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The effects of sowing density and nitrogen fertilization doses on grain yield and yield components were studied in the winter triticale cv. Fidelio. The field experiment was conducted in years 1997–2000 on a soil classified as the very good rye type. It was found, that the cultivar responded with yield increase to N-doses up to 120 kg/ha and could be sown at low density of 2 millions seed per hectare.

The paper presents breeding evaluation of triticale doubled haploids (DH). The DH lines were derived from F1 hybrids between the cultivar Chrono and the breeding line SZ 1834/91 via androgenesis. Forty-eight lines, the parental genotypes and the check cultivars Bogo, Lamberto and Tornado were examined in a field experiment carried out in a complete block design with four replications. Grain yield per plot, plant height, days to heading, lodging grade and brown rust infection were observed. No DH lines were found to yield better than the high yielding parental line SZ 1834/91. Although no effect of transgression in grain yield was observed in the studied DH population, some lines which did not differ significantly in yielding from the breeding line SZ 1834/91 seem to be promising, especially the line 10875 with a stem shorter and more resistant to lodging stem than that of parental line SZ 1834/91, and not infected by brown rust.

Grain of the varieties: Pronto, Moreno, Presto, Tewo, Vero of winter triticale grown in Laski (Plant Breeding „Danko”) were milled in the experimental BĂźhler mill. The obtained flours were analyzed for granulation, ash, protein, sedimentation test SDS and amylase activity (falling number) and brightness. The rheological properties of dough were evaluated using the farinograph. The direct method was applied in the baking process. Other bakery products such as doughnuts and sponge cakes have been investigated. The obtained results were subjected to the analysis of variance. All varieties were characterized by high milling properties. Their milling efficiency factors K were over 90 with exception Moreno. The flours had high brightness and short granulation. Vero and Presto showed the best quality of dough, but only Presto was characterized by high volume of bread. The traits: doughnuts and sponge cakes showed little differences. All varieties of triticale can be used sucessfully for the production of cake, particularly to sponge cakes.

The studies were conducted to identify response of triticale plants to infection by Puccinia striiformis, Puccinia graminis and Puccinia recondita. Totally of 250 spring and winter triticale genotypes originated from five Polish breeding stations have been tested in field trials. The resistances to yellow, stem and leaf rust exhibited respectively: 51, 181 and 136 cultivars and breeding lines. The resistant genotypes were recognized significantly more often among the winter forms. Thirty of winter and three of spring breeding lines were free of all the three rusts symptoms.

The usefulness of PCR systems for detection of genetic diversity among inbred lines of rye (Secale cereale L) and for evaluation of homogeneity of two inbreds was investigated. In comparison to RAPD primers, the primers targeting the sequences of intron-exon junction generated more complex and polymorphic patterns of amplified DNA fragments. Some primers 18 bases in length generated too complex patterns of DNA fragments, which may cause the difficulties in their computer analysis. Clear and polymorphic banding patterns were generated with the use of primers 12–15 bases in length. The evaluation of genetic differences between single plants of the lines indicated that this approach is useful for assessment of homogenity level of varieties or inbred lines.

Pollen fertility restoration of single crosses between male sterile lines (P lines) and restorers (R) was studied in the Plant Breeding and Acclimatization Institute at RadzikĂłw. In 1999 pollen fertility of 63 single crosses (21 P lines × 3 R lines) was evaluated in greenhouse and in field. In 2000 pollen fertility of 50 single crosses (10 P lines × 5 R lines) was estimated in the field. The experiments were laid out as a completely randomized block design with 3 replicates and 10 plants per plot. The degree of male sterility/fertility was assessed by visual anther score of single plants (ASP) on a 1–9 scale, restorer indices (RI-1, RI-2) and visual pollen shedding score of plots (PSSP) on a 1–9 scale. "AGRO" computer software was used for statistic analysis. Coefficients of correlation between fertility traits were computed.

