PHENOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND GLOBAL TREE ARCHITECTURE OF THE PEAR GERMPLASM FROM BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA IN EX SITU CONDITIONS

Fruit germplasm plays an important role in the global agrobiodiversity and is a source for both a direct use of fruit genetic resources as well for fruit breeding programme. The ex-situ field collection is still the main way to successfully conserve fruit germplasm. Thirty pear accessions from Bosnia and Herzegovina were characterized during three years in the ex situ collection maintained by the Institute of Genetic Resources of the University of Banja Luka. The following characteristics were determined: flowering time, harvest maturity time and global tree architecture. The obtained results showed that 53.3% of pear accessions flowered during all three years, 40% of them during two years and 6.7% of them during only one year. The most present tree architecture form was upright. According to the harvest maturity time, extremely early accessions were the most represented, than early, medium and very early pear accessions. Conserved pear germplasm in this ex situ collection represents a valuable material for direct use and future breeding programmes

VARIATION OF FRUIT MORPHOLOGICAL TRAITS IN CAPSICUM ANNUUM L. GERMPLASM COLLECTION FROM NORTH MACEDONIA

The aim of this research was to evaluate the phenotypic divergence of 33 local pepper landraces from North Macedonia based on their fruit traits, that have not been evaluated before. According to the vernacular names they belong to the longum group and are traditionally consumed mostly in technological maturity. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design in three replications in 2018. Six quantitative fruit traits were evaluated: fruit length, fruit width, fruit weight, fruit pedicel length, fruit wall thickness and number of locules, as well as several quantitative traits: colour at intermediate stage, colour at mature stage, fruit shape, shape at blossom end, cross-sectional corrugation, ripe fruit persistence – pedicel with fruit and pedicel with stem. The PCA analysis identified that two principal components explain more than 77% of the variability based on the quantitative fruit parameters. The cluster analysis classified the accessions in three clusters, where the third cluster grouped seven local landraces that had highest values for fruit width, fruit weight and pericarp thickness and are major yield components. It can be concluded that the results obtained for the fruit variability in the investigated 33 local pepper landraces from North Macedonia provided valuable information about the diversity of the collection. Furthermore, the local landraces identified in cluster three can be considered as potential source for selection of preferred traits or for further utilization in development of recommendations for direct production in the rural areas

Macedonian Genebank: Seed Protein Content of Wild Red Clover (Trifolium pratense L.) Accessions

During this study, the content of crude protein content in seeds of 23 wild red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) populations, collected in East part of Macedonia, district Probistip, was assessed. On the basis of the average crude protein content, the collected accessions were divided into 3 groups with the crude protein content ≥ 15.0% (MKD01527, MKD01530, MKD01531, MKD01539, MKD01540, MKD01542, MKD01543); ≥ 16.0% (MKD01525, MKD01528, MKD01529, MKD0538, MKD01541, MKD01553, MKD01554, MKD01560) and ≥ 17.0% (MKD01536, MKD01537, MKD01544). The highest crude protein content of 17.3% was determined for population MKD01535 and the lowest (14.4 %) for MKD01526. Information on protein content, as an indicator of wild red clover quality, could be used as a selection tool for identifying accessions to be included in red clover breeding programs

Macedonian Genebank: Seed Protein Content of Wild Red Clover (Trifolium pratense L.) Accessions

During this study, the content of crude protein content in seeds of 23 wild red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) populations, collected in East part of Macedonia, district Probistip, was assessed. On the basis of the average crude protein content, the collected accessions were divided into 3 groups with the crude protein content ≥ 15.0% (MKD01527, MKD01530, MKD01531, MKD01539, MKD01540, MKD01542, MKD01543); ≥ 16.0% (MKD01525, MKD01528, MKD01529, MKD0538, MKD01541, MKD01553, MKD01554, MKD01560) and ≥ 17.0% (MKD01536, MKD01537, MKD01544). The highest crude protein content of 17.3% was determined for population MKD01535 and the lowest (14.4 %) for MKD01526. Information on protein content, as an indicator of wild red clover quality, could be used as a selection tool for identifying accessions to be included in red clover breeding programs

MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF GENES FOR QUALITY TRAITS IN MACEDONIAN WHEAT GENOTYPES (Triticum aestivum L.)

