Maize (Zea mays) is a major staple crop in Africa, where its yield and the livelihood of millions are compromised by the parasitic witchweed Striga. Germination of Striga is induced by strigolactones exuded from maize roots into the rhizosphere. In a maize germplasm collection, we identified two strigolactones, zealactol and zealactonoic acid, which stimulate less Striga germination than the major maize strigolactone, zealactone. We then showed that a single cytochrome P450, ZmCYP706C37, catalyzes a series of oxidative steps in the maize-strigolactone biosynthetic pathway. Reduction in activity of this enzyme and two others involved in the pathway, ZmMAX1b and ZmCLAMT1, can change strigolactone composition and reduce Striga germination and infection. These results offer prospects for breeding Striga-resistant maize.

• MeSH
• klíčení MeSH
• kukuřice setá * genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• laktony * metabolismus   MeSH
• šlechtění rostlin MeSH
• Striga * růst a vývoj   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• GR24 strigolactone MeSH Prohlížeč
• laktony * MeSH

Maize pests like Ostrinia nubilalis and Diabrotica virgifera virgifera are eradicated using genetically modified maize. This study's goal was to see if the genetically modified maize MON810 is also toxic to thrips communities on maize. The impact of Bt maize on thrips diversity and abundance, as well as yield losses, was studied in the field in Borovce for three years (Slovakia). The study used 10 Bt and 10 non-Bt maize cultivars. Thrips were monitored every two weeks during the season using transparent sticky traps installed on the experimental plots (one per plot, 20 per year). In total, 3426 thrips were caught. Thrips populations usually peak around the end of July at BBCH55. Among the species identified were Limothrips denticornis, Limothrips cerealium, Haplothrips aculeatus, Frankliniella schultzei, Frankliniella occidentalis, Thrips tabaci, Aeolothrips fasciatus, Frankliniella tenuicornis, and Chirothrips spp. We found that MON810 maize had no effect on the occurrence or composition of thrips. Their presence was affected by the maize growth phase and growing seasons and partially by the weather. The direct effect on the grain yield was not confirmed. Our research contributed to scientific knowledge of thrips communities found on maize plants in Central Europe, including Bt maize.

• Klíčová slova
• Bt maize, Thripidae, abundance, non-target arthropods, pest control,
• MeSH
• brouci * MeSH
• geneticky modifikované rostliny genetika   MeSH
• kukuřice setá genetika   MeSH
• můry * MeSH
• roční období MeSH
• Thysanoptera * genetika   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

1. The objective of this study was to determine the coefficient of pre-caecal digestion of P in maize (3.9 g/kg of total P, 0.83 g/kg of phytate P, 138 FTU [phytase units]/kg) and wheat (3.17 g/kg of total P, 1.94 g/kg of phytate P, 666 FTU/kg) in broilers according to the WPSA protocol. 2. For the diets, monosodium phosphate was used as an additional P supplement. Two sets of diets containing 200, 460 and 740 g/kg of wheat or 200, 500 and 740 g/kg of maize were formulated. A total of 288 21-d-old male broilers (Ross 308) were assigned to 24 cages (8 birds per cage) and the 6 test diets were assigned to cages. The coefficient of pre-caecal digestion of P was determined by the indicator method and linear regression. 3. In both ingredients, pre-caecal digestible P increased linearly with increasing inclusion levels of maize or wheat (P < 0.05). The coefficients of digestion of pre-caecal P were estimated to be 0.18 for wheat and 0.33 for maize.