The inheritance of length and width of flag and subflag leaves was studied in two S12 generation inbred lines of winter rye (Secale cereale L). The lines (L176 and L260) showed extremally different values of the investigated leaf characters. Segregation was analysed in the F1, F2 generations and in back-cross progeny of hybrids between the lines. In comparison to the parental forms, the length and width of the flag and subflag leaves in the F1 generation was intermediate. The F2 segregation indicated determination of the character by three genes with additive effect. The width of the flag and subflag leaves was determined by two additive genes. Size of the flag leaf was positively correlated with that of the subflag one.

F1 single crosses between male sterile lines (P lines) and fertility restorers (R lines) were tested together with their parents in field experiments (3 replications, plot size — 5m2) at RadzikĂłw in two seasons (1999, 2000) and at Smolice in 2000.

An attempt to introduce genes for sprouting resistance from the resistant inbred line Ot1-3 to Polish rye cultivars was performed. In the course of study, five BC2 crossess between cvs. Dańkowskie Złote, Wibro, Warko, Amilo, Danko and the inbred line were developed. Their F1–F6 generations were selected for sprouting resistance and high yielding traits. Majority of thus selected strains proved to inherit unsatisfactory features from the line Ot1-3, which determined their low breeding value. Sprouting resistant and well yielding strains were developed only from the cross with cv. Wibro as maternal parent. Strain A100 shows high falling number — similar to that of sprouting resistant cv. Amilo and the strain A94 exhibits the highest level of sprouting resistance among studied materials.

For obtention of best possible hybrids through crossing of inbred lines a good choice of parent partners is necessary. To limit the extent of crossing procedures, the lines should be well known with respect to origin, affinity, combining abilities as well as the values of usefulness and technological ones.

The experiment comprised 13 male sterile lines (P) and 1 maintaining line (N) originated from a breeding topcross sown in the 1999–2000 vegetation season. The following parameters were evaluated on 20 plants from each line: grain yield per plant ear weight, harvest index, shoot height and grain number per ear. High positive correlations were found between the grain yield and ear weight, harvest index of ear, shoot height and grain number per ear.

A collection of winter rye inbred lines was investigated with respect to correlation and cause-and-effect relationships existing between the weight of grain per ear and some other traits. The application of path coefficient analysis complemented the method of simple and multiple correlation, as it enabled estimation of the direct influence of each trait on the dependent trait and determination of the so-called indirect effects of a given trait through each of the remaining ones. The study material was composed of 120 winter rye lines of different degree of inbred: from S6 to S31. Six traits were chosen for path analysis; five of them (plant height, uppermost internode length, ear length, number of grains in an ear, 1000-grain weight) were treated as independent variables, whereas the weight of grain from an ear was a dependent variable. The analysis of path coefficients enabled to choose the traits, which most strongly determined the weight of grains per ear. The number of grains in an ear and 1000-grain weight were found to have the most decisive direct influence on the weight of grains in an ear.

The variability, heritability, and coefficients of phenotypic (rP) and genotypic (rG) correlation between 12 traits in winter rye were calculated from the results of breeding experiments with 154 varieties, strains and hybrids carried out the in years 1998–2000 in 7 localities: Choryń, DańkĂłw, Laski, Sobiejuchy, Wierzenica, RadzikĂłw and Smolice. The estimated traits were following: grain yield, 1000 grain yield, test weight, winterhardiness, heading date, plant height, pollen fertility, uniformity, lodging, brown rust resistance, falling number and protein content. The mean value, coefficient of variability (CV), coefficient of heritability (H) and coefficients of phenotypic (rP) and genotypic (rG) correlation were calculated for each trait. The statistic analysis showed that yield of the investigated rye forms was rather stable and amounted about 70 dt/ha. Some traits showed very high-level of variability. The values of CV for pollen fertility varied from 33,6% to 41,4%, for lodging — 22,1% to 29,8%, and for falling number — 23,1% to 40,9%. Only few rP and rG values were highly significant. The highest positive values of correlation coefficient were found between plant height and pollen fertility (rP = 0,33 to 0,67), and negative significant values of correlation between grain yield per plot and pollen fertility (rP = -0,37 to -0,75), and between uniformity and pollen fertility (rP = -0,51 to -0,73). The values of coefficients of genotypic correlations were higher than those of phenotypic correlation. It signified that the observed interrelationships resulted mainly from genetic factors and to less extent from environmental factors.

