Classical Breeding Methods Research Articles

Productivity of medium-fiber cotton genotypes selected according to test characteristics in combination with classical breeding methods

The most important factor in the intensification and rise of the production of the cotton industry in Tajikistan is the selection of new varieties characterized by high yield and its quality. The increase in the production of the cotton industry can be achieved not by expansion of acreage, since this possibility is very limited in a mountainous country, but by breeding new varieties of cotton and spreading them into production. The use of photosynthetic test characteristics in breeding contributes to the process of creating new varieties that meet the demand of agricultural production and the textile industry, i.e. varieties with a complex of economically useful features — precocity, high productivity, resistance to diseases and pests, optimal adaptive properties, characterized by high fiber yield and its technological quality. By methods of hybridization and selection by offspring on the basis of photosynthetic test characteristics from domestic and foreign variety samples, 28 introgressive genotypes were created that are characterized by complex of economically useful traits. It was found that out of the 28 genotypes of medium-fiber cotton studied by us, according to the main indicators of productivity — the number of full-fledged boxes per plant, the mass of raw cotton of one box and the yield — 6 genotypes were notable. The number of boxes per plant in the most productive was 12–15 pieces, the mass of raw cotton of one box is up to 6.6 g, and the yield of raw cotton is from 71.5 to 93.0 g/plant, which is significantly higher than in the standard Hisor variety.

Transcriptome analysis reveals the molecular mechanisms of heterosis on thermal resistance in hybrid abalone

BackgroundHeterosis has been exploited for decades in different animals and crops due to it resulting in dramatic increases in yield and adaptability. Hybridization is a classical breeding method that can effectively improve the genetic characteristics of organisms through heterosis. Abalone has become an increasingly economically important aquaculture resource with high commercial value. However, due to changing climate, abalone is now facing serious threats of high temperature in summer. Interspecific hybrid abalone (Haliotis gigantea ♀ × H. discus hannai ♂, SD) has been cultured at large scale in southern China and has been shown high survival rates under heat stress in summer. Therefore, SD has become a good model material for heterosis research, but the molecular basis of heterosis remains elusive.ResultsHeterosis in thermal tolerance of SD was verified through Arrhenius break temperatures (ABT) of cardiac performance in this study. Then RNA-Sequencing was conducted to obtain gene expression patterns and alternative splicing events at control temperature (20 °C) and heat stress temperature (30 °C). A total of 356 (317 genes), 476 (435genes), and 876 (726 genes) significantly diverged alternative splicing events were identified in H. discus hannai (DD), H. gigantea (SS), and SD in response to heat stress, respectively. In the heat stress groups, 93.37% (20,512 of 21,969) of the expressed genes showed non-additive expression patterns, and over-dominance expression patterns of genes account for the highest proportion (40.15%). KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that the overlapping genes among common DEGs and NAGs were significantly enriched in protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum, mitophagy, and NF-κB signaling pathway. In addition, we found that among these overlap genes, 39 genes had undergone alternative splicing events in SD. These pathways and genes may play an important role in the thermal resistance of hybrid abalone.ConclusionMore alternative splicing events and non-additive expressed genes were detected in hybrid under heat stress and this may contribute to its thermal heterosis. These results might provide clues as to how hybrid abalone has a better physiological regulation ability than its parents under heat stress, to increase our understanding of heterosis in abalone.

Performance potential of sugar beets with improved beetroot shape in breeding for heterosis

