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Aerobic rice production is an alternative growing method to reduce water consumption of rice and thus increase the water productivity of the system without a significant reduction of yield and quality. Evapotranspiration (ETc) of a Hungarian rice variety, ‘SZV Tünde’ under aerobic conditions was measured in large weighing lysimeter during the growing season in 2020. In our experiment, 506.7 g/m2 grain yield and a total above-ground biomass of 1140.4 g/m2 were produced with the application of 315.6 mm of irrigation. Water use-efficiency (WUE) based on the water input and the grain yield was 0.65 g/L. Total ETc for the whole season was measured as 648.3 mm. However, ETc values were ranged 2.04-3.86 mm/day, 3.57-7.90 mm/day and 0.90-4.26 mm/day at the initial, mid and end stages, respectively. Crop coefficients for the different periods of the season were calculated as Kcini=0.82, Kcmid=1.40 and Kcend=0.77. Negative effects of drought can seriously damage rice crop; therefore irrigation scheduling has significant role in successful aerobic rice cultivation. Reliable estimation of evapotranspiration rate in different crop developmental stages can promote this goal.

Einkorn (Triticum monococcum L.) can be applied as a model species for cereal genomic studies due to its small genome size and high level of polymorphism. The in vitro somatic tissue culture protocol in einkorn was significantly improved recently, however the in vitro androgenesis remained an unresolved research topic. Five different pre-treatments were compared to study the effects of stress pre-treatments on the efficiency of androgenesis in two einkorn genotypes. The long cold pre-treatment (2 weeks, 4 °C) of donor tillers increased significantly the number of microspore derived embryo-like structures (ELS). Green and albino plantlets were regenerated from these structures. The ploidy level of microspore-derived green plantlet was determined as haploid by flow cytometric analyses. This is the first report published on the successful androgenesis induction (ELS production) and green- and albino plantlet regeneration in in vitro anther culture of the recalcitrant einkorn wheat (Triticum monococcum L.).

A pénzügyi kultúra része az is, hogy milyen legyen a jövő felsőfokú pénzügyi oktatása. Cikkünk fő kérdése az, hogy mit is tanuljanak a jövő bankárai, számvitelesei, könyvvizsgálói ahhoz, hogy növeljék a szakma presztízsét, megőrizzék diplomájuk magas ár/érték arányát, a kedvező elhelyezkedési esélyüket. A demográfiai szorításban és a külföld által támasztott verseny mellett sokkal intenzívebb belföldi versenyre kell minden intézménynek felkészülnie. Ez a „globális” kép természetesen valóságos szűkített területünkön is: a felsőfokú pénzügyi oktatási területen is el kell dönteni minden intézménynek, hogy merre keresi a helyét, milyen stratégiát választ. Cikkünkben a múltat is felidézve olyan szempontokat vetünk fel, amelyeket fontosnak tartunk a jövőre vonatkozó döntéseknél figyelembe venni.

Designing financial education at the post-secondary level is a key component of financial culture. We are investigating in this paper what future bankers, accountants, or auditors should learn to boost the prestige of their professions, to have great value for money with their degrees, and maintain their favourable positions on the job market. All institutions must prepare for fierce competition in this country as demographic indicators are worsening and competition from abroad is intensifying. The global picture is true for our field too; institutions of tertiary financial education must find their places and select their strategy. Recalling historical examples, we present views and perspectives we believe should be considered when making decisions affecting the future.

In vitro anther culture is the most commonly-used technology for doubled haploid production in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and various cereals. The technology application allows the genetic attainment of homozygous pure lines from heterozygous breeding material in a single generation, and has become a rapid alternative to the conventional breeding methods. This technology also contributes to more accurately assess QTL × environmental interactions and has been applied in: genetic researches for marker-trait association study, genomics and as a target for transformation, genetic engineering, gene mapping, and mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTLs). This paper reviews the most important factors that limit the efficiency of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) anther culture, such as genotype dependency and albinism, in addition to other affecting factors including the collection time of tillers and physiological growth environments of plants. Factors that improve the efficiency of wheat anther culture in mitigating both genotypic dependency and albinism have been included in this review, too, for example, genetic improvements by following a strategy to realize this purpose through using responsive breeding material for crossing, application of convenient stress pre-treatments (cold pre-treatments, heat shock treatment, colchicine, hormones, and chemicals) to induce androgenesis, and improvement of the composition of anther culture media and culture conditions. We have also highlighted the methods of chromosome doubling for the haploid wheat produced by anther culture androgenesis, such as spontaneous chromosome doubling or use of colchicine and anti-mitotic chemicals at an early stage of anther culture or as root immersion treatment.

