The correlation analysis and the path coefficient analysis were applied to wheat data set with the objective to determine the effect of five physiological traits (early vigor, early maturity, leaf senescence, flag leaf area and total biomass per plant) on grain yield under irrigation and drought stress conditions. The data set consisted of 100 divergent genotypes tested in four-year field trials. Highly significant correlations were found between grain yield, early vigor and total biomass per plant in both treatments. A highly negative correlation was detected between grain yield and days to flowering, as well as, between grain yield and leaf senescence in both treatments. The path analysis revealed a highly significant direct effect of days to anthesis and total biomass per plant on grain yield. Early vigor, leaf senescence and the flag leaf area had a significant indirect effect on grain yield via days to anthesis and total biomass per plant. Early vigor, early maturity and leaf senescence were found to be suitable for wheat breeding under different moisture regimes. These traits can be evaluated quickly and easily, and thus they can be used for the evaluation of large populations.

The content of dietary fibres (cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, NDF, ADF), tryptophan and proteins, as well as their quality index were determined in whole grains of bread and durum wheat, rye, hull-less barley and hull-less oat, each represented with four genotypes. In addition, content of ?-glucans in hull-less barley were determined. In average, hull-less barley and oat had the lowest content of hemicellulose (22.54 and 13.11% d.m., respectively), cellulose (1.36 and 1.41% d.m., respectively), lignin (0.98 and 0.49% d.m., respectively), as well as NDF (24.84 and 15.16% d.m., respectively) and ADF (2.30 and 2.04% d.m., respectively). In average, the highest content of hemicellulose was in durum wheat (33.47% d.m.), followed by rye (29.63% d.m.), and bread wheat (23.24% d.m.). Among tested hull-less barley genotypes the the content of ?-glucans ranged from 4.1% d.m. (IWHBON 97-18) to 5.6% d.m. (Apolon). The highest content of proteins (on average 15.65% d.m.) and tryptophan (on average 0.206% d.m.) was in hull-less oat. Hull-less barley had the highest protein quality index (1.48%) followed by bread and durum wheat and hull-less oat (IQ 1.35, 1.34 and 1.31%, respectively), and rye (IQ 0.93%). The results indicate that there is genetic diversity in content of dietary fibres and proteins among tested genotypes and that it should be possible to selectively breed for lines with high nutrition capacities, as well as, to improved diet requirements.

In Serbia basil has been grown traditionally as a decorative, medicinal, seasoning and ritual herb, and there is a variety of different populations of basil. Basil is considered to have been brought to Serbia in the 12th century by monks returning from their pilgrimages. Essential oils isolated from herb of ten basil populations traditionally grown on the territory of the Republic of Serbia have been analyzed. The selected populations have been designated under codes from T-1 to T-10 and deposited in the Plant Genes Bank at Serbia and at the Institute for Crop Sciences of the Faculty of Agriculture in Belgrade. Essential oils of all tested basil populations were light yellow and had a specific aromatic scent. The composition of essential oil in the dry herb of the tested populations ranged from 0.87 to 1.84%. The results of gas chromatographic analysis of essential oils in tested basil populations pointed to their complex chemical composition and to the fact that they belong to the most appreciated European chemotype. In total thirty three components have been identified in the essential oils. The most common fraction of components in all tested oils was terpenoides. The predominant component in all essential oils is monoterpen linalol, ranging from 51.52 to 74.73%. Phenylpropranoid methylchavicol ranged from 2.49 to 18.97%. Essential oils of populations T-6, T-7, T-8 and T-10 were characterized by elevated 1.8-cineol (4.44, 3.70, 4.01 and 3.43%, respectively). Populations T-3 and T-4 in essential oil contained higher percent of geraniol (4.27 and 3.31%, respectively). In all ten essential oils sesquiterpen fraction consisted of greater number of components, with germacrene having special significance as it was found in high percentage in all populations. The highest content of germacrene was registered in population T-9 (4.30%), T-10 (4.18%), while in others it ranged from 2.17 to 3.69%. Basil populations traditionally grown in Serbia have exceptional quality. They represent an excellent raw material for the production of basil essential oils, for the needs of pharmaceutical, food and chemical industry.