The analysis of usefulness of 7 trial sites for testing yields of winter rye breeding materials was carried out on the base of results of preliminary breeding experiments from the years 1992–2000. For this purpose the usefulness index (wj) was elaborated. The wj index may assume values from 0 to 1 and indicates the level of genotype-environment interaction. If the index value is near 0, the level of genotype-environment interaction is high and the locality is very useful for the testing of yield. If the index is close to 1, the locality is less useful because the genotype-environment interaction is suppressed, so the locality does not show differences in yield potential. The localities were ranked: according to the value of usefulness index the lowest index was for Smolice (0,72), and the highest for DańkĂłw (0,81). Difference between the lowest and the highest values of the index appeared to be little — about 12%. The Pearson’s coefficient of correlation and Spearman’s rank correlation between yield of a single locality and the total mean yield of all localities, and subsequently between yields of two, three etc. localities and the total mean yield were also calculated to designate determination coefficients r2j = 100*rp * rs. Using the coefficient rj2 the investigated localities were ranked to show to what extent they explain variability of tested genotypes. The most of information on variability of genotypes was contributed by Smolice (47%), then RadzikĂłw (20%) and Wierzenica (16%). The remaining 4 localities: Sobiejuchy, Laski, Choryń, and DańkĂłw gave not more than 5 % of information.

The study was aimed at evaluation of the usefulness of 20 genotypes from different climatic zones for re-established cultivation of spring rye. Correlations between valuation, seed quality and quantitative traits have been determined. The synthesis covers the results from the period of 1995–1997. The collected material includes interesting objects of a wide spectrum of variability of the analysed traits, which would be useful for genetic research and further breeding. Among the 20 populations studied, a few displayed absolute resistance to the powdery mildew. One that should be distinguished is the strain SMH–01, characterised by high contents of protein (15,4%) and lysine (5,02 mg/g of grain) in grain, straw shortened to 131 cm, and a high value of 1000-grain mass (ranked with thick grain, which is a rare case in spring forms). Serious defects of the examined strains and varieties of rye included the length of straw exceeding 150 cm and high susceptibility to lodging. The highest number of favourable traits were concentrated in the Petka variety, which was characterised by good emergence, resistance to the powdery mildew and a good yield.

The seeds of two varieties of barley (Horedeum vulgare L.), Klimek and Rataj were irradiated with three doses of laser radiation. The semi-specific primers targeting consensus sequences of intron-exon junction of plant genes were used for PCR analysis of DNA prepared from seedlings of these varieties. The comparison of amplification profiles of DNA fragments of both varieties revealed distinct polymorphism between control seedlings and seedlings from the laser treated seeds. The obtained results indicate, that the irradiation of seeds generates some changes of DNA structure, which appear during vegetative growth of plants. The persistence of some changes on DNA level suggests the mutagenic effects of laser radiation.

Seeds of ten cultivars of spring wheat from five different localized breeding stations were tested for seed health. The same seeds were sown in Radzików in field experiment and its seed health after harvest was evaluated also. The basic material of wheat was infected by numerous fungi: 36 fungal species belonging to 24 genera and the most often occurred: Alternaria alternata, Epicoccum purpurascens, Fusarium spp., Drechslera spp. and B. sorokiniana. It was found significant differences between cultivars for total fungi occurred on seeds, for seed infection by main pathogens (B. sorokiniana, Drechslera spp. and Fusarium spp.). Also seeds from breeders were strongly infected by these pathogens in comparison to seeds harvested in field experiment in Radzików.

