White Kernels Research Articles

Transcriptome Analysis Revealed ZmPTOX1 Is Required for Seedling Development and Stress Tolerance in Maize.

Plant seedling morphogenesis is considerably related to photosynthesis, pigment synthesis, and circadian periodicity during seedling development. We identified and cloned a maize zebra or crossbanding leaves mutant wk3735, which produces pale white kernels and was identified and plays a role in the equilibrium of the Redox state the in/out of ETC by active oxygen scavenging. Interestingly, it produces the zebra leaves during the production of the first seven leaves, which is apparently different from the mutation of homologs AtPTOX in Arabidopsis. It is intriguing to investigate how and why yellow crossbands (zebra leaf phenotype) emerge on leaves. As expected, chlorophyll concentration and photosynthetic efficiency both significantly declined in the yellow sector of wk3735 leaves. Meanwhile, we observed the circadian expression pattern of ZmPTOX1, which was further validated by protein interaction assays of the circadian clock protein TIM1 and ZmPTOX1. The transcriptome data of yellow (muW) and green (muG) sectors of knock-out lines and normal leaves of overexpression lines (OE) at the 5th-leaf seedling stage were analyzed. Zebra leaf etiolated sections exhibit a marked defect in the expression of genes involved in the circadian rhythm and rhythmic stress (light and cold stress) responses than green sections. According to the analysis of co-DEGs of muW vs. OE and muG vs. OE, terms linked to cell repair function were upregulated while those linked to environmental adaptability and stress response were downregulated due to the mutation of ZmPTOX1. Further gene expression level analyses of reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging enzymes and detection of ROS deposition indicated that ZmPTOX1 played an essential role in plant stress resistance and ROS homeostasis. The pleiotropic roles of ZmPTOX1 in plant ROS homeostasis maintenance, stress response, and circadian rhythm character may collectively explain the phenotype of zebra leaves during wk3735 seedling development.

ZmPTOX1, a plastid terminal oxidase, contributes to redox homeostasis during seed development and germination.

Maize plastid terminal oxidase1 (ZmPTOX1) plays a pivotal role in seed development by upholding redox balance within seed plastids. This study focuses on characterizing the white kernel mutant 3735 (wk3735) mutant, which yields pale-yellow seeds characterized by heightened protein but reduced carotenoid levels, along with delayed germination compared to wild-type (WT) seeds. We successfully cloned and identified the target gene ZmPTOX1, responsible for encoding maize PTOX-a versatile plastoquinol oxidase and redox sensor located in plastid membranes. While PTOX's established role involves regulating redox states and participating in carotenoid metabolism in Arabidopsis leaves and tomato fruits, our investigation marks the first exploration of its function in storage organs lacking a photosynthetic system. Through our research, we validated the existence of plastid-localized ZmPTOX1, existing as a homomultimer, and established its interaction with ferredoxin-NADP+ oxidoreductase 1 (ZmFNR1), a crucial component of the electron transport chain (ETC). This interaction contributes to the maintenance of redox equilibrium within plastids. Our findings indicate a propensity for excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in wk3735 seeds. Beyond its known role in carotenoids' antioxidant properties, ZmPTOX1 also impacts ROS homeostasis owing to its oxidizing function. Altogether, our results underscore the critical involvement of ZmPTOX1 in governing seed development and germination by preserving redox balance within the seed plastids.

Understanding chemical pathways of brown centre formation in laboratory induced and conventionally dried nut-in-shell macadamia kernels

World tree nut production has increased rapidly by around 50 % in the past decade; however, nut defects cause losses. For example, we know that brown centres are a major internal discolouration defect in macadamia nuts and are linked to the storage of nut-in-shell under improper conditions at high temperature and humidity. However, key chemical changes in brown centre kernels have not been described. In this study, we compared brown centres and white kernels from: 1) samples that were “induced” in the laboratory by storing at high moisture concentration; and 2) samples that were dried immediately after harvest using industry best practice methods recommended by the Australian Macadamia Society (AMS). We measured the moisture concentration, sugar concentration, fatty acid concentration, peroxide value, nutrient concentration and volatile compounds of induced and AMS samples. Our results showed that storing nut-in-shell macadamia under wet and hot conditions increased brown centres compared with samples immediately dried using the AMS regime, 10.33 % vs 1.44 %, respectively. Induced brown centres had significantly higher moisture concentrations than induced white centres. Volatile compounds including nonanoic acid, octanoic acid and 2,3 butanediol were identified and associated with brown centre formation in macadamia kernels and the initiation of lipid oxidation. Our results suggest sugar hydrolysis and the Maillard reaction are associated with brown centres both in laboratory induced samples and those formed using industry best practice drying methods. Our study suggests improper drying and storage at high temperature and high humidity are likely to result in brown centre formation. We recommend brown centre losses can be reduced by appropriate drying and storage practices.

