One of the most important tasks of breeders is to improve the properties of breeding material (varieties, lines) and to create a new genetic variability. The study goals were as follows: during two ...consecutive years (2019 and 2020), to evaluate the agronomic value of nine newly created spring breeding lines of fodder pea, as well as to evaluate the stability of yield components and to select the most promising genotypes for further breeding. The results of the study demonstrate that there are significant differences between the tested genotypes in the tested environments for most of the analyzed properties and that the variation of genotypes within the identified sources of experimental variation exerts the greatest influence . Based on the investigated property values, subsequent to stability evaluation the desirable genotypes L - OSMBK 1, L - OSMBK 3 – for the grain/plant yield L - OSMBK 1, L - OSMBK 8, L - OSMBK 3, L - OSMBK 9 – for the mass of 1,000 grains, and L – OSMBK 9 – for plant height were identified as the stable genotypes, with a high breeding and agronomic properties.
Jedan od najvažnijih zadataka oplemenjivača jest poboljšanje svojstava oplemenjivačkoga materijala (sorata, linija) i stvaranje nove genetske varijabilnosti. Ciljevi ovoga istraživanja bili su sljedeći: tijekom dvije uzastopne godine (2019. i 2020.) procijeniti agronomsku vrijednost devet novostvorenih oplemenjivačkih linija jaroga stočnog graška, kao i procijeniti stabilnost komponenata prinosa te odabrati najperspektivnije genotipove za daljnji oplemenjivački postupak. Rezultati analize varijance pokazali su da postoje značajne razlike između istraživanih genotipova i okolina za većinu istraživanih svojstava i da u okviru identificiranih izvora varijacije najveći utjecaj ima varijacija uslijed utjecaja genotipova. Procjena stabilnosti obavljena je metodom grupiranja prema Francisu i Kannenbergu, na temelju koje su genotipovi L – OSMBK 1, L – OSMBK 3 za prinos zrna/biljci L – OSMBK 1, L – OSMBK 8, L – OSMBK 3, L – OSMBK 9 za masu 1000 zrna i L – OSMBK 9 za visinu biljke bili u skupini I, koja se odlikuje visokim vrijednostima i malim koeficijentom variranja svojstva te predstavljaju najstabilnije, a time i oplemenjivački najperspektivnije, genotipove.
The leaf samples of two varieties, twenty breeding populations, and seven local populations of the Croatian red clover were collected in the full flowering stage, with an aim to evaluate their ...phenolic content and antioxidant activity by using the spectrophotometric methods. A significant variation among the varieties/populations in the content of total phenolics and flavonoids was determined. The results demonstrated that the red clover is a rich source of phenolics and flavonoids, ranging from 38.67 to 59.96 mg GAE/g of DM and 21.19 to 51.48 mg CE/g of DM, respectively. The high levels in both phenolics and flavonoids were found in breeding populations/variety CD-8, Rc-11/7, Rc-11/8, Rc-11/15 and OS Osiris. The leaf extracts manifested a strong antioxidant activity towards diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), with a variation from 31.50 to 63.14%. A significant correlation was found between the antioxidant activity of the extracts and their total phenolic and flavonoid content (r = 0.737 and 0.839, respectively). Considering the obtained results, the crude extracts of red clover manifested a significant antioxidant potential and can be used as a natural source of biologically active components in the human and animal nutrition.
Jari stočni grašak jedna je od najznačajnijih krupnozrnih mahunarki. Kod većine oplemenjivačkih programa graška selekcijski je proces usmjeren na razvoj visokoprinosnoga i kvalitetnoga sortimenta za ...proizvodnju zrna i/ili visokokvalitetne voluminozne stočne hrane. Proizvodnja zrna bogatoga bjelančevinama uglavnom je povezana s jarim sortama, dok je proizvodnja voluminozne mase, odnosno korištenje cijele biljke, koja je, osim bjelančevina, značajan izvor minerala i vitamina, odlika ozimih sorti. Zbog nemogućnosti jesenje sjetve (kasno napuštanje polja prethodne kulture, obilne kiše u vrijeme pripreme tla i sjetve, promjena poslovnoga plana, veći broj stoke i sl.), sve su češći zahtjevi proizvođača za jarim sortama graška, koje daju veliku masu u kratkome periodu (100 dana) i omogućuju sjetvu druge kulture na istoj površini. Ciljevi ovoga istraživanja bili su: tijekom dvije uzastopne godine (2012. i 2013.) procijeniti agronomsku vrijednost sorti (jarih, fakultativno ozimih) i novostvorenih oplemenjivačkih linija jaroga stočnoga graška (7 linja, 6 sorti) te odabrati najperspektivnije linije za daljnji selekcijski proces i/ili pokretanje postupka prijave nove potencijalne sorte jaroga graška za proizvodnju voluminoznoga krmiva. Najveće prosječne prinose zelene mase ostvarile su oplemenjivačke linije MBK-7 (33 t ha-1), MBK 41 (28 t ha-1) i MBK-51(28 t ha-1) te sorte Dora (35 t ha-1) i Poneka (34 t ha-1). Navedene sorte predstavljaju vrijedan materijal za daljnji oplemenjivački rad, a identificirane superiorne linije imaju potencijal za nove sorte.