An experiment has been performed in four locations in Poland (Radzików, Leszno, Szelejewo and Nieznanice). Fifteen genotypes from three species (tall fescue - Festuca arundinacea, meadow fescue - F. pratensis and red rescue - F. rubra) were measured and observed during two consecutive years. Despite of phenological observations (heading and flowering start dates), biometrical measurements (plant height, leaf dimension, number of generative stems etc.) and physiological trait (chlorophyll contents index) seed yield of single panicle, seed yield of plant and seed yield per plot (i.e. 50 plants) were determined. Significant effects of years, locations and genotypes were calculated for mentioned species for almost all tested traits. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to estimate major predictors of seed yield. It resulted in different numbers of predictors for different species. For meadow fescue five, for red fescue – three and for tall fescue – only two statistically significant predictors were selected. For all species leaf width and number of generative stems were statistically significant and had positive weights. For meadow and red fescue – also seed yield from single inflorescence was significant with positive weight. Our results demonstrate that leaf width together with number of steams and single panicle yield are the most important determinants of plant seed yield in three Festuca species.

Consumer acceptance of a variety of products, including bread is currently a very important economic and psychological criterion. Thus, understanding of consumer behaviour and preference should help bread manufacturers to satisfy the customers, particularly during launching new products. The study objective was to investigate preferences and expectations of Polish consumers concerning bread products as well as their comparison with manufacturers opinions. Surveys were collected using CATI method. Obtained results testified about clear differentiation of consumer requirements in relation to bread. It has been shown that preferences of bread consumers are connected with such factors as: sex, age, place of residence, employment, education and financial situation. Diverse demands of consumers result in a wide range of bread products on the market and a need for improving their quality and promotion of new brands.

The article presents basic information on dietary fibre, including its current definition and characteristics of individual components. The physiological and health-promoting effects of soluble and insoluble fractions of fibre, are also presented. The characteristics of dietary fibre are discussed, taking as examples the selected cereal species most popular in Poland and in Europe which make up a significant part of the diet and, as such, are an important source of this component.

Lack of adequate water leading to drought stress is a common constraint in upland cultivation system of rice. a rice mutant line (MT58) was developed in previous research after mutagenesis of cv. Neda by ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS) and selected for dwarfism (18 cm shorter than Neda). The extent of its molecular changes relative to parental cultivar was assessed by SSR and ISSR markers, and the response of the line along with parental cultivar and another mutant line (MTA) to mild and severe water deficit, was evaluated in a field experiment. a molecular assessment by using 41 SSR markers showed that stunt line MT58 had significant molecular difference with two other lines as confirmed by cluster analysis. ISSR assay also proved the considerable mutational effect of EMS on two mutant lines compared to original wild line. Field experiments revealed that limited irrigation caused mild to severe decrease in all the studied traits including chlorophyll contents. In both mild and sever water stress (S1 and S2) dwarf mutant MT58 had not significant differences in plant yield from parental cultivar Neda. In mild water stress cultivar Neda and mutant line MT58, respectively, showed highest (14%) and lowest (3%) yield loss, while in sever water stress mutant lines MTA and MT58, respectively, showed highest (33%) and lowest (19%) yield loss. In severe stress, cultivar Neda had highest plant height, tiller number and plant yield, and mutant MT58 had highest panicle length, total kernels per panicle, fertile kernels and chlorophyll contents. Reduction in chlorophyll content at drought stress condition was correlated with yield loss (0.64 and 0.697 for chl.a and chl.b, respectively). The results of this research obviously confirm that mutant line MT58 despite of its stunt figure did not show yield difference from its parental cultivar in drought stress.