We investigated the anther culture (AC) efficiency of thirteen F4 combinations of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The genotype dependency was assessed during the induction of the androgenic entities, i.e. embryo-like structures (ELS), regenerated-, green-, albino-, and transplanted plantlets. The number of green plantlets per 100 anthers (GP/100A) varied from 0.36 to 24.74 GP/100A with a mean of 8.31 GP/100A. Albino plantlets (AP) occurred in each combination, ranging from 0.20 to 22.80 AP/100A with an average value of 5.59 AP/100A. Between 25–87.76 doubled haploid (DH) plants per 100 acclimatised plantlets (DH/100ADP), depending on the combination, with a mean of 59.74% were recovered. We have found the highest DH production in the combinations Beres/Midas, Kalasz/Tacitus, Beres/Pamier, and Premio/5009. This improves remarkably the choice of basic genetic material in subsequent crossing programmes. These observations emphasise the usability and efficiency of in vitro AC in producing a large number of DH lines for breeding and the applied researches of winter wheat. Although albinism was found in each combination, it was mitigated by the in vitro AC application.

Climate change realities such as high-temperature levels are among the causes of drought episodes affecting the productivity and yield stability of crops worldwide. Breeders, therefore, have a daunting challenge to overcome and a large gap to seal in the agricultural sector arising due to drought through the improvement of new tolerant germplasm. It is in this endeavour that the present study, which included nine winter wheat genotypes grown in the greenhouse, was conducted to evaluate their performance under well-watered and drought stress treatments for the traits: heading time, plant height, above-ground biomass, seed number/plant, grain yield/plant, harvest index, root length and root dry mass. A lower grain yield/plant was observed for each studied genotype under drought stress conditions than for those under well-watered conditions. Additionally, grain yield/plant depression varied from 69.64 to 81.73% depending on the genotype. Positive significant correlations between grain yield/plant and heading time, above-ground biomass, and seed number/plant under the drought stress treatment were obtained. Genotypes that recorded high root dry mass had both high above-ground biomass and seed number/plant under drought stress conditions. Positive correlations between grain yield/plant depression and plant height, seed number/plant, and harvest index depressions were also observed. Grain yield for each genotype under drought stress conditions was recorded, and the varieties ‘Plainsman V.’, ‘GK Berény’ and germplasm ‘PC61’, ‘PC110’ showed the best drought tolerance. These genotypes and germplasm will be used in different drought tolerance experiments and breeding programmes.

The androgenic parameters were investigated by in vitro anther culture (AC) on nine F2-5 breeding combinations of winter wheat (Triticum aestivium L.). Each combination produced embryo-like structures (ELS), green plantlets, albino plantlets, transplanted plantlets and acclimatized plantlets, with respect to the number of anthers in AC. The number of AC-derived ELS was between 11.73 and 52.76 ELS/100 anthers with the mean of 26.22 ELS/100 anthers, out of which the number of regenerated green plantlets varied from 3.20 to 26.40 green plantlets/100 anthers and the mean was 9.76 green plantlets/100 anthers, while the number of transplanted plantlets ranged from 2.16 to 21.77 transplanted plantlets/100 anthers. Furthermore, the number of albinos/100 anthers was mitigated and varied between 0.72 and 6.20 albinos/100 anthers. We also studied the number of green and albino plantlets per 100 ELS. The rate of green plantlets per 100 ELS ranged between 14.81% and 64.01%, with the overall mean 33.59%, while the rate of albinos per 100 ELS ranged from 4.82% to 20.70% with the overall mean 11.93%. In our experiment, the rate of acclimatized plantlets (70.15-91.57%) depended mostly on the combination. This study asserted the importance of AC method in wheat for in vitro production of green plants. Although albinism was found in each combination, it did not hinder the production of green plantlets. The satisfying results were achieved in green plantlets production compared to the previously published data, but further improvement will be needed continuously, experiment by experiment. The generated acclimatized plantlets will be used in the wheat breeding program as doubled haploid (DH) lines.

