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Optimizing non-food crops through breeding and applied agronomy practice for cultivation on marginal lands
No full textThis study aims to optimize non-edible crops for cultivation on marginal lands. Modern biotechnology tools are combined with tailored agronomic practices to achieve this goal, focusing on low inputs and efficient water use. To increase resource use efficiency, the following activities are designed: a) identifying optimized, resource-efficient varieties for marginal lands, b) developing modern biotechnology tools for industrial crops, and c) implementing tailored agronomic practices. Advanced breeding material for specific non-edible industrial crops has been developed in breeding programs through EU research projects (GRACE, MAGIC, OPTIMISC, MultiHemp, SUNLIBB, and FIBRA) and national/multinational projects. Several advanced high yielding genotypes with increased tolerance to different abiotic factors have been evaluated in order to be registered as new varieties/hybrids suitable for marginal lands with low inputs (water / fertilizers). The following crops: hemp, miscanthus, crambe, and castor bean were grown on multi location trials in Greece, Italy, Spain, and Serbia as part of MIDAS project. Optimal agricultural practices (improved varieties/hybrids, different irrigation and fertilization rates, and/or plant densities) were applied in order to evaluate the phenology, biometric and agronomic performances, as well as yield quantity and quality. Advanced breeding tools, including marker assisted selection – MAS, genome editing, and speed breeding, were used to further develop elite material. These advanced tools help produce improved varieties and hybrids to meet the future needs of agricultural production
Drought tolerance in sunflower: two phenotyping methods
No full textDrought conditions can be significant constraint is sunflower cropping. Determination of variability in sunflower drought response is necessary step in breeding effort to select tolerant genotypes. Experiments were conducted to compare two approaches aiming to isolate drought stress from other sources of stress, control water availability to plants and to determine impact of drought on plant growth. Two inbred lines, HA-26-PR and IMI-AB-14, were selected based on their response to drought. In the first experiment plants were grown for period of 14 days in rhizotrons and in the second for period of 60 days in pots. Both experiments were placed in growth chamber. Drought conditions in rhizotron experiment were on constant level compared to pot experiment where plants were gradually exposed to drought at one stage of development. Plants were phenotyped during and at the end of rhizotron experiment and only at the end of pot experiment. Growing plant in rhizotrons gave insight in root morphology and growth, but for the limited duration of time and only for early stages of sunflower growth. Pot experiment enables one to monitor plant growth and development over longer time and to impose drought at selected moment making it closer to the drought scenarios in field conditions. Both methods are reliable for drought stress induction and determination of drought impact and can be considered as complementary. Further research will aim the comparison of methods in controlled conditions with field drought experiments
Boosting innovative breeding at IFVCNS – CROPINNO
No full textProviding new solutions for accelerating climate-smart crops creation has become a number one task in breeding. A project funded by the European Commission under the agreement No. 101059784 “Stepping up scientific excellence and innovation capacity for climate-resilient crop improvement and production” CROPINNO is tackling with this problem. Within the framework of this project, Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia (IFVCNS) is teaming up with reputable European research institutions and Universities for the introduction of new tools in IFVCNS breeding programs. On genetic level, we are exploiting state-of-the-art platforms for analysing sunflower epigenome, namely histone methylation and activities of non-coding RNAs to quest for important epiQTLs that would improve sunflowers quick response to abiotic stress. Moreover, we are introducing new phenotyping tools such as root phenotyping to identify root traits related to abiotic stress response. By combing latest molecular and phenotypic tools we will be able to accelerate creation of climate-resilient sunflower and be ready for what future environmental change brings us
Evaluation of tocopherol variability in wild Helianthus species: A genetic resource for sunflower breeding
No full textTocopherols are one of the most important bioactive compounds which improve the quality of the oil
regards to their antioxidant properties. Considering that wild Helianthus species are a very important
source of genes for the breeding of cultivated sunflower the aim of this research was to evaluate the
variability in tocopherol content and composition within a germplasm collection. The evaluated
germplasm included seven annual Helianthus species (H. annuus, H. argophyllus, H. debilis, H.
neglectus, H. niveus, H. petiolaris and H. praecox). Oil samples were extracted using a hydraulic
press. Tocopherol quantification was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography
(HPLC) on a Nucleosil 100-5 NH2 column with fluorescence detection (λex=280 nm, λem=340 nm). The
mobile phase comprised n-hexane/ethyl acetate (70/30, v/v) at a flow rate of 1 ml/min. Tocopherols
were identified and confirmed based on their relative retention values and maximum absorption
peaks, using 20 μl injection volumes. The obtained results of the comparative tocopherol analysis
revealed significant variability among wild Helianhus species. Tocopherol content averaged 333.5 mg
kg-1 seed in the all analyzed species, with an average profile of 328.56 mg kg-1 (98.5%) of alphatocopherol,
which is dominant. Only in species H. annuus and H. niveus, in small concentrations (6.83
mg kg-1 and 6.65 mg kg-1 ), beta-tocopherol was identified. By applying of the Principal Components
Analysis the species with the lowest tocopherol content (H. praecox 133.59 mg kg-1 and H. niveus
mg 238.23 kg-1) and the species with the highest content (H. annuus 458.11 mg kg-1 and H.