Purpose. To increase the performance of sugar beet hybrids using integrated approaches to the creation, identification and selection of combination-valuable parents; to evaluate the performance potential of experimental hybrids derived from parents with improved beetroot shape.
 Materials and methods. The study was conducted in the Laboratory of Sugar Beet Breeding of the Tobacco Experimental Station of the National Research Center “Institute of Agriculture of NAAS” in 2018–2020. Sixty-six experimental diploid sugar beet hybrids originating from parents of different genetic origin were tested in the field.
 New starting material of sugar beets was created using classical breeding methods and traditional techniques. The experimental CMS-based sugar beet hybrids were evaluated for several economically valuable traits in accordance with the variety trial method developed by scientists of the Institute of Bioenergy Crops and Sugar Beets NAAS.
 Results and discussion. Analysis of the performance of the sugar beet hybrids originating from the parents with improved beetroot shape (oval-conical) indicates that the beetroot yields, sugar collection and output were significantly higher than those in the group check accession. The sugar content in their beetroots was lower than or similar to that in the group check accession. In general, the yielding type (E) of performance is intrinsic to the hybrids. As to beetroot yield, they exceeded the group check accession by 16.5–23.4%; the sugar collection was higher by 15.1–21.1%; and the sugar output – by 15.0–22.0%.
 Analysis of the beetroot in these hybrids shows that they had oval-conical beetroots. Their shape index varied 1.11 to 1.24. The beetroots of these hybrids were embedded into the soil by 3/4 of their length, had a smooth surface and shallow grooves (orthostichy).
 In the experimental sugar beet hybrids derived from the parents with improved beetroot shape (oval-conical), beetroots were longer (L) by 9.5%, larger in the diameter (D) by 2.2%, and the distance from the maximum diameter plane to the beetroot top (B) increased by 61.5% compared to the group check accession. In parallel with changes of the beetroot shape, the beetroot weight (m) increased by 25.0%. The transition from conical beetroots to oval-conical ones was proven to increase the performance of the sugar beet hybrids by 15–21%.
 Conclusions. We have created 14 high-yielding sugar beet CMS-based hybrids with improved beetroot shape, suitable for energy and environmentally friendly cultivation technologies. Their beetroot yields, sugar collection and sugar output exceed those in the group check accession by 16.5–23.4%, 15.1–21.1% and 15.0–22.0%, respectively

Scientific provision of an effective development of soybean breeding and seed production in the Russian Far East.

In the Russian Far East, a highly profitable crop is soybean, which predominates in all farms’ crop rotation in the region. An increase in this crop production occurs here both by increasing the sown area and increasing its yield. Therefore, in scientific institutions, great attention is paid to breeding varieties that can produce high yields in conditions with limited thermal resources with adaptation to the extreme soil and climatic conditions of the region’s soybean growing zones. In 2020, 45 varieties developed by scientific institutions of the Far Eastern Federal District were introduced to the State Register of the Russian Federation and approved for use in production in code 12 region (Far Eastern), with the largest number of the entries coming from the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Soybeans. The share of cultivated areas in the Russian Far East occupied by domestic varieties was 63.7 %, the largest share of sown varieties – 48.9 % – belongs to the Federal Research Center All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Soybean. The most popular were the varieties of the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Soybean, such as Alena, Kitrossa, Lydiya, Evgeniya, MK 100, Primorsky varieties (Musson, Primorskaya 4, Primorskaya 86, Primorskaya 96, Sphera) are in demand mainly in Primorsky Krai, and Khabarovsk varieties (Batya, Marinata) have an advantage in Khabarovsky Krai and the Jewish Autonomous Region. All varieties are not genetically modified and are created mainly by classical breeding methods. Breeders of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution, “Federal Research Center of Agrobiotechnology of the Far East named after A.K. Chaika” and biotechnologists carry out the selection of pairs for crossing using biotechnological methods to assess their polymorphism, instead of long-term selection for phenotypic features in the field. Evaluation of domestic and foreign varieties for disease resistance revealed a high degree of damage to foreign varieties by dangerous viral and fungal diseases. Together with Japanese scientists from the University of Niigata, the astragalus mosaic virus was detected on Canadian and Chinese varieties in Primorsky Krai and the Amur Region using DNA analysis. The carrier of this disease is soybean aphid (Aphis glycines).

Relationships of Fruit Characteristics of Rosehips (Rosa canina L.) Grown in Bolu City Center

Rosehip (Rosa spp.) is one of the most used non-wood forest products. It is an essential source of antioxidants and vitamin C besides having a wide range of uses in folk medicine and the marmalade industry. Therefore, for many years, researchers have made efforts to find the superior genotypes of this fruit. In previous studies, classical breeding methods were used in the evaluation of the data and more modernist approaches were given little attention. In this study, fruit characteristics and their relationships of rosehip genotypes growing in Bolu city center were determined by using more modernist analysis methods (Clustering, PCA) and correlation analysis. As a result of the study, while fruit weight was positively correlated with fruit size, it had a negative correlation with the fruit flesh ratio. In cluster analysis, genotypes were collected in two different groups, and PCA analysis supported this result. Results of the study proved that multivariate analysis has come to the fore as a highly effective method for evaluating genetic resources. Furthermore, the G-5 genotype stood out with its fruit weight and size.

