Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is an important legume that is also known as a rich source of isoflavones, which are compounds with mild estrogenic activity. Therefore, this plant is often used as a raw material in the production of dietary supplements recommended in menopause. Many factors can influence isoflavone content, but those genetically related are considered to be the most important. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the phytochemical profile of different plant parts of 30 red clover genotypes grouped according to ploidy and country of seed origin by analyzing the content of dominant isoflavones, total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity. It was found that there are significant differences in the examined traits among plant parts. Red clover leaves had the highest total isoflavone content, with biochanin A as the dominant compound, while flower extracts had the highest TPC and antioxidant activity. Diploid and tetraploid genotypes were significantly different concerning the content of daidzein, genistein, formononetin and TPC with higher quantities in tetraploid samples. On the other hand, seed origin was not a useful separating factor for the analyzed samples. The results of this research indicate that ploidy, as a previously poorly studied factor, could influence isoflavone content in red clover.

Seed decay is one of the most important diseases of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) which can greatly affect seed quality. Some of the most damaging causal agents of soybean seed decay are Diaporthe longicolla, D. sojae, D. caulivora, and D. aspalathi (Li, 2011). A total of 94 single-conidial isolates were obtained from soybean seeds collected throughout the soybean-producing area in Serbia from 1996 to 2015. Isolates were separated into two groups (A and B) according to their morphological features. In group A, 70 isolates were assigned with the following morphological characteristics: white mycelium, black stromatic structures, pycnidial conidiomata with alpha conidia and rarely beta conidia, and absence of perithecia (Hobbs et al. 1985). Twenty-four isolates were assigned to group B with culture characteristics that included white mycelium, pycnidial conidiomata with alpha and beta conidia, and perithecia (Udayanga et al. 2015). Using sequence comparison of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS1-5.8S-I...

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of primers on seed quality parameters using different starting values of germination. For this purpose, ten soybean lines selected at the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad were evaluated. The starting values of germination ranged between 48% and 89%. Seeds were surface sterilized with 3% sodium hypochlorite and immersed in different primers: 1% potassium nitrate, 1% potassium chloride and 1% hydrogen peroxide. Untreated seeds were used as the control. The obtained results revealed that the effects of priming depended on soybean line and treatment, whereas the efficiency of this pre-sowing treatment was not affected by the starting value of seed germination. Some lines responded favorably to immersion, while in others priming had an inhibitory effect, causing a significant decrease in germination. There was an increase in germination up to 12% or a decrease up to 11%, depending on line and treatment. Lines that were positively affected by this method also exhibited increased values for other germination parameters: mean germination time (MGT) and time to 50% germination (T50). Lower values of MGT and T50 were observed in lines which showed a negative response to priming and a decrease in germination, but also a more rapid radicle protrusion, as compared to the control. In conclusion, there is no universal applicability of one single primer as it might cause a negative response in some lines and thus reduce seed quality.

Soybean production in the system of organic agriculture is not very demanding, and this has been well documented both through experimental results and commercial production. However, one of the biggest problems in organic production is the lack of adequate pre-sowing treatments. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the effect of the electrostatic field. This is a physical treatment that was first used for seed treatment in the 18th century but has mostly been neglected since then. Seeds of five soybean genotypes with differently colored seed coats (yellow, green, dark green, brown, and black) were included in this study. The seeds were exposed to different values of direct current (DC) with the following voltages: 0 V (control), 3 V, 6 V, and 9 V, to which the seeds were exposed for 0 min (control), 1 min, and 3 min. After exposing the seeds to the electric field, the physiological properties of seeds and seedlings at the first stage of growth were evaluated. The results show that the effect of the electrostatic field on seed quality depends on the genotype, voltage, and exposure time. The application of DC can be a suitable method for improving seed germination and the initial growth of soybean seedlings. In addition, the results indicate that it is necessary to adjust the DC treatment (voltage and duration of exposure of seeds) to particular genotypes since inadequate treatments may reduce the quality of seeds.

Seed germination and seedling growth are the most sensitive plant stages towards salinity. Various techniques can improve emergence and stand formation under salt conditions. Seeds priming is one of the most frequently used technique. Seed priming could develop different defence mechanisms of seeds against salinity stress. This experiment aims to examine the seed priming into potassium nitrate - KNO3 (1%), ascorbic acid – ASA (100mgl-1), and potassium chloride - KCl (1%) solutions, that may reduce harmful effects of salinity stress. Salinity was imposed by treatment of seeds with different concentrations of NaCl (0 (control), 50, 100, 200m MNaCl). All data were analysed statistically by three-way ANOVA. Individual testing of probability was carried out using Tukey’s method p £ 0.05 and p £ 0.01. Correlation dependence was determined using the Pearson correlation coefficient. Test results demonstrated positive effect of seed priming. This was showed by improved soybean seed quality and increased seed germination rate. The intensity of lipid peroxidation, free proline concentration and Na+ was decreased, while K+ in seedlings increased due to priming treatment. Priming of seeds into ASA solution resulted in increased vitamin C concentration, while priming into KNO3 and ÊCl solutions reduced the content of vitamin Ñ in soybean seedlings.