Postharvest drying of walnuts: Effect of drying methods on walnut quality

It has been demonstrated that drying can significantly promote the antioxidant active substances of fresh walnut, as well as enhance lipid content and conversion of glycerol phospholipids to lysophospholipids in walnut. Currently, oven drying (OD) and natural air drying (NAD) are the two most commonly used drying methods for walnut. However, the differences in their effects on the quality of the final product remain unclear. This study investigated the effect of OD and NAD on the phenotypic and physiological properties and lipid oxidation of four main walnut varieties W10, W179, W185, X2 in Xinjiang, China, and determined the correlations among these properties. The results showed that OD could maintain plump and yellowish white kernels, whereas NAD led to noticeably darker and more wrinkled kernels at the end of drying. In addition, an analysis of quality-related metabolites revealed that two representative lipids PC (18:2_18:2) and PC (18:1_16:0) had completely different patterns under OD and NAD, and the metabolites highly relevant to these two lipids were mainly enriched in amino acid and ascorbate metabolism pathways. Comprehensive physiological and metabolite analysis indicated that OD outperforms NAD in maintaining walnut quality, and may be applied to industrial walnut drying.

Chemical differences between brown centre and white macadamia kernels

Nuts are susceptible to many quality issues, including discoloration defects in kernels. These discolouration defects can affect their market value and result in significant economic losses to both growers and processors. In macadamia, this quality issue is called brown centres and has been related to storage at high temperatures and moisture concentrations. However, the chemical differences between brown centre and white macadamia kernels have not previously been studied. We aimed to determine the chemical differences between macadamia kernels with brown centre defects and kernels that were white and cream coloured. We used brown and white kernel samples from 20 commercially processed batches of macadamia. From each batch, we selected brown centre samples and compared their chemistry with white kernel samples from the same batch. We compared the moisture concentration, sugar concentration, nutrient concentration, fatty acid profile and peroxide value of brown centre defect and white kernel samples. Our results showed that brown centres had a higher moisture concentration compared with white kernel samples (5.16 % vs 2.91 %, respectively, P < 0.05). Reducing sugars of fructose (0.61 %) and glucose (0.53 %) concentrations were only detected in brown centre, although the sucrose concentration was not significantly different. Most nutrient concentrations were higher in brown centres compared with white kernels. Nitrogen concentration was significantly higher in brown centre than white centres (2.10 % vs 1.82 %, respectively, P < 0.05). Calcium concentration was also higher in brown centre than white macadamia kernels (608.44 mg/kg vs 419 mg/kg, respectively, P < 0.05). Our study suggests that high moisture concentrations in macadamia kernels could have triggered the hydrolysis of sucrose into reducing sugars (fructose and glucose). In addition, reducing sugars and proteins can react in the Maillard reaction to form brown colouration in nuts. This is the first study to comprehensively compare the nutritional composition of brown centres and white macadamia kernels. We recommend appropriate drying and storing of macadamia nuts to prevent sucrose degradation into reducing sugars and decrease the formation of brown centres through the Maillard reaction.

Response of scented rice landraces of North Bengal under organic nutrient management in Darjeeling hills

The traditional practice of growing scented rice in Darjeeling Himalayas needs refinement in nutrient management for sustained production with desired quality. The effect of organic nutrient sources (Cow dung manure @ 5 t/ha, Vermicompost @ 1.5 t/ha, Mustard cake @ 0.5 t/ha, and Leaf mould @ 1 t/ha) on two aromatic rice cultivars (Kalture, and Kalonunia) was studied in a split-plot design during wet (kharif) season of 2021 at Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Kalimpong, West Bengal. Kalture had taller plants (137.1 cm) and lodging susceptibility (score 4.0) at harvest, while Kalonunia remained unlodged. Kalonunia produced 16.1% greater grain yield (3.32 t ha-1 vs. 2.86 t ha-1) over Kalture due to more number of panicles m-2 (356.2) and filled grains panicle-1 (90.1). Both aromatic rice cultivars had medium-slender (MS) white kernels, but Kalonunia had higher protein content (7.3%), alkali spreading value (score 6.0) and aroma (score 1.8) than Kalture (6.7%, score 5.7 and score 1.6). The application of vermicompost @ 1.5 t ha-1 resulted in higher grain yield (3.22 t ha-1), but mustard cake @ 0.5 t ha-1 might be better option due to moderate yield (3.11 t ha-1), better grain quality, and greater residual N (235.1 kg ha-1), P status (23.4 kg ha-1) in hill soil of West Bengal.