Estimation of selection effects on changes of a trait is of vital importance for the success of any plant breeding program, and helps to select the desirable breeding method. Heritability and genetic advance are important selection parameters, and selection success is a reflectance of selection response. To estimate selection effects on rice genetic parameters, a research was conducted using 4 different generations (two parents: Neda and Sadri, and two segregating populations: BCsub>1Fsub>1 and BCsub>1Ssub>1). After development of a backcross population, a single plant (BC1#4) was selected based on its desirable performance, particularly in heading date and seven other morphological traits. BCsub>1Fsub>1 population compared to mid-parent performance showed advance for heading date, plant height, tiller number, hundred seed weight, weight of filled seeds per panicle and grain yield per plant, while mean performance of BCsub>1Fsub>1 population compared to BCsub>1Ssub>1 population showed advance only for heading date, plant height, tiller number and grain yield. Prevalence of additive genetic effects in controlling panicle weight, hundred seed weight, weight of filled seeds per panicle, plant height and heading date was observed, and in contrast prevalence of non-additive effects in controlling grain yield was observed. High general heritability was observed for most traits, while only heading date and plant height showed a considerable specific heritability (60.7% and 67.5%, respectively), and grain yield showed a relatively low specific heritability (37.0%). High expected genetic advance (ΔGe) was obtained for tiller number (49.4%), followed by grain yield (43.5%) and plant height (35.5%), while the highest real genetic advance (ΔGe) was obtained for heading date (-8.5%) and tiller number (5.4%). High selection success was obtained only for heading date (51.8%). Altogether, the obtained results gave promise for selecting progenies with early maturity and semi-dwarfism in early segregating generations, while they suggested preference of heterosis for improvement of grain yield.

Plant biomass and organic wastes from agriculture represent an effective resource to be exploited for a sustainable rural development, optimizing the land use, diversifying rural entrepreneurship, producing energy and new income. Among crops, triticale is considered particularly interesting, showing several advantages such as high grain yield even in marginal environments, tolerance to drought, tolerance to more acid soils, lower production costs and lower susceptibility to biotic stresses. In the frame of a long collaboration with CIMMYT (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center- MX), eight triticale elite lines from Mexico were grown in Italy using marginal lands. An Italian triticale variety and a bread wheat line, specifically bred for bioenergy applications, were used for comparison. Over three growing seasons, different agronomic evaluations were obtained harvesting at milk phase. In the third growing season, a set of parcels was harvested also at maturity, to evaluate grain yields and quality parameters from seeds. Milk phase biomass were properly dried and characterized following reference procedures, then used as substrate for anaerobic digestion to produce biogas and methane in lab-scale experiments. Seeds from interesting lines were used to test different quality parameters including falling number in order to evaluate the fermentation ability. RAPD technique by two different panels of primers was used to genotype a selection of lines.

The aim of the research, conducted at the Institute of Plant Genetics, Breeding and Biotechnology of the University of Life Sciences in Lublin since 1982, is the systematic gathering and multi-annual characterization of triticale accessions collected in the Polish gene bank, as well as regeneration of materials preserved in the seed stores in case of reduced germination capacity or a small sample of grains. Valorisation of accessions is carried out in a 4-year cycle of field experiments and includes botanical identification and a description of morphological and useful traits (agricultural and qualitative), conducted every year according to the same methodology. The valorisation data include both traits determined in field evaluation (assessment of emergence, overwintering, lodging, fungal disease resistance, and heading and full maturity dates) and measurements of biometric features (plant height, spike length, number of spikelets per spike, number and weight of grains per spike, 1,000 grain weight, protein content in grain). As part of the research, accessions have been made available for use in breeding programmes and have been donated to research and development institutes as a broad spectrum of variation for genetic similarity analysis and to provide genetic sources of such traits as resistance to pre-harvest sprouting, response to toxic aluminium ions, and disease resistance.

The experiment was aimed at determining, whether exposure to static magnetic fields of intensities (1T, 2.5T, and 5T) stimulates the growth of Tosca bean seeds (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Each treatment group in the experiment underwent exposure to the magnetic field for a specific period of time, that is: 900s, 1800s, or 3600s. The measurements of root volumes were taken every 24 hours. The first measurement was taken after 96 hours since the beginning of germination. The collected data was analyzed using statistical methods. The experiment allowed to determine that the magnetic field had a significant influence on the lowering of bean seeds germination rate. The extent of this influence was dependent on the combination of factors: magnetic field force- time of exposure.

