FEDERAL RESEARCH CENTER FOR VEGETABLE GROWING — 100-YEAR HISTORY AS A BASIS FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS (review)

Abstract

The review presents the history of the Gribovskaya Vegetable Breeding Experimental Station, the first in Russia and the USSR for vegetable breeding and seed production, on the basis of which the All-Russian Research Institute of Vegetable Breeding and Seed Production was established, farther reorganized into the Federal Research Center for Vegetable Growing. The center’s activity dates back to 1920, when, under the leadership of Sergei I. Zhegalov, a theoretical and practical basis for the development of domestic breeding was laid. The century-old anniversary of the selection of vegetable crops allows us to trace the way of its formation in Russia, successes and future development. Since 1920, scientists paid much attention to the development and improvement of breeding methods that increase the efficiency of selection, as well as to accelerate the selection process to create targeted varieties and hybrids. With regard to the main vegetable crops, methods have been developed for interspecific hybridization (N.I. Timin et al., 2013; A.F. Agafonov et al., 2018), molecular labeling (T.P. Suprunova et al., 2011; E.A. Domblides et al., 2015), clonal micropropagation and production of doubled haploids successfully used in breeding (M.S. Bunin et al., 2004). Basic protocols have been proposed for in vitro culture of microspore for most cabbage crops (E.A. Domblides et al., 2016) and non-pollinated ovules for Cucurbitaceae (N.A. Shmykova et al., 2015). A technology has been developed for the production of doubled haploids in carrots in in vitro cultures of anthers, non-pollinated ovules and microspores (T.S. Wurtz et al., 2016). The economic benefit of modern biotechnological in vitro methods when creating hybrids has been proven: the time for creating hybrids is reduced from 12 to 6 years, financial costs are reduced 2 times (A. Mineikina et al., 2019; T. Vurtz et al., 2019). The aggravated situation with plant diseases and the expansion of the areas of new harmful pathogens on vegetable crops are discussed. Based on immunological, molecular and morphophysiological tests at artificial, provocative and natural infections, the sources of resistance to economically significant diseases are identified, in cabbage to Plasmodiophora brassicae, in table beet to Cercospora beticola, in vegetable beans to viral diseases, in onions to Peronospora destructor (I.A. Engalycheva et al., 2019). Physiological and biochemical methods are widely used when creating varieties with a high content of biologically active substances and antioxidants. Technologies have been developed for obtaining functional food products, including new types of teas with a therapeutic and prophylactic effect, soft drinks, food dyes, and confectionery (M.S. Gins et al., 2017). Recipes for gluten-free bakery products have been created using introduced yacon, amaranth and daikon cultures. Technologies for selenium enrichment of vegetable crops for fresh consumption and as raw materials for functional products have been developed (N.A. Golubkina et al., 2018). The intellectual potential accumulated over a hundred-year history is inextricably linked with the traditions laid down at the experimental station. Nowadays the Federal Research Center for Vegetable Growing coordinates scientific research on the selection, production and processing of vegetable and melon crops in Russia within the framework of state programs for the development of the industry and ensuring food security.