Inbred Selection for Increased Resistance to Kernel Contamination with Fumonisins.

In temperate world-wide regions, maize kernels are often infected with the fumonisin-producing fungus Fusarium verticillioides which poses food and feed threats to animals and humans. As maize breeding has been revealed as one of the main tools with which to reduce kernel contamination with fumonisins, a pedigree selection program for increased resistance to Fusarium ear rot (FER), a trait highly correlated with kernel fumonisin content, was initiated in 2014 with the aim of obtaining inbred lines (named EPFUM) with resistance to kernel contamination with fumonisins and adapted to our environmental conditions. The new released EPFUM inbreds, their parental inbreds, hybrids involving crosses of one or two EPFUM inbreds, as well as commercial hybrids were evaluated in the current study. The objectives were (i) to assess if inbreds released by that breeding program were significantly more resistant than their parental inbreds and (ii) to examine if hybrids derived from EPFUM inbreds could be competitive based on grain yield and resistance to FER and fumonisin contamination. Second-cycle inbreds obtained through this pedigree selection program did not significantly improve the levels of resistance to fumonisin contamination of their parental inbreds; however, most EPFUM hybrids showed significantly better resistance to FER and fumonisin contamination than commercial hybrids did. Although European flint materials seem to be the most promising reservoirs of alleles with favorable additive and/or dominance effects for resistance to kernel contamination with fumonisins, marketable new Reid × Lancaster hybrids have been detected as they combine high resistance and yields comparable to those exhibited by commercial hybrids. Moreover, the white kernel hybrid EPFUM-4 × EP116 exploits the genetic variability within the European flint germplasm and can be an alternative to dent hybrid cultivation because white flint grain can lead to higher market prices.

Ugradnja Ga1-S gena u roditeljske linije hibrida kukuruza belog zrna pomoću molekularnih markera

Maize Research Institute Zemun Polje has a marker-assisted backcross breeding (MABB) program aimed to incorporate the strong allele of incompatibility gene Ga1 into parental components of the hybrids with specific traits (white kernel). The main objective of this research was marker-assisted development of the white maize hybrid's parental lines with complete cross-incompatibility to foreign pollens. Ga1-S-tightly-linked molecular markers successfully identified heterozygous plants with a percentage of approximately 50% after all three backcrossings. Regarding the background selection, 69% of progenies had recurrent parent's genome (RPG) above the theoretical value for BC3 generation. Also, a few individuals even had 99%, the value theoretically achieved in the BC6 generation, showing that MABB made a genetic gain in RPG recovery. Foreground selection in this generation aimed to identify homozygous dominant individuals. Out of 264 BC3 F2 plants, 70 (26.5%) were dominant homozygotes, which is in accordance with the expected Mendelian ratio. Progenies of the BC3 F2 homozygous dominant plants were planted alternatively with yellow-kernel maize of the same maturity to check cross-incompatibility. Unfortunately, none of the dominant progenies had a 100% white kernel, most likely due to the presence of modifier genes that increase/decrease the effectiveness of pollen exclusion or that, alternatively, modifiers are lost during the backcrossing. It could be expected that successfully employed functional markers (developed from the sequence polymorphisms present within a functional gene(s) associated with phenotypic trait variations) would outbalance the noted impediments and enhance MABB efficiency to transfer the desired gene(s) controlling simple or complex trait(s) into cultivated varieties.