Europe's Farm to Fork Strategy and Its Commitment to Biotechnology and Organic Farming: Conflicting or Complementary Goals?

The European Commission's Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy, under the European Green Deal, acknowledges that innovative techniques, including biotechnology, may play a role in increasing sustainability. At the same time, organic farming will be promoted, and at least 25% of the EU's agricultural land shall be under organic farming by 2030. How can both biotechnology and organic farming be developed and promoted simultaneously to contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? We illustrate that achieving the SDGs benefits from the inclusion of recent innovations in biotechnology in organic farming. This requires a change in the law. Otherwise, the planned increase of organic production in the F2F strategy may result in less sustainable, not more sustainable, food systems.

The yield of new varieties of lentil Lens culinaris Medik

During 2014 – 2019, in the conditions of the Oryol region, the study of yield indicators and protein content in grain in four varieties of lentils created by various methods was carried out. Rauza and Aida were obtained by classical breeding methods. When creating the Vostochnaya variety, the wildlife species L. orientalis was used, and the Flamenco variety - L. tomentosus. the Flamenco variety had the best yield, with an average yield of 2.27 t/ha over 6 years. The lowest yield of 1.84 t/ha was shown by the Rauza variety. Aida and Vostochnaya with yields of 2.04 and 1.93 t/ha, took an intermediate position. The coefficient of yield regression on the index of environmental conditions in all varieties is close to 1, and deviations from the regression line are insignificant, which indicates their stability. The protein content varied over the years, and the maximum accumulation of protein in the grain was observed in years with low yields. Differences in varieties are less expressed. The average protein content of the Rauza variety was 26.6%, Aida – 26.7%, Vostochnaya – 26.8%, Flamenco - 27.3%. A new variety of Flamenco lentils, with high yield and protein content, remained stable with a regression coefficient for environmental conditions equal to 1. The use of germ plasma of wildlife relatives in breeding new varieties did not affect negatively their response to environmental conditions and the ability to accumulate high protein content in the grain.

Anther Culture in Cucurbita Species.

Production of homozygous pure parental lines is the first stage of hybrid vegetable breeding. Unfortunately, producing pure lines takes a long time by classical breeding methods, especially in open-pollinated vegetable species, and this period can be up to 8-10years. Recently, doubled haploid (DH) technology, as a set of biotechnological methods, has emerged as an alternative to classical breeding methods and allows for the generation of 100% homozygous pure double haploid lines in 1 or 2years. Although haploid plants were successfully produced via irradiated pollen technique and gynogenesis in some Cucurbita species, haploid plants have not been obtained from some lines due to genotype dependency, and haploidy frequency is still not sufficient for use in a breeding program. Thus, anther culture technique has emerged as an alternative technique in the DH process. The main objective of this chapter is to provide explanatory information on anther culture technique applied in the Cucurbita genus. For this purpose , key points and details of methods and protocols of the anther culture technique are described in summer squash (Cucurbita pepo L.), pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duch.), and winter squash (Cucurbita maxima Duch.).

Induction of Parthenogenesis by Irradiated Pollen in Cucurbita Species.

Due to their many superior agronomic traits (high yield and fruit quality, resistance/tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress factors, etc.), hybrid vegetable cultivars are widely used in vegetable production all over the world. The first stage of hybrid vegetable breeding is to obtain homozygous pure parental lines. Unfortunately, producing pure lines takes a long time by classical breeding methods, especially in open-pollinated vegetable species, and this period can be up to 8-10years. Recently, doubled haploid (DH) technology, as a biotechnological method, has emerged as an alternative to classical breeding methods and allows for the generation of pure (100% homozygous) DH lines in one or two years.However, the DH technique needs labor-intensive efforts and experiences as well as the use of appropriate production technologies. The main objective of this chapter is to provide explanatory information on the technique of induction of parthenogenesis by irradiated pollen applied to several species of the Cucurbita genus. For this purpose , key points and details of methods and protocols of this technique are described in summer squash (Cucurbita pepo L.), pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duch.), and winter squash (Cucurbita maxima Duch.).

