STUDIES ON SOME QUALITY COMPONENTS IN A LANDRACE COLLECTION OF CLIMBING BEANS (PHASEOLUS VULGARIS VAR. COMMUNIS)

The study aimed at evaluating a landraces collection of climbing beans regarding some characters that contribute to quality of grains or green pods. The biological material was formed of 56 landraces and 2 varieties of climbing beans from which the grains or green pods can be used in food. The landraces were collected from western and southwestern Romania. The experimentation was performed over three years in a collection-type experience, arranged in three repetitions. As elements of quality we determined: the percentage of husks from beans, boiling coefficient, the percentage of bean total protein, 1000 grain weight, the percentage of sugar in green pods. The experimental data were processed by analysis of variance and applying the t-test for determination of differences from the variety ‘Aurie de Bacau’ used as a control. The collection includes precious populations for all studied characters, but their number is reduced. For the percentage of grain husks and the protein content of grain, the most populations are below the control variety. For sugar percentage in green pod and the coefficient of boiling, the landraces are similar to control variety. In the collection, there are populations that can be processed by selection or can be used as parents in hybridization programs

Studies on stability of grains number from panicle to a collection of oats autumn (Avena sativa L.) genotypes

The study aimed at assessing stability the grains number from panicle to autumn oats, under the influence of climatic conditions. The study was conducted over a period of three years. The biological material consisted of 73 genotypes. The experimental data was obtained by performing biometric measurements. The experimental data was processed by various linear regression analysis modelesses: Finlay-Wilkinson, Hardwick-Wood, Muir, Wrike but also the concordance between the ranks of different models of appreciation. The values of grains number in panicle fluctuate according to the climatic conditions of the year, both as an average value and as intrapopulational variability. The Jeferson, Carie, Florina varieties, and the 4458, PA 725-4743, PA 822-818 lines exhibits a high dynamic stability associated with values above the average of the experience for the number of grains in panicle. In the case of this character, 53.10% of the genotype x environment interaction is due to heterogeneity of variances

STUDIES REGARDING THE VARIABILITY OF THE PLANT PRODUCTIVITY CHARACTERS OF THE BELL PEPPER (CAPSICUM ANNUUM VAR. TETRAGONUM)

The study tracked the evaluation of the characters that contribute to the plant production in a collection of bell pepper genotypes. The experimentation was done in field, under the usual technological conditions. The data collected by biometric measurements were statistically interpreted by variance analysis and by the setting of the selection indices (S, h2, ΔG). The biological material consisted of 20 landraces collected from the West of Romania. Most populations are similar to Globus variety in terms of fruit size. The Tomnatic II population is remarkable with many and small fruits, but also the Apateu I and Cenad populations which have the fruit weight on the plant significantly higher. For the fruit weight, the differences between the populations may be up to about 100 g (Şimian), which has the greatest heritability (0.83). In most populations, the heritability of this character is less than 0.50. The number of fruit per plant is influenced by environmental factors, but the expected genetic progress can be up to 5.98 fruit (Tomnatic II). The most common values are between 2 and 3 fruits. For the number of fruit per plant, few populations have a heritability of more than 0.50. The fruit weight on the plant can be improved by selection with a progress ranging from 21.43 g (Tomnatic I) to 340.73 g (Valcani). The heritability of this character is over 0.60 for nine populations. Considering these indices, the collected material is valuable for the selection process, but the selection must be longer. The studied populations of bell peppers are an important reservoir of genes for the breeding process, the variability of morphological characters being satisfactory

Assessment of stability for some yield components in wheat under different fertilizations on saline soil

Salt-affected soils constrain wheat production in many countries. It is estimated that more than 831 million hectares (Mha) are salt affected globally, with 10 Mha of cultivated land lost annually. Salinity adversely affects wheat grain yield and grain quality traits. Wheat genotypes show wide variation for salinity stress tolerance. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the performance and stability of spike traits in 14 winter wheat varieties with different origin, in order to identify the varieties that can exploit the growing conditions of saline soils. The wheat material was tested in nine environments as a combination of three years and three fertilization treatments (urea, calcium nitrate, ammonium nitrate), using a split-plot design with three replications. At maturity plant height, spike length, grains number per spike, and spike yield were determined. The significant effect of genotype × environment interaction on the phenotypic expression of different traits indicates differential response of the genotypes across the testing environments, thus offering the possibility of identifying some genotypes of interest. The Romanian varieties ‘Alex’ and ‘Glosa’ present the highest productivity of spike associated with an average stability, being specifically adapted to favourable rainfall conditions, achieving above-average yields in less favourable conditions. The varieties ‘Cerere’, ‘Genesi’, ‘Alex’ and ‘Glosa’ can be selected for crossing and included in wheat breeding programs for the development of stable cultivars adapted to saline soils