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Drought is the main environmental factor hampering world agriculture production. In the face of warming climate and reduced fresh water resources it become obvious that search for any factors decreasing water use is strongly recommended. Turf grasses able to withstand drought period longer could be recommended for turf areas as parks, lawns, home gardens etc. and relatively lower amounts of water should ensure satisfactory turf quality. Therefore, twelve turf varieties from three major cool-season turf grass species: perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) and red fescue (Festuca rubra L.) were tested in glasshouse pot experiment and in the laboratory for determination of their relative ability to withstand green longer in the face of water deficit. The different response of the examined forms to drought was noted. Conditions that favor fast water depletion were the most suitable for the expression of water deficit-related traits. Therefore, sandy mixture of 16% volumetric moisture content at field water capacity was mostly suitable for observation of the variation of tested forms. Turf condition of Kentucky bluegrass, as contrary to red fescue, was strongly connected with the soil moisture. Different manifestation of drought resistance was observed in tested species. Kentucky bluegrass, as rather no resistant to drought, exposed low level of drought avoidance. Red fescue was able to survive drought mainly due to leaf blades resistant to desiccation. In perennial ryegrass some other mechanisms evolved to survive drought. Early leaf wilting and senescence contributes to nutrient remobilization during drought and avoids large water loses during the transpiration. Therefore, perennial ryegrass turf was able to regenerate better after drought, as compared to the other tested grass species. Search for new turf forms should focus on searching for ability to maintain acceptable conditions longer in a presence of increasing water deficit. It will then reduce the duration of period of poor turf conditions and further, turf water demands.

A variety of different physical methods are used increasingly frequently to improve the quality of the seeds material. Numerous publications confirm the positive effect of, for example, the magnetic field with a frequency of 50 Hz on the germination of seeds. However, there are no significant reports regarding the impact of NIR radiation on the growth and development of plants. To fill this gap the influence of three doses of near-infrared seeds stimulation was tested under laboratory conditions. The power density was 6.9mW/ cm2. The used seeds encompassed four parsley varieties: Konika, Osborne, Alba and Hanácká. Both the influence of the used variety as well as the radiation dose on parsley germination were tested. The obtained results indicate that the stimulation affects the selected parsley varieties.

Low temperature stress is one of the limiting factors of seed germination. In order to investigate the effect of low temperatures on germination of barley cultivars, identification of traits related to low temperature stress at germination stage and the effect of calcium chloride on these traits, 44 Iranian and European barley cultivars were evaluated in a factorial experiment within completely randomized design with 3 replications in the Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Agronomy and Plant Breeding department, Razi University. The first factor was 44 Iranian and European barley cultivars, the second factor included four temperature (0, 5, 10 and 20°C), and the third factor was the use of calcium chloride (10 mM) and its non-use (distilled water). Analysis of variance showed that there was a significant difference between cultivars for all traits except root length and seed vigor. Applying calcium chloride treatment at a concentration of 10 mM did not significantly affect the traits under the studied temperatures. Reducing temperature from 20°C to 10°C and 5°C reduced root length, shoot length, coleoptile length, root number, coefficient of velocity of germination, seed vigor and promptness index. The results of correlation analysis showed that there was a significant positive correlation between promptness index with average velocity of germination, coefficient of velocity of germination and seed vigor, germination percentage and root number in all studied temperatures. There was little differentiation between Iranian and European cultivars by both cluster and discriminant analysis.

In order to determine anoptimal duration and concentration of priming of stevia seed with boric acid for improving germination, an experimental factorial completely randomized design with three replications was conducted in the laboratory of Seed Science and Technology, Shahed University of Tehran in 2015. The first factor was different concentrations of boric acid (zero, 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 percent) and the second factor of priming time (0, 8, 16, 24 and 32 hours). Effects of concentration and duration of priming with Boric acid was significant on germination percentage, germination mean time, germination rate, germination energy, germination uniformity, germination mean daily, germination daily rate, germination value, seedling length and seed vigor index. The highest germination percentage, germination rate, germination energy, germination mean daily germination value and seed vigor index was 24 hours priming and the highest germination percentage, germination rate, germination potential, germination value and seed vigor index in priming of 2% Boric acid were obtained. Germination uniformity highest in 24 hours at 1% concentration priming of boric acid (5.51). Seedling length in 24 hours at 1.5% concentration priming with boric acid was highest average 1.02 cm. Generally Stevia seed priming with boric acid for 24 hours at concentrations of 1.5 to 2 percent had positive effects on germination indexes and seedling growth.