New form cultivated sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) with resistance to the herbicides Pulsar and Express

Abstract New traits that are useful for the cultivated sunflower can be received by applying classical breeding methods. A new form sunflower that is resistant to herbicides Pulsar and Express was obtained by hybridization between the sunflower mutant M-95-674 and the line HA 425. Test results from the period 2017–2019 confirm the resistance to both herbicides. This resistance can be transferred into other classical selected lines.

Association of exterior indicators of the experimental population of Pushkin breeds chickens with an effective marker rs316247861 of the myostatin gene

In modern poultry farming, along with classical breeding methods based on phenotype analysis, it is possible to use MAS breeding, which includes genotype assessment. Meat productivity is influenced by live weight and body characteristics of the bird. This article analyzes the influence of the rs316247861 marker of the myostatin gene on the conformation parameters of Pushkin breed chickens. For the analysis, 140 heads of Pushkin breed chickens were taken. Exterior assessment was carried out in chickens at the age of 330 days according to 17 indicators: body weight, body length, body + neck length, oblique body length, thigh length, chest depth, chest width at collarbones, pelvic width, chest girth, metatarsal girth, shin girth , chest angle (degree), keel length, metatarsal length, tibia length, oblique body length with a tape (KDT), tibia length with a tape. PCR-RFLP analysis was performed using the restriction endonuclease BstHHI enzyme. As a result of the study of the experimental population of Pushkin breed chickens, carriers of the CC genotype were significantly superior to individuals with the GG genotype in terms of indicators affecting the formation of poultry meat productivity. In the sample of chickens of the studied population, the value χ2=10.29, which allows us to conclude that the genetic equilibrium is shifted, this is a sign of strong selection pressure. Thus, in the experimental population of the Pushkin breed, the CC genotype is desirable for selection for poultry meat productivity. In this regard, the MSTN gene and its expression product deserve special attention, among the issues of both molecular genetics and animal husbandry.

An Overview of Doubled Haploid Plant Production in Cucurbita Species

F1 cultivars are currently used in vegetable production because of their many superior agronomic advantages (high yield and quality, resistance/tolerance to biotic and/or abiotic stress factors, wide adaptability, etc.). It is not possible to produce hybrid vegetables without homozygous pure parental lines with defined traits and high combining ability. However, the production of homozygous pure parents needs a long time, great efforts, and high production cost. Moreover obtaining an F1 hybrid variety takes 8-10 years with traditional breeding methods, especially in a highly open-pollinated species such as Cucurbita spp. Doubled haploid (DH) technologies (parthenogenesis, androgenesis, and gynogenesis), called biotechnological breeding methods, have become an alternative to classical breeding methods and provide to obtain pure lines within 1-2 years by adapting to these technologies in F1 hybrid breeding programs. Although the DH technologies considered a meaningful approach to enhance the production of valuable double haploid plants, the implementation of these techniques needs labor-intensive efforts, high experiences, and advanced technologies. The main objective of this review to provide a summary of DH techniques applied in the Cucurbita species in the current progress.

Can metabolic prediction be an alternative to genomic prediction in barley?

Like other crop species, barley, the fourth most important crop worldwide, suffers from the genetic bottleneck effect, where further improvements in performance through classical breeding methods become difficult. Therefore, indirect selection methods are of great interest. Here, genomic prediction (GP) based on 33,005 SNP markers and, alternatively, metabolic prediction (MP) based on 128 metabolites with sampling at two different time points in one year, were applied to predict multi-year agronomic traits in the nested association mapping (NAM) population HEB-25. We found prediction abilities of up to 0.93 for plant height with SNP markers and of up to 0.61 for flowering time with metabolites. Interestingly, prediction abilities in GP increased after reducing the number of incorporated SNP markers. The estimated effects of GP and MP were highly concordant, indicating MP as an interesting alternative to GP, being able to reflect a stable genotype-specific metabolite profile. In MP, sampling at an early developmental stage outperformed sampling at a later stage. The results confirm the value of GP for future breeding. With MP, an interesting alternative was also applied successfully. However, based on our results, usage of MP alone cannot be recommended in barley. Nevertheless, MP can assist in unravelling physiological pathways for the expression of agronomically important traits.