• Klíčová slova
• Broilers, maize, phosphorus, pre-caecal digestibility, wheat,
• MeSH
• dieta veterinární   MeSH
• fosfor dietní analýza   MeSH
• fyziologie výživy zvířat MeSH
• krmivo pro zvířata analýza   MeSH
• kukuřice setá chemie   MeSH
• kur domácí fyziologie   MeSH
• potravní doplňky analýza   MeSH
• pšenice chemie   MeSH
• trávení * MeSH
• vztah mezi dávkou a účinkem léčiva MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• fosfor dietní MeSH

Staphylinid beetles are recommended bioindicators for the pre-market environmental risk assessment of genetically modified (GM) insect protected maize expressing the Cry3Bb1 toxin. Our multiannual study is a unique European analysis of a staphylinid community within a 14 ha maize field. GM maize, its near-isogenic hybrid (with or without insecticide treatment), and two other reference hybrids were each grown in five 0.5 ha plots. The opportunity for exposure to Cry toxin from plant residues ploughed into the soil was shown by the presence of saprophagous dipteran larvae that are common prey of predatory staphylinid species and hosts of the parasitoid species. 2587 individuals belonging to 77 staphylinid species were sampled using pitfall traps. Lesteva longoelytrata (31%), Oxypoda acuminata (12%), Aloconota sulcifrons (8%) and Anotylus rugosus (7%) were the most abundant beetles in the field. Bionomics, food specialization, temperature requirements and size group were assigned for 25 most common species. These traits determine the occurrence of staphylinid beetles in the field, the food sources they could utilize and thus also their likely contact with the Cry3Bb1 toxin. Statistical analysis of activity abundance, Rao indices and multivariate analysis of distribution of particular categories of functional traits in the field showed negligible effects of the experimental treatments, including the GM maize, upon the staphylinid community. Staphylinid beetles represent a considerably diverse part of epigeic field fauna with wide food specialization; these features render them suitable for the assessment of environmental safety of GM insect protected maize. However, the availability of prey and the presence of particular staphylinid species and their abundance are highly variable; this complicates the interpretation of the results.

• Klíčová slova
• Bt maize, Cry3Bb1, GM crops, activity abundance, dipteran larvae, functional traits, non-target, staphylinid beetles,
• MeSH
• bakteriální proteiny analýza   genetika   MeSH
• brouci fyziologie   MeSH
• Diptera účinky léků   fyziologie   MeSH
• endotoxiny analýza   genetika   MeSH
• geneticky modifikované rostliny škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• hemolyziny analýza   genetika   MeSH
• hodnocení rizik MeSH
• insekticidy škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• kukuřice setá genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• larva účinky léků   fyziologie   MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu analýza   toxicita   MeSH
• potravní řetězec MeSH
• predátorské chování MeSH
• toxiny Bacillus thuringensis MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• bakteriální proteiny MeSH
• endotoxiny MeSH
• hemolyziny MeSH
• insecticidal crystal protein, Bacillus Thuringiensis MeSH Prohlížeč
• insekticidy MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu MeSH
• toxiny Bacillus thuringensis MeSH

The effectiveness of Methylobacterium symbioticum in maize and strawberry plants was measured under different doses of nitrogen fertilisation. The biostimulant effect of the bacteria was observed in maize and strawberry plants treated with the biological inoculant under different doses of nitrogen fertiliser compared to untreated plants (control). It was found that bacteria allowed a 50 and 25% decrease in the amount of nitrogen applied in maize and strawberry crops, respectively, and the photosynthetic capacity increased compared with the control plant under all nutritional conditions. A decrease in nitrate reductase activity in inoculated maize plants indicated that the bacteria affects the metabolism of the plant. In addition, inoculated strawberry plants grown with a 25% reduction in nitrogen had a higher concentration of nitrogen in leaves than control plants under optimal nutritional conditions. Again, this indicates that Methylobacterium symbioticum provide an additional supply of nitrogen.

• Klíčová slova
• Biofertiliser, Biostimulant, Maize, Methylobacterium symbioticum, Nitrogen-fixing bacteria, Strawberry,
• MeSH
• dusík metabolismus   MeSH
• fotosyntéza MeSH
• jahodník * metabolismus   MeSH
• kukuřice setá mikrobiologie   MeSH
• Methylobacterium * metabolismus   MeSH
• zemědělské plodiny MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• dusík MeSH