Registration of ‘NW13493’ hard white winter wheat

AbstractHistorically, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars developed by the cooperative University of Nebraska–USDA‐ARS wheat improvement project were hard red winter wheat. With the expanding hard white wheat market, there is a greater emphasis on developing hard white winter wheat lines adapted to the Great Plains. ‘NW13493’ (tested as NW13493) (Reg. no. CV‐1197, PI 699380) was selected for its white kernels, agronomic performance, relevant disease resistances, and end‐use quality and is adapted to the central Great Plains. NW13493 was licensed to Bay State Milling Company on the basis of its superior agronomic and end‐use quality performance and also the need to ensure hard white wheat growers have a known market for their grain. NW13493 hard white winter wheat was released in February 2021 by the developing institutions and the licensee. NW13493 was a selection in 2013 from the cross ‘SD98W175‐1’/‘NW03666’, which was made in 2007. The pedigree of SD98W175‐1 is ‘KS84273BB‐10’/‘KSSB110‐9’//’KS831374‐141B’/‘YE1110’/3/ ‘KS82W418’/‘Stephens’ and the pedigree of NW03666 is ‘N94S097KS’/‘NE93459’. The F1 generation was grown in the greenhouse in 2008, and the F2 to F3 generations were advanced as bulks at Mead, NE, in 2009–2010. NW13493 was evaluated in replicated trials beginning in 2014. It has excellent winter survival and agronomic performance, acceptable disease reactions to many of the common diseases in its target area, and good end‐use quality for bread making.

Kernel color and fertilization as factors of enhanced maize quality.

Maize is an important staple crop and a significant source of various nutrients. We aimed to determine the macronutrients, antioxidants, and essential elements in maize genotypes (white, yellow, and red kernel) using three different fertilizers, which could be used as a basis to increase the nutrient density of maize. The fertilizer treatments used bio- and organic fertilizers as a sustainable approach, urea, as a commonly used mineral fertilizer, and the control (no fertilization). We evaluated the yield, concentration of macronutrient (protein, oil, and starch), nonenzymatic antioxidants (phenolics, yellow pigment, total glutathione (GSH), and phytic phosphorus), and reduction capacity of the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, as well as essential elements that are commonly deficient in the diet (Mg, Ca, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, and S) and their relationships with phytic acid. The genotype expressed the strongest effect on the variability of grain yield and the analyzed grain constituents. The red-kernel hybrid showed the greatest accumulation of protein, oil, phenolics, and essential elements (Ca, Fe, Cu, and S) than a yellow and white hybrid, especially in the biofertilizer treatment. The yellow kernel had the highest concentrations of yellow pigment, GSH, phytic phosphorous, Mg, Mn, and Zn (19.61 µg g-1, 1,134 nmol g-1, 2.63 mg g-1, 1,963 µg g-1, 11.7 µg g-1, and 33.9 µg g-1, respectively). The white kernel had a greater starch concentration (2.5% higher than that in the red hybrid) and the potential bioavailability of essential metals, particularly under no fertilization. This supports the significance of white maize as a staple food in many traditional diets across the world. Urea was important for the enhancement of the antioxidant status (with 88.0% reduction capacity for the DPPH radical) and increased potential Zn bioavailability in the maize kernels (13.3% higher than that in the biofertilizer treatment). This study underlines the differences in the yield potential and chemical composition of red, yellow, and white-kernel maize and their importance as a necessary part of a sustainable human diet. This information can help determine the most appropriate genotype based on the antioxidants and/or essential elements targeted for kernel improvement.

Registration of ‘Cameo’ soft white winter club wheat

AbstractSoft white club winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L. ssp. compactum) is an important component of soft white wheat production in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Most of the current club wheat production is in the &lt;350 mm annual precipitation zone in central Washington, but there is interest in club wheat in the Palouse region of the United States (the counties of Whitman and Garfield in Washington and in Latah County in Idaho). Growers are continuing to grow the older club wheat cultivars ‘Cara’ and ‘Coda’, and there is a need for a new winter club wheat targeted to this region. ‘Cameo’ club wheat (Reg. no. CV‐1192, PI 699960), tested as ARS09X492‐6CBW, with awned spikes and soft white kernels, was developed using the bulk‐pedigree breeding method from the cross ARSC96059‐2/IL01‐11934//ARSC96059‐2‐0‐16. Cameo has better agronomic performance than other club wheat cultivars in trials on the Palouse, better stripe rust resistance than the club wheat ‘ARS Crescent’, tolerance to several major biotic and abiotic stressors, consistent good grain volume weight, mid‐season maturity and moderate height, excellent club wheat quality, and tolerance to low falling numbers. Cameo is not as competitive for grain yield in the traditional club wheat growing area in central Washington but is well suited to increasing the acreage of club wheat in the Palouse region of Idaho and Washington.

