7597 research outputs found
Sort by
Genetics of phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and calcium content for barley grain improvement
No full textStudying the inheritance of phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), and calcium (Ca) in barley grains is important because it enables the improvement of nutritional quality and crop yields through crop breeding. The aim of this study was to determine, through the application of diallel analysis, the mode of inheritance and components of genetic variance of P, K, and Mg in barley grains, as well as the combining abilities of the experimental material for these macroelements. The study was conducted at the experimental field of the Center for Small Grains in Kragujevac, Serbia. The plant material consisted of twelve F1 hybrids resulting from a complete diallel cross between four winter barley varieties (Partizan, KG-6, HVW-247, NS-293). Hybridizations were performed through manual pollination, and the resulting F1 hybrids, along with their parents, were sown in a randomized block design with three replications. The content of macroelements (P-phosphorus, K-potassium, Mg-magnesium and Cа-calcium) was quantified in the grain of the parents and the F1 generation. Narrow sense heritability was highest for the potassium content (72.21%) and lowest for the magnesium (14.45%). The general combining ability (GCA) and the specific combining ability (SCA) were determined for the parents and the hybrids, respectively. The inheritance of the P and K content was mainly influenced by the additive genetic component, while the inheritance of Mg was predominantly influenced by the dominant genetic component. For Ca content, the additive-dominant inheritance model was not satisfactory due to inter-allelic interaction. VrWr regression analysis followed the previously established models of inheritance. The variety KG-6 was identified as the best general combiner for P, Mg, and Ca content, while NS-293 was found to be the best general combiner for K and Mg content in barley grains. These varieties can be effectively utilized as gene donors for enhancing the mineral composition in future F1 hybrids
Farm income, production, and labor use under CAP: the case of diversified mountain farms in Serbia
No full textThe Republic of Serbia is a candidate country for accession to the European Union,
which entails certain changes in agricultural and rural policy in order to harmonise
it with the Common Agricultural Policy. These changes will have an impact
on farmers’ income, their production plans and the utilisation of resources. This
paper analyses the impact of compensatory payments, greening payments and
decoupled payments on farms in Areas with natural constraints in Serbia. A linear
programming model was developed to simulate the effects of the proposed measures.
The main results show that the simulated scenarios improve the economic
situation of a diversified group of farms and preserve natural resources in Areas
with natural constraints
Effects of Additives and Mixing Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) with Red Clover (Trifolium pratense L.) at Different Ratios on Proteolysis, Fermentation Quality and Microbiota of Silage
No full textThe nutrition of ruminants can be improved by using alfalfa silage, as well as red clover silage, as a low-cost source of proteins. However, proteins from ensiled legumes, especially alfalfa, have poor usability because of the high level of degradation in the rumen. This is a consequence of the intensive proteolytic processes during silage fermentation. In recent decades there were significant investigations of different materials and techniques which limit proteolyisis and contribute to a better usage of proteins from silage. This research was conducted with the aim of determining the effect of additives - two doses of oak tannin extract [6 g kg-1 of dry matter (DM) and 12 g kg-1 DM] and bacterial inoculant (Enterococcus faecium, Bacillus plantarum, and Bacillus brevis), as well as the effect of ensiled mixtures of alfalfa and red clover, in different ratios (100 : 0, 90 : 10, 70 : 30, 50 : 50, 30 : 70, and 0 : 100) on the content of protein fractions, the number of microorganisms, as well as fermentation quality parameters. The ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) content, which is one of the main indicators of proteolysis, was generally equal at the different mixture and additive treatments as well as the pH value, and below the critical point of 10% which was probably the consequence of favorable conditions at every of the treatments. On the other hand, considering nonprotein nitrogen (NPN), as another of the indicators of proteolysis, there was a positive sign of the contribution of inoculant and red clover to the reduction of proteolysis in alfalfa only in case of the silage mixture with the 70% of red clover share. Increase in the share of red clover in the mixture generally caused growth in the number of lactic acid bacteria, as well as in the number of yeasts and molds
Valorization of Grape Seed Cake by Subcritical Water Extraction
No full textAgricultural waste originating from the wine industry presents an environmental
and economic issue. Grape seeds, a major constituent of grape pomace, are only partially
valorized through oil extraction. The cake remaining after oil production is rich in valuable
bioactive compounds. In this study, an advanced extraction technique, which utilizes
subcritical water, was employed for bioactive compound recovery from defatted grape seed
cakes. Extraction was performed in a nitrogen atmosphere (10 bar) at 130 ◦C and 170 ◦C.