A characteristic trait of lupins is a production of alkaloids, which are a toxic and bitter taste compound of seeds. Due to the lack of fast, sensitive and inexpensive screening techniques to identify and reject high alkaloid plant material, development of suitable tools is important challenges for lupins breeding and seed production. The aim of this study was to compare two alkaloid content estimation methods in Lupinus angustifolius L. and Lupinus albus L. During the Wagner’s colorimetric test, which is recommended by the UPOV, seed halves were stained on four colors depending on the alkaloid content but only the level of 0.5% – 0.6% showed clear color change. Gas chromatography allowed accurate quantification and qualification of alkaloid content. Since safe alkaloid content for consumption is 0.02% of seed dry weight, colorimetric method is less useful for dividing lupin cultivars into sweet and bitter, than gas chromatography but can be used as a screening technique.

This study was performed to assess several indices for identifying genotypes at early growth stage with the best performance in salinity conditions. In order to evaluate the biomass production of barley genotypes in different levels of salt conditions, an experiment was conducted as factorial arrangement with a completely randomized design with 3 replications. The effect of salinity treatments was studied through an analysis of the dry matter production, yielding results that show significant differences among genotypes. The majority of used tolerance indices indicated that ESBYTM8910, 4 Shori and MBS8715 were the best barley genotypes showing the highest stress resistance for the greatest NaCl concentration. Based on used stability parameters the genotypes MBS8712 and Jo torsh were the most phenotypically stable. Result of cluster analysis revealed that tolerant genotypes showed the least stability based on mostly of stability parameters. In general, results showed the WB7910, ESBYTM8910 and MBS8715 genotypes appeared better than others across the salinity levels.

Scrophularia striata and Tanacetum polycephalum are important medicinal plants in Iran which are rich in essential oils, bitter substances, and sesquiterpene lactones. The present study was conducted to compare four non-linear regression models (segmented, beta, beta modified and Dent-like) to describe the germination ratetemperature relationships of Scrophularia striata and Tanacetum polycephalum over eight and seven constant temperatures, respectively, to find cardinal temperatures and thermal time requirements to reach different germination percentiles. An iterative optimization method was used to calibrate the models and different statistical indices including RMSE, coefficient of determination (R2/sup>), and AICc were applied to compare their performance. The beta model was found to be the best model to predict germination rate of Scrophularia striata at D10, D50 and D90 (R2 = 0.96, R2 = 0.97, R2 = 0.95; RMSE = 0.005, 0.001 and 0.001, respectively). According to this model outputs, the base, optimum, and the maximum temperatures for germination were estimated as 1.21 ± 0.39, 25.91 ± 0.33 and 46.35 ± 4.12 °C, respectively. Also the segmented model was found to be the best model to predict germination rate of Tanacetum polycephalum at D10, D50 and D90 (R2 = 0.98, R2 = 0.98, R2 = 0.98; RMSE = 0.067, 0.59 and 0.56, respectively). According to the model outputs, the base, optimum, and the maximum temperatures for germination were estimated as 0.44±1.15, 26.95±0.75 and 38.33±0.98 oC, respectively. It seems these two medicinal plants need moderate optimum temperature for seed germination.