Three-way cross white kernel hybrid maize out-yielded commercial variety tested under two contrasting environments

Despite the souring demand in the poultry industry, a larger proportion of the population in mid-hills is still dependent on maize as a staple food. Maize kernel color has a great influence on its end use; yellow is preferred for poultry feeds, and white for human consumption. The popular white kernel improved maize has a low yield potential and the majority of high yielding hybrids have yellow kernels. Considering these facts, we evaluated twenty maize genotypes, including 19 three-way cross white kernel hybrid maize (CIMMYT hybrids) and one commercial hybrid (RMH4642- Indian origin), in an alpha lattice design with two replications during the winter and summer seasons of 2017 and 2018 respectively. The main objective was to identify high potential white kernel hybrid maize with consistent performance in both the summer and winter seasons. In this study, we evaluated genotypes based on grain yield, disease resistance, and consistency in contrasting environments. The majority of the tested three-way cross hybrid genotypes out-yielded commercial checks in both seasons. The yielding potential of the top hybrids ranged from 7.89 to 9.76 t ha −1 across seasons. CLTHW16173, CLTHW16037, CLTHW16032, and CLTHW16012 were identified as stalk rot resistant genotypes with a disease incidence of less than 10%. AMMI (Additive main effects and multiplicative interaction) analysis revealed that genotypes CLTHW16116, CLTHW16003, CLTHW16037, and CLTHW16009 showed consistent performance with higher average grain yield across the seasons. These outstanding hybrids need to be tested in farmers’ fields at different agro-ecologies under varied growing seasons to validate their performance. • Maize Kernel color influences the end use; yellow for livestock feeds and white for human consumption. • White kernel improved varieties are low potential and majority of high potential hybrids has yellow kernel. • Three way cross white kernel maize out-performed commercial hybrid variety in both the seasons and top genotypes yielded within the range of 7.89–9.76 t ha −1 . • CLTHW16116, CLTHW16003, CLTHW16037, and CLTHW16009 yielded consistently with higher average across the seasons.

Effect of two postharvest technologies on the micronutrient profile of cashew kernels from Mozambique.

The economics involved in processing cashew nuts (Anacardium occidentale) might alter micronutrient profiles and concentrations. We analyzed and evaluated carotenoids, tocopherols, tocotrienols, minerals, fatty acids, and amino acids in (1) cashew kernels with testa recovered from nuts dried with and without the apple, and (2) testa‐free industrial grade baby butts, splits, and white whole kernels using HPLC, ICP‐OES, and GC‐MS techniques. The results indicated that drying cashews with the respective apple slightly decreased the concentration of some carotenoids and total fatty and amino acids, but increased the concentration of iron, magnesium, and total tocotrienols compared with the conventionally (sun‐) dried kernels. We also found high concentrations of carotenoids in the testa‐containing kernels. Among the industrially processed kernel, baby butt grade was associated with lower content of β‐carotene, total tocopherols, and tocotrienols, but with significantly higher concentrations in minerals, fatty acids, and amino acids than in white wholes and split grades. Conventional sun drying of cashew nuts revealed results similar to drying with apples regarding micronutrient concentrations. The high micronutrient content of industrial grade BB is reflected in widespread human consumption and better market value.

Effect of Tempering Conditions on White Sorghum Milling, Flour, and Bread Properties.

The effects of room temperature water, hot water, and steam tempering methods were investigated on sorghum kernel physical properties, milling, flour, and bread-making properties. Overall tempering condition and tempering moisture content were found to have a significant effect on the physical properties. Milling properties were evaluated using a laboratory-scale roller milling flowsheet consisting of four break rolls and eight reduction rolls. Room temperature tempering (18% moisture for 24 h) led to better separation of bran and endosperm without negatively impacting flour quality characteristics i.e., particle size distribution, flour yield, protein, ash, damaged starch, and moisture content. Bread produced from the flour obtained from milling sorghum kernels tempered with room temperature water (18% m.c for 24 h) and hot water (16% m.c at 60 °C for 18 h) displayed better bread-making properties i.e., high firmness, resilience, volume index, higher number of cells, and thinner cell walls when compared to other tempering conditions. Room temperature water tempering treatment (18% m.c for 24 h) could be a better pretreatment process for milling white sorghum kernels without negatively impacting the flour and bread-making quality characteristics.