The extracts were characterized in terms of the total polyphenols, flavonoids, proteins and
antioxidant activity. Detailed polyphenol profiles were determined using UHPLC Q-ToF
MS analysis. Quantification of the individual sugars was performed by HPLC. The amino
acid profile was determined using ion chromatography. The yield of phenolic acids was
found to be higher at 170 ◦C (883 vs. 557 mg/100 g at 130 ◦C), while the flavonoid content
was favored at 130 ◦C (596 vs. 185 mg/100 g at 170 ◦C). The total protein, essential amino
acid and xylo-oligosaccharide content was higher at 170 ◦C. The obtained results show that
the use of water as the extraction solvent in subcritical conditions is a promising technique
for the environmentally friendly valorization of grape seed cakes and biowaste in general
Inorganic Materials Applications in Biotechnology: Past, Present, and Future
No full textBiotechnological processes are based on the use of various biocatalysts such as microorganisms, enzymes and plant and animal cells. Many biotechnological processes require the presence of inorganic materials as support and protection for the biocatalysts or as substrate. Traditionally, inorganic materials are used in filtration processes or as adsorbents. The removal of unwanted ions from drinking and process water and unstable molecules from food still depends on inorganic adsorbents. One of the applications of inorganic materials in biotechnology is the support of biocatalysts, i.e. immobilization. The most important biotechnological processes that rely on immobilized biocatalysts are some industrial enzyme processes and wastewater treatments. Microbial cells immobilized on inorganic solid supports have also been used for the production of various food products. For these applications, materials such as glass, ceramics and natural minerals are used in various stages of modification. Inorganic materials are also suitable for transformation into new forms under the action of biocatalysts. The most important process of this type is biomineralization. A good example of the application of biocatalysts in mineralization is the formation of bioconcrete, a new, promising material (with lower CO2 emissions) with the potential for self-healing
From science to policy: climate change risks assessment and adaptation planning in agriculture in Serbia
No full textWhile frequency and intensity of climate hazards are increasing,
and agriculture struggles to mitigate the negative impacts, many interventions
are based on the past events, rarely accounting for future intensification of
climate impacts and potential damages they cause. Risk assessment means
the projection of vulnerability to climate change under future conditions and
requires complex knowledge on the vulnerability of different types of agricultural
production in different regions, and the vulnerability of other components of
the climate system, like water and soil. EU Adaptation Strategy highlights the
importance of “smart” adaptation, meaning that the implementation of scientific
knowledge into policy must be fast, the policy must rely on scientific evidence,
and communication between the science, policy and practitioners must be
tightened to avoid maladaptation and, consequently, increasing risks and costs.
In Serbia, development of adaptation planning on national level started with
engagement of scientists from different fields of expertise, which delivered the
knowledge on risks, or identified the gaps in knowledge and data availability to
implement risk assessment, and proposed adaptation measures. In agriculture
were engaged scientists with expertise in meteorology and climate change,
viticulture, fruit growing, annual crop production, soil and water management and
livestock breeding. Using the experience and knowledge from previous reporting
in National Communications to UNFCCC, interdisciplinary projects and available
data on climate change impacts, vulnerabilities and future risks for each type
of production were assessed. Risk maps were provided for varieties of different
sensitives, and upscaled to regional level. Methodologies for risk assessment in
viticulture and fruit growing were derived based on the methodologies applied in
zoning of Serbia for these types of production, while for crop production set of risk indices was derived to account for change of phenological development of plants
under climate changing conditions and compound effects of high temperatures
and water deficit. For livestock breeding focus was on assessing risk of climate
change for meadows and pastures, and the heat stress for animals. The science
provided the recommendations for actions required to implement short-term
adaptation and long-term adaptation, supporting soil and water preservation,
and identified gaps that needs to be addressed in the next years. Policy makers,
following the provided guidance for adaptation priorities, defined the of measures
under the Climate Change Adaptation Programme of Republic of Serbia for the
period 2023-2030 with Action Plan for 2024-2030. In this paper are presented
methodologies used for scientific assessment of risks in agriculture, outcomes
which led to definition of adaptation measures and their transformation into
policy on national level, as well as expected outcomes
How do plums ripen in two weather different years? A deep insight into the metabolomic profile
No full textThe aim of this study was to analyse the ripening process of two European plum cultivars, ‘Nada’ and ‘Stanley’. As the effects of climate change are becoming increasingly evident, plum producers are facing new challenges. Therefore, the study was conducted in two consecutive years (2021 and 2022) characterised by different weather conditions during the ripening of the plum fruit. The first harvest was performed when 70 % of the fruit surface was covered with cultivar characteristic colour, while the last sampling date coincided with fruit drop. In addition to the basic fruit quality parameters (fruit weight, firmness, total soluble solids), 35 primary and secondary metabolites (sugars, organic acids and phenolics) were identified and quantified by HPLC analysis. Certain trends such as the decrease in fruit firmness, the accumulation of sucrose and anthocyanins and the degradation of malate, were observed during the ripening of two cultivars studied. No clear trend was observed for hydroxycinnamic acids, flavonols, flavanols and flavanones, although the most dominant phenolic compound in all ripening stages was 3-caffeoylquinic acid. Principal component analysis showed that ripening was largely cultivar-dependent and that the behaviour of the same cultivar differed between growing seasons. It was found that heat waves in combination with drought periods accelerated the ripening process, which had a particular effect on the softening rate
The Content of Total Lipids and Phytosterols in Soybean Seeds
No full textSoybean seeds are a valuable nutritional and industrial resource due to their rich content of
lipids and bioactive compounds, including phytosterols. Phytosterols, plant-derived sterols
structurally similar to cholesterol, contribute to the nutritional profile of soybeans, enhancing
their value as a functional food ingredient. This study aimed to evaluate the differences in total
lipid and phytosterol content between organically and conventionally produced soybean seeds.
