Slaven Prodanovic

Capillary zone electrophoresis analysis of gliadin proteins from Chinese and Yugoslav winter wheat cultivars

Gliadin proteins extracted from fifteen Chinese and Yugoslav winter wheat cultivars were fractionated using a new separation technique – Capillary Zone Electrophoresis (CZE). Different CZE conditions were defined to optimize resolution and reproducibility of gliadin separations. Excellent resolution and high reproducibility of gliadin CZE patterns were obtained by using 47 cm length, 50 μm i.d. capillaries at 15 kV and 30° C in sodium borate buffer system with acetonitrile (ACN) and sodium dodecyl sulfate. By using these CZE conditions, gliadin proteins from each cultivar were easily separated into more than 35 components. This resolution is generally superior to that of one- and two-dimensional electrophoresis and RH-HPLC. Analysis of reproducibility of gliadin CZE patterns from Chinese cultivar ‘Lumai 6’ showed that the average relative standard deviation (RSD) for peak migration times and heights was 0.21% and 4.06%, respectively. Gliadin electrophoregrams of all cultivars studied showed clear qualitative and quantitative differences, including presence or absence of some major peak, migration times and heights of peaks. Specifically, some closely related cultivars that were not differentiable by A-PAGE, were readily differentiated by CZE. In addition, winter wheat cultivars from China and Yugoslavia showed greater differences in gliadin compositions revealed by CZE.

Molecular characterization of LMW-GS genes from C, N, U and Ss genomes among Aegilops species

In this work, 9 novel LMW-GS genes (6 LMW-m and 3 LMW-i type) from 4 diploid and 1 tetraploid Aegilops species were amplified and cloned by allelic-specific PCR. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences showed that 7 and 2 LMW-GS had 9 and 7 cysteines, respectively. Four LMW-m type subunits genes had an extra cysteine at the C-terminal III, which could form intermolecular disulphide bonds to extend the chains, and therefore would facilitate to form larger gluten polymers. This suggested that these genes are expected to be used as candidate genes for wheat quality improvement. The correlation between specific N-terminal sequences and a decapeptide deletion in the C-terminal II in LMW-GS encoded by D genome was found. Particularly, if LMW-GS possessed a METRCIPG-N-terminal beginning sequences and a decapeptide (LGQCSFQQPQ) deletion in the C-terminal II, they could be encoded by D genome.

Boron uptake by the root cortex symplast of tomato and pea plants: evidence for low-boron-induced active transport

The objective of this research was to test the hypothesis of the existence of an active boron (B) uptake into the cortical cells induced by low B supply. The uptake of B was characterised in two tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) genotypes: B-efficient FER and B-inefficient mutant T3238. In addition, pea (Pisum sativum L.) was used as an anatomically appropriate model for obtaining intact root cortex. Time course uptake studies in tomato indicate that the B-inefficient mutant was defective by the absence of an active low-B-induced uptake system in the cortex. Pea roots showed up to 10-fold higher accumulation of B into the cortex symplast at low (0.5 µm) external B supply in comparison to adequate B (10 µm) supply. Also, low-B-induced uptake of B was strongly inhibited by 2,4-dinitrophenol, indicating a metabolic energy-derived active component of B uptake at low external supply. Uptake of B by the cortical cells of tomato and pea plants appears to be a combination of both passive and active components, with a passive component prevailing at higher external B. An active component of B uptake suppressed by either adequate or high B supply might indicate a downregulation of plasma membrane-associated B transporter(s) in root cortical cells.

Evaluation of inbred lines as sources of new alleles for improving elite maize hybrid

Choice of an appropriate donor of alleles for use in reselection programs of existing inbred lines of maize ( Zea mays L.) is crucial to the success of such programs. Well-adapted local inbred lines might be used as donors to improve a target genotype. The objectives of this study were to: (i) evaluate Serbian maize inbred lines as donors of favorable alleles for improvement of a single cross hybrid and (ii) estimate Dudley’s relationship values to determine which inbred parent should be improved.Evaluation of four donor lines as sources of new favorable alleles for the yield of grain yield not present in the elite hybrid parent line was conducted, (Dudley, 1987a; 1987b). Each of the potential donors had significant values of the parameter μG, so they can be used as the sources of new alleles in the improvement of elite hybrid A654 × Fu4 yield. The greatest number of favorable new alleles for the improvement of grain yield of hybrid A654 × Fu4 was recorded in inbred line ZPLB368. The improvement of yield ...

