ABSTRACT Growing understanding of the relationship between nutrition and human health has led to an increase in the consumption of alternative crops, new cereal varieties and foods with higher nutritional values. In this study we compared nutritional contents and functional-technological properties of spelt (Triticum spelta L.) and bread wheat (T. aestivum L.) whole-meal flours, obtained from the genotypes grown at the same field trial, and their correlation with 1000 kernels weight (TKW). The average values of TKW for spelt and wheat did not significantly differ, while protein and wet gluten content were significantly higher in spelt (18.8% and 53.9% DM) than in wheat flours (12% and 27.3% DM). Although wheat flours were significantly richer in starch (66.4% compared to 62.5% DM), both spelt and wheat had similar amylose and amylopectin content. The analysis of dietary fibers showed that wheat flours had significantly higher hemicellulose and neutral detergent fiber content, as well as total sugar and sucrose. Water holding capacity were significantly higher in wheat flours. Pasting properties of flours did not differ significantly, except for peak viscosity (Vpeak) which was higher for spelt flours. The TKW of spelt genotypes was in the strongest positive correlation with amylopectin and reducing sugar, while in contrary, TKW of wheat was in the strongest positive correlation with amylose. The TKW had positive influence on dietary fibers of wheat and spelt flours (except acid detergent fiber and cellulose). Correlation between TKW and protein, starch and wet gluten was similar for both subspecies. In both subspecies reducing and total sugars content had negative impact on viscosity parameters.

ABSTRACT Small grain cereals in lower latitude areas usually mature under terminal drought conditions that affect their agronomic performance. An experiment was conducted to compare agronomic traits, grain yield, and protein content under control and terminal drought conditions of 15 two-row and 10 six-row barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) genotypes. The experiment was set up at two locations for two growing seasons (2011, 2012) and two treatments. One treatment was terminal drought (D) simulated by the mechanical removal of all leaf blades 7 d after the heading of each genotype, and a control (C) treatment in which plants were left intact. On average, defoliation caused a greater reduction in grain yield and protein content of the six-row genotypes (37.6% and 12.3%, respectively) than the two-row genotypes (28.8% and 7.1%, respectively). On the other hand, test weight of six-row genotypes showed better tolerance to terminal drought. According to the multivariate function analysis, the genotypes of both types of barley with a high test weight, a longer uppermost internode, and a longer grain filling period had high protein content under terminal drought stress. In contrast to six-row genotypes, it is possible to breed two-row genotypes that not only have high grain yield but also high protein content under both optimal and drought stress conditions.

Antioxidants prevent oxidative stress and exert positive health effects. However, phytic acid among them decreases micronutrients absorption, representing also antinutrient to human and non-ruminant animals. Fifteen bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and 15 durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) genotypes were evaluated across six environments to determine contents of phytic acid (PA), inorganic P (Pi), total yellow pigment, total soluble phenolic compounds, free protein sulfhydryl groups (PSH), and also phytic acid P/Pi (Pp/Pi). The objective of this study was to quantify, for each trait the effects of environment, genotype, and their interaction; and the influence of climatic factors on the Genotype x Environment interaction (GEI) by the use of the factorial regression. GEI (P < 0.001) prevailed as source of variation over genotype (P < 0.001) in determining PA content in bread and durum wheat (44.3% and 34.7% of sum of squares-SS, respectively), PSH content in bread and durum wheat (27% and 28.4% of SS, respectively) and total soluble phenolic compounds content in durum wheat (35.5% of SS). The major contribution to the GEI represented climatic variables during stages of stem elongation for PA and phenolic compounds, and also flowering, fertilization, grain formation and grain filling for PSH. Total yellow pigment and Pi contents in bread and durum wheat were predominantly determined by genotype (P < 0.001). Models of climatic variables proved to be efficient in the explanation of more than 92% of the SS of GEI for PA and antioxidants contents.

Durante o armazenamento, diferentes espécies comportam-se diferentemente quanto à dormência e crescimento de plântulas. A dormência o desenvolvimento lento das plântulas limitam a época do plantio das gramíneas forrageiras plurianuais. A germinação de sementes e o crescimento das plântulas de azevem italiano (Lolium italicum A. Braun sin. Lolium multiflorum L.), Dactilis (Dactilis glomerata L.) e de timoteo (Phleum pratense L.) foi pesquisada durante a maturação pós-colheita e a silagem. Após a colheita, em junho, sementes foram armazenadas em condições tradicionais e analisadas a cada 30 dias após a colheita, até 270 dias e, em seguida, a cada 60 dias até 990 dias. Nessa pesquisa, avaliou-se a germinação final e o vigor das plântulas. As sementes de timoteo obtiveram germinação máxima (88%) e o melhor crescimento das plântulas após 90 dias de armazenamento, indicando que o melhor período para o plantio das sementes colhidas em junho é o inicio de outono (setembro-outubro). A germinação de sementes de timoteo reduziu nos 270 dias (73%) seguintes. A melhor germinação, e crescimento da plântula do azevem italiano e do dactilis ocorreu entre 270 e 330 dias, indicando que a melhor época para plantio é na primavera (março-abril), do ano seguinte. As sementes de dactilis e azevem italiano mantiveram germinação satisfatória até 630 dias (81%) e 810 dias (81%), respectivamente. Essa pesquisa pode servir para determinação de gerenciamento adequado de duração de armazenamento entre a colheita e o plantio das espécies testadas em condições de armazenamento no sudeste da Europa.