Chemical Compositions and Physical Properties of Selected Malaysian Rice: A Review

Rice is the main food for most countries in Asia and, about 90% of the global rice area, production and consumption are concentrated on Asia. In Malaysia, the main varieties of rice found in retail outlets are ordinary local and imported white rice, brown unpolished rice and specialty rice. In short, conventional rice or white rice is a medium-length, white kernel with translucent endosperm. Brown rice is also called unmilled rice that is produced by removing the outermost layer of the grain. Specialty rice is the rice with special characteristics which includes pigmented rice, fragrant rice, parboiled and glutinous rice. Various rice varieties have various chemical and physical properties. This staple food is found to have received the utmost attention because of its potent antioxidant properties especially pigmented rice. These properties were related mainly to their phytochemical content which was associated with the provision of health benefits in chronic disease reduction. Therefore, this paper will comprehensively review the chemical compositions and physical properties of the Malaysian rice and its relation with health benefits.

Inheritance of quantitative traits of the rice hybrid F&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;-F&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt; Svetly × Mavr

Rice can form not only white, but also red, brown and black kernels. In black rice, pericarp kernels contain anthocyanin, which has an antioxidant effect and is beneficial to human health. The current paper is devoted to the development of new rice lines with black pericarp based on the hybrid Svetly × Mavr. The purpose of the work is to develop new forms of rice with anthocyanin pericarp by a hybridization of varieties with white and black kernels, a genetic analysis of a number of quantitative traits and by a selection of the best variants with compact vertical black-kernel panicles to use them in future breeding work. There has been conducted a genetic analysis of varying quantitative traits affecting the rice productivity. The cleavage by a pericarp color was carried out according to the type of recessive epistasis in a ratio of 9 : 3 : 4. The black color of the pericarp was formed in the presence of two dominant genes Pb and Pp in the genotype, the brown color was due to the Pb gene, the white color was due to the rest combinations of genes. The traits “plant height” and “number of spikelets per panicle” of the hybrids F2 and F3 were inherited by the type of superdomination of large values of the trait controlled by two loci, the interaction of which resulted in transgressive forms. According to the traits “panicle length” and “1000 kernel weight”, there has been identified intermediate monogenic inheritance and two-peaked characteristic frequency distribution curves. There have been identified rice forms with black pericarp color, combining the optimal values of the traits “plant height”, increased “panicle length”, “number of spikelets per panicle” and “1000 kernel weight”. On its basis there has been also developed an initial material for practical breeding. The study was carried out in 2018–2020 on the fields of the EP “Proletarskoye” of the Rostov region.

WHITE STAG model: wise human interaction tracking and estimation (WHITE) using spatio-temporal and angular-geometric (STAG) descriptors

To understand human to human dealing accurately, human interaction recognition (HIR) systems require robust feature extraction and selection methods based on vision sensors. In this paper, we have proposed WHITE STAG model to wisely track human interactions using space time methods as well as shape based angular-geometric sequential approaches over full-body silhouettes and skeleton joints, respectively. After feature extraction, feature space is reduced by employing codebook generation and linear discriminant analysis (LDA). Finally, kernel sliding perceptron is used to recognize multiple classes of human interactions. The proposed WHITE STAG model is validated using two publicly available RGB datasets and one self-annotated intensity interactive dataset as novelty. For evaluation, four experiments are performed using leave-one-out and cross validation testing schemes. Our WHITE STAG model and kernel sliding perceptron outperformed the existing well known statistical state-of-the-art methods by achieving a weighted average recognition rate of 87.48% over UT-Interaction, 87.5% over BIT-Interaction and 85.7% over proposed IM-IntensityInteractive7 datasets. The proposed system should be applicable to various multimedia contents and security applications such as surveillance systems, video based learning, medical futurists, service cobots, and interactive gaming.

Morpho-physicochemical and cooking characteristics of traditional aromatic Joha rice (Oryza sativa L.) of Assam, India

Abstract Aromatic rice has its great demand due to its natural fragrance and used for special cuisines. ‘Joha’, a non-basmati aromatic rice of Assam, India traditionally cultivated by the local farmers in a very small way. Joha rice possesses few significant features that are superior over the popularly known aromatic rice like Basmati. However, it is lagging behind to attain the global market. In this paper, an attempt has been made to investigate the morphological, physicochemical and cooking characteristics of 22 traditionally cultivated aromatic rice landraces and their cooking qualities. Among all the collections, Keteki Joha exhibited highest germination index (66%) that is important for cultivation. Identify the overall results of the field experiment, Gufur Phisa Jwsa could revealed best agronomic performance for grain yield, whereas, Kharika Joha showed high hulling and milling having medium-slender, translucent, creamy white kernels. Findings of the present investigation would be a boon for developing Joha rice of Assam in future breeding program and to establish in the global scenario.