neglectus 459.35 mg kg-1) were clearly distinguished. The obtained results could serve as a tool to
select species with high concentration of these bioactive compounds in design management
strategies to obtain them in the breeding programs of cultivated sunflower
The Benefit-Sharing Fund’s Grainefit project – towards delivering wheat grains that bring nutritional benefits
No full textWheat is a crucial staple crop in Serbia and worldwide, significantly contributing to food security and nutrition. Modern wheat breeding efforts that have concentrated solely on increasing yields have led to a decrease in genetic diversity. The Benefit-sharing Fund of the International Plant Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture’s project GRAINEIFIT aims to improve the use and conservation of old neglected wheat varieties and landraces leading to increased availability of diverse nutrient-rich food, food security, reduced adverse impacts to the environment, and enhanced resilience to climate stress factors. One of the key activities that address these objectives was a detailed research of nutritional quality and agronomic performances of 33 Serbian wheat genotypes and their comparison to modern ones in two-year field trials (2021/2022, 2022/2023). Our studies showed that the total phenolics in traditional varieties and landraces were generally higher compared to modern varieties. Largely underutilized traditional varieties contained significant levels of ferulic acid, with some having three times higher levels than modern counterparts. Besides, vanillic, syringic and p-coumaric acid were measured in old varieties, but not in modern ones. Antioxidative potential varied among old and new varieties, with many old varieties demonstrating stronger DPPH radical scavenging activity. We also evaluated the levels of two essential minerals, iron and zinc, in old wheat varieties using a GF-AAS and identified Stara Banatka with the highest ash content, and iron and zinc concentrations. Consuming an average daily portion of bread (166 g) made from this flour could provide about 90% of the recommended daily iron intake, making it a variety suitable for breeding for high mineral content. The agronomic performances of some of these high nutritional quality varieties showed moderately high yields and yield components, good standing ability, resistance to prevalent diseases, indicating that they could be successfully exploited to develop climate-resilient varieties with improved quality
Effect of Variety and Seed Moisture Content on Chemical and Physical Properties of Oilseed Rape
No full textBy studying the physical properties of oilseed rape, the obtained data have a practical
application when constructing machines for sowing, harvesting, transporting, warehouse
design, and seed processing. During oilseed rape harvest, seed moisture can be different,
and it is imperative to understand the physical properties of the seeds to correctly adjust
the equipment. Depending on the climate conditions, oilseed rape can have different seed
moisture content. This investigation included three winter varieties of oilseed rape widely
grown in European countries. The effect of different degrees of seed moisture (6, 11, 16,
and 21%) on the physical properties of oilseed rape, seeds were investigated by using
standard methods in three growing seasons (2015/17). When moisture content in the
kernels increased, 1000-grain weight, seed volume and porosity, static and dynamic angles
of repose also increased in the tested varieties. Increased seed moisture reduced the true
density and bulk density of the three tested varieties. The highest coefficient of friction
was found on plywood and the lowest on stainless steel sheet. Oil and protein contents of
the tested varieties ranged between 39.38 and 43.90%, and 17.65 and 23.12%,
respectively. Oleic, linoleic, α-linolenic, and palmitic acids were the most representative
fatty acids. Knowing the physical and chemical properties of oilseed rape seeds, it would
be possible to significantly contribute to the breeding process in order to identify highquality
genotypes
Genetic and adaptational diversity in Chinese and European elite soybeans
No full textSoybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) contributes to global food security through the supply of high-quality vegetable protein. China is the center of soybean origin, but soybean adaptation to European environments is important for mitigating climate change effects through increasing of domestic production in order to serve the growing need for plant-based protein in food production. Due to the short breeding history of European soybeans, a comparative analysis of genetic diversity and adaptational potential of Chinese and European elite cultivars would support future breeding initiatives. Therefore, 140 early maturity elite soybean cultivars of either Chinese or European origin were both genotyped (200K SNP array, SSR marker set, E-gene composition at E1-E4 loci) and evaluated across 17 European environments spanning a latitude range from 45 to 52°N. Genotyping results were revealing a clear differentiation between elite cultivars of either European or Chinese origin, and the level of diversity was similar between the two regions. Unique SSR alleles and E-haplotypes were found for both populations which demonstrates the preservation of genetic variation through a continuous selection for specific adaptation. European cultivars appear to be roughly based on two major ancestral lines, and genotypes are markedly structured along maturity groups due to regional adaptation needs. In contrast, Chinese cultivars trace back to a larger number of ancestors reflecting the rich background diversity present in soybeans from China. Wild-type alleles at E-loci significantly delayed flowering, and effects of particular E-alleles were clearly depending on geographic latitude. Photoperiod-insensitive E-haplotypes carrying non-functional E-alleles proved to be suitable for cultivation in higher latitudes of Europe with longer day-length, whereas photoperiod-sensitive late-maturity E-haplotypes are adapted to southern latitudes with respect to flowering time exclusively. The results suggest that specific diversity has been preserved both in Chinese and European cultivars of similar maturity, which could reciprocally be utilized in future breeding. This also applies to photoperiodic response, were new E-haplotypes could be created by combining Chinese and European alleles, which might enhance the potential of soybean adaptation to northern growing regions