During post-harvest maturation, different species vary in the length of dormancy breaking or germination increases. Seed dormancy and slow seedling development often limit establishment of forage grass stands. Seed germination and seedling vigour of Italian ryegrass (Lolium italicum A. Braun, Synonym Lolium multiflorum L.), cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) and timothy (Phleum pretense L.) were observed after harvest and storage. After harvest in June, seeds were stored under standard storage conditions and sampled every 30 days after harvest (DAH), up to 270 DAH, and then every 60 days up to 990 DAH. At each date, seeds were tested for final germination percentage and for seedling vigour traits. Timothy seeds had a maximum germination (88%) and the best seedlings vigour at 90 DAH, which implies that early autumn (September-October) is the best sowing period for freshly harvested seeds of timothy. Timothy seed germination was poor from 270 DAH (73%). The best germination and vigour of Italian ryegrass and cocksfoot seedlings were between 270 and 330 DAH, which equates to spring sowing time (March-April) in the succeeding year. Cocksfoot and Italian ryegrass seeds maintained satisfactory germination levels up to 630 DAH (81%) and 810 DAH (81%), respectively. The data can serve for the determination of a proper storage duration management between harvest and sowing of the tested species under ambient conditions of south-eastern Europe.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar se e em qual estágio de maturidade fisiológica das sementes o dessecante diquat afeta a produtividade e a qualidade de sementes de aveia-perene (Arrhenatherum elatius), bem como o período de armazenamento adequado entre colheita e semeadura. O dessecante diquat foi avaliado em aplicações nos estágios de leite ou de cera do amadurecimento de sementes. Sementes produzidas convencionalmente e armazenadas em condições tradicionais foram utilizadas para as análises. Amostras de sementes foram coletadas a cada 30 dias após a colheita (DAC). Após o 240º DAC, as amostras foram retiradas a cada 90 dias até o 690º DAC. A maior produtividade, com qualidade satisfatória da semente, foi obtida pela dessecação aplicada no início da fase de cera. A germinação final e os parâmetros de crescimento das plântulas alcançaram valores máximos entre 180 e 240 dias após a colheita. As sementes de aveia-perene mantiveram germinação final satisfatória (75%) até 420 dias após a colheita. A dessecação com diquat, na fase inicial do estágio de cera do amadurecimento das sementes, pode ser uma boa solução para a produção de sementes de aveia perene. O início da primavera é o melhor período para plantio de sementes recém-colhidas de aveia-perene, em termos de germinação e crescimento de plântulas.

The objectives of this work were to determine whether and at which seed physiological maturity stage the diquat desiccant affects the tall oat-grass (Arrhenatherum elatius) seed quality and yield, as well as the proper storage period between harvest and sowing. Diquat desiccation was evaluated in applications during milk or dough seed maturation stages. Seeds conventionally produced and stored under traditional storage conditions were used for the analyses. Seed samples were drawn every 30th day after harvest (DAH). After the 240th DAH, samples were drawn every 90th day up the to 690th DAH. The highest yield were obtained by desiccation applied at the beginning of the seed dough stage, with a satisfactory seed quality. Both final germination and seedling growth parameters achieved their maximum values between 180th and 240th DAH. Oat-grass seeds preserved satisfactory level of final germination (75%) up to 420th DAH. The application of diquat desiccant at the beginning of seed dough maturity stage can be a good solution for seed production of tall oat-grass. Early spring is the best sowing period for freshly harvested seeds of tall oat-grass regarding germination and seedling growth.

A disponibilidade de embriões imaturos para estabelecer plantas de trigo (Triticum aestivum L.) por cultura de tecido pode ser limitada por fatores climáticos, e a falta de embriões de alta qualidade frequentemente dificulta a experimentação. Avaliou-se o efeito da chuva, de variáveis baseadas em temperatura e duração do brilho solar na resposta da cultura de tecido (RCT), incluindo a formação de calos (FC), regeneração dos calos (RC) e número de plantas por embrião (NPPE), para 96 genótipos de trigo. Os objetivos foram a procura de algum fator climatico específico em alguma característica da RCT e a determinação do período do desenvolvimento do trigo no qual estes fatores são mais eficazes. Os genótipos foram obtidos num campo experimental durante três estações climáticas. As relações entre as características da RTC e os fatores de clima dentro de três períodos de desenvolvimento do trigo (2, 6 e 10 semanas) antes da amostragem dos embriões foram analisadas pela técnica "biplot". As características das culturas de tecido foram influenciadas em diferentes graus pelos fatores climáticos: de 16.8% (RC) para 69.8% (FC). Ambientes da planta doadora com alta temperatura e pouca chuva reduziram (p < 0.05) o desempenho dos genótipos de trigo. A FC foi mais sensível aos fatores baseados em temperatura. As condições ambientais entre o florescimento e o estágio médio de leite dos frutos foram os mais importantes para FC, enquanto RC e NPPE não estavam relacionados a qualquer período.

Availability of immature embryos as explants to establish wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) by tissue culture can be limited by climatic factors and the lack of high quality embryos frequently hampers experimentation. This study evaluates the effects of rainfall, various temperature-based variables and sunshine duration on tissue culture response (TCR) traits including callus formation (CF), regenerating calli (RC), and number of plants per embryo (PPE) for 96 wheat genotypes of worldwide origin. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the significance of a particular climatic factor on TCR traits and to determine the period of wheat growth during which these factors were the most effective. The genotypes were grown in an experimental field during three seasons differing in meteorological conditions. The relationships between TCR traits and climatic factors within three time periods of wheat growth: 2, 6 and 10 weeks prior to embryo sampling were analysed by biplot analysis. The tissue culture traits were influenced at very different degrees by climatic factors: from 16.8% (RC) to 69.8% (CF). Donor plant environment with high temperatures and low rainfalls reduced (p < 0.05) the tissue culture performance of wheat genotypes. Callus formation was most sensitive to the temperature based factors. The environmental conditions between flowering and the medium milk stage were the most important for CF, while RC and PPE were not particularly related to any period.