A total of 13 maize populations from the drought-tolerant mini core collection from Maize Research Institute gene bank were evaluated for oil, protein, and tryptophan contents, fatty acid (FA) composition, and kernel characteristics. All accessions are high oil (5.8-7.9%) and protein (10.58-12.45%) genotypes. Most of the accessions showed high contents of tryptophan (0.070-0.081%) and saturated (12.65-17.91%) and monounsaturated (24.19-45.52%) FAs. Significant positive correlations were found between oil and protein and between oil and tryptophan contents (p < 0.01). Correlations between oil and principal FA were non-significant. Several accessions showed multiple nutritional advantages. For example, IP6428 had high oil (7.3%), tryptophan (0.081%), and saturated FA (17.9%) contents. Moreover, a positive correlation (p < 0.01) between palmitic (13.68%) and oleic (34.74%) acids enables the use of IP6428 for developing lines high in these FAs. Because drought-tolerant accessions were selected in both subtropical and temperate zones, they could be used for breeding value-added maize adapted to both environments.

The effects of three tillage systems: no-tillage (NT), reduced tillage (RT) and conventional tillage (CT), and three levels of fertilization (0, 258 and 516 kg/ha NPK (58:18:24)), on the maize yield during ten years (1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008) were analyzed on the chernozem soil type in Zemun Polje, Serbia. Statistical analyses showed significant effects of all three factors i.e., year, soil tillage and amount of fertilizers, and their interactions on the maize yield. The ten-year averages showed that the highest yields were observed with CT (10.61 t/ha), while the averages with RT and NT were lower (8.99 t/ha and 6.85 t/ha, respectively). The results of the influence of the amount of the applied fertilizers on maize yield showed that the lowest yield was in the zero level of fertilization 7.71 t/ha, while the yield was raised when the 258 kg/ha and 516 kg/ha NPK were applied (9.18 t/ha and 9.56 t/ha, respectively). Analyzing the influence of the soil tillage systems on maize production with respect to the amounts of applied fertilizers, this research revealed the benefits of CT under the presented agroecological conditions, irrespective of the level of applied fertilizer.

Genetic potential of maize hybrids grown in Serbia is 10-15 t ha-1 , while the average yields are considerably lower. There are many reasons for this. At first, it is well known that drought is present often in some parts of country. Some soils are not suitable in the same degree for intensive maize production, application of mineral fertilizers is insufficient, mechanization is outdated and arable farms are small and fragmented. During the period 19652012 high variations in precipitation were present during the maize vegetation. The yearly average precipitation sum was 688.9 mm, with 397.5 mm during vegetation. According to precipitation amount, years were divided into groups: I 200-300 mm 7, (15%); II 301-400 mm 21, (44%) and III 401-500 mm 14, (30%), and IV in 5 years (11%) more than 500 mm of precipitation was present. The highest average yield in Serbia was achieved in 1991 (5.95 t ha-1) and the lowest in 2000 (2.44 t ha-1). The average yield increase was 114 kg ha-1 per year from 1965 to 1985, and it was 22 kg ha-1 per year from 1986 to 2012. In experiments during the period 1998-2012, when the standard cropping technology (MSY) was applied, the average grain yield was10.46 t ha-1 for hybrids of FAO 300-400, 10.39 t ha-1 for hybrids from FAO 500 and 11.38 for FAO 600-700. There were no significant differences in yield between hybrids from examined FAO groups. According to this, average maize yield includes only 44.2% for FAO 300-400, 44.5% for FAO 500 and 40.6% for FAO 600700 utilized maize genetic potential. The significant improvement of maize production demand the strategic long-term program, where it will be elaborated: merging of land properties, increasing of the areas with irrigation and increasing of the technology level in maize cropping. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. TR-31037]

Homeopathic potencies of 2,4-D appear to have a beneficial effect on artificially aged maize seeds: they stimulate growth through better substance conversion from seed rest, and shift the redox capacity towards a reduced environment. Further work is required to determine if this is an useful means of improving maize seed germination and growth.