Hyperspectral reflectance for high-throughput characterization of soybean physiological diversity
No full textPrecise phenotyping of complex plant physiological, developmental or phytopathology characters has long been impossible in field-based settings such as plant breeding experiments due to the need for laborious sampling and analysis procedures. However, digital phenotyping methods based on imaging or spectral reflectance combined with appropriate data analysis are offering novel approaches to gain insights into complex plant traits of interest such as biomass formation, nutrient accumulation, drought tolerance or disease resistance. Therefore, hyperspectral reflectance measurements based on field experiments have been evaluated for their potential to characterize soybean breeding materials using spectral reflectance indices (SRI). A set of 140 soybean cultivars grown in replicated field experiments (Tulln, Austria; four growing seasons) was utilized as an experimental testing set. Spectral data were collected (ASD FieldSpec Hand-Held 2 VNIR spectroradiometer) after canopy closure at full flowering to early seed-filling developmental stages, and 43 spectral reflectance indices (SRI) were calculated and used for further analysis. Based on ANOVA modelling, significant differences between cultivars were detected for most of the SRI analysed. In addition, large effects of growing seasons and significant cultivar by year interactions were also found. Individual indices describing total biomass accumulation, canopy nutrient concentration (nitrogen uptake, di-nitrogen fixation), pigmentation (chlorophylls, carotenoids, anthocyanin) or canopy water status were in different levels of correlation to each other due to describing similar plant characteristics. Estimates of heritability were between 0.25 and 0.82 for the different SRI analysed which proves their quantitative nature and selectability in breeding programs. In general, heritability was highest for SRI related to chlorophyll and canopy nitrogen and lowest for water status SRI. Repeated SRI measurements during the growing season were illustrating physiological differences between cultivars such as timing of flowering or the onset of senescence. Clustering of genotypes by SRI revealed patterns of physiological similarity related to soybean maturity group or genetic origin. The present results suggest that hyperspectral reflectance data can provide novel insights into physiological differences between genotypes. This could support the selection for efficient nutrient accumulation, drought tolerance or other stress-related parameters in dedicated breeding programs as well as in germplasm evaluation
The response of the antioxidant system of cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.) to infection with Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris in combination with drought stress
No full textThe aim of this research was to investigate distinct effects of Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc) and drought stress (D) and their combined effects (Xcc + D) on the activity of peroxidase (POD) and the phenolic composition in cabbage leaves (autochthonous cultivar Futoški). This pathogen causes black rot, severely affecting Brassicaceae cultivation, and in combination with drought, it leads to significant cabbage yield losses. The combined stress resulted in maximum stomatal closure, almost seven times higher compared to the control and 40% more than in drought-stressed plants. On the contrary, the photosynthesis efficiency remained unchanged. The highest accumulation of epidermal flavonoids was observed in Xcc + D plants, whereas the chlorophyll content remained stable, nitrogen balance index (NBI) decreased by 20% compared to the control and drought-stressed plants. The highest POD activity was induced by drought alone, while combined stress reduced POD activity by almost 50%. In this experiment, the optical fiber fluorescence measurements were performed directly on the surface of the investigated plant leaves (excitation and emission wavelengths of 375 nm and 400-800 nm). It was found that the intensity of the fluorescence spectra with emission maxima at 457 and 520 nm was higher in the Xcc-infected leaves than in the healthy and drought-stressed leaves. These results showed an increase in emission intensity in the spectral region corresponding to phenolics, suggesting that the accumulation of phenolic compounds may be a plant response to the pathogen infection
Power of Terroir: Case study of Grašac at the Fruška Gora wine region (North Serbia)
No full textThe main goal of this study is to find out if there are any differences between Grašac wines from two different locations of the Fruška Gora Mountain and to further explore why these differences (if they exist) occur. To achieve this, we selected one vineyard in Sremski Karlovci and one in Neštin where we have analyzed the topography features, soil, and climate at both sites as well as the chemical analysis of the wines from these sites from three different vintages (2017–2019). Additionally, a sensory analysis was also done for seven consecutive vintages (2016–2022). The results reveal that the wines from Sremski Karlovci have a higher aroma intensity on the nose and dominant primary fruit aromas while they are young. These characteristics tend to drop quickly with age. On the other hand, Grašac wines from Neštin tend to age better, becoming fuller bodied, more intense, complex, with tertiary aromas on the nose and palate and with a longer finish. The key differences between these two locations are connected to the thick loess deposits and the amount of available water at the analyzed sites