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The evaluation of morphological differences is a traditional method of evolutionary and pedigree relationship determination. It was particularly useful in maize, where phenotypic differences occur (e.g. colour, kernel type and kernel size) (Murariu et al., 2002). However, only molecular markers provide information that is independent of environmental influences or of plant development phase. Therefore, techniques of DNA analysis have become more and more important. Methods based on polymerase chain reaction - PCR - are used widely in research. One of the used methods is the RAPD method (Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA) (Beebe et al., 2000). Our aim was to determine the genetic variability existing among maize landraces coming from western part of Romania and to adapt a method for their distinguishing. The use of molecular characterization has allowed the study of diversity within these accessions and the investigation of genetic relationships among them, revealing a wide genetic diversity in this set of 60 accessions, having a highest genetic diversity; they belong to different groups and could be used as base populations for future breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis of oat genetic resources on the mycotoxin production was performed on genotypes grown by experimental field testing with artificial inoculation of Fusarium ssp., within the European project "Avena genetic resources for quality in human consumption" (AVEQ, 2007-2011). The testing of the genetic material was performed in three European countries (Romania, Czech Republic, Germany) by artificial infection with inoculum of Fusarium species: F. culmorum, F. graminearum, F. sporotichioides, F. langesethiae and F. avenaceum. In 2008, in the experimental field of the Suceava Gene Bank, 112 genotypes of oats (modern and obsolete cultivars) originating from different areas of Europe were inoculated, causing Fusarium spp. infection and the presence of DON and T2 mycotoxins. The infection of oat grains with Fusarium spp. was evaluated in the laboratory using three classes of infection: 1- sound, 2- suspiciously infected, grey tips, 3 - Fusarium damaged, discoloured, smaller kernels. Analysis of the mycotoxin content of the tested grains oat accessions was performed by the ELISA immunochemical method in the Agrotest Fyto Laboratory, Ltd., Kromeriz (Czech Republic). The quantification of the obtained results was made by determining the correlation coefficients between the mycotoxin content and the percentage of grains infected with the Fusarium ssp. and different agronomic characters, revealing significant correlations between Fusarium ssp. infection, concentration of DON and T2 mycotoxins, the seed weight, heading and ripening data of tested oat genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]