Doubled haploid (DH) plant production belongs to modern biotechnology methods of plant breeding. The main advantage of DH plant production methods is the development of genetically homozygous lines in one generation, whilst in conventional breeding programmes, the development of homozygous lines requires more generations. The present chapter describes an efficient protocol for DH plant production in spelt wheat genotypes using in vitro anther culture.

Doubled haploid (DH) plant production belongs to modern biotechnology methods of plant breeding. The main advantage of DH plant production methods is the development of genetically homozygous lines in one generation, whilst in conventional breeding programmes, the development of homozygous lines requires more generations. The present chapter describes an efficient protocol for DH plant production in spelt wheat genotypes using in vitro anther culture.

Research Highlights: We examined the vegetation appearing in forest-steppes in the Pannon region. In the present survey taxonomical relations of the dominant Festuca species were examined. Background and Objectives: After deforestation and shrubcutting bare soil patches exposed to anthropogenous effects provided an opportunity for new vegetation to form. Materials and Methods: Inflorescence parameters and micromorphological characters of the leaves were examined in a new taxon and compared with two, presumably closely related, species of the genus Festuca L. Festuca tomanii Korneck &amp, T.Gregor, with silvery leaf surface, Festuca vaginata W. K. and Festuca pseudovaginata Penksza were compared based on 24 traits of the inflorescence and their leaf anatomy studied on leaf cross-sections. Moreover, leaf micromorphological features were compared using a stereomicroscope, a scanning electron microscope completed with Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy measurements and phytolith analysis method to establish the taxonomic applications of the micromorphological characters of the epidermis. Results: The awns of the lemma of Festuca tomanii were shown to be longer than those of the two other species. Festuca vaginata and Festuca pseudovaginata specimen showed low variability in inflorescence parameters but inflorescence characters were not uniform because the panicle of Festuca tomanii individuals was found to be bigger in the northern part than the panicles originating from the southern part of the sampled area. The phytolith assemblages of the Festuca pseudovaginata and Festuca tomanii differ from the Festuca vaginata in the abundance of ELONGATE SINUATE phytolith morphotype. Conclusions: we confirmed the appearance of F. vaginata in natural grasslands and discovered new occurrences of F. pseudovaginata and F. tomanii. F. pseudovaginata inhabits only the Pannon region, we found endemic and natural stands of it, but in its secondary habitats it was confirmed as a completely new species. Furthermore, taxa of disturbed vegetations are currently being examined. These habitats are potential hotspots of speciation.

Abiotic stresses are among the most limiting factors in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production worldwide. Climate change enhances the importance of drought stress in Hungary also, like in other wheat growing regions of the world. In this study, results of a glasshouse drought phenotyping of twenty-nine wheat varieties are presented. The drought tolerant “Plainsman V.” and the sensitive “Cappelle Desprez” were set up as control varieties under well-watered and drought stress circumstances. The following phenotypic traits were collected in the experiment, heading time, plant height, aboveground biomass, grain yield, TSW, root dry mass, HI and STI were calculated. In this study, 59.41–100% decrease in grain yield of individual plants was found under drought stress treatment. Also, varieties with increased HI under drought were found. Positive correlation between yield depression and TSW and seed number/spike was detected. Varieties with higher root dry mass headed later. The study selected three varieties with high grain yields under drought stressed conditions.

