Southeast Europe (SEE) is a very important maize-growing region, comparable to the Corn belt region of the United States, with similar dent germplasm (dent by dent hybrids). Historically, this region ...has undergone several genetic material swaps, following the trends in the US, with one of the most significant swaps related to US aid programs after WWII. The imported accessions used to make double-cross hybrids were also mixed with previously adapted germplasm originating from several more distant OPVs, supporting the transition to single cross-breeding. Many of these materials were deposited at the Maize Gene Bank of the Maize Research Institute Zemun Polje (MRIZP) between the 1960s and 1980s. A part of this Gene Bank (572 inbreds) was genotyped with Affymetrix Axiom Maize Genotyping Array with 616,201 polymorphic variants. Data were merged with two other genotyping datasets with mostly European flint (TUM dataset) and dent (DROPS dataset) germplasm. The final pan-European dataset consisted of 974 inbreds and 460,243 markers. Admixture analysis showed seven ancestral populations representing European flint, B73/B14, Lancaster, B37, Wf9/Oh07, A374, and Iodent pools. Subpanel of inbreds with SEE origin showed a lack of Iodent germplasm, marking its historical context. Several signatures of selection were identified at chromosomes 1, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. The regions under selection were mined for protein-coding genes and were used for gene ontology (GO) analysis, showing a highly significant overrepresentation of genes involved in response to stress. Our results suggest the accumulation of favorable allelic diversity, especially in the context of changing climate in the genetic resources of SEE.
Phenolic acids (PAs) are a dominant group of phenolic compounds in cereals, existing mostly bound to compounds of cell wall. In this study, a total of 25 cereal grain samples, including wheat, winter ...and spring barley, corn, and popcorn, were evaluated for bound PAs and antioxidant activity in a two-year field trial. The PA contents, determined by HPLC, were significantly affected by cereal type. The mean total PA content was highest in popcorn and corn (3298 and 2213 μg/gdm, respectively), followed by winter and spring barley (991 and 908 μg/gdm, respectively) and wheat (604 μg/gdm). Ferulic acid was the most abundant, accounting from 62% to 83% of total PAs (in popcorn and winter and spring barley, respectively). Across cereals, p-coumaric (35–259 μg/gdm) and p-hidroxybenzoic (45–79 μg/gdm) were also dominant, while in corn and popcorn o-coumaric (71 and 89 μg/gdm, respectively) also occurred in higher content. The mean total phenol content ranged from 853 μg GAE/gdm (wheat) to 1403 μg GAE/gdm (winter barley) with DPPH scavenging activity from 14% to 67%, respectively. A significant influence of crop years on the ferulic acid and total PA content was found, while the variability of other PAs was dependent on the cereal type. The results indicated a high health benefit potential of selected cereals.
Genotype-dependent responses of apples to drought stress were evaluated between commercial and traditional apple cultivars. The results indicate different mechanisms of tolerance to investigated ...drought stress conditions. Chlorophyll fluorescence induction (OJIP) parameters, chlorophyll and carotenoid content, malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H
O
), proline, phenols and leaf water content (WC) were measured. The traditional cultivar "Crvenka" confirmed the best tolerance to a drought stress condition, presenting higher photosynthetic efficiency, higher leaf water content, higher levels of chlorophyll content and lower lipid peroxidation with greater membrane stability. The commercial cultivar "Golden Delicious Reinders" showed decreased water content in leaves, increased lipid peroxidation levels and photoinhibition. Considering all results, the commercial cultivar "Golden Delicious Reinders" was adversely affected by drought, while traditional cultivars exhibited better tolerance to drought stress.
