Jurica Duvnjak

Agricultural Institute Osijek

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Co-Authors

VŠ

Valentina Španić

Agricultural Institute Osijek

KŠ

Katarina Šunić

Agricultural Institute Osijek

Ivan Varnica

Croatian Personal Data Protection Agency

HŠ

Hrvoje Šarčević

University of Zagreb

Goran Jukić

Croatian Personal Data Protection Agency

Zorana Katanić

University of Osijek

Rosemary Vuković

University of Osijek

DŠ

Dunja Šamec

University North

John C. D’Auria

Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research

Luka Drenjančević

Croatian Personal Data Protection Agency

Cooperative Institutions

Agricultural Institute Osijek

University of Osijek

Croatian Personal Data Protection Agency

University of Zagreb

Rudjer Boskovic Institute

Croatian Veterinary Institute

Institute of Public Health of Serbia

University North

Washington State University

Institute of Molecular Biology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences

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The Effects of Different Sowing Dates on Winter Wheat

Poljoprivreda (2023)

Valentina Španić Jurica Duvnjak Katarina Šunić Goran Jukić Ivan Varnica

Three separate field experiments, with different sowing dates, were conducted to determine a suitable sowing date for the highest agromorphological traits and tech- nological quality parameters. The results in growing season 2022–23 demonstrated the following: with a sowing date delay (i.e., with the second sowing date occurring on November 4, 2022), the grain yield was significantly advanced when compared to the first sowing date (occurring on October 13, 2022), while the grain yield was significantly increased in eight genotypes (out of a total of twelve of them) on the third sowing date (i.e., on November 14, 2022) when compared to the first. The rea- son for disproportions of grain yield on the first two sowing dates was the attack of barley yellow dwarf virus in autumn that seriously damaged more developed plants pertaining to the first sowing date, whereafter they were also more prone to other wheat diseases. The relative differences concerning the second sowing date with regard to the first one were as follow: an increase by 59.1% concerning the grain yield, by 6.3% concerning the test weight, and by 22.5% concerning a 1000 kernel weight, a decrease by 23.3% concerning the heading date, by 1.2% concerning the protein content, by 2.1% concerning the wet gluten content, and by 2.5% concerning the sedimentation value. The difference in grain yield between the second and the third sowing date amounted to 34.2% due to a premature senescence of plants in later sowing, as a result of increased June temperatures.

Test weight

Growing season

Falling Number

10.18047/poljo.29.2.3

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Changes in Metabolites Produced in Wheat Plants Against Water-Deficit Stress

Plants (2024)

Valentina Španić Jurica Duvnjak Dubravka Hefer John C. D’Auria

Drought stress can adversely affect the seed germination and seedling growth of wheat plants. This study analyzed the effect of drought on seed germination and the morphological parameters of seedlings from ten winter wheat genotypes. The primary focus was to elucidate the effects of two drought intensities on metabolic status in wheat seedlings. The findings suggest that most wheat genotypes exhibited a significant reduction in germination and growth traits under severe drought, while the genotype Srpanjka exhibited less reduction under both drought conditions. Out of 668 metabolic features, 54 were altered under 10% PEG stress and 140 under 20% PEG stress, with 48 commonly shared between these two stress intensities. This study demonstrated that the metabolic response of shoots to 10% PEG stress contrasts with that of 20% PEG stress. Some growth metabolites, such as oxalic acid, sophorose, and turanose, showed the highest positive increase under both stresses, while butanoic acid, tropic acid, glycine, propionic acid, and phosphonoacetic acid decreased. It is suggested that the accumulation of amino acids, such as proline, contributed to the drought tolerance of the plants. Among all organic acids, succinic and aspartic acids particularly increased the plant response to mild and severe drought stress, respectively. Our results suggest that different metabolites in wheat seedlings enhance the potential ability of wheat to cope with drought stress in the early growth stages by activating a rapid and comprehensive tolerance mechanism. This discovery presents a new approach for enhancing wheat tolerance to abiotic stress, including water deficit.