Genetically engineered (GE) maize expressing Bacillus thuringiensis Cry3Bb1 protein was developed to control Diabrotica spp. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). However, Cry proteins have been reported to have effects on non-target arthropods. We therefore investigated whether the non-target pest Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) was negatively affected by GE maize expressing the insecticidal Cry3Bb1 protein. Five treatments were used in the laboratory tests to determine the life history parameters of T. urticae on leaves of field-grown maize varieties: (1) GE maize MON 88017, (2) isogenic maize, (3) isogenic maize protected with the soil applied insecticide chlorpyrifos (Dursban 10G), and two unrelated varieties (4) Kipous and (5) PR38N86. Newly emerged T. urticae larvae were individually released on the upper surface of leaf discs placed on water saturated cotton wool. Immatures and adults survival, duration of developmental stages and female fecundity were recorded daily until T. urticae died. Age-stage, two-sex life table method and test for trends, revealed no significant differences in 13 of 18 studied parameters. The unrelated varieties Kipous and PR38N86 on one side and maize with the same genetic background, namely GE maize and isogenic maize with or without insecticide protection, on the other side, showed significant variations in male longevity, larval survival rate, preoviposition period, and fecundity. In addition to the differences between varieties, GE maize and insecticide-protected isogenic maize showed a substantial difference in age-specific fecundity, but not in the mean number of eggs laid by females. The obtained results do not indicate that consumption of Cry3Bb1 has negative effect on T. urticae and suggest that GE maize does not pose a risk with respect to the non-target mite pest T. urticae. The results may have implications for the approval and renewal of import and cultivation for GE crop in the European Union.

• Klíčová slova
• Cry3Bb1, GMO, Non-target effect, Risk assessment, Two-sex life-table, Two-spotted spider mite,
• MeSH
• brouci * genetika   MeSH
• genetické inženýrství MeSH
• insekticidy * farmakologie   MeSH
• kukuřice setá genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• larva genetika   MeSH
• ovum MeSH
• Tetranychidae * genetika   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• insekticidy * MeSH

The main objective of this study was to apply a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric method to investigate the presence of 20 mycotoxins in 204 maize samples harvested in Northern Serbia in the period 2012-2015, including seasons with extreme drought (2012), hot and dry conditions (2013 and 2015) and extreme precipitation (2014). Between 2 and 20 mycotoxins contaminated examined samples. In samples collected from each year, all of six examined fumonisins were detected with very high prevalence (from 76% to 100%). Aflatoxin B1 was detected in 94% and 90% maize samples from 2012 and 2015, respectively. In samples from year 2014, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone and its derivatives were detected in 100% of samples. Furthermore, ochratoxin A (25%) was the most predominant in samples from 2012. The obtained results indicate that changes in weather conditions, recorded in the period of four years, had significant influence on the occurrence of examined mycotoxins in maize.

• Klíčová slova
• LC–MS/MS, Maize, Mycotoxins, Northern Serbia, Weather conditions,
• MeSH
• kukuřice setá chemie   MeSH
• mykotoxiny analýza   MeSH
• období sucha MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Srbsko MeSH
• Názvy látek
• mykotoxiny MeSH

Important in the cultivation of corn for biogas production is the selection of appropriate hybrids, macro- and micronutrient dozing and the evaluation of energy and economic efficiency of their use. Therefore, this article presents the results of 3-year field research (2019-2021) on the yield of maize hybrids of different maturity groups grown for silage. The influence of the application of macronutrients and micronutrients on fresh and dry mass yield, chemical composition, methane yield, energy, and economic efficiency was analysed. It was established that depending on the maize hybrid, the application of macro- and micro-fertilizers increased the yield of the fresh mass of maize by 1.4-24.0% compared to options without their use. The evaluation of the theoretical yield of CH4 based on the content of fats, protein, cellulose, and hemicellulose is also presented in different samples of maize. The findings show that the application of macro-and micro-fertilizers is suitable from the energy and economic points of view - profitability begins to appear at the price of biomethane of 0.3-0.4 euros per 1 m3.