Variable Levels of Tolerance to water Stress (Drought) and Associated Biochemical Markers in Tunisian Barley Landraces

[EN] Due to its high tolerance to abiotic stress, barley (Hordeum vulgare) is cultivated in many arid areas of the world. In the present study, we evaluate the tolerance to water stress (drought) in nine accessions of ¿Ardhaoui¿ barley landraces from different regions of Tunisia. The genetic diversity of the accessions is evaluated with six SSR markers. Seedlings from the nine accessions are subjected to water stress by completely stopping irrigation for three weeks. A high genetic diversity is detected among the nine accessions, with no relationships between genetic distance and geographical or ecogeographical zone. The analysis of growth parameters and biochemical markers in the water stress-treated plants in comparison to their respective controls indicated great variability among the studied accessions. Accession 2, from El May Island, displayed high tolerance to drought. Increased amounts of proline in water-stressed plants could not be correlated with a better response to drought, as the most tolerant accessions contained lower levels of this osmolyte. A good correlation was established between the reduction of growth and degradation of chlorophylls and increased levels of malondialdehyde and total phenolics. These biochemical markers may be useful for identifying drought tolerant materials in barleyPietro Gramazio is grateful to Universitat Politecnica de Valencia for a pre-doctoral (Programa FPI de la UPV-Subprograma 1/2013 call) contract.Dbira, S.; Al Hassan, M.; Gramazio, P.; Ferchichi, A.; Vicente, O.; Prohens, J.; Boscaiu, M. (2018). Variable Levels of Tolerance to water Stress (Drought) and Associated Biochemical Markers in Tunisian Barley Landraces. Molecules. 23(3). doi:10.3390/molecules23030613S23

Seed Germination and Physiological Response of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) Cultivars under Saline Conditions

The purpose of the experiment was to highlight the germination of sunflower seeds affected by the presence of saline stress and the identification of tolerant genotypes. The biological material was represented by sunflower cvs. (Helianthus annuus L.): Coril, Select, Santiago and Fundulea-206. To simulate the saline conditions, germination solutions of sodium chloride (NaCl) were used with concentrations corresponding to the osmotic pressures -6 and -10 atm and the control seed hydration was performed with distilled water. Determination of seed germination, growth of seedling, percentage of plumules dry matter, chlorophyll content and free proline were performed. The experimental data obtained suppose the existence in the assimilation apparatus of sunflowers seedling subjected to stress a competitive chlorophyll/free proline biosynthesis processes. The experimental results regarding the effect of salinity on seed germination and seedling growth revealed important differences between genotypes. The radicle growth in the germination process were strongly affected by saline excess, with significant differences between cultivars. Saline stress results in significant reductions in the amount of chlorophyll, and high levels of free proline. It can be observed that with the increase of the stress level the percentage of the dry matter increases, indicating an accentuated water deficit

Researches Regarding the Influence of Cold Storage on the Chlorophyll Content in Lettuce

The aim of the present investigations was to determine the effect of the cold storage period on the content of chlorophylls in the leaves of lettuce and arugula (rucola). The research material consisted in two types of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. capitata; Lactuca sativa L. var. crispa) and arugula (Eruca sativa) purchased from supermarkets in Timisoara. The quantitative determination of chlorophyll pigments in leaves (SPAD) was made by chlorophyll meter (SPAD 502 Konica-Minolta). During the few days cold storage at a temperature of 4ºC, the content of chlorophyll in the leaf significantly decreased, compared with that in the control group. After 3 days of cold storage arugula and lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. capitata) values of chlorophyll content differ statistically very significantly (p<0.001) from the values found in the control group which for lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. crispa) differs statistically significant (p<0.05)