Drought Tolerance

10.3390/plants14010010

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DUS testing characteristics relation with agro-morphological and quality traits of winter wheat

Agronomski glasnik (2024)

Valentina Španić Katarina Šunić Jurica Duvnjak Zvonimir Lalić Luka Drenjančević

In a field trial, a database of qualitative traits associated with agromorphological and quality traits of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) has been collected. The present study aimed to determine the relationships between the winter wheat traits of productivity and quality with traits of Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability (DUS) testing. In addition, according to grain yield and significantly correlated traits, investigated genotypes will be clustered. Grain yield was significantly positively correlated with the number of days to heading, time of ear emergence, and plant growth habit. Based on the grouping of the winter wheat genotypes using the Euclidean distance algorithm, wheat genotypes were separated into five main clusters according to the similarity of those four traits. The grouping pattern was very origin homogeneous in each group, and the grouping pattern of genotypes appeared to be associated. The highest contributor to a grouping of genotypes was grain yield. The established result pertain to the potential for increasing the grain yield of winter wheat.

Winter wheat

10.33128/ag.86.3.1

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Winter Wheat Grain Yield Response to Fungicide Application at Different Stages and Fusarium Head Blight Is Rather Influenced by Variety and Year

Romanian Agricultural Research (2023)

Valentina Španić Katarina Šunić Jurica Duvnjak Jurislav Babić Georg Drezner

Winter wheat is susceptible to several diseases throughout the vegetative season whereas fungicide treatments are protection used to combat fungal pathogens and to improve plant growth thus mitigating grain yield reductions. One of the main diseases is Fusarium head blight (FHB) which can be a huge problem in wheat production. Twelve winter wheat varieties varying in FHB sensitivity were tested for control of FHB using fungicide treatments made in tillering or/and heading stage, with or without inoculation with Fusarium spp. to determine the grain yield response to fungicide application at different growth stages. The grain yield from fungicide treated plots was compared to non-treated plots in two seeding rates and Fusarium inoculated plots in two growing seasons (2019/2020 and 2020/2021). The average area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) for Type I resistance was 109.48 in 2020 and 99.33 in 2021 year in VI treatment where fungicide application in heading and Fusarium inoculation simultaneously were performed. In VII treatment where only Fusarium inoculation was applied, AUDPC for Type I resistance in 2020 was 371.88 in average, while in 2021 that was 199.18 in average. Wheat varieties treated with a fungicide in the heading stage at the first year of investigation (2020) had higher grain yield, compared to non-treated plots or treated in tillering stage. These results indicated that application of fungicides in heading stage when there is sufficient moisture in May and June may increase chances of profitability from fungicide application at that growth stage. Cumulative rainfall from January till May, at year 2021 had a positive effect on the grain yield, when accumulated rainfall in this period increased chances of getting a higher yield response from fungicide application in the tillering stage. Fungicide applications should always be implemented in combination with sound agronomic management and FHB resistant varieties.

Growing season

10.59665/rar4050

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Chlorophyll a fluorescence during flag leaf senescence of field‐grown winter wheat plants under drought conditions

Annals of Applied Biology (2023)

Valentina Španić Katarina Šunić Jurica Duvnjak Yin‐Gang Hu Zorana Katanić

Abstract Improving wheat grain yield plays a significant role in ensuring global food security. Wheat production could be increased by the genetic improvement of wheat genotypes where delayed senescence with enhanced post‐anthesis capacity and staygreen traits could have an important role. In this study, chlorophyll a fluorescence (ChlF) rise kinetics from the early until late senescence of flag leaves, grain yield and other agro‐morphological characteristics were compared for three winter wheat advanced lines (Osk.4.312/10‐18, Osk.4.330/6‐18 and Osk.4.354/12‐18) under natural drought conditions. The differences between lines were observed when considering the heading date which was 1 and 4 days earlier for the line Osk.4.354/12‐18, than lines Osk.4.312/10‐18 and Osk.4.330/6‐18, respectively. Furthermore, line Osk.4.354/12‐18 had the highest test weight (kg hl −1 ), while line Osk.4.330/6‐18 showed a tendency of decreased grain yield, compared to the other two lines. Analysis of ChlF transients and several JIP‐test parameters indicated that all three lines had a generally similar course of changes in the photosynthetic performance of flag leaves during senescence under drought conditions. However, at the point when a decrease in photosynthetic performance was initiated, it was slightly less intensive in line Osk.4.354/12‐18 accompanied by longer preservation of functionality and connectivity of PSII units, than in the other two lines, which contributed to its better agronomical performance. These results indicated that even delicate variations in the functioning of the photosynthetic apparatus of the flag leaf during grain filling were agronomically important, especially when plants were exposed to drought stress, and could be used to differentiate otherwise similar wheat genotypes. Even small genotype‐specific differences in the photosynthetic performance of senescing flag leaves, along with earlier heading dates, could assist in the selection of genotypes with a better ability to cope with unfavourable environmental conditions.