Two volumes (75 and 76) of Plant Breeding and Seed Science consist of a collec-tion of protocols written by the scientists of the Plant Breeding and Acclimatization Institute – National Research Institute (IHAR-PIB). Twenty five articles provide a description of the methods used in our Institute for potato research and breeding. The first issue of the manual was published in 2001 in the Monografie and Rozprawy Naukowe IHAR journal (Issues 10, 10a,10b) in three languages: Polish, English and Russian. The interest in that publication was such that the edition was quickly exhausted. This fact was an inspiration for us to prepare a new and improved edition for the press. Volumes 75 and 76 comprise new protocols, which were not included in the previously published manual or include protocols published, but sig-nificantly modified in comparison to the previous version. The volume 75 includes the methods for evaluating potato quality traits (blackspot bruising after mechanical damage and enzymatic discoloration of tuber flesh, carote-noids content in potato tubers) and allelopathic potential of potato, as well for isolat-ing proteins from tubers and potato leaves, which have not been previously described in Monografie and Rozprawy Naukowe IHAR. There are also sections which focuses on potato pathogens, their identification, characteristics and maintenance of strain collections, as well as on methods for resistance assessment in potato breeding. The described pathogens include: potato viruses and pectinolytic bacteria causing tuber soft rot and blackleg disease. The volume 76 contains protocols for potato pathogen descriptions and assessment of resistance to potato cyst nematodes (Globodera spp.), Phytophthora infestans caus-ing late blight, Fusarium spp. causing tuber dry rot and Synchytrium endobioticum causing the potato wart disease. This volume also includes a scheme of potato breeding using tetraploid parental lines resistant to pathogens, in which phenotypic selection is supplemented by marker assisted selection (MAS). Maturity type is one of the leading traits in potato breeding, which is difficult to assess, thus a protocol for evaluation of this trait is described. The last part includes protocols related to the use of in vitro cultures in potato breeding (preservation of potato lines, storage of explants in liquid nitrogen and virus eradication from in vitro plants).

Enzymatic discoloration of potato tubers initiated by mechanical impact bruising and the discoloration which appears after tuber cutting are crucial quality traits of the cultivated potato. The presented determina-tion of blackspot bruise susceptibility includes evaluation of the trait with two impact methods – the rotating drum and the falling bolt. These two methods affect both the physical and the biochemical properties of tu-bers. Evaluation of the discoloration potential after tuber cutting (ED) is also discussed. Evaluating the discol-oration potential of tubers is one of the most important points in determining potato quality.

The potato is one of the most common elements of everyday human diet due to its high nutritional and culinary value. Potato tubers provide mainly energy in the form of carbohydrates and also some other nu-trients, which include carotenoids as compounds linked to oxidation-preventing mechanisms. The main assi-milable carotenoids present in cultivated potato are lutein and zeaxanthin. Potato cultivars rich in carotenoids are a subject of increasing consideration in breeding for improvement of the nutritional quality of tubers. The paper describes the spectrophotometric method of evaluation of total and individual carotenoids content in potato tubers.

In the laboratory studies on allelopathy, phytotoxicity is defined as a negative impact of plant’s extracts or natural compounds derived from plants, on germination and/or growth of the tested (acceptor) plant. Glycoal-kaloids are the main biologically active compounds of the potato and are involved in potato phytotoxicity (the correlation coefficient of the length of the test plant with the concentration of total glycoalkaloids present in the leaf extracts of forty potato genotypes was r = -0.41). The assessment of phytotoxic abilities of the potato is a two-step procedure which consists of determining glycoalkaloids in potato leaf extracts and analyzing the root and hypocotyl lengths of the test plant growing in potato leaf extracts.

Here we optimized an efficient and reproducible method for proteins isolation from potato tubers for quan-titative proteomic analysis, aimed at detection of differentially expressed proteins upon various experimental conditions.

Potato leaves are a very convenient material to compare the differences in potato proteomes. Prote-ins isolation depends on the type of analysis. The method of isolation of proteins from potato leaves, 2D electrophoresis and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) were descri-bed in detail.

The paper presents a combined biological assay on indicator plants, a serological assay using ELISA and a molecular assay for detection of viruses that infect the potato. It also elaborates on the bioassay for PVY strain differentiation and for detection of TRV in tubers and soil samples. At IHAR-PIB Młochów Research Center, ELISA tests can be conducted for detection of PVY, PVA, PVM, PVS, PLRV, PVX, TRV and PMTV. Multiplex RT-PCR, real-time quantitative RT-PCR and sequencing methods for detection of PVY, TRV and PMTV are optimized based on a published protocol or developed in our laboratory. The primers for detection of PVY, TRV, PVM, PVS, PLRV, PVX, PMTV, PVA, AMV, CMV, PAMV, TBRV, and BMYV according to the published methods are listed. The maintenance and usage of 19 species of indicator plants are discussed.