Linking biochemistry and genetics of tolerance to osmotic stress is of interest for understanding plant adaptations to unfavorable conditions. The aims of this study were to investigate the ...variability in responses of panel of elite maize inbred lines to water withholding for stress-related traits through association study and to identify pathways linked to detected associations for better understanding of maize stress responses. Densely genotyped public and expired Plant Variety Protection Certificate (ex-PVP) inbred lines were planted in controlled conditions (16-h/8-h day/night, 25°C, 50% RH) in control (CO) and exposed to 10-day water withholding (WW). Traits analyzed were guaiacol peroxidase activity (GPOD), total protein content (PROT), lipid peroxidation (TBARS), hydrogen peroxide accumulation (H
2
O
2
), proline accumulation (proline), and current water content (CWC). Proline accumulation was found to be influenced by H
2
O
2
and TBARS signaling pathways acting as an accumulation-switching mechanism. Most of the associations detected were for proline (29.4%) and TBARS (44.1%). Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis showed significant enrichment in regulation of integral membrane parts and peroxisomes along with regulation of transcription and polysaccharide catabolism. Dynamic studies involving inbreds with extreme phenotypes are needed to elucidate the role of this signaling mechanism in regulation of response to water deficit.
Popping corn is a widespread activity and popcorns are one of the most consumed snacks in the world. As popcorn corn is exposed to environmental conditions and agrotechnical measures in the field, ...polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can end up in corn kernels. Since popcorns are popped at higher temperatures, ca. 180 °C, it is reasonable to assume that PAHs can be found in popcorns. The objective of this paper was to preliminarily determine and quantify the incidence of various PAHs in different popcorn varieties and popcorns popped from them, during two consecutive years. PAHs were determined by using GC-MS. Popcorn corn contained only light PAHs, naphthalene (Nap), acenaphthene (Ane), and fluorene (Fln). However, popped popcorns contained heavier PAHs, such as benzaanthracene (BaA), chrysene (Chry), and benzoapyrene (BaP) whose ∑PAH4 was 8.39 µg/kg in sample 1 in 2020. The results indicate that popcorns can be a significant source of PAHs and further studies should be conducted. This is concerning since popcorns are favored snacks in all age groups, including children.
Selecting cultivars with greater biomass results in higher yields and greater carbon sequestration. Storage of atmospheric carbon in the plant/soil pool contributes not only to food security but also ...to mitigating climate change and other agroecological benefits. The objective of this study was to determine: (1) grain, residue, and root biomass yields; (2) harvest indexes; (3) residue-to-product ratio; (4) root-to-shoot ratio; (5) biomass carbon and nitrogen contents; and (6) C:N ratios for two new and two old winter wheat cultivars. The greatest yield difference was found between old Srpanjka (the lowest) and new Kraljica (the highest) cultivar where grain, residue, root, and total biomass yield was higher by 38%, 91%, 71%, and 64%, respectively. Total biomass was composed of 40–47% grain, 10–11% roots, 32–36% stems + leaves, 9–11% chaff, and 1–2% spindle. The range of HI was 0.45–0.53, RPR 0.91–1.25, and R:S ratio 0.12–0.13. For all cultivars, positive carbon and negative nitrogen balance within the plant pool was determined. Still, root biomass and rhizodeposition carbon remain open questions for a better understanding of agroecosystems’ C dynamics.
The aim of this study was to evaluate physiological responses to short-term heat stress in the leaves of traditional (Bistrica) and modern (Toptaste) plum cultivars. In this study, detached plum ...leaves were incubated at 25 °C (control) and 40 °C (stress). After 1 h of exposure to heat (40 °C), chlorophyll a fluorescence transients were measured, and several biochemical parameters were analyzed. Elevated temperature caused heat stress in both plum cultivars, seen as a decrease in water content (WT), but in the leaves of the cultivar Bistrica, an accumulation of proline and phenols, as well as an accumulation of photosynthetic pigments, suggest the activation of a significant response to unfavorable conditions. Conversely, in the leaves of Toptaste, a significant accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA) and an activation of guaiacol peroxidase (GPOD), all together with a decreased soluble proteins content, indicate an inadequate response to maintaining homeostasis in the leaf metabolism. The impact of an elevated temperature on photosynthesis was significant in both plum cultivars as reflected in the decrease in performance indexes (PIABS and PItotal) and the maximum quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm), with significantly pronounced changes found in Toptaste. Unlike the traditional plum cultivar, Bistrica, in the modern cultivar, Toptaste, short-term heat stress increased the minimal fluorescence (F0) and absorption (ABS/RC), as well as Chl b in total chlorophylls. Additionally, the inactivation of RCs (RC/ABS) suggests that excitation energy was not trapped efficiently in the electron chain transport, which resulted in stronger dissipation (DI0/RC) and the formation of ROSs. Considering all presented results, it can be presumed that the traditional cultivar Bistrica has better tolerance to heat stress than the modern cultivar Toptaste. The cultivar, Bistrica, can be used as a basis in further plum breeding programs, as a source of tolerance for high temperature stress.