The spring field pea is one of the most important coarse legumes. This study was carried out to investigate the response of a spring field pea variety to three plant densities (50, 100, and 150 plant ...m-2) during the 2017 and 2019 growing seasons in eastern Croatia. The field study was set up as a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in four replications. The results have demonstrated a significant effect of the plant densities and the growing seasons on the seed yield and on the following yield components: plant height and the number of pods/plant. The effect of plant densities on the number of seeds/pod and the thousand-seed weight was not significant. As for a growing season, the highest seed yield, plant height, the number of pods/plant were obtained in the second growing season. Furthermore, a maximum seed yield was recorded at the 150-plant m-2 plant density. This study has demonstrated that planting the spring field pea at different plant densities significantly modifies the spring field pea yield, plant height and number of pods/plant.
Jari stočni grašak jedna je od najznačajnijih krupnozrnih mahunarki. Ovo je istraživanje provedeno kako bismo vidjeli reakciju utjecaja različitih gustoća sjetve na jari stočni grašak tijekom dvaju vegetacijskih ciklusa 2017. i 2019. godine u istočnome dijelu Republike Hrvatske. Pokus je postavljen po RCBD sustavu u četiri ponavljanja. Rezultati pokazuju značajan utjecaj gustoće sjetve i godina istraživanja na prinos zrna i većinu komponenata prinosa: visinu biljke i broja mahuna po biljci, osim broja zrna po mahuni i mase tisuću zrna, gdje gustoća sjetve nije statistički značajno utjecala na razlike u vrijednostima istraživanih svojstava. Najveće vrijednosti prinosa zrna, visine biljke i broja mahuna po biljci ostvarene su u drugoj godini istraživanja. Najveći prinos zrna zabilježen je pri gustoći sjetve od 150 biljaka/m2. Istraživanje pokazuje da različite gustoće sjetve značajno modificiraju/utječu na visinu prinosa zrna i komponente prinosa jaroga stočnog graška.
Alfalfa is the most important forage legume in the production of voluminous fodder. Although not primarily produced for its seeds, the seed yield is still important for the recognition and commercial ...viability of the cultivars on the market. Creating a cultivar of superior yield and forage quality with satisfactory seed production is one of the biggest challenges for alfalfa breeders and seed producers. The objective of this study was to determine forage and seed yields of 19 newly developed alfalfa experimental populations (ABP 1–19) of the Agricultural Institute Osijek during a long-term research period (2014–2018) in different climatic conditions. Significant differences were found between ABPs and years for forage and seed yields. Three-year (2014–2016) average green mass yield ranged from 68.41 t ha–1 (ABP 6) to 78.05 t ha–1 (ABP 19) and dry matter yield from 13.73 t ha–1 (ABP 6) to 15.30 t ha–1 (ABP 18). The average two-year (2017–2018) seed yield varied from 150.78 kg ha−1 (ABP 9) to 335.35 kg ha−1 (ABP 7). Annual forage yield significantly increased from the year of establishment to the second and third growing seasons of alfalfa. The highest average annual yield of green mass (90.24 t ha−1) was achieved in 2015, dry matter yield (17.62 t ha−1) in 2016 and the seed yield (394.17 kg ha−1) in 2017. During the researched period there was a considerable decreasing trend in forage yield from the first to the last cut, except in the year of the alfalfa establishment. Several alfalfa populations (ABP 19, 8, 14) superior in all analyzed traits were identified, and they represent top performing materials with the potential for developing and releasing cultivars in the near future. Populations with high yields of green mass and dry matter (ABP 12, 18, 1) and seed yield (ABP 7, 4) were also detected and represent valuable genetic material to improve our alfalfa breeding program.
Spring field pea is one of the most important coarse legumes. In most pea breeding programs, the selection process is focused on the development of high-yielding and top-quality varieties for grain ...and/or green forage production. Production of protein rich grain is mainly associated with spring varieties, while production of green mass rich in protein, minerals and vitamins is characteristic for winter varieties. Due to problems with planting in autumn (late harvest of previous crop, heavy rains during soil preparation and planting, business plan modifications, abundance of cattle etc.), farmers often prefer spring pea varieties that can produce large green mass over shorter period of time, as well as ensure planting of the next crop in the same field. Objectives of this research were: agronomic value assessment of (spring and potentially winter) varieties and new breeding lines of spring field pea over a two-year period (2012-2013), as well as the selection of lines with the most potential for further breeding process and/or registration of new spring field varieties for green forage production. The highest mean yields of green mass and dry matter, as well as favourable values of other assessed traits were obtained by breeding lines MBK-7, MBK-41, MBK-51, and varieties Dora and Poneka. These varieties represent valuable germplasm for further breeding process, while selected lines have high potential for the development of new varieties.