The main goal of this study was to characterize glutenin subunits with high molecular weight (HMW-GS) in Macedonian wheat genotypes by using DNA markers and to analyse the polymorphism of the Glu-A1 and Glu-D1 loci, influencing wheat bread-making quality. Polymorphysm and allelic variations in the Glu-A1 loci were determined through characterization of Ax-null, Ax1 and Ax2* alleles, and in Glu-D1 loci through characterization of Dx2+Dy12 and Dx5+Dy10 alleles. Ax null, that has a negative influence on bread-making quality, was detected in 77.66% of the genotypes. The allelic pair Dx5+Dy10 was present in 68.09% of the genotypes. Only 8.51% of the analysed genotypes had the allele Ax1. According to the identified alleles in the Glu A1 and Glu D1 loci, the genotypes were grouped in two main clusters, 64 in the first and 30 genotypes in the second cluster. Both clusters consisted of three subclusters, comprising different number of genotypes. The most of the genotypes belonged to the subgroups 1a (presence of Dx5+Dy10) and 2a (presence of Dx2+Dy12). Genotypes in the 2a subgroup had Ах-null in Glu-A1 locus and Dx2+Dy12 in Glu-D1 locus, negatively influencing the wheat bread-making quality. These genotypes are not recommended to be used in a breeding program for improving wheat bread-making quality. Genotypes from the subgroups 1b and 1c possessed the alleles Аx2* and Ax1 in Glu-A1 locus and Dx5+Dy10 in Glu-D1 locus, indicating good bread-making quality. The superior breeding lines with improved quality, good agronomic characteristics and high yield have to be evaluated for their adaptability and stability. The lines with a complex of positive characteristics may be submitted for registration of new varieties. Further investigations of the material are needed for the other loci influencing the wheat bread-making quality

Predicting heterosis and f1 performance in spring rapeseed (brassica napus l.): genetic distance based on molecular or phenotypic data?

In rapeseed, there is a constant need for increasing its genetic diversity, particularly through breeding of hybrid varieties in order to produce genotypes with improved seed yield, as well as other important agronomic traits. However, to create commercial hybrids, the knowledge of the genetic diversity of the parents is prerequisite, considering that the hybrid's performance greatly depends on the choice of parental lines. There is a lack of information about using the genetic distance to determine the extent of heterosis in spring rapeseed in Europe. The goals of this research were to determine the genetic variability of rapeseed breeding material for important agricultural traits, to analyse the differences in grouping of the parental genotypes based on their genetic distances determined by morphological traits and molecular markers and to estimate the correlation of the differently established parental genetic distances with hybrid performance, heterosis, general combining ability of both parents and specific combining ability in crosses. This will provide novel information for parental selection in order to develop a better approach for prediction of heterosis in spring rapeseed hybrid breeding program. The field trial included ten spring rapeseed genotypes that were crossed in a half diallel fashion thus making 45 hybrid combinations. Distances between parents were calculated based on data from 14 analysed phenotypic traits and 64 SSR markers. The obtained results showed that the parental genetic distance based on phenotypic traits was better in predicting heterosis and combining ability in comparison with the distance estimated by SSR analysis. Although the obtained results revealed that the genetic distance based on molecular markers had no correlation with mid-parent and high-parent heterosis, further studies are needed with a larger number and different types of markers to draw the final conclusion

Varijabilnost komponenti prinosa ozime uljane repice (Brassica napus L.) i njihova korelacija sa prinosom semena

Designing breeding programs for rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) cultivars with improved seed and oil yields require information about the genetic variability of traits effecting seed and oil production. This investigation was undertaken in order to examine phenotypic and genetic variability, broad-sense heritability, genetic gain under selection and interrelationships of some agronomic and seed quality traits of investigated genotypes. Genotypes, years and their interaction showed significant variation for all studied characters. Phenotypic variability coefficients were higher than genetic ones. Broad-sense heritability estimates ranged from 12.66% (for ripening period) up to 52.12% (for days to first pods filling). Expected genetic gain was lowest for days to maturity (0.45%) and highest for height to the first lateral branch (12.94%). The analysis of genetic correlations revealed that seed yield per plant is highly and positively associated with pods per plant, oil content, plant height and ripening period, although significant negative correlations were found between seed yield per plant and leaves per plant, days to maturity, protein content, days to first pods filling, days to flowering, height of the first lateral branch and 1000 seed weight. Genetic path-coefficient analysis indicated that pods per plant and oil content were the most important components of seed yield per plant. Their direct effects on seed yield per plant were p=0.472 and p=0.082, respectively. Protein content had highly significant negative direct effect on seed yield (p=-0.365), followed by 1000 seed weight (p=-0.017) and height to the first lateral branch (p=-0.081). These observations will support the selection of genotypes with desired traits for further rapeseed seed and oil yield improvement.Za organizovanje dobrog oplemenjivačkog programa na uljanoj repicu (Brassica napus L.) neophodno je poznavanje genetičke varijabilnosti svojstava koja utiču na prinos semena i ulja. Istraživanja su sprovedena da bi se ispitala fenotipska i genotipska varijabilnost, heritabilnost u širem smislu, genetička dobit od selekcija i međuzavisnost agronomskih važnih osobina i svojstava kvaliteta semena kod ispitivanih genotipova. Genotipovi, godine i njihova interakcija signifikantno su varirale za sva ispitivana svojstva. Fenotipski koeficijent varijacije bio je veći od genotipskog. Heritabilnost u širem smislu kretala se od 12.66% (za vreme sazrevanja) do 52.12% (broj dana do formiranja prve mahune). Očekivana genetička dobit bila je najniža za broj dana do sazrevanja (0.45%) i najviša za visinu do prve bočne grane (12.94%). Analiza genetičkih korelacija ukazala je na visoku i pozitivnu vezu prinosa semena po biljci sa brojem ljuski po biljci, sadržajem ulja, visinom biljke i vremenom sazrevanja, a negativna korelacija je utvrđena između prinosa semena po biljci i broja listova po biljci, dana do zrenja, sadržaja proteina, broja dana do formiranja prve mahune, broja dana do cvetanja, visine prve bočne grane i težine 1000 semena Analiza koeficijenta putanje ukazala je da su broj ljuski po biljci i sadržaj ulja najvažnije komponente prinosa semena po biljci. Njihovi direktni efekti na prinos po biljci su bili p=0.472 i p=0.082. Sadržaj proteina imao je visokoznačajan negativan direktan efekat na prinos semena (p=-0.365), potom masa 1000 semena (p=-0.017) i visina do prve bočne grane (p=-0.081). Ova istraživanja predstavljaju osnov za dalje oplemenjivanje uljane repice poboljšanog prinosa semena i ulja