Anthesis

Senescence

Photosynthetic capacity

10.1111/aab.12836

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Morpho-Physiological and Hormonal Response of Winter Wheat Varieties to Drought Stress at Stem Elongation and Anthesis Stages

Plants (2023)

Jurica Duvnjak Ante Lončarić Lidija Brkljačić Dunja Šamec Hrvoje Šarčević

Drought stress can significantly reduce wheat growth and development as well as grain yield. This study investigated morpho-physiological and hormonal (abscisic (ABA) and salicylic (SA) acids) responses of six winter wheat varieties during stem elongation and anthesis stage as well grain yield-related traits were measured after harvest. To examine drought response, plants were exposed to moderate non-lethal drought stress by withholding watering for 45 and 65% of the volumetric soil moisture content (VSMC) for 14 days at separate experiments for each of those two growth stages. During the stem elongation phase, ABA was increased, confirming the stress status of plants, and SA showed a tendency to increase, suggesting their role as stress hormones in the regulation of stress response, such as the increase in the number of leaves and tillers in drought stress conditions, and further keeping turgor pressure and osmotic adjustment in leaves. At the anthesis stage, heavier drought stress resulted in ABA accumulation in flag leaves that generated an integrated response of maturation, where ABA was not positively correlated with any of investigated traits. After harvest, the variety Bubnjar, followed by Pepeljuga and Anđelka, did not significantly decrease the number of grains per ear and 1000 kernel weight (except Anđelka) in drought treatments, thus, declaring them more tolerant to drought. On the other hand, Rujana, Fifi, and particularly Silvija experienced the highest reduction in grain yield-related traits, considering them drought-sensitive varieties.

Anthesis

Turgor pressure

Elongation

Drought stress

Drought Tolerance

10.3390/plants12030418

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Citations (18)

Analysis of the Photosynthetic Parameters, Grain Yield, and Quality of Different Winter Wheat Varieties over a Two-Year Period

Agronomy (2024)

Jurica Duvnjak Zorana Katanić Hrvoje Šarčević Valentina Španić

Due to increasingly frequent unfavorable climate changes, achieving a high grain yield of wheat is a challenge for breeders. The relationships between wheat productivity and photosynthesis traits are not very well understood during the growing season. This study investigated the effect of chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters (maximum quantum yield of primary photochemistry (TRO/ABS) and performance index on absorption basis (PIABS)) on grain yield and the yield-related and technological quality traits of six wheat varieties over two growing seasons. In the first growing season (2021/2022), grain yield was significantly positively correlated with 1000 kernel weight and TRO/ABS at the second measurement point (growth stage 25 (GS 25)). Only the highest-yielding variety Bubnjar (104.0 dt ha−1) showed values of TRO/ABS at the same significance level between the second and third measurement points. Due to elevated virus and disease infections in the second growing season (2022/2023), the grain yield of the investigated varieties decreased between 37.9% (Bubnjar) and 67.6% (Anđelka) relative to the first growing season. The three highest-yielding varieties (Bubnjar, Rujana, and Silvija) in 2022/2023 were the tallest, were later in maturity, escaped yellow rust pressure at the stem elongation stage more efficiently, and also showed the lowest increase in TRO/ABS at this stage (fourth measurement point at GS 47, compared to the third at GS 32). In addition, the highest-yielding variety Bubnjar showed the highest increase in PIABS at the last measurement (seventh) at GS 71 compared to the sixth (GS 69), thus maintaining the vitality of flag leaves at the grain-filling stage, while the other varieties showed a very small increase or even a significant decrease. Therefore, plant photosynthetic activity over the entire growing season contributes to crop productivity.

