NODES - SPOKE 6 Project FORMIDABILÆ - D2.2 Databases with selected bioactive markers and equation for calibration

This study integrates phenotypic, spectroscopic, and molecular analyses to investigate growth dynamics, grain composition, and stress resilience in 270 maize hybrids. Vegetation indices (NDVI, EVI) were used to monitor canopy development and correlate with plant architecture and productivity traits. Multi-analytical spectroscopy (UV-vis-NIR, Raman, XRF) characterized grain composition, revealing biochemical diversity linked to bioactive molecules. Germination assays under drought stress and priming treatments identified genotype-dependent responses, while volatilome and gene expression analyses highlighted metabolic and molecular markers associated with drought tolerance. This document is a deliverable of the project FORMIDABILÆ ("Forage system to make resilient Maize, Dairy and Biogas supply chains for a Lasting Agricultural Ecosystem"), which promotes approaches aimed at improving the smart, resilient, circular and diversified farm to ensure food security and social economic sustainability of dairy food chains with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in this sector. This document is part of the project NODES which has received funding from the MUR – Missione 4, Componente 2, Investimento 1.5 – Creazione e rafforzamento di “Ecosistemi dell’innovazione”, costruzione di “leader territoriali di R&S'' – del PNRR funded by the European Union - NextGenerationEU with grant agreement no. ECS00000036