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A permanent field trial with different Fertilization variants, monoculture and two-crop rotation was established in 1965 at Rimaki Šancevi experiment field of Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops in Novi Sad, on the calcareous chernozem soil. This paper analyzes the experiment data obtained in the period 1971-2001. Yield trends were negative in all fertilization variants, due to unfavorable weather conditions during the second sub-period and the occurrence of Diabrotica virgifera in monoculture. Grain yields were higher in the two-crop rotation than in the monoculture. Highest yields and quality were achieved in both cropping systems when manure and mineral fertilized were applied in combination. The application of manure alone showed significant advantages over the sole application of NPK mineral fertilizers. Plowing under of harvest residues in combination with application of NPK mineral fertilizers is an advantageous solution when manure is not available. In addition to optimum yields and top quality, the variants with combined application of manure and mineral fertilizers left the highest amounts of N03- N in soil after harvest. For chernozem-type soils with deep ground water table, where there is no risk of nitrate leaching, the dosing of N fertilizers should be further refined. The NO3 level after crop harvest, as a criterion of environmental protection efficiency, should be diversified to fit different soil types and different agro-ecological regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The study evaluated the effects of the application of microbial inoculants (N-fixing Klebsiella planticola and Enterobacter spp.), two rates of composite mineral fertilizers, and their combination on microbial biomass carbon, dehydrogenase and proteinase activity in acid Lessivated Cambisol and yield-related properties of maize and wheat grains in a two-year trial. The results indicated that mineral fertilizers are not, in general, negative for soil microbiota when used in the context of sustainable agriculture without monoculture. It was found that the combined application of microbial inoculants and lower doses of mineral nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) fertilizers, increased the yield of maize and wheat compared to the use of only NPK fertilizers in our case study. The highest values of the examined parameters of soil fertility were determined in the period with better precipitation distribution during the vegetation period of the studied year due to the optimal values of soil moisture and air temperature. Concluding, the authors point out the task of science to offer the producer a solution for conducting intensive agricultural production, which must be economically and ecologically safer. This study evaluated the effects of the application of microbial inoculants (N-fixing Klebsiella planticola and Enterobacter spp.), two rates of composite mineral fertilizers, and their combination on microbial biomass carbon (MBC), dehydrogenase (DHA), and proteinase activity (PTA) in Lessivated Cambisol and yield-related properties of maize and wheat grains in a two-year trial. Unfertilized soil was used as a control variant. MBC was measured using the chloroform fumigation-extraction method, DHA was determined spectrophotometrically by measuring the intensity of the formed red-colored triphenyl formazan, while PTA was determined using a titration method by measuring the degree of gelatine decomposition. In grain samples, P was determined spectrophotometrically, K—by flame emission photometry, N—on an elemental carbon/nitrogen/sulfur (CNS) analyzer, and crude proteins—by calculation of N content. Measuring both crops' yield was carried out at the end of the vegetation. The results indicated that mineral fertilizers are not, in general, negative for soil microbiota when used in the context of sustainable agriculture without monoculture. There is a significant increase in the values of soil MBC, DHA, and PTA in the variants with combined application of bacterial inoculants and lower rates of mineral fertilizers. The highest values of these parameters were determined in the period with a better distribution of precipitation during the vegetation period of the year. The mentioned combination also resulted in a higher grain yield of maize and wheat comparing to the application of lower rates of the NPK nutrients solely. The combined application of high rates of mineral fertilizers and bacterial inoculants resulted in significantly increased N, P, K, and protein content in the grains of crops, and the same applied to yield. Concluding, studied bacterial inoculants can be used to specify the replacement of nitrogen fertilizers, stimulating the microbial biomass and enzyme activity in the soil, helping to ensure that the supply of nutrients contributing to an optimized yield of crops is maintained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Yellow or stripe rust, caused by the fungus Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) is an important disease of wheat that threatens wheat production. Since developing resistant cultivars offers a viable solution for disease management, it is essential to understand the genetic basis of stripe rust resistance. In recent years, meta-QTL analysis of identified QTLs has gained popularity as a way to dissect the genetic architecture underpinning quantitative traits, including disease resistance. Results: Systematic meta-QTL analysis involving 505 QTLs from 101 linkage-based interval mapping studies was conducted for stripe rust resistance in wheat. For this purpose, publicly available high-quality genetic maps were used to create a consensus linkage map involving 138,574 markers. This map was used to project the QTLs and conduct meta-QTL analysis. A total of 67 important meta-QTLs (MQTLs) were