Borut Bosančić

Biochemical and pomological assessment of European pear accessions from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The research on 10 old and indigenous pear cultivars was conducted during 2012 and 2013 in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The following characteristics were determined: fruit weight, fruit length and width, stalk length and width, fruit flesh firmness ; soluble solids content and total dry matter content of the fruit juice ; pH, titratable acidity, vitamin C, total phenolics, total flavonoids and antioxidant activity of the fruit cell juice. On the basis of the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of pomological fruit characteristics the studied cultivars were divided into four main groups. Based on the PCA of biochemical traits the studied cultivars can be divided into three groups. Extremely high phenolic content in the cvs Mioljnjaca, Žutica, Poljakinja, Karamut and Gradiscanka recommends them for their inclusion in a breeding programme. The cvs Mioljnjaca and Poljakinja are also characterised by large and firm fruit and since the antioxidant capacity affects the duration of fruit storage, it is expected that these traditionally grown varieties can survive longer and keep their valuable nutritional ingredients longer.

A main effects meta principal components analysis of netting effects on fruit: using apple as a model crop

To differentiate effects of netting and attribute them to crop, cultivar, planting density, climate, net type and colour, ca. 200 publications were scanned originally. Apple was chosen as a model crop due to the majority of reports, wide variation with many varieties and growing locations worldwide in the Northern and Southern hemisphere, but the results may be useful for other fruiting plants. After meeting strict selection criteria, a meta-analysis of 26 internationally published peer-reviewed articles was based on seven varieties and seventeen locations with a diverse range of climates. A novel Main Effects Meta Principal Components Analysis (ME Meta-PCA) was developed and provided unexpectedly uniform results: Location (climate), planting density and hail net (type and colour) had negligible impacts. Fruit (red) colour, most adversely affected by netting, correlated with TSS viz fruit sweetness, as often postulated in consumer studies, followed, to a smaller extent, by sugar/TSS, fruit firmness and acidity but small increase in fruit mass—i.e. maintenance of fruit quality under netting over all seven varieties (Braeburn, Gala, Elstar, Jonagold, Pinova and Fuji) examined and locations worldwide. While Jonagold and the early ripening Gala appeared suitable, unaffected and stable in the netting effects in the ME Meta-PCA, Pinova was the least suitable for cultivation under netting. Interestingly, late ripening cultivars (Braeburn and Cripps Pink) were both positively influenced by desired earlier ripening under netting. These effects on fruit quality are discussed with respect to shade adaptation under netting and countermeasures such as easy colouring mutants or reflective mulches.

The Rate of Productive Tillers per Plant of Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Cultivars under Different Sowing Densities

The aim of this two‒year research was to determine the rate of productive tillers per plant of different winter wheat cultivars under different sowing densities in the agroecological conditions of Banja Luka. NS 40S, Prima and Nova Bosanka wheat cultivars were sown at eight different sowing densities: 384, 424, 451, 504, 544, 584, 588 and 604 seeds m-2. The experiment was set up in the open field, and each wheat cultivar was sown at different sowing density in four replications. Statistical analysis was performed using factorial analysis of variance 2×8×3 while significant differences between treatments were tested by LSD test. The highest average rate of productive tillers per plant was achieved for the winter wheat cultivar NS 40S (2.29). The highest average rate of productive tillers per plant was achieved at sowing density of 384 seeds m-2 and the lowest at sowing density of 588 seeds m-2.