Heterosis en el proceso germinativo y en caracteres de semilla del hí-brido de maíz (Zea mays L.) HAZUL 10E

Objective: To quantify the heterosis in physical and physiological characteristics of seeds of the simple and trilineal crosses of the maize hybrid HAZUL 10E. Methodology: Seeds of the genotypes that make up the HAZUL 10E maize hybrid (inbred lines and simple and trilineal crosses) were used. The experimental design was completely randomized with three repetitions. Physical characteristics of the seeds (weight, width, thickness, length, volume, density and the ratios width/length of seed and thickness/length of seed) and physiological (normal and abnormal seedlings, inert seeds, and lengths and dry matter of plumule, radicle and total) were evaluated. Heterosis and heterobeltiosis were determined and their differences between both crosses were tested with Student's t test. Results: Heterosis and heterobeltiosis were higher in the single cross than in the trilineal one. In the single cross, the higher values of both heterosis corresponded to plumule, radicle and total dry matter; followed by weight and seed volume. In the trilinear, the highest values corresponded to normal seedlings and radicle length and biomass, and total. The determining variables of the shape, the formation of normal seedlings and the elongation of the radicle, responded better to hybridization in the trilineal cross. Study limitations: None presented. Conclusions: In the single cross, heterosis increased the seed size and the biomass accumulated in the seedlings; while in the trilineal cross, it affected the shape of the seed and the seedlings produced

Proteometabolomic Analysis Reveals Molecular Features Associated with Grain Size and Antioxidant Properties amongst Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Seeds Genotypes

Legumes are an essential source of nutrients that complement energy and protein requirements in the human diet. They also contribute to the intake of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, whose content can vary depending on cultivars and genotypes. We conducted a comparative proteomics and metabolomics study to determine if there were significant variations in relevant nutraceutical compounds in the five genotypes of Kabuli-type chickpea grains. We performed an isobaric tandem mass tag (TMT) couple to synchronous precursor selection (SPS)-MS3 method along with a targeted and untargeted metabolomics approach based on accurate mass spectrometry. We observed an association between the overproduction of proteins involved in starch, lipid, and amino acid metabolism with gibberellin accumulation in large grains. In contrast, we visualized the over-accumulation of proteins associated with water deprivation in small grains. It was possible to visualize in small grains the over-accumulation of some phenolics such as vanillin, salicylic acid, protocatechuic acid, 4-coumaric acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, ferulic acid, and kaempferol 3-O-glucoside as well as the amino acid l-phenylalanine. The activated phenolic pathway was associated with the higher antioxidant capacity of small grains. Small grains consumption could be advantageous due to their nutraceutical properties