Maize local landraces used like prebreeding material for simultaneous improvment of main agronomic traits

In the maize breeding programs the local maize landraces shows a particular interest, especially as useful sources for adapting capacities, physiological, agronomic and valuable quality traits. A morpho-physiological evaluation of main germplasm genepool represented by 200 local maize landraces was achieved through a CEEX Project (2006-2008). Characterization of maize local populations was done in an appropriate experimental system based on morpho-physiological descriptors edited by the International Institute of International Plant Genetic Resources (BIOVERSITY) located in Rome (www.bioversityinternational.org). (www.bioversityinternational.org). Evaluation of maize genetic resources is found in the online database http// www. scdasuceava. ro/ biomaize which includes information concerning the value of biological material with useful genes for breeding programs. It was noticed some maize local landraces which can be used like initial genetic material for breeding of main traits (precocity, resistance to low temperatures, elements of productivity and resistance to root and stalk lodging , diseases ) such as: Rodna16, Botiza12, Ivăneasa1, Solca3, Vama7, Gersa11, Tiha Bargaului 8 Moisei 5, Valea Mare 2, Bucerdea, Putna 3 Pojorâta, Brodina 1. Of a particular interest are local populations valuable like rebreeding material for simultaneous improving of some important agronomic traits: Rodna 16 for cold resistance and disease resistance Botiza 12 for low temperatures resistance, resistance to root and stalk lodging, small percentage of sterile plants Moisei 5 and Valea Mare 2 for productivity, low temperature resistance, precocity, resistance to diseases and others locale landraces that may be selected from the mentioned database

Field and laboratory screening of Romanian maize landraces very resistant to low temperatures

Submountain and mountain areas of Romania have a wide variety of maize landraces thathave not been characterized, and landraces varieties may be a good source of new allelicdiversity for useful traits. There is possible due to studies and comprehensive measures whichcan lead to the maintenance of biodiversity and increase its efficiency. The paper presents theresults of characterization and evaluation of a total of 61 local landraces with cold test index>84%, selected from a total of 300 studied local landraces. They were characterized in thefield and laboratory from morphologic, agronomic and physiologic point of view, as a basisfor use of this maize accessions in a breeding program for creating of extra earlier hybrids.Landraces maize accessions: SVGB-1790, SVGB-7754, SVGB-8012, SVGB-14453, SVGB-5172 were identified with high yield components traits and extremely resistant to lowtemperatures (K>0,92).Utilization of these local landraces as starting material can lead to the identification of usefulgenes sources for improvement of important agronomic characters of maize (yield capacity,precocity, resistance to low temperatures and to Fusarium infection).This accessions have a good agronomic stability, could be potentials donors of genes toimprove maize tolerance to low temperature in order to create hybrids for cold and wet areas

Genetic characterization of some local maize landraces coming from Romania by RAPD method

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. color, kernel type and kernel size). However, only molecular markers provide information that is independent of environmental influences or a 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. Ones of the most used methods are the RAPD (Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA) metho

Fatty Acid Indices and the Nutritional Properties of Karakul Sheep Meat

This study aimed to evaluate the fatty acid profile and health lipid indices of sheep meat (from 52 Karakul sheep from NE Romania). The effect of age at slaughter and the influence of muscle region were studied for nutritional parameters, especially the fatty acids from lipid fractions. Based on the fatty acid profiles and lipid contents, the sanogenic indices were determined for two sheep muscle groups. Thus, two different muscle regions from lamb and adult sheep were analysed from both genders, the Longissimus dorsi and Triceps brachii, to argue the advantages of each category and the rationalization, in terms of meat consumption, regarding their impact on human health. Sheep meat has many components with beneficial effects on human health. Apart from the fact that it is an important source of nutrients due to its high content of proteins, lipids, and minerals, it is also a product that can provide fundamental bioactive compounds for maintaining metabolic functions. The qualitative indices assessment revealed that lambs have meat with high PUFA content on Longissimus dorsi muscles (approx. 25% of total fatty acids), 0.68 for PUFA/SFA, with highest values for n-3 (approx. 8%) and n-6 (approx. 14%). Appropriate values can also be observed in Triceps brachii muscles from adult sheep. The sanogenic indices also presented good values for Longissimus dorsi from lambs and Triceps brachii from adult sheep (polyunsaturation index = 7.2–10.2; atherogenic index = 0.56–0.67; thrombogenic index = 0.78–0.96; hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic index = 2.4–2.7 (for Longissimus dorsi))

Evaluation of romanian maize local landraces for increasing the efficiency of their use in breeding programs

At present there can be noticed a main interest of plant genetic resources users for accessing information related to characterization and evaluation descriptors. Maize genetic resources represented by local populations originating from different areas, represent important useful genes sources for improving species. Their e is possible due to studies and comprehensive measures which can lead to the maintenance of biodiversity and increase its efficiency. The paper presents the results of characterization and evaluation of a total of 61 local landraces with cold test index >80%, selected from a total of 300 studied local landraces. These local landraces can be useful genes sources for maize breeding at low temperature, being a main trait for maize cultivation in wetter and colder areas in Romania. The study shows a high diversity for most of the morphological characterization descriptors of the plant, ear and kernel, physiological evaluation at low temperature resistance of the plantlets, precocity and biochemical evaluation for kernels quality. In order to obtain information, at intervariety level, for maize local landraces studied, molecular characterization was performed by RAPD method (random amplified polymorphic DNA). Many maize local populations with values of characterization and evaluation descriptors of real interest were emphasized. Utilization of these local landraces as starting material can lead to the identification of useful genes sources for improvement of important agronomic characters of maize (yield capacity, precocity, resistance to low temperatures, quality and genetic integrity)