identified which were refined to 29 high-confidence MQTLs. The confidence interval (CI) of MQTLs ranged from 0 to 11.68 cM with a mean of 1.97 cM. The mean physical CI of MQTLs was 24.01 Mb, ranging from 0.0749 to 216.23 Mb per MQTL. As many as 44 MQTLs colocalized with marker–trait associations or SNP peaks associated with stripe rust resistance in wheat. Some MQTLs also included the following major genes- Yr5, Yr7, Yr16, Yr26, Yr30, Yr43, Yr44, Yr64, YrCH52, and YrH52. Candidate gene mining in high-confidence MQTLs identified 1,562 gene models. Examining these gene models for differential expressions yielded 123 differentially expressed genes, including the 59 most promising CGs. We also studied how these genes were expressed in wheat tissues at different phases of development. Conclusion: The most promising MQTLs identified in this study may facilitate marker-assisted breeding for stripe rust resistance in wheat. Information on markers flanking the MQTLs can be utilized in genomic selection models to increase the prediction accuracy for stripe rust resistance. The candidate genes identified can also be utilized for enhancing the wheat resistance against stripe rust after in vivo confirmation/validation using one or more of the following methods: gene cloning, reverse genetic methods, and omics approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive overview of the extent genetic diversity in South-East European landrace collection was estimated regard broadening of broomcorn (Sorghum bicolor [L]. Moench) germplasm variability. In a long-term field trials 28 accessions were analyzed to determine variability of agronomic (unthreshed panicle weight UTP, threshed panicle weight TRP, grain yield per panicle SWG and threshed panicle ratio RAN), morphological (plant height PHG, stalk height SHG, panicle length PLG, peduncle length PDL, flag leaf sheath length LSL and panicle exsertion PEX) and technological (fiber length FLG, fiber number per panicle NOP and fiber fineness FFI) traits. By all obtained results combining over univariate and multivariate analysis, the study showed significant variability over traits, so the examined landraces will be included in existing broomcorn germplasm. Accessories with valuable quantitative and qualitative characters can significantly contribute to improvement of new bred cultivars and broadening germplasm diversity. Three years field experiment showed significant positive correlations between PHG-SHG, PDL-PEX and UTP-SWG and significant negative correlations between PDL-FLG and SWG-RAN. The performance of examined landraces were generally within the ambit of broomcorn germplasm variability, but several accessions with the extreme trait profile for yield components and panicle quality will be useful as parents in the breeding process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate composition and content of phenolic compounds in seeds of common buckwheat ( Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) cultivars from Western, Central and Southeastern Europe grown in the Balkan area, and to compare them with cultivars from the Balkan. Mostly detected hydroxycinnamic acids in seeds of the investigated cultivars were caffeic and chlorogenic acid derivatives. More than ten different flavanols were detected in the investigated seeds, based on which all tested buckwheat cultivars were divided into two groups: those with high propelargonidins (epiafzelechin–epicatechin) and those with high procyanidins contents. ‘Novosadska’ had the highest level of phenolic acids, proanthocyanidins, flavones and most of the flavonols. However, ‘Bosna 1’ and ‘Bosna 2’ were highlighted with the greatest rutin content (up to 46 times higher than in other cultivars). All buckwheat cultivars had quite high antioxidant capacity (more than 80% of neutralized radicals), yet, ‘Novosadska’, ‘Godijevo’, ‘Spacinska 1’ and ‘Bamby’ excelled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is currently one of the most controversial and promising crops. This study compared nine wild hemp (C. sativa spp. spontanea V.) accessions with 13 registered cultivars, eight breeding lines, and one cannabidiol (CBD) hemp strain belonging to C. sativa L. The first three groups had similar main essential oil (EO) constituents, but in different concentrations; the CBD hemp had a different EO profile. The concentration of the four major constituents in the industrial hemp lines and wild hemp accessions varied as follows: β-caryophyllene 11–22% and 15.4–29.6%; α-humulene 4.4–7.6% and 5.3–11.9%; caryophyllene oxide 8.6–13.7% and 0.2–31.2%; and humulene epoxide 2, 2.3–5.6% and 1.2–9.5%, respectively. The concentration of CBD in the EO of wild hemp varied from 6.9 to 52.4% of the total oil while CBD in the EO of the registered cultivars varied from 7.1 to 25%; CBD in the EO of the breeding lines and in the CBD strain varied from 6.4 to 25% and 7.4 to 8.8%, respectively. The concentrations of δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in the EO of the three groups of hemp were significantly different, with the highest concentration being 3.5%. The EO of wild hemp had greater antimicrobial activity compared with the EO of registered cultivars. This is the first report to show that significant amounts of CBD could be accumulated in the EO of wild and registered cultivars of hemp following hydro-distillation. The amount of CBD in the EO can be greater than that in the EO of the USA strain used for commercial production of CBD. Furthermore, this is among the first reports that show greater antimicrobial activity of the EO of wild hemp vs. the EO of registered cultivars. The results suggest that wild hemp may offer an excellent opportunity for future breeding and the selection of cultivars with a desirable composition of the EO and possibly CBD-rich EO production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]