes for eight ear-related traits of maize (ear length, ear diameter, kernel row number, kernel number per row, kernel length, kernel width, kernel thickness, and 100-kernel weight) were summarized and analyzed over the past three decades. This review aims to (1) comprehensively summarize and analyze previous studies on QTLs associated with these eight ear-related traits and identify hotspot bin regions located on maize chromosomes and key candidate genes associated with the ear-related traits and (2) compile major and stable QTLs and QTL clusters from various mapping populations and mapping methods and techniques providing valuable insights for fine mapping, gene cloning, and breeding for high-yield and high-quality maize. Previous research has demonstrated that QTLs for ear-related traits are distributed across all ten chromosomes in maize, and the phenotypic variation explained by a single QTL ranged from 0.40% to 36.76%. In total, 23 QTL hotspot bins for ear-related traits were identified across all ten chromosomes. The most prominent hotspot region is bin 4.08 on chromosome 4 with 15 QTLs related to eight ear-related traits. Additionally, this study identified 48 candidate genes associated with ear-related traits. Out of these, five have been cloned and validated, while twenty-eight candidate genes located in the QTL hotspots were defined by this study. This review offers a deeper understanding of the advancements in QTL mapping and the identification of key candidates associated with eight ear-related traits. These insights will undoubtedly assist maize breeders in formulating strategies to develop higher-yield maize varieties, contributing to global food security.

Phenotypic Plasticity of Yield and Yield-Related Traits Contributing to the Wheat Yield in a Doubled Haploid Population.

Phenotypic plasticity is the ability of an individual genotype to express phenotype variably in different environments. This study investigated the plasticity of yield-related traits of bread wheat by utilising 225 doubled haploid (DH) lines developed from cv. Westonia and cv. Kauz, through two field trials in Western Australia. Plasticity was quantified via two previously published methods: responsiveness to varying ecological conditions and slopes of reaction norms. The spikelets/spike was the most plastic trait, with an overall plasticity of 1.62. The least plastic trait was grain protein content, with an overall plasticity of 0.79. The trait hierarchy based on phenotypic plasticity was spikelets/spike > thousand kernel weight > seed number > seed length > grain yield > grain protein content. An increase in yield plasticity of 0.1 was associated with an increase in maximum yield of 4.45 kg ha-1. The plasticity of seed number and grain protein content were significantly associated with yield plasticity. The maximal yield was positively associated with spikelets/spike and grain yield, whereas it negatively associated with grain protein content. In contrast, the minimal yield was found to be negatively related to the plasticity of spikelets/spike and the plasticity of grain yield, whereas it was not related to grain protein content plasticity. Seed number and seed length exhibited plastic responses at the higher fertilisation state while remaining relatively stable at the lower fertilisation state for the wheat DH population. The finding of the current study will play a key role in wheat improvement under the changing climate. Seed length and seed number should be the breeding target for achieving stable yield in adverse environmental conditions.

Study of correlations between yield and grain quality indicators of varieties and breeding lines of Triticum aestivum L.

Purpose. To determine the correlations between yield and grain quality indicators of varieties and breeding lines of winter bread wheat. Methods. The study was conducted under the conditions of the V. M. Remeslo Myronivka Institute of Wheat NAAS of Ukraine (MIW) during 2019/20–2021/22. Ten new varieties and four breeding lines of winter bread wheat of Myronivka breeding were evaluated. Grain quality indicators were determined in the grain quality laboratory of MIW according to conventional techniques. Pearson’s correlation coefficients (r) were calculated to establish correlations. Results. Correlations with different direction and strength were found between yield and quality indicators of winter bread wheat grain (–0.32 < r < 0.61). During the research years, reliable direct correlation coefficients were obtained between yield and the 1000 kernel weight indicator (r = 0.17–0.46). Also, a reliable linear dependence (r = 0.13–0.61) of yield with water absorption capacity of flour, test weight, grain vitreous, with protein and wet gluten content, but only under certain hydrothermal growing conditions. The varieties and breeding lines of winter bread wheat were identified which, during the years of research, showed stable direct correlations between yield and the indicators of 1000 kernel weight, grain vitreous, protein content, wet gluten content, sedimentation value, dough elasticity index, deformation energy, dough tenacity, water absorption capacity of flour. Conclusion. The selected varieties and breeding lines of winter bread wheat can be used in the breeding process as sources for combining high yield with certain improved quality indicators in one genotype to create competitive varieties.