Développement de compositions polymères biosourcées sur base PLA pour des applications automobiles

National audiencePLA is a bio-based and biodegradable polymer with high tensile strength and rigidity. Nevertheless, its low impact toughness and its brittleness are obstacles for a use in highly loaded parts. To overcome these drawbacks, the influence of several additives is studied. First of all, PLA plasticization by TBC leads to a marked increase of ductility, however counterbalanced by a drop of tensile strength and rigidity. The formation of copolymers PLA-impact modifier (BS) allows to increase impact toughness but not ductility. Finally, quaternary compositions PLA-BS-TBC-clay nano-reinforcements have interesting tensile and impact properties compared to a mineral filled PP frequently used for automotive applications.Le PLA est un polymère biosourcé, biodégradable et à hautes rigidité et résistance en traction. Toutefois, sa faible résilience et sa fragilité sont des obstacles à son utilisation pour des pièces fortement sollicitées. Pour y remédier, cette étude s'intéresse à l'enrichissement progressif de compositions à base de PLA. Dans un premier temps, l'ajout de plastifiant (TBC) permet une nette augmentation de la ductilité du matériau, mais dégrade les autres propriétés en traction. La formation de copolymères PLA-modificateur d'impact (BS) permet un fort accroissement de la résilience, mais pas de la ductilité. Enfin, les compositions quaternaires PLA-BS-TBC-nanocharges d'argile constituent une piste viable pour une utilisation sous fortes sollicitations, grâce à des propriétés mécaniques en traction et à l'impact prometteuses, comparées à celles d'un PP chargé, classiquement utilisé dans l'automobile

Effect of Heavy Metals on the Germination of Wheat Seeds: Enzymatic Assay

Stress caused by heavy metals is a major problem which affects agricultural productivity and, implicitly, human health. Natural flora presents differences of tolerance to heavy metals. Some plants grow well in a soil enriched with heavy metals, while others cannot develop in such conditions. This study investigates the effect of heavy metals on plant viability at molecular level and draws attention to the danger of the widespread use of toxic compounds

Therapeutic Use of Some Romanian Medicinal Plants

Romanian traditional medicine has an extremely old history. The Dacian knowledge of the curative properties of medicinal plants was documented by Herodotus, Hippocrates, Galen, and Dioscorides. It must be emphasized that modern chemical screening has confirmed the therapeutic properties of the medicinal plants used by the Dacians. More interesting is that Dacians used many of these herbs for different dishes. Practically, for Dacians, food was medicine. Recent research on some Romanian medicinal plants has highlighted their pharmacognostical importance. It is known that currently, the importance and dynamics of the research on medicinal plants in the area of drug discovery continues to increase worldwide. The main reason is not only the high efficiency of secondary metabolites in case of serious diseases (cancer, viral infections, malaria, etc.) but also the minimization of the side effects of the synthetic drugs

Performance assessments and the effect on barley seed quality regarding a new developed grain dryer

Convective dryers are widely used in various fields, such as for drying pasta, fruit, vegetables, agricultural plant seeds etc. Several variants of dryers have been designed so far, such as: dryers with intermediate heating of the drying agent, dryers with partial recirculation of the drying agent, closed circuit dryers and those ones with combined technical solutions. None of the above solves the problem regarding the drying agent flow uniformity. In the case of existing world-wide tower dryers, drying is more intense towards the end of the drying agent mixing chamber. To overcome this shortcoming, an innovative cylindrical tower dryer was conceived, which evens the drying agent parameters. The dryer contains a conical device mounted inside the perforated cylinder above the burner. This device is based on the Coandă effect according to which, a fluid jet has the tendency to stay attached to a convex surface. The device has been designed after Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations (CFD), after which optimum setting adjustments have been made to achieve uniformity of the speed and temperature profiles across the entire interior surface of the perforated cylinder, regardless the porosity of the seed layer. Experiments were conducted using barley seeds with three initial moisture contents, five air temperatures (40oC to 80oC) and four fan speeds (1 m/s to 2.5 m/s). The obtained results showed a reduction of protein loss of up to 1.77%, a reduction of germination capacity loss of up to 9.87%, a decrease of the energy consumption of up to 10-15% and a decrease of the drying time of up to 20%, compared to the results obtained with a conventional tower dryer. The advantages of using the new developed dryer are: drying process uniformity, energy consumption and drying time reduction, seed quality improvement, construction cost reduction and material economy

Nutritional value of new sweet pepper genotypes grown in organic system

The market request for organic vegetables has grown recently for their positive impact on healthy diets. Consumers have progressively shown preferences for various combinations of color, size, and shape of pepper fruits. Facilitating communication, collaboration, and participation in the selection of cultivars with superior performance, flavor, texture, and culinary attributes can represent a key tool in breeding for nutritional and culinary traits. The current research started from the premise that organic production involves achieving adequate nutritional and culinary quality of pepper fruits. The study was conducted to investigate traits related culinary quality of pepper genotypes, especially in the ripening phase of fruits, to select the best resources with a high antioxidant content for breeding programs. The biological material represented by nine genotypes of sweet pepper was cultivated in the open fields during 2019 and 2020 at the experimental stations of the Vegetable Research Development Station of Bacau and of Iasi University of Life Sciences. Agricultural practices and intensive breeding focused on yield and stress tolerance have indirectly led to a reduction in the nutrition and flavor of the produce. Complex approaches, including screening of consumer preferences, phenotyping, and use of modern genomics and analytical chemistry tools in breeding, together with participatory farmer-breeder-chef-consumer collaborations, can represent a strategy to facilitate the development of the next generation of crops aimed to meet the growing demands of safe and nutritionally vegetables featured by culinary standards as good flavor, color, and texture