In rain-fed cropping, defining the best combination of practices could achieve high forage yield and silage quality. The aim of this study was to compare energetic quality of produced silage with productive characteristics of forage maize cultivated on alluvium and hydromorphous black soil in rain-fed conditions at four plant densities (68-74,000 plants ha-1) during the period 2005- 2010. Yield and energy parameters were increased to some extent at higher crop densities indicating that higher densities (74,000 plants ha-1) were potentially better for high forage and DM yields, while lower densities (70,000 plants ha-1) were better for the increase of energy parameters of produced silage. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. TR-31037]

Background: Chickpea and peanut are two legume species not frequently used in human diets. Chickpea is rich in starch and proteins, while peanut is mainly a source of oils and proteins and they could be successfully used as protein sources in vegetarian diets. Seeds of 19 chickpea and 13 peanut landraces were colorimetrically analyzed in respect to antioxidant content (i.e., free soluble phenolics, total glutathione, and phytate). Oil and protein contents in grain were also determined. Results: Free soluble phenolics content varied in range from 520 to1,050 mg kg −1 in peanut and from 720 to 1,370 mg kg −1 in chickpea. Total glutathione content ranged from 1,495 to 2,365 mmol kg −1 in peanut and from 955 to 1,232 mmol kg −1 in chickpea. Relatively low content of phytic phosphorus was found in grain of both species, ranging from 2.5 to 4.5 g kg −1 in peanut and from 1.4 to 3.0 g kg −1 in chickpea, respectively. Considering the lack of data for phytate variability in Macedonian chickpea and peanut local landraces up to date, the observed high variation in phytic phosphorus content could represent the great basis for further breeding programs for phytate decrease in seeds of those genotypes. This is significant, since phytate is an important antinutrient which affects availability of mineral elements. Regression analysis revealed positive and highly significant interdependence between oil content and total glutathione in chickpea seeds, as well as between oil content and phytic phosphorus in peanut seeds. In chickpea, significant and negative correlation between oil and phytic phosphorus content was also observed. Conclusions: Results obtained indicated that chickpea genotypes with higher oil content could have increased nutritional value due to higher glutathione and lower phytate content observed. However, lower level of phytate content, along with higher level of soluble phenolics and total glutathione found in peanut seeds with lower oil content, indicated higher digestibility and increased antioxidant activity of those genotypes.

The phytate function in plants is still not completely understood: it is the primary storage P form in seeds that is utilized during germination and early seedling development. Approaches to resolve problem of the bad nutritive quality of grain phytate include engineering of crops with reduced levels of seed phytic acid. The objective of this study was to investigate genetic variability and correlation of phytic (Pphy) and inorganic phosphorus (Pi) and soluble proteins among 28 maize populations, consisted into three groups: low-, intermediate- and high-phytic populations, with the aim to determine the potential of enhancing the P profile of maize plants and high grain yield through selection. The highest genetic variability of Pi and Pphy content in leaves was expressed in group with intermediate Pphy content in grain. Meanwhile, leaves of low-phytic populations were characterized with low Pphy, too (averagely 18%) and high content of soluble proteins (averagely 15%) in relation to high- and intermediate-phytic populations. Additionally, the lowest genetic variability of protein content was also noticeable in leaves of low-phytic populations. Positive correlation between Pi and protein content was observed in leaves of low- and high-phytic populations. The negative correlation between Pphy and Pi was detected in maize grain, but correlation was significant only in intermediate-phytic group. The highest, but not significant, average yield was observed in group of low-phytic populations, as well as its relative high genetic variability. That indicates that development of high yielding genotypes with lower phytate in grain is reasonable, and could be potentially useful in enhancing the sustainability and decreasing of environmental impact in agricultural production

Global climate change, its impact on stable food production in the future and possibilities to overcome the problem are the major priorities for research. Breeding varieties with increase adaptability to changing environments, together with better tolerance/resistance to abiotic stress, pest and diseases are possible solution. Maize is one of the most important crops, with high grain yield reduction induced by drought stress. In the present study twenty-six maize landraces from drought tolerant mini-core collection were tested under optimal, drought, and a combination of drought and high density stresses in the field. Morphological traits, plant height, total number of leaves, leaf length, leaf width, anthesis-silking interval and grain yield were recorded for each entry in two replications in three experiments. Besides, drought tolerant indices were evaluated to test the ability to separate more drought tolerant accessions from those with less stress tolerance. Five stress tolerance indices, including stress tolerance index (STI), mean productivity (MP), geometric mean productivity (GMP), stress susceptibility (SSI), and stress tolerance (TOL) were calculated. Data analyses revealed that STI, MP and GMP had positive and significant correlations with grain yield under all conditions. Three-dimensional diagrams displayed assignment of landraces L25, L1, L14, L3, L26, L15 and L16 to group A, based on the stress tolerance index and achieved grain yield under optimal, drought stress, and a combination of drought and high density stress. A biplot analysis efficiently separated groups of landraces with different level of drought tolerance and grain yield. Based on all obtained results, maize landraces L25, L14, L1 and L3, as the most valuable source of drought tolerance, could be recommended for further use in breeding programs. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. TR31028: Exploitation of maize diversity to improve grain quality and drought tolerance]