Field pea (Pisum arvense L.), also known as Austrian winter pea, is increasingly being planted in Croatia and its surrounding to produce high-quality roughage. The main characteristics of the variety ...are short vegetation, high forage yields and excellent forage quality that is reflected in the high protein production. Seed production of peas is a very complex process. In agricultural production the yield is under the influence of plant genetic potential and environmental factors, especially of the precipitation amount during the growing season. Seed production of forage pea variety 'Osječki zeleni' along with the climatic conditions for a nine-year period (2004-2012) were analysed. The analyses showed large variability in yields, germination and 1000 grain weight as well as oscillations in the amounts of precipitation during the growing period of winter peas in the analysed years. Pearson's correlation coefficient analysis showed a lack of relation between yield, germination and 1000 grain weight. There was no correlation observed between the tested parameters and the total amount of precipitation during the growing period. Thus it can be concluded that the observed parameters were substantially influenced by other environmental factors.
The frequency of extreme climatic events has increased due to global climate change. The objectives of this research were to investigate the influence of climatic conditions (precipitation and ...temperature) on productivity of red clover cultivars and populations with a different genetic background and to identify those with high forage yield potential in environmental stress. Twenty-three red clover cultivars and populations of different geographical origin were studied during two consecutive growing seasons (2012 – extremely dry weather conditions, 2013 – humid weather conditions) at the Agricultural Institute Osijek, Croatia. A field experiment was performed as a randomized block design with three replicates. Green mass and dry matter yield and plant height were measured in both growing seasons, whereas the seed yield was determined in the first year only. Results indicated the stability or adaptability of evaluated red clover cultivars and populations to a dry or humid weather production conditions. Croatian populations (CD-3, TP-2, TP-7) and cultivar Viva, Serbian cultivar K-17 and German cultivar Taifun exhibited the highest forage yield potential under both, dry and humid growing conditions and represent a valuable material to be used in red clover breeding programs dealing with tolerance to abiotic stress.
Climate change and the variable extreme weather conditions that today’s agricultural producers are dealing with represent some of the most important issues in food production. Nowadays, weather ...patterns are increasingly unpredictable, characterized by frequent fluctuations in temperature, precipitation, and extreme weather events. As a result, there is an increasing demand for scientists to develop more resilient and tolerant crop cultivars. Plant breeders must become creative and utilize all available resources to create modern high-yielding and widely adapted cultivars to help agriculture grow and thrive amidst the emerging changes. Forage legumes, due to their beneficial characteristics, are among the crops that can contribute to mitigating the consequences of climate change. Furthermore, what certainly does not contribute to weather conditions is the erosion of plant genetic material, which has been caused by the modernization of agriculture and the selection of the best cultivars with desirable traits over many years. Crop wild relatives (CWRs) and landraces represent plant genetic materials rich in novel gene variants that contain traits for resistance and tolerance to different climatic conditions. To expand the genetic base of cultivars and mitigate the consequences of climate change, breeders are increasingly utilizing pre-breeding methods. These methods include all the activities connected to the identification of desirable genes and traits from un-adapted materials, such as CWRs, and the transformation of these traits to an intermediate set of materials that can be used for creating new cultivars. This review paper will cover the pre-breeding process, including its components, and the resistance and/or tolerance of the CWRs and landraces of forage legumes to different extreme environmental conditions.
Alfalfa is the main perennial legume and a rich source of phytoestrogens. Variation of phytoestrogen content and agronomic traits was evaluated in twenty alfalfa populations over two consecutive ...years. The most dominant phytoestrogen in alfalfa populations was genistein, while slightly lower levels were found for kaempferol and coumestrol. Several populations (Af 1, 12, 18, 19, 20) showed superior agronomic performance, especially high forage yield (up to 71.93 t ha−1). These populations were also characterized by a lower (Af 1, 12, 18, 20) or high (Af 1, 19) content of total and individual phytoestrogens, including Af 8 population with the highest total content (2637.10 μg g-1 of DM) and content of most of the individual phytoestrogens and favorable agronomic properties. Ward hierarchical clustering method grouped the twenty evaluated populations into four distinct clusters. Identified materials provide a valuable source of germplasm for further breeding programs in order to develop new high-yielding cultivars with either low (for forage use) or high (for possible pharmaceuticals/nutraceuticals industries) phytoestrogen content.