Samples were collected during the 2016 season from the experimental field of the Maize
Research Institute (Zemun Polje, Serbia). The total lipid content was determined using AOAC
method no. 963.15, with results expressed as a percentage. In order to quantify phytosterols
extracts in chloroform were prepared and resulting products of the Lieberman-Burchard
reaction was obtained as green colored. The absorbance of obtained green complexes was
determined on a spectrophotometer at 640 nm and results expressed in mg kg⁻¹ dry weight
(DW). Conventional soybeans exhibited higher lipid content (8.35%) compared to organic
soybeans (6.29%). In contrast, organic soybean seeds had significantly higher phytosterol
content (161.85 mg/kg DW) than conventional soybeans (9.32 mg/kg DW). These findings
highlight the nutritional and functional potential of organic soybeans due to their higher
phytosterol content, which contributes to health benefits such as cholesterol reduction. The
variations in lipid and phytosterol content underscore the importance of cultivation methods in
determining the nutritional and industrial value of soybean seeds
Evaluation of Yield Stability and Regionalization of Hybrids under Different Agroecological Conditions in Republic of Serbia
No full textThis study presents the results of evaluating yield stability for seven maize hybrids (ZP 427,
ZP 457, ZP 555, ZP 5601, ZP 606, ZP 6263, and ZP 707) conducted in 2020 and 2021, across
nine distinct locations in Serbia. The aim of the research was to evaluate yield differences and
stability between hybrids under varying agroecological conditions and to perform
regionalization to optimize hybrid deployment in specific production areas. The experiment
was carried out using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with plots of 30 m² and
three replications. The hybrids were tested across different maturity groups and analyzed in
relation to planting density, harvested plant density, moisture content, and yield across four
locations in Vojvodina and five in Central Serbia. The results showed that the average yield in
Vojvodina was 9.20 t/ha, while the average yield in Central Serbia was lower at 8.54 t/ha. The
hybrid ZP 5601 achieved the highest average yield in both regions (9.43 t/ha) with good
stability under various ecological conditions. Similarly, ZP 6263 reached an average yield of
9.28 t/ha, demonstrating better adaptation to favorable conditions. On the other hand, ZP 606,
despite yielding lower (8.96 t/ha), exhibited exceptional stability, making it suitable for
production environments with higher variability. Analysis of yield stability using the Francis,
Kannenberg, and Eberhart & Russell methods showed that ZP 5601 had the lowest coefficient
of variation (CV = 31.8%), while ZP 606 had the lowest S2di (109039.8), making it the most
stable hybrid across different locations. The hybrids ZP 427 and ZP 457 exhibited the highest
variability (CV = 34.6% and 36.1%, respectively), with ZP 427 showing the lowest stability
(S2di = 525656.0). Based on these findings, ZP 457, ZP 5601 and ZP 6263 are recommended
for intensive production, ZP 427 and ZP 606 for less favorable environments
Determining the Nicotine Content in Tobacco Stems and Smoke during the Combustion of Tobacco Stem Briquettes
No full textNicotine is an alkaloid that originates in the root of the tobacco plant (Nicotiana tabacum),
from where it is further transported throughout the plant in the form of salts of malic or citric
acid. The nicotine content varies depending on the tobacco species and the part of the tobacco
plant. The highest concentrations are found in the leaf blade (the part of the leaf without the
main vein), ranging from 0.3% to 10%, depending on the type and variety of tobacco. Global
research regarding the potential use of tobacco waste, particularly tobacco stems, is limited.
The aim of this study was to determine the nicotine content in tobacco stems and smoke during
their combustion using high-performance liquid chromatography. Nicotine was identified at
UV wavelengths between 210 and 400 nm, and quantification was performed at 254 nm. The
examination of tobacco stem biomass revealed that it contains 715.6 ppm of nicotine,
calculated on a dry substance basis. The analysis of the combustion products of the briquettes
showed that the nicotine content in the smoke was significantly lower (<10 ppm), which is well
below the prescribed limits. According to European Union regulations, tobacco waste with
nicotine content over 500 ppm is classified as hazardous waste. The low nicotine content in the
smoke during combustion found in this study gives a positive evaluation for the use of tobacco
stem briquettes from an ecological perspective