Three maize inbred lines were grown in pots with Eutric Cambisol using 9 fertilisation variants (control 10 kg/ha Zn -on soil surface; 5 kg/ha -foliar application; 61 kg/ha P; 61 kg/ha P and 10 kg/ha Zn -on soil surface; 61 kg/ha P and 5 kg/ha Zn -foliar application; 183 kg/ha P; 183 kg/ha P and 10 kg/ha Zn -on soil surface; 183 kg/ha P and 5 kg/ha Zn -foliar application). The effects of phosphorus and zinc fertilisation on the dry matter yield, plant height, stalk diameter as well as phosphorus and zinc concentrations in ear-leaves were investigated. Significant differences were found between the lines in all parameters investigated except for phosphorus concentration. Line Os87-24 was characterised by the best results in the total biomass production. Zinc fertilisation decreased while phosphorus fertilisation increased total plant dry matter mass. Phosphorus fertilisation increased its concentration in the ear-leaves. Zinc fertilisation, especially foliar, resulted in Zn concentration increase in the ear-leaf of the lines investigated.

The main objectives of this study were 1) to estimate variation in yield, forage quality and morphological traits of newly developed red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) breeding populations of different origin, 2) to compare their yield potential with foreign cultivars, 3) to determine the relationship between studied traits and 4) to identify and select the most promising populations for future breeding work. Eight red clover breeding populations of different origin (OPCD-2, RCOP-1,3,4,5,6,7,8 created within the framework of the forage crops breeding program at the Agricultural Institute Osijek, Croatia) and eight foreign cultivars ('Liepsna', 'Kamaniai', 'Nosovskij 5', 'Pallas', 'Astred', 'Redquin', 'Milvus', 'Amos') were evaluated for thirteen morpho-agronomic and forage quality traits. Field experiment was designed as a randomised complete block with three replications over two consecutive years (2008 and 2009) at the Agricultural Institute Osijek, Croatia. The studied breeding populations/cultivars of red clover significantly varied in yields of green mass and dry matter, plant height, number of internodes, density of hairs, width and length of central leaflet, shape of medial leaflet, leaf to stem ratio, content of crude protein and relative feed value. Croatian breeding populations RCOP-3, OPCD-2 and RCOP-1 had significantly higher total yields of green mass (from 98.50 to 111.82 t ha -1 ) and dry matter (from 22.61 to 25.64 t ha -1 ) compared to the observed yields of other populations and foreign cultivars of red clover, which indicates their high genetic potential for yield. Besides the high forage yield, those breeding populations achieved favourable values of quality and other analyzed morphological traits, and they are representing valuable germplasm for further selection work and improving of our breeding program and/or application for plant cultivar registration. Positive correlations were found between forage yields and plant height, number of internodes and between width and length of central leaflet, and these properties were positively correlated with each other. Most quality traits were in negative correlation with yield and other observed morpho-agronomic traits.

Alfalfa is the main perennial legume and a rich source of phytoestrogens. Variation of phytoestrogen content and agronomic traits was evaluated in twenty alfalfa populations over two consecutive years. The most dominant phytoestrogen in alfalfa populations was genistein, while slightly lower levels were found for kaempferol and coumestrol. Several populations (Af 1, 12, 18, 19, 20) showed superior agronomic performance, especially high forage yield (up to 71.93 t ha−1). These populations were also characterized by a lower (Af 1, 12, 18, 20) or high (Af 1, 19) content of total and individual phytoestrogens, including Af 8 population with the highest total content (2637.10 μg g-1 of DM) and content of most of the individual phytoestrogens and favorable agronomic properties. Ward hierarchical clustering method grouped the twenty evaluated populations into four distinct clusters. Identified materials provide a valuable source of germplasm for further breeding programs in order to develop new high-yielding cultivars with either low (for forage use) or high (for possible pharmaceuticals/nutraceuticals industries) phytoestrogen content.

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Assessment of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) productivity in environmental stressProcjena proizvodnoga potencijala crvene djeteline (Trifolium pratense L.) u uvjetima okolišnoga stresa Tucak, M., Popović, S., Čupić, T., Krizmanić, G., Španić, V., Meglič, V., Radović , J. Original scientific paper Izvorni znanstveni članak ASSESSMENT OF RED CLOVER (TRIFOLIUM PRATENSE L.) PRODUCTIVITY IN ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS SUMMARYThe frequency of extreme climatic events has increased due to global climate change. The objectives of this research were to investigate the influence of climatic conditions (precipitation and temperature) on productivity of red clover cultivars and populations with a different genetic background and to identify those with high forage yield potential in environmental stress. Twenty-three red clover cultivars and populations of different geographical origin were studied during two consecutive growing seasons (2012 -extremely dry weather conditions, 2013 -humid weather conditions) at the Agricultural Institute Osijek, Croatia. A field experiment was performed as a randomized block design with three replicates. Green mass and dry matter yield and plant height were measured in both growing seasons, whereas the seed yield was determined in the first year only. Results indicated the stability or adaptability of evaluated red clover cultivars and populations to a dry or humid weather production conditions. Croatian populations (CD-3, TP-2, TP-7) and cultivar Viva, Serbian cultivar K-17 and German cultivar Taifun exhibited the highest forage yield potential under both, dry and humid growing conditions and represent a valuable material to be used in red clover breeding programs dealing with tolerance to abiotic stress.