This is the first report on isolated microspore culture—derived spelt wheat. The efficiency of anther- and isolated microspore was compared using four genotypes (‘Franckenkorn’, ‘GK Feher’, ‘Mv Martongold’, ‘Oberkulmer Rotkorn’). In anther culture, genotype dependency was observed, and cold pre-treatment enhanced the efficiency of the method. In isolated microspore culture, the ovary co-culture supported the development of embryo-like structures. The presence of growth regulators (0.5 mg/l 2,4-D and 0.5 mg/l kinetin) were not essential for the induction of androgenesis, but these increased the production of embryo-like structures, green and albino plantlets. The low plant regeneration rate and high number of albinos hinder the practical application of isolated microspore culture while anther culture was efficient for in vitro green plantlets production in spelt wheat. The mean of green plantlets production was 41.45/100 anthers (from 20.93 to 83.07 depending on genotype). The phenomenon of albinism was mitigated in anther culture (3.48 albinos/100 anthers). Altogether, 1720 anther culture—derived green plantlets were produced from the four genotypes.

Consumption of “gluten-containing” diet causes disease for a significant minority of people who consume foods derived from wheat, rye, barley, and possibly oat. The fact is, however, that in several types of diseases related to the consumption of “gluten-containing” cereals, the trigger compounds are not components of gluten. The current view of medical experts is that, excluding people suffering from celiac disease, the majority of individuals who are feeling better on the “wheat-free” or “gluten-free” diet could select a food containing much healthier, low level of fermentable oligosaccharides (often called as FODMAP). To satisfy the specific health related demands of certain consumer groups, the challenge is in front of cereal breeding to develop new, “healthier” germplasms, suitable to produce such products by the food industry. This report aims to give an overview of some aspects of recent developments in this booming area, (i) summarizing the up-to-date knowledge on cereals-related health disorders;...

This is the first study to report an efficient anther culture (AC) method for spelt wheat, which has an increasing importance not only in applied research but also in organic farming and changing nutritional standards. In this study, an efficient AC protocol has been described for ‘GK Fehér’ spelt wheat. The number of AC-derived embryo-like structures (ELS) was 62.2/100 anthers, from which we were able to regenerate 30.6 green plantlets per 100 anthers. The percentage of green plantlets production was 89.0% among the regenerated plantlets, while the phenomenon of albinism was restricted (3.8/100 anthers). Altogether, from AC of ‘GK Fehér’ 306 green plantlets were producedin vitroand 241 plants were acclimatized to the greenhouse conditions. Based on ploidy level analyses, 83 spontaneous doubled haploid (DH) plants were produced (8.3 DH plants/100 anthers), so the percentage of spontaneous rediploidization was 34.4%. The spontaneous DH plants produced fertile spikes, while a few seeds were harvested from seven partially fertile plants.

Consuming gluten-containing foods derived from wheat, barley, rye and possibly oats can result in health problems for a significant proportion of people. However, in the case of several types of disorders related to consuming gluten-containing cereals, not only the gluten components are trigger compounds. According to medical experts the majority of people suffering from health problems because of gluten— except for celiac disease patients—instead of consuming gluten-free food have the option to choose food products containing healthier, low levels of fermentable oligosaccharides abbreviated FODMAP. In order to meet the health-related special needs of these particular consumer groups, cereal breeders aim to develop new germplasm, suitable for the food industry to produce healthier products. This chapter provides a summary of the latest developments in this booming research field, including: (i) describing the actual knowledge on cereal-related health problems, (ii) describing the current status of celiac-safe cereal breeding, (iii) enhancing the importance of developing healthier spelt-based cereal products through the advancement of an ongoing spelt breeding program and finally (iv) developing plant biotechnology improvements relative to special food quality parameters.

The efficiency of in vitro anther culture was screened in a full diallel population of four spelt wheat genotypes and ten F1 hybrids. Genotype dependency was observed based on the data of embryo-like structures (ELS), green-, albino plantlets. In the diallel population and ten F1 hybrids, the green plantlets production ranged from 13.75 to 85.00 and from 6.30 to 51.00, respectively. The anther culture-derived plants of F1 hybrids were grown up in the nursery. At the harvest, 436 spontaneous doubled haploid (DH) plants were identified among the 1535 anther culture-derived transplanted and grown up individual plants. The mean of spontaneous rediploidization was 28.4% which ranged from 9.76% to 54.24%. In two consecutive years, the agronomic values of &lsquo, Tonkoly.pop1&rsquo, advanced line were compared with seven DH lines of &lsquo, in the nursery. The DH lines achieved competitive values in comparison with &lsquo, advanced line based on the 11 measured parameters (heading date, plant height, yield, hardness, width and length of seed, TKW, hulling yield, flour yield, protein and wet gluten content). These observations presage the efficient utilization of anther culture in spelt wheat breeding.