Morphological and Nutritional Properties of Birdsfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) Autochthonous Populations in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina

Birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) is a highly variable and widely distributed Old World perennial forage legume found in wild and naturalized populations throughout temperate regions of Europe, Asia Minor, North Africa, North and South America, Australia, and New Zealand. Understanding the relationships among birdsfoot trefoil morphological, ecogeographic and chemical characteristics may provide insights for better utilizing of exotic germplasms. Ten birdsfoot trefoil populations were and sampled and determined in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Some morphological properties, such as growth form of populations, flower color, flowering period, number of stems, length of main stem, number of racemes per stem, number of flowers per inflorescence, number of pods per racemes, number of seeds per pods, hard seeds in the first year, dry matter (DM) yield, and some chemical properties, such as content of crude protein, ash, fat, crude fiber, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, potassium, K/(Ca+Mg) ratio, and sulfur, manganese, iron, copper, zinc, selenium and tannin contents, were determined in all populations. Serbia is an important origin center of genes for many legume species. Considering the high values of their traits, some Serbian trefoil populations could serve as a valuable breeding material. In comparison with populations from other parts of the world, Serbian populations are superior in chemical properties and nutritional quality values. The investigated populations clustered in two distinct groups according to the analyzed characteristics.

Nutritional properties of sainfoin ( Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) autochthonous populations in Serbia and B&H

Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) is the only species in the genus Onobrychis. Sainfoin is a Eurasian perennial herb that has purple flowers, curved pods and is naturalized in Europe, Asia and North America grasslands on calcareous soil. Sainfoin has been grown in parts of Europe and Asia for hundreds of years. Understanding the relationships among sainfoin ecogeographic, and chemical characteristics may provide insights for better utilizing exotic germplasm. Ten sainfoin populations, were sampled and determined in Serbia and B&H. Some chemical properties, such as crude protein, ash, fat, crude fibre, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, potassium, K/(Ca+Mg) ratio, and sulfur. Serbia is an important gene origin center for most legume species. Considering the high values of their traits, some Serbian sainfoin populations could serve as a valuable breeding material. In comparison with populations from other parts of the world, Serbian populations are superior in chemical properties and nutritional quality values.

Multiple marker-traits associations for maize agronomic traits

0 CHILEAN JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH 76(1) JANUARY-MARCH 2016 3 ULY-SEPTEMBER Association analysis is a relatively novel approach in quantitative traits studies that allows high resolution mapping and time efficient and direct application on breeding material. Since the markers, which are close to the quantitative trait loci stable across environments and genetic backgrounds, may be valuable for marker assisted selection, we chose microsatellite markers previously linked to traits of interest in various mapping studies. A set of 36 microsatellite markers positioned near important maize (Zea mays L.) agronomic loci was used to evaluate genetic diversity and determine population structure. To verify the associations between the markers and traits, a panel of diverse maize inbred lines was genotyped with microsatellites and phenotyped for flowering time, yield and yield components. A relatively high level of polymorphism detected in number of alleles per locus (8.2), average polymorphic information content value (0.64), and average gene diversity (0.684) lines showed the analyzed panel of maize inbred contained significant genetic diversity and was suitable for association mapping. The population structure estimated by model-based clustering method grouped maize inbred lines into three clusters. The association analysis using the general linear and mixed linear models determined significant correlations between several agronomic traits and three microsatellites on chromosomes 3, 5, and 8, namely umc1025, bnlg1237, and bnlg162 consistent across the environments, explaining from 4.7% to 18.2% of total phenotypic variations. The results suggest that the chromosome regions containing quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with multiple yield-related traits consistently across environments are potentially important targets for selection.

Individual and combined (Plus-hybrid) effect of cytoplasmic male sterility and xenia on maize grain yield

Plus-hybrid effect refers to a combined effect of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) and xenia in maize (Zea mays L.) It could be used in commercial production by growing a mixture of 80% CMS hybrid and 20% of another fertile hybrid. The aim of this research was to examine individual and combined CMS and xenia effects on two hybrids widely grown in Serbia. Sterile and fertile versions of ZP 1 and ZP 2 hybrids (three-way; Iodent × Lancaster dents) were used as females, while ZP 1, ZP 2, ZP 3, ZP 4, and ZP 5 (three-way or single cross; Iodent (BSSS) × Lancaster dents) were used as pollinators. All of them belong to medium maturity group. The trial was set up at one location in Serbia (Zemun Polje) in 2009, 2010, and 2011. Molecular analysis of the five genotypes was done using simple sequence repeat (SSR) primers. Plus-hybrid effect on grain yield ranged from -6.2% to 6.2%; on thousand kernel weight from -1.7% to 5.2%; on number of kernels per area from -1.0% to 8.0%. The poor response could be due to a use of three-way instead of single cross hybrids in S type of sterility. Modified Rogers’ distance between hybrids was in the range 0.211 to 0.378 and was not relevant for the effect, which depended mostly on the sterile hybrid genotype and the fertile hybrid pollinator ability. This approach should be more suitable for female hybrids with slightly poorer performance, already being produced on a sterile base.