Izvorni znanstveni članak Original scientific paper SAŽETAK Cilj je ovog istraživanja bio procijeniti genetsku varijabilnost odabranih linija soje u svojstvima kvalitete zrna utvrđivanjem raznolikosti fenotipske ekspresije za masu 1000 zrna te koncentraciju bjelančevina i ulja u zrnu. Tijekom tri vegetacijske sezone (2010.-2012.), na Poljoprivrednom institutu Osijek postavljen je poljski pokus s 22 linije soje, u 2 ponavljanja po slučajnome bloknome rasporedu. Svake godine pokusa nakon žetve određena je masa 1000 zrna, koncentracija bjelančevina i koncentracija ulja u zrnu soje, a statistička obrada rezultata tih analiza uključivala je izračun standardnih mjera varijacije i analizu varijance. Nakon završene analize podataka, utvrđena je raznolikost istraživanoga biljnoga materijala u fenotipskoj ekspresiji svojstava kvalitete zrna, odnosno potvrđeno je postojanje genetske varijabilnosti uz statistički značajan utjecaj genotipa i godine.

Isoflavones are nutraceuticals with many different medical benefits found abundantly in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) seeds. The prerequisite of utilising this valuable source of bioactive compounds and creating quality stock for the pharmaceutical and functional food industries is the screening of available soybean germplasm for isoflavone content. The objectives of this research were to determine the isoflavone concentrations (total isoflavones, daidzein, genistein, glycitein) in 22 high-yielding soybean genotypes, to investigate their variability and explore the effect of different weather conditions on isoflavone phenotypes. Field trials were set up as a randomised complete block design with two replicates in three consecutive years (2010-2012) at the Agricultural Institute Osijek (Osijek, Croatia). Chosen genotypes belonged to 00-II maturity groups (MGs) suitable for growing in almost all European regions. Results showed the existence of genetic diversity among the tested plant material. The influence of genotype and year were both statistically significant. The divergence determined by the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and confirmed by the pair-wise similarity based on the Euclidean distance, confirmed that this set of genotypes was suitable for the use in future crossing 48

Fresh fruit and vegetable juices are commonly consumed as a valuable source of nutrients, while wheatgrass juice is, due to its nutritional value, used as a natural dietary supplement. The main aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of wheatgrass juice addition to apple, beet, carrot, orange, and lemon juice on total and in vitro bioaccessible concentrations of K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, and Zn, vitamin C concentration, total phenolic and flavonoid content, and antioxidant activity. In comparison to other juices, wheatgrass juice had the highest total and in vitro bioaccessible concentrations of Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, and Zn, while beet juice had the highest K concentration. Lemon and orange juices had the highest vitamin C concentration, while the highest total phenolic and flavonoid content were found in wheatgrass juice. After the addition of wheatgrass juice, Ca, Mg, Mn, and Zn concentration increased in all examined juices, vitamin C concentration increased in apple, beet, and carrot juice, total phenolic content increased in carrot juice, while total flavonoid content increased in apple, carrot, and orange juice. In comparison to the examined juices, wheatgrass juice has better nutritional value, and it could be used in a mixture with other juices to improve their nutritional value.

In this study, genetic variability was investigated among 50 winter wheat varieties (Triticum aestivum L.) which are grown in parts of Croatia, Hungary, Serbia and Slovenia according to 22 morphological characteristics used for DUS (distinctness, uniformity and stability) testing. The average Dice similarity coefficient was 0.371. The determined similarity coefficient was in range 0.083 - 0.776. A significant variability of 6.21% in the breeding programs according to period was determined as well as significant variability of 3.10% between breeding programs. The UPGMA clustering divided investigated varieties into four main clusters. Based on data analysis, most distant varieties with best morphological characteristics were found which will provide valuable resource of new parent's combinations in future breeding programs. This paper also provided valuable assessment of morphological characteristics to define distinctness criteria in the DUS examination of wheat.