Zakorovljenost i prinos kukuruza specifičnih svojstava gajenih uz primenu ekoloških đubriva

Maize hybrids (Zea mays L.) with specific traits, such as those with red pericarp, high-protein flints or white kernel hybrids, have increased utility value as they contain some vitamins and minerals beneficial to human and animal nutrition. Furthermore, their cultivation with the application of specific fertilisers could further increase the grain quality through increased participation of macro- and micro-elements that are lacking in the diet. Agronomic biofortification encompasses the application of different production technology that enables better absorption and effective accumulation of essential elements such as iron, zinc, manganese, copper in the edible parts of cultivated plants. On the other hand, fertilisation influences the weed infestation levels and especially the presence of nitrophilic weed species in maize crop. The fertiliser application changes the balance in competition between crops and weeds, not only for nutrients but also for other resources. The effects of different fertilisers were compared within developmental research in the field of ecological agriculture to point up the advantages of microbiological and organic fertilisers, since these fertilisers can contribute to higher yields, but unlike mineral fertilisers, they positively affect the soil and agro-ecosystem. The studies were carried out to determine to what extent agronomic biofortification contributed to the increase of yielding potential and grain quality of maize genotypes with specific traits, as well as how it affected the occurrence and distribution of weeds. The red kernel maize hybrid ZP5048C, high-protein flint maize hybrid ZP737 and white kernel maize hybrid ZP552b, were grown in variants with mineral fertiliser urea, microbiological fertiliser Team Micorriza Plus and organic fertiliser Fertor, that contained essential elements necessary for the nutrition of cultivated plants. No fertiliser was applied to the control treatment. The fertilisation mainly contributed to the increase of weed mass in comparison with the non-fertilised control variant in extremely dry 2017. The highest weed mass was recorded in the hybrid ZP737 in the variant with organic fertiliser, while the lowest weed mass was recorded in all hybrids when microbiological fertiliser had been applied. The highest, i.e. lowest grain yield was recorded in the hybrid ZP5048C (5.83 t ha-1), i.e. ZP737 (3.36 t ha-1), respectively. The protein content was increased at the highest extent in the kernel of ZP737 hybrid after the application of urea, while oil and starch contents were the highest in the grain of white kernel hybrid ZP552b treated with microbiological fertiliser. Due to the specificities and importance of meteorological conditions, the studies will be continued during the next few seasons. .

Grain Quality Within ex situ and in situ Conserved Traditional White Maize Landraces

White maize had an important role in human nutrition throughout the Western Balkan region. A great number of farmers (approximately 86% in Serbia) still grow traditional white Open Pollinated Varieties (OPVs) for human diet. Out of 2217 maize landraces stored within Maize Research Institute „Zemun Polje” (MRIZP) gene bank, more than 700 are white kernel accessions. Eighteen white maize landraces, collected in the Western Balkan region in different periods, were selected for the present study. By the evaluation of agromorphological performances and the basic chemical composition of grain, the objective was to determine the importance of landraces conserved under in situ and ex situ conditions, to be used as the initial material for breeding. The idea was to determine whether the varieties conserved under ex situ conditions (collected from the same or different regions) distinguish from varieties permanently grown in the region of western Serbia. It was found that varieties permanently grown in the western Serbia were more similar to varieties of the ex situ collection from eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina than to varieties collected in western Serbia 50 years ago. The comparison between OPVs and modern white maize hybrids for the basic chemical composition of grain showed the significant potential of OPVs for nutritive grain quality improvement. Increased organic production creates new possibilities for more intensive incorporation of OPVs into this agricultural system. New opportunities for the cooperation and share of responsibilities among breeders, farmers and genetic resources managers are initiated, to be used for in situ maize genetic resources conservation improvement. More detailed characterisation and evaluation of the white maize landraces will offer an explanation of what has motivated our farmers to maintain the OPVs production through centuries, despite the availability of modern hybrids.