The launch of a successful quality-oriented breeding program requires both mining the residual diversity in grain quality parameters contained in the elite, high-yielding breeding material with good agronomic performance and introgression of new germplasm, such as local landraces, with a high level of targeted quality parameters per se. This study analyzed the combining abilities of 31 maize landraces and two divergent inbred lines–testers (ZPL217 and ZPL-255/75-5) regarding the yield and protein, starch, and lipid content, assessed by Near Infrared Reflectance (NIR) spectroscopy as a fast, non-destructive, and cost-effective method. The general combining ability (GCA) defines the average behavior of genotype in hybrid combination, resulting from additive gene action, so positive GCA values of landraces AN13 and AN197 for protein, AN632 for lipids, and AN594 for starch content indicate that they can be valuable sources of the mentioned properties in quality-oriented maize breeding programs. The obtained correlation between starch content and protein and yield (−0.948 **; 0.587 **) pointed out that an increase in the protein content during breeding will be accompanied by a decrease in the starch content and yield. The specific combining ability (SCA) of the testers used, suggests their possible application in establishing and improving quality breeding programs’ initial material.

Numerous factors, including genetic background, environmental conditions, agricultural practices, and postharvest management, affect maize grain quality. Six maize hybrids with common parental components were evaluated in micro- and production trials during five years, aiming at evaluating grain yield and grain quality traits and ascertaining the pattern of evaluated trait relationships based upon sources of variation (hybrid, year, and parental components). The parental effects were significant for the majority of analyzed quality traits, while the year effect was significant for all examined parameters. The PCAs indicated a considerable impact of the hybrids’ genetic makeup on physical parameters and kernel structure. The findings suggested the possibility of breeding simultaneously for higher protein and starch contents accompanied by a yield increase and higher protein and oil contents followed by a yield reduction. Multiple adverse interactions, which are inherently driven by the kernel structure, hamper the simultaneous breeding for higher oil and starch content. Significant quality parameter variation in the micro-trial was insufficient to provide improvement in grain quality obtained in the production trial. Although the existing variability of elite germplasm in quality parameters can be exploited, the introgression of new germplasm with high values of quality parameters per se is necessary for breeding focused on diverse applications.

An effective strategy to address the impacts of climate change on maize involves early planting, which mitigates drought stress during critical growth phases, preventing yield reductions. The research assessed two maize inbred lines (sensitive and tolerant to low temperature) under conditions of waterlogging stress. This is crucial since early sowing often faces both low temperatures and heavy rain. Morphological, biochemical, and molecular responses were recorded after 24 h, 72 h, and 7 days of stress during the growth stage of 5-day-old seedlings. The findings indicated a more pronounced decline in all morphological characteristics in the sensitive line. Both genotypes displayed an increased root-to-shoot ratio, suggesting that the shoots deteriorate more rapidly than the roots. Physiological evaluations demonstrated that the tolerant line was more effective in managing ROS levels compared to the sensitive line. The involvement of H₂O₂ in aerenchyma formation implies that the decreased POD activity and elevated MDA levels observed after seven days may be associated with aerenchyma development in the tolerant line. Genes essential for PSII function revealed that waterlogging adversely affected photosynthesis in the sensitive genotype. In summary, the low-temperature tolerant genotype exhibited significant resilience to waterlogging, indicating potential interaction between the pathways governing these two abiotic stressors.

Meat consumption has been declining in favor of a shift towards poultry due to its lower price, health benefits and consumers’ preference. One of the ways to enhance broiler production and quality is to substitute standard maize (SM) with quality protein maize (QPM) in animal diets. QPM is a high lysine maize with improved nutritional and biological values, developed by the selection of a naturally occurring recessive opaque2 mutation, which can reduce the use of costly feed components - synthetic lysine and protein ingredients such as soybean and fishmeal. Different feeding trials with QPM in broiler diets indicated that body weight gain (BWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), breast meat yield (BMY), and abdominal fat (AF) are the main improved features. Herein, an overview of the effects of QPM on broiler performance and carcass characteristics, as well as the financial effects of its use, is presented. Different effects of QPM were observed, depending, in the main, on the QPM hybrid used in the trial. The possible reasons for the discrepancies and suggestions for overcoming them, focused on the utilization of the full potential of QPM, are discussed.

Maize is a key staple cereal, with its cultivation improved through genetics, denser planting, and greater fertilizer use. However, little is known about the effects of nanomaterials on maize’s grain quality. This study evaluated the effect of the foliar application of orange carbon dots (o-CDs) on maize’s growth, grain yield, and quality under typical field conditions. Two ZP maize hybrids and their inbred lines were tested. The results showed a gradual increase in grain yield for the hybrids, particularly ZP 4567, which responded significantly to a 5 mg/L treatment. Increased starch content was observed in both the hybrid ZP 4567 and the inbred line L56 L026 following treatment with o-CDs at concentrations of 1 mg/L and 5 mg/L. The significant increase in oil content was observed in inbred line L56 L026. Photosynthetic parameters and pigments were elevated in both hybrids after treatments, although the antioxidative capacity remained unchanged. The findings suggest that o-CDs positively influence grain yield and quality by enhancing photosynthesis and increasing the accumulation of key biochemical compounds. This study provides novel insights into the application of carbon nanoparticles in sustainable crop production.

A set of fifteen elite inbred lines of maize (used as mothers) and three tester inbred lines (used as fathers) were investigated using line x tester statistical model, including both hybrids and inbreds. Four traits were measured: grain yield, 1000 kernel weight, phytic phosphorus (Pphy) and inorganic phosphorus (Pi) in the kernel. Pphy content among hybrids ranged from 2.342 to 4.812 g kg-1 and Pi content from 0.562 to 2.340 g kg-1, while among inbreds (lines and testers) they ranged from 2.503 to 4.180 g kg-1 and from 0.587 to 1.629 g kg-1, respectively. Correlations between the four traits allow breeding for high Pi and low Pphy, as well as for both high Pi and phytate, without compromising grain yield. Correlation for hybrids between Pphy and Pi was 0.185 (p<0.05) and for inbreds 0.142 (non-significant). General combining ability/special combining ability (GCA/SCA) values for all the traits were below 1 (very low) indicated non-additive inheritance. In the investigated set of genotypes, multiple selection indices should be used for simultaneous improvement of grain yield and phosphorus profile of maize grain.