Individual segregants, as well as uniform F6 to F8 lines, originating from one group of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crosses, had a series of striking characteristics setting them apart from the typical spring type. Tillering was limited, and in some lines nearly all of the plants were uniculms. Spikes were large and proliferous with maximum expression of 30 spikelets per ear, and 62.5 mg per kernel, and 12 florets and nine grains per spikelet have been recorded either in individual segregants or for certain lines. Vegetative parts were robust and vigorous, including broad, thick, dark green leaves, thick, stiff straw, and thick, large rachises, glumes and lemmas. Harvest index was higher than in a standard cultivar of regular growth habit. This complex set of characters typified plants of the new type only when grown in short (but increasing) day length and low temperature conditions (Mediterranean winters). Tests indicated a special thermo‐photoperiodic sensitivity in this material. Plants or lines included a wide spectrum of agronomic types with respect to plant height, size and quality of grains, and morphology of spikes and vegetative parts. The normal (2n = 42) chromosome complement of T. aestivum was found in 10 randomly sampled unicum plants.
Ricinus communis, also known as castor bean or castor plant, is a crop that produces seeds containing non-edible oil used widely in the chemical industry and the bioenergy sector. Varieties or hybrids that are suitable for mechanized harvesting may diminish the production cost boosting large scale production of the crop in new areas. In this study, we describe extensively the morphological characteristics and the ex situ performance of four newly developed R. communis hybrids (H11, H12, H13, and H14) focusing on plant architecture in order to facilitate mechanized harvesting. In addition, hybrid germination rate at low and optimal temperature was evaluated aiming to determine a minimal temperature requirement for early spring sowing in temperate climates. Seed metabolic profiling using LC-MS/MS analysis revealed the presence of more than 60 different primary and secondary metabolites, at varied levels in each hybrid, including amino acids, fatty acids, flavonols, flavones, flavanones, phenyl propanoids and catecholamines such as dopamine, many of which are reported for the first time in this species.
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