THIS ISSUE OF GENETIKA IS DEDICATED TO JANKO DUMANOVIĆ
Among the first founders of Serbian Genetic Society
First Editor in Chief of GENETIKA
DEDICATION
This issue of GENETIKA is dedicated to Dr. Janko Dumanović, whose scientific activity and almost whole life was devoted to the plant genetics development and both
theoretical knowledge and experimental results application in plant breeding. He has been one of the pioneer in Serbian Genetics Society organization and as first Editor-in-Cheaf
of Genetika he spent more then 30 years.
As a student of Agriculture faculty, University of Belgrade he got fellowship from the Serbian Academy of Science and Arts. After ending of the studies he has been
appointed as assistant - professor for Genetics at the same faculty, where he obtained all scientific degrees. His original scientific work started with investigation of oil
inheritance genetic background in maize kernel. After receiving advanced training in the USA during 1958 and 1959 he participate in the first local hybrid development. Since
the early of 1960’s his co - operation with Maize Research Institute has mostly been related to the development of maize genetics and implementation of programmes on high oil
hybrids and quality improvement of maize kernel proteins.
His contribution to the advancement of research and teaching in plant genetics and breeding is greatest in his ability to recognize and guide both own young students
having gift and interest for science and also young scientists in other fields of science, i.e. biochemistry, physical chemistry, molecular biology etc. When Institute for Nuclear
Energy Application in Agriculture, Veterinary Medicine and Forestry (INEP) has been founded by IAEA and State of Yugoslavia it has been recognized as Institute for the multidisciplinary
projects and Janko got the position of the Head of the Laboratory for Plant Genetics.
Those years were period of induced mutations in plants by irradiation and chemical mutagenesis. The main goal was set up both as improving of already existing and new
technologies development in plant breeding. One of the approaches has been use of induced or already existing mutations in cereals breeding on increased protein and oil content and
improved protein quality.
Parallel program has been biochemical pathway investigation of genetic control of storage proteins and nucleic acids biosynthesis in maize and wheat. Effect of opaque
2 gene on protein quality has been for first time reported in literature during 1963 and in Janko´s experimental field this mutant has been grown and in biochemical experiments
characterized during late sixties. This mutant line has been used in classic breeding program to introduce opaque 2 gene into genome of ”normal ” maize inbred lines having standard
kernel phenotype and protein quality. As marker gene for the opaque 2 gene presence in genotype of converted inbred lines, ribonuclease (RNase) activity has been used. As the results
of this program, besides many of original scientific papers, published in national and international journals, new inbred lines with increased content and improved quality of storage
proteins have been developed and ended as parental lines in several maize hybrids having improved protein quality.
Even at that time the term molecular markers in plant breeding was rare, results obtained by RNase activity analysis are among the first experiments in genotype
identification by biochemical markers application. Knowledge on nucleic acids and protein genetics and biochemistry became background for developing program on recombinant DNA
technology and tissue culture application in maize breeding.
In cooperation with the Institute „Jožef Štefan“from Ljubljana Janko’s team has been among the first, developing procedure for fast and nondestructive method of oil
content determination in single sunflower and maize kernel (NMR technique). This project ended by several maize hybrids with high oil content without negative effect on hybrid yield,
compared with hybrids of standard quality.
When he with his INEP Laboratory joined Maize Research Institute he monitored and participated in creation and defining of scientific and research programme of the
Institute. The dynamic development of the Institute demanded appropriate scientific, technical and economic co-operation, particularlly with foreign partners. During his duty for
the scientific and technical co-operation in the country and abroad, Institute improved existing or established new co-operation with 60 countries in Europe, North and South America,
Asia, Africa. Institute was entrusted to implement many national projects on the improvement of maize production and utilization (Angola, Iran, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Zaire, Korea,
China, Kazahstan...).
Besides Janko' s participation in education as Professor of Genetics and Breeding at Bioloical Faculty, University of Belgrade, he created and realized program of
education for young researches from developing countries. Starting with 1978, Maize Research Institute became one of the International training centres for young scientists from
African, American, European and Asian countries.
This issue of GENETIKA contains papers dedicated to Dr. Janko Dumanović for his whole life scientific and teaching activity. They result from deep appreciation of
geneticists to whom his influence had significant impact, either directly through common projects or by the co-operation in different fields of genetics. Everyone of them will
always remember Janko´ s friendship and unselfish help both in professional and personal life.
Kosana Konstantinov
Milutin Penčić
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