• Klíčová slova
• Crop yield, Dry matter, Biomethane, Economic efficiency, Energy efficiency, Silage,
• MeSH
• biopaliva * MeSH
• kukuřice setá * chemie   MeSH
• methan metabolismus   MeSH
• mikroživiny analýza   MeSH
• průmyslová hnojiva MeSH
• siláž analýza   MeSH
• živiny analýza   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• biopaliva * MeSH
• methan MeSH
• mikroživiny MeSH
• průmyslová hnojiva MeSH

Maize possesses a tremendous genetic diversity, most of which is deposited in a large number of landraces. However, the genetic basis of local diversity from maize landrace remains largely unknown. Traditional fine mapping of the causal gene for complex trait, based on the transition from the quantitative trait locus (QTL) to a single qualitative gene through backcrossing or the construction of heterogeneous inbred family (HIF), has achieved great success in model crop rice. However, this fine-mapping strategy did not work well in maize. In this study, an F2 population derived from a maize landrace and an elite inbred line was firstly genotyped by genotyping by sequencing (GBS). QTL analysis further revealed 29 QTLs of 12 traits, most of which individually accounted for more than 10% of phenotypic variations. Next traditional fine-mapping method successfully narrowed down a major QTL of kernel color qCOK1, but failed in the fine mapping of another major QTL of ear height EH4 because the EH4 remained quantitative feature in the HIF. Based on the quantitative feature of the EH4 in the HIF, we then performed the correlation tests between genotypes and phenotypes in the descendant populations derived from the recombination plants to enable the process of fine mapping. Our modified fine-mapping strategy successfully narrowed down the EH4 into a 3.23-Mb region on chromosome 8. The modified fine-mapping method can be applied to fast clone the QTLs originated from maize landraces.

• Klíčová slova
• Fine mapping, Genotyping by sequencing, Maize landrace, Major QTL, QTL mapping,
• MeSH
• fenotyp MeSH
• genotyp MeSH
• genotypizační techniky MeSH
• kukuřice setá genetika   MeSH
• lokus kvantitativního znaku genetika   MeSH
• mapování chromozomů metody   MeSH
• sekvenční analýza DNA MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Soil pollution with heavy metal is a serious problem across the globe and is on the rise due to the current intensification of chemical industry. The leather industry is one of them, discharging chromium (Cr) in huge quantities during the process of leather tanning and polluting the nearby land and water resources, resulting in deterioration of plant growth. In this study, the effects of biochar application at the rate of 3% were studied on four maize cultivars, namely NK-8441, P-1543, NK-8711, and FH-985, grown in two different tannery polluted Kasur (K) and Sialkot (S) soils. Maize plants were harvested at vegetative growth and results showed that Cr toxicity adversely not only affected their growth, physiology, and biochemistry, but also accumulated in their tissues. However, the level of Cr toxicity, accumulation, and its influence on maize cultivars varied greatly in both soils. In this pot experiment, biochar application played a crucial role in lessening the Cr toxicity level, resulting in significant increase in plant height, biomass (fresh and dry), leaf area, chlorophyll pigments, photosynthesis, and relative water content (RWC) over treatment set as a control. However, applied biochar significantly decreased the electrolyte leakage (EL), antioxidant enzymes, lipid peroxidation, proline content, soluble sugars, and available fraction of Cr in soil as well as Cr (VI and III) concentration in root and shoot tissues of maize plant. In addition to this, maize cultivar differences were also found in relation to their tolerance to Cr toxicity and cultivar P-1543 performed better over other cultivars in both soils. In conclusion, biochar application in tannery polluted soils could be an efficient ecofriendly approach to reduce the Cr toxicity and to promote plant health and growth.

• Klíčová slova
• Kasur and Sialkot, antioxidant enzymes, biochar, chromium toxicity, maize, tannery polluted soils,
• MeSH
• chrom * analýza   toxicita   MeSH
• dřevěné a živočišné uhlí MeSH
• kukuřice setá MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu * analýza   toxicita   MeSH
• půda MeSH
• znečištění životního prostředí MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• biochar MeSH Prohlížeč
• chrom * MeSH
• dřevěné a živočišné uhlí MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu * MeSH
• půda MeSH