Given the great potential of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) as a staple crop for food, feed and pharmaceutical industry, improving the genetic basis of seed quality is one of the main breeding aims on a global scale. An important quality trait is saccharide composition since it affects digestibility and nutritional value of soybean seed, affecting the usability of this agricultural commodity. This 3-year research (2010-2012) investigated soybean variability by measuring saccharide contents (glucose, fructose, sucrose, raffinose, stachyose) in high-yielding genotypes (maturity groups 00-II) suitable for almost all European regions, while taking into consideration the effect of weather conditions. Statistical analyses included calculating the basic measures of descriptive statistics, analysis of variance (ANOVA), determining correlation and using the Nearest Neighbour clustering to construct a dendrogram based on the Euclidean distance. Results showed the existence of diversity in saccharide content with the influence of genotype, year and their interaction being statistically significant. The lack of correlation between investigated parameters indicates the use of indirect selection is not possible. Nevertheless, the determined divergence indicates the given set of genotypes is suitable for use in future crossing programmes aiming to produce cultivars with more beneficial sugar content in comparison to the existing ones.

The in vivo haploid induction has been widely applied to the maize breeding in recent decades, but it has not been used in the breeding programs in the Republic of Croatia by now. This study's objectives were to examine the haploid induction rates in the Croatian germplasm and to evaluate the properties of the D0 haploids, which are essential for a successful implementation of this method in breeding. The in vivo haploid induction was performed on 11 single-cross hybrids using the Zarodyshevy Marker Krasnodarsky (ZMK) inducer, and colchicine was used as a chromosome doubling agent. Emergence, misclassification rate, colchicine treatment survival, chromosome doubling rate and self-pollination success were examined in the D0 generation. The haploid induction rates ranged from 6.9 to 15.8%, which is consistent with the average induction rates characteristic of the ZMK inducer and the other modern ones. Significant differences were found among the populations of D0 haploids for all tested properties, except for self-pollination success. On average, the misclassification rates were lower, and the seedling survival rates were higher than those reported in other studies, indicating a possibility of a successful application of the doubled haploid method in maize breeding.

The purpose of this study (2010‒12) was to investigate the fatty acid profiles (palmitic – PA, stearic – SA, oleic – OA, linoleic – LA, linolenic – LNA, saturated fatty acids – SFA, monounsaturated fatty acids – MUFA, polyunsaturated fatty acids – PUFA), oxidative stability (MUFA/PUFA, OA/LA), and nutritive quality (LA/LNA) of oil produced by 13 early soybean genotypes created at the Agricultural Institute Osijek, Croatia. The analysis of variance determined significant effect of genotype (G), year (Y), and GxY interaction on all examined traits. The correlation analysis indicated the most important positive correlation existed between the SA and OA, SA and LNA, and LA and LNA, and the most important negative relationship between OA and LA, and OA and LNA. The principal component analysis yielded four significant principal components (PCs) with the eigenvalues > 1, which together accounted for 57.84% of the total variability in the data set. The Eigen analysis of the correlation matrix loadings indicated MUFA/PUFA, MUFA, OA/LA, and OA mostly contribute to the PC1 axis and are in a positive correlation with it, while PUFA, LA, and LNA mostly contribute to a negative direction. These results will facilitate the planning of future breeding programs, aimed at adjusting the fatty acid profiles according to the needs of the processing industry and end consumers.

The aim of this study was to show the possibility of application of a hydraulic motor powered dispenser in the existing feed mixture factories where dispensers are powered by electric motors. The study was conducted in a feed mixture factory in Croatia on samples of compound feed for pigs weighing up to 15 and 25 kilograms. The study determined the relative error as a means for comparing the calculations of the deviation between the hydraulic dispenser and the dispenser powered by standard electric motor. The research results indicate that in the 30 repeats of making pig mixtures none of the weighed components matched the given recipe. The hydraulic dispenser showed greater precision in adding the fish meal, extruded soy bean and soy bean meal in the mixture compared to the dispenser powered by electromotor.