Growing season

10.3390/agronomy14030478

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The effect of flag leaf defoliation on grain morphology in wheat after drought stress kolistin

Agronomski glasnik (2024)

Valentina Španić Ivan Varnica Hrvoje Plavšić Jurica Duvnjak

It is known that flag leaf influences grain yield potential in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). However, little is known regarding the influence of defoliation of flag leaf after drought stress. The effect of flag leaf defoliation and drought stress on the grain’s weight, area, width, length, and circularity was investigated in six bread wheat varieties. Drought treatment, genotypes and their interaction significantly influenced investigated traits while weight and length of the grain were not significantly affected by flag leaf defoliation. However, the interaction of drought treatment and flag leaf defoliation showed a significant effect only on grain circularity. The results showed that drought applied after anthesis significantly reduced mature grain weight in wheat, whilst the effect of flag leaf defoliation after anthesis was insufficient to cause significant differences. However, drought tolerance of some varieties (Bubnjar) might mitigate the drought and defoliation effects as they could have a compensatory increase in the photosynthesis of spikes. Other morphological traits of grain showed less pronounced differences under stress treatments that were also genotypic-specific characteristics. Generally, genetic influence was observed among wheat varieties when they were imposed on source restriction (flag leaf defoliation) and drought stress.

Flag (linear algebra)

Anthesis

Drought stress

Drought Tolerance

10.33128/ag.86.4.2

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Effects of Drought at Anthesis on Flag Leaf Physiology and Gene Expression in Diverse Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Genotypes

Agronomy (2024)

Jurica Duvnjak Hrvoje Šarčević Rosemary Vuković Valentina Španić

The current study aimed to quantify the effects of two drought intensities achieved by deprivation of watering for 45 and 65% of the volumetric soil moisture content (VSMC) for 14 days after wheat anthesis to identify physio-biochemical and molecular changes associated with drought tolerance in six genotypes with different drought tolerance. Drought at 65% of VSMC induced a significant decrease in the chlorophyll a content in the drought-sensitive genotype, which indicated a strong loss of photosynthetic reaction centres. Further, in the drought-tolerant genotype, the content of carotenoids, which could play a vital role in resisting water shortage stress, tended to increase. The increased production of malondialdehyde showed that the antioxidant system in the drought-sensitive genotypes was not properly activated. A significant decrease in catalase (CAT; EC 1.11.1.6) was observed at a 45% reduction in VSMC, compared to the control, in the drought-sensitive genotype, and at a reduction in VSMC of 65%, in all medium sensitive genotypes. Further, the drought-tolerant and -medium tolerant genotypes responded to drought with a decline in total glutathione concentrations with the intention to reinforce their defence system. Thereby, dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR; EC 1.8.5.1), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR; EC 1.6.5.4), and glutathione reductase (GR; EC 1.6.4.2) were critical enzymes involved in the ascorbate–glutathione cycle together with CAT, showing their main role in the detoxification of ROS produced with the reduction in VSMC by 65%. The results of gene expression analysis showed that severe drought increased the levels of the DHN5 and WZY2 genes (that were significantly positively correlated) in the drought-tolerant genotype, whose grain weight, area, and length did not change in maturity. Also, it was seen that DHN5 expression showed a significant positive correlation with grain length and proline content at a 45% reduction in VSMC. The identification of different mechanisms under drought can contribute to the selection of drought-tolerant genotypes.

Flag (linear algebra)

Anthesis

Winter wheat

10.3390/agronomy14071522

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The role of silicon (Si) in increasing drought tolerance in wheat

Agronomski glasnik (2023)

Jurica Duvnjak Valentina Španić

Global warming reduces surface water and dries out soils thus affecting wheat production by decreasing its grain yield and quality. Therefore, for ensuring global food security it is important to enhance drought tolerance in wheat. In this context, the alleviating effects of Silicon (Si) on drought stress has been observed in wheat. It has been reported that Si is also involved in physiological functions of wheat where it may improve antioxidant defense. Accordingly, Si fertilization could provide a relatively cheap method of improving wheat drought tolerance although Si is the second most abundant element, it is not readily available for uptake by plants. This study provides an overview of the currently available information on Si-mediated defense responses under drought stress.

Drought Tolerance

Drought stress

10.33128/ag.84.4-5.2

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