Drought has significant effect on wheat production by decreasing grain yield. Phenotyping the populations is a useful tool for understanding the interactions between phenotype and genotype. 135 doubled haploid (DH) genotypes and their parental varieties Plainsman (Pl) and Cappelle Desprez (CD) were phenotyped in glasshouse under well-watered (WW) and drought-stress (DS) conditions. The response of plant height, heading time, aboveground biomass, grain yield, root dry mass harvest index (HI) under both conditions, and stress tolerance index (STI) and water consumption in WW conditions was studied. We found 20% decrease in the plant growth, 66% decrease in the aboveground biomass, and 77% decrease in the grain yield. Under WW conditions, high water consumption was not related to high yields, STI, and HI. The tolerant and the sensitive genotypes were selected. In the WW and water consumption treatment, the sensitive genotype group had better grain yield performance, but under DS, the tolerant group had higher grain yield. The average yield loss was 59% in the tolerant group compared to the WW treatment, and the sensitive yield loss was 68%. Correlation was found between the grain yield and root dry mass in the tolerant group. There was significant difference between the tolerant and sensitive groups on water consumption, as the sensitive genotypes had higher water need. We found strong positive correlation between the water consumption and the grain yield in the tolerant group. This study showed that the tolerant genotypes had improved water regulating efficiency.

Members of the aldo–keto reductase family including aldose reductases are involved in antioxidant defense by metabolizing a wide range of lipid peroxidation-derived cytotoxic compounds. Therefore, we produced transgenic wheat genotypes over-expressing the cDNA of alfalfa aldose reductase gene. These plants consequently exhibit 1.5–4.3 times higher detoxification activity for the aldehyde substrate. Permanent drought stress was generated in the greenhouse by growing wheat plants in soil with 20 % water capacity. The control and stressed plants were monitored by a semi automatic phenotyping platform providing computer-controlled watering, digital and thermal imaging. Calculation of biomass values was based on the correlation (R 2 = 0.7556) between fresh weight and green pixel-based shoot surface area. The green biomass production by plants of the three transgenic lines was 12–26–41 % higher than the non-transgenic plants’ grown under water limitation. Thermal imaging of stressed non-transgenic plants indicated an elevation in the leaf temperature. The thermal status of transformants was similar at both normal and suboptimal water regime. In drought, the transgenic plants used more water during the growing season. The described phenotyping platform provided a comprehensive data set demonstrating the improved physiological condition of the drought stressed transgenic wheat plants in the vegetative growth phase. In soil with reduced water capacity two transgenic genotypes showed higher seed weight per plant than the control non-transgenic one. Limitation of greenhouse-based phenotyping in analysis of yield potential is discussed.

Two haploid induction media (190-0 and W14mi) were tested in isolated microspore culture of two triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) genotypes. The W14mi medium proved superior for the production of green plantlets in both genotypes. This basic medium (W14) was used to compare two doubled haploid production methods (isolated microspore culture and anther culture) with the same genotypes. The induction of androgenesis was more effective in isolated microspore culture than in anther culture. The number of embryo-like structures was 9.2 times higher in microspore culture (511.0/100 anthers) compared to anther culture (55.5/100 anthers) and the number of regenerant plantlets was also 3.4 times higher (anther culture—20.15/100 anthers; isolated microspore culture—67.6/100 anthers). However, the regenerant plantlets from isolated microspore culture were mainly albinos while predominantly green plantlets were regenerated from anther culture. The production of green plantlets from anther culture (16.8/100 anthers) was 2.9 times higher than from isolated microspore culture (5.8/100 anthers). The efficiency of anther culture was tested with eight winter triticale genotypes. The phenomenon of albinism did not hinder the green plant production in anther culture. Mean green plantlet production was 10.87/100 anthers. This value was two times higher than the number of albinos (5.01/100 anthers) and higher than previously published reports. The anther culture protocol described in this study is an efficient tool for the production of microspore-derived green plantlets in triticale.