Contamination of crops with phytopathogenic genera such as
,
,
, and
usually results in mycotoxins in the stored crops or the final products (bread, beer, etc.). To reduce the damage and suppress the ...fungal growth, it is common to add antifungal substances during growth in the field or storage. Many of these antifungal substances are also harmful to human health and the reduction of their concentration would be of immense importance to food safety. Many eminent researchers are seeking a way to reduce the use of synthetic antifungal compounds and to implement more eco-friendly and healthier bioweapons against fungal proliferation and mycotoxin synthesis. This paper aims to address the recent advances in the effectiveness of biological antifungal compounds application against the aforementioned fungal genera and their species to enhance the protection of ecological and environmental systems involved in crop growing (water, soil, air) and to reduce fungicide contamination of food derived from these commodities.
This study aimed to investigate the impact of cold stress and priming on photosynthesis in the early development of maize and soybean, crops with diverse photosynthetic pathways. The main objectives ...were to determine the effect of cold stress on chlorophyll
fluorescence parameters and spectral reflectance indices, to determine the effect of cold stress priming and possible stress memory and to determine the relationship between different parameters used in determining the stress response. Fourteen maize inbred lines and twelve soybean cultivars were subjected to control, cold stress, and priming followed by cold stress in a walk-in growth chamber. Measurements were conducted using a portable fluorometer and a handheld reflectance instrument. Cold stress induced an overall downregulation of PSII-related specific energy fluxes and efficiencies, the inactivation of RCs resulting in higher energy dissipation, and electron transport chain impairment in both crops. Spectral reflectance indices suggested cold stress resulted in pigment differences between crops. The effect of priming was more pronounced in maize than in soybean with mostly a cumulatively negative effect. However, priming stabilized the electron trapping efficiency and upregulated the electron transfer system in maize, indicating an adaptive response. Overall, this comprehensive analysis provides insights into the complex physiological responses of maize and soybean to cold stress, emphasizing the need for further genotype-specific cold stress response and priming effect research.
Agricultural greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by the cultivation of cultivars with lower carbon footprint. Considering the hypothesis that there are differences in soil respiration, due to ...differences in physiological and morphological characteristics of wheat and barley, the aim of this study is an assessment of soil respiration rates and microclimate under different cover (bare soil, wheat, and barley) and cultivar (four barley and four wheat) types. Soil respiration was determined by in situ closed static-chamber method in continental Croatia, during the 2020/2021 season. The seasonal pattern of the soil respiration was similar for all cultivars, respiration was increasing with crop development stages until maturity, when it decreased until the harvest. Cover type did not have influence on soil microclimate but did have on soil respiration. Bare soil had significantly lower annual respiration rates, compared to the barley/wheat covers. Average annual respiration rates were similar between the barley and wheat covers, as well as between all studied barley cultivars. A significant difference between winter wheat cultivars have only been determined between the Renata (9.78 kg C-CO2 ha−1 day−1) and El Nino (12.67 kg C-CO2 ha−1 day−1) cultivars. However, the determination of the total carbon budget is needed, in order to determine the most suitable cultivar, in the light of climate change.
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