Međuzavisnost prinosa i komponenti prinosa genotipova jare uljane repice (Brassica napus L.)

The research was conducted in order to determine yield related characters which are more effective as selection criteria than yield itself. Three spring canola (Brassica napus L.) genotypes have been investigated for plant height, number of primary branches (including the main raceme), number of pods per plant, pod length, number of seeds per pod, seed weight per pod and 1000 seed weight and their correlations with seed yield per plant. Seed yield had highest correlation with number of pods per plant (r= 0.935 and r= 0.973 in Skopje and Strumica, respectively), followed by seed weight per pod (r= 0.693 and r= 0.729) and 1000 seed weight (r= 0.627 and r= 0.680). Path coefficient analysis was used to identify the direct and indirect effect of studied characters on seed yield. Number of pods per plant (p=0.759 and p=0.877 for Skopje and Strumica, respectively) and seed weight per pod (p=0.216 and p=0.225) had the highest direct effect on seed yield in both locations followed by 1000 seed weight (p=0.056 and p=0.010). The coefficient of determination (R2) was 0.943.Istraživanje je sprovedeno sa ciljem da se determinšu komponente prinosa koje mogu pretstavljati efektivniji kriterijum za selekciju nego prinos "per se". Kod tri jara genotipa uljane repice (Brassica napus L.) su bila ispitivana svojstva: visina biljke, broj primarnih grana (uključujući i centralnu), broj ljuski po biljci, dužina ljuski, broj semena po ljusci, masa semena po ljusci i masa 1000 semena, kao i njihove korelacije sa prinosom semena po biljci. Broj ljuski po biljci je imao najveću vrednost koeficijenta korelacije sa prinosom po biljci (r= 0.935 i r= 0.973 u Skoplju i Strumici). Nešto manju vrednost je imao koeficijent korelacije za masu semena po ljusci (r= 0.693 i r= 0.729) i masa 1000 semena (r= 0.627 i r= 0.680). Analiza path koeficijenta je korišćena za razdvajanje direktnih i indirektnih uticaja ispitivanih svojstava na prinos semena. Broj ljuski po biljci (p=0.759 i p=0.877 za Skoplje i Strumicu) i masa semena po ljusci (p=0.216 i p=0.225) su imale najveći direktni efekat na prinos semena po biljci u obe lokacije. Nešto manja vrednost ovog pokazatelja izračunata je za masu 1000 semena (p=0.056 i p=0.010). Koeficijent determinacije (R2) je iznosio 0.94

Correlation and Path Analysis of Quantitative Traits in Winter Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)

In the paper presented, 30 rapeseed cultivars were studied. Seed yield components and their interrelations were analyzed using simple coefficients of correlation. The direct and indirect effects of such components on seed yield per plant were estimated using path analysis. The following traits were considered: plant height, height of the first lateral branch, number of lateral branches, number of pods per plant, seed oil content, 1000 seed weight and seed yield per plant. The highest seed yield per plant was estimated for cultivars ‘Sremica’, ‘B-009’, ‘Jet Neuf’ and ‘Falcon’. There was a complete correlation between plant height and height of the first lateral branch and a very strong one between plant height and seed oil content, as well as between plant height and seed yield per plant. The strongest direct effect on seed yield per plant was estimated for plant height, followed by the effect of number of pods per plant. This kind of investigation helps rapeseed breeders to optimize their breeding programs

Effect of galactomannan hydrocolloids on gelatinization and retrogradation of tapioca and corn starch

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of galactomannan hydrocolloids (guar gum and locust bean gum) on gelatinization and retrogradation of tapioca and corn starch. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to characterize the behaviour of tapioca and corn starch with and without additives. Results showed that guar gum and locust bean gum retarded the retrogradation of tapioca and corn starch at both investigated temperatures (4 and 25 °C). Guar gum retarded retrogradation of tapioca starch more than locust bean gum, on the other hand, locust bean gum had a greater effect on reduction of the recrystallization of corn starch. Temperatures of gelatinization did not vary significantly in starch-hydrocolloid systems. Additions of galactomannan hydrocolloids caused a decrease in gelatinization enthalpy of both starches