The efficiency of our anther culture protocol was tested with high- and low-responding genotypes, ‘Svilena’ and ‘Berengar’, and 93 F1 winter wheat crosses in 2010 and 2011. Based on data for these genotypes, the effect of genotype influenced the number of embryo-like structures, regenerated plantlets and green plantlets, while the number of albino plantlets was affected by genotype, year and environmental factors. Although genotype also influenced the production of green plantlets from breeding crosses, with green plantlets per 100 anthers ranging from 0.04 to 28.67, the average regeneration rate over all crosses was 5.3 green plantlets/100 anthers, which resulted in a total of 11 416 well-rooted green plantlets. The survival rate of green plantlets following acclimatization was 97.21% in 2010 and 96.34% in 2011. In this study, the phenomenon of albinism and genotype dependency did not hinder the production of more than five thousand green plantlets each year. In our experiments, anther culture proved to be an efficient method in winter wheat breeding programmes with lower costs than alternative technologies.

Spice pepper production has a history of almost 300 years in the southern part of Hungary. In this study the results of two biotechnological improvements are summarized. Anther and isolated microspore culture techniques were improved to release haploid and doubled haploid (DH) lines for spice pepper breeding. Both the anther and isolated microspore culture methods were successfully used in spice pepper haploid production. Microspore culture-derived structures were analysed to identify their different parts. Green plantlets were regenerated from embryos derived from both anther and microspore cultures. Their doubled haploid analogues were integrated into Hungarian spice pepper hybrid seed breeding programmes. One hybrid, Sláger, was released as a new genotype for spice pepper production in 2008 and two hybrid candidates (Délibáb and Bolero) are now being tested in official trials.

The influence of the developmental stage of microspores on establishing isolated microspore cultures of three Hungarian (‘Szegedi 80’, ‘Szegedi 178’, and ‘Remeny’) and three Spanish (‘Jeromin’, ‘Jariza’, and ‘Jaranda’) pepper genotypes was investigated. Donor anthers containing 80% uninucleated and 20% binucleated microspores yielded the highest frequency of successful microspore cultures. Co-cultures with wheat, line ‘CY-45’, ovaries exhibited enhanced frequency of embryoid production than those with pepper ovaries. Differences in efficiency of isolated pepper microspore culture establishment were observed among different pepper genotypes. Green plantlets were regenerated from microspore-derived embryoids, but some were exhibited abnormal growth habits, such as leaf rosetting. A total of seven fertile microspore-derived plants were obtained, including three ‘Jariza’, three ‘Jaranda’, and a single ‘Szegedi 80’ plant.

Androgenesis of wheat, rice and triticale was studied in isolated microspore culture. It is the first publication which studies microspore culture reaction of Hungarian rice varieties. The effect of different basic media, lack and absence of growth regulators in culture media were tested on important parameters of microspore culture. Direct embryogenesis was observed in microspore culture of wheat and triticale genotypes. In the case of rice, calli were induced in isolated rice microspore culture and haploid rice plantlets were regenerated via organogenesis. In wheat, the effect of basic media (W14, A2, CHB3, P4-m) was compared and among them the W14, and A2 had a superior effect on embryo production and albino and green plantlet regeneration. In rice the C, CHB3 and MSm media were tested in microspore culture and the significantly highest numbers of calli were achieved by using C and CHB3 media depending on the genotypes. The lack of exogenous growth regulators was observed in isolated microspore culture of triticale and rice. Growth regulator-free medium had a positive effect on embryo production and plant regeneration of triticale genotypes, whereas in rice microspore culture multicellular structures did not continue their division without growth regulators from the third week of microspore culture. Developing of microspore-origin calli was maintained by supplement of 2,4-D and Kinetin combination in the microspore culture medium.