Climate changes are affecting the plant production, including sugar beet growing especially in the southern and central parts of the Europe. Modifying the sowing and harvesting dates are one of the most often used adaptations in sugar beet cultivation. The aim of this study was to assess the interactions between planting date and sugar beet genotypes for different harvest dates with recommendation for duration of vegetation period for specific hybrids in order to achieve the best performance and to evaluate influence of climatic factors on sugar yield. Three-way analysis of variance and AMMI (Additive main effect and multiple interactions) analysis were performed to investigate interaction between main factors. Analysis of variance revealed that genotypes (G), planting date (PD), harvest date (HD) and interaction G × PD significantly affected sugar yield in 2016. In 2017 genotypes, planting date, harvest date and G x PD interaction significantly affected sugar yield on probability level of 1%, while PD × HD interaction had significant effect on probability level of 5%. Results of AMMI analysis enabled discrimination of genotypes with the highest level of stability in certain planting dates. Hybrids with combined yield and sugar content (NZ type) should have the advantage in earlier planting dates compared to of sugar beet hybrids with higher sugar content (Z type). However, in shortened vegetation period Z type hybrids are more stable and with better sugar yield results. Results of our study suggest that delaying the harvest date decreases differences between sugar yields obtained from hybrids sown in different planting dates. Major factors in the study affecting sugar yield were growing degree days, insolation and number of days from planting to harvest.

Seed priming is a useful technique, applied prior to planting, which partially hydrates the seeds to a point of germination process initiation, followed by drying, which prevents radicle emergence. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of various seed priming treatments on germination parameters of maize at different temperatures. Seeds were primed in water (hydropriming) and KNO3 solution (0.1% and 0.5%) by soaking at 25°C for 17h. Germination parameters were tested at 25°C, 15-25°C and 15°C. Seed priming had a positive effect on some seed germination parameters at low and mixed temperature. Treatment with 0.5% KNO3 had the most improving effect. This treatment reduced MGT, T50 and increased GE at low and mixed temperature. Priming showed no positive effect on the final germination. This study showed that seed priming with KNO3 could be used to achieve better seedling establishment at low temperature conditions in maize.

Multi-environment trials are performed every year with the aim of evaluating sugar beet varieties in different environmental conditions of Serbia. The objective of this research was to interpret the effects of genotype, environment and genotype × environment interaction on root yield, sugar content and white sugar yield. GGE biplot method was used to estimate stability of seven sugar beet hybrids developed at the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad, Serbia. Mixed model of analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for the analysis of trial results. Factor genotype effect was assumed fixed while effects of year and environment were assumed random. ANOVA showed that the environment had the greatest effect on root and white sugar yield, while year had the strongest effect on sugar content. Variations of all traits were under significant impact of genotype, while the GEI influence was not a significant. Results of GGE biplot analysis suggested that hybrid Sara was the most stable variety for root yield, while Lara had the greatest stability for sugar content and white sugar yield among the tested genotypes. Also, optimal locations were identified for each genotype, which can be useful when recommending sugar beet varieties for certain growing areas of this field crop.

Stability of 25 new sunflower hybrid combinations was compared against three standard hybrids in three locations. Seed yield per unit area and oil content in seed were measured using AMMI analysis. The tested combinations showed significant variations in seed yield (t ha -1 ) and oil content in seed (%) from one location to another and within individual locations. Variations in seed yield were mostly due to the impact of location, while the variations in oil content were prevalently due to genotypic differences among the hybrids. The highest and lowest average total yields were obtained by the hybrids G20 and G1, respectively.The hybrids G17, G8, G2 and G21 showed the widest adaptability. Slightly narrower adaptability was exhibited by the hybrids G4, G7, G13, G14, etc. The hybrids G6, G16, G15 and G22 showed the narrowest adaptability, i.e., they were considerably affected by the analyzed interactions.The highest and lowest average oil contents were recorded in the hybrids G23 and G28, respectively. The hybrids G7, G11 and G23 demonstrated the highest adaptability for oil content in seed. The lowest adaptability was demonstrated by the hybrids G1 and G16.

Combining abilities for plant height and head diameter of ten sterile Alines, three restorers - RF lines and their (10x3) F1-hybrids were examined by line x tester method. Significant differences were found between A-lines, RFlines (testers) and their hybrids. The highest mean for plant height had line MIA- 57 (198.17 cm) and hybrid combination MG-MI-1 x MI-A-57 (239 cm), and the lowest mean had line PL-DI-13 (79.67 cm) and hybrid MG-MI-4 x PL-DI-13 (152.67 cm). Line PL-DI-52 (24.47 cm) and hybrid MG-MI-4 x MI-A-57 (25.37 cm) had the highest mean for head diameter, and the lowest mean was determined in line PL-DI-44 (13.60 cm) and hybrid MG-MI-2 x PL-DI-15 (17.90 cm). Lines with the best general combining abilities were PL-DI-13 for plant height and MI-A-57 for head diameter. Hybrids with the best specific combining abilities were MG-MI-2 x PL-DI-15 for plant height and MG-MI-1 x PL-DI-15 for head diameter. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. TR-31025