Ayçiçeğinde Yüksek Oleik Yağ Asidi Özelliğinin Moleküler Markörler Kullanılarak Belirlenmesi

Ayçiçeği (Helianthus annuus L.), Compositae (Asteraceae), dünyada yenebilir bitkisel yağ bakımından 4. sırada yer almakta olup, dünyadaki ayçiçeği ekim alanlarının yaklaşık %60’ı Karadeniz Bölgesi ülkelerinde bulunmaktadır. Ayçiçeğinin ülkemizde önemli olmasının nedeni ülkemizin birçok bölgesinde yetiştirilebilir olmasıdır. Ülkemizde üretilen bitkisel yağ, artan nüfusa yetmemekte ve mevcut yağ açığımız yıldan yıla artmaktadır. Bu yağ açığı, verim artışına alternatif olarak yağ kalitesi iyileştirme çalışmalarıyla azaltılabilir. Oleik asit içerikli ayçiçeği yağı üreterek özellikle kızartma sanayinde yağ tüketimini azaltmak mümkündür. Yüksek oleik asit içeren çeşitler geliştirmek için kullanılan klasik ıslah yöntemleri hem zor hem de biyotik ve abiyotik stres koşullarından etkilendiği için doğruluk derecesi düşük olmaktadır. Ancak yüksek oleik asit içeriğine yönelik yapılacak bitki ıslahında, biyoteknolojik yöntemler ile moleküler markör destekli seleksiyon (MAS) kullanılarak daha hızlı ve daha tutarlı sonuçlar elde etmek mümkündür. Bu çalışmada; yüksek oleik karakterinin tespiti için F3 kademesindeki 40 bireyin ve 55 adet yüksek oleik, orta oleik ve linoleik tip çeşidin, yağ asidi analizleri ve moleküler markör analizleri yapılmıştır. Oleik asit ile bağlantılı olduğu saptanan FAD2 gen bölgesindeki varyasyona dayalı 6 INDEL markörü ile literatürde yüksek oleik karakteri ile bağlantılı olduğu belirtilen 3 SSR markörü kullanılmıştır. Tüm örneklerin gaz kromotografi (GC) cihazında yağ asitleri içerik analizi yapılmış ve moleküler markör analizleri ile karşılaştırılmıştır. Bu çalışmalar sonucunda yüksek oleik asit karakterini selekte edebilen ve MAS için kullanılabilir 3 adet markör tespit edilmiştir.

Durum Wheat Breeding in the Mediterranean Region: Current Status and Future Prospects

This brief historical review focuses on durum wheat domestication and breeding in the Mediterranean region. Important milestones in durum wheat breeding programs across the countries of the Mediterranean basin before and after the Green Revolution are discussed. Additionally, the main achievements of the classical breeding methodology are presented using a comparison of old and new cultivars. Furthermore, current breeding goals and challenges are analyzed. An overview of classical breeding methods in combination with current molecular techniques and tools for cultivar development is presented. Important issues of seed quality are outlined, focusing on protein and characteristics that affect human health and are connected with the consumption of wheat end-products.

Breeding and genomic investigations for quality and nutraceutical traits in vegetable crops-a review

Globally, micronutrient malnutrition is a big burden in pubic health spread across the geopolitical regions and socio-economic strata. The efforts for challenging this ‘hidden hunger’ are dietary diversity, food supplementation, food fortification and biofortification of common food crops. Human body requires nearly 49 different dietary elements and maintaining their regular intake seems to more effective and sustainable through dietary diversity and biofortified crops, however, their accessibility and affordability in continuum remain issues. For this, vegetable crops have great promise to serve for dietary needs because these crops represent a group of more than thousand plants spread all across world and constituent of regular diets. Although, accounted vegetable production in the world is 1088.8 million tonnes but huge numbers of minor vegetables also serve for dietary minerals in poor or rural communities inhabiting in vulnerable regions. Vegetables are bulky in nature but they are the key sources of health protective dietary constituents such as minerals, vitamins and antioxidants in human diet. Their intake also provides dietary elements and antioxidants to protect body from various immune-related diseases by acting against free radicals. The complex matrix of various constituents and minerals influence consumer preference and absorption pattern also. However, the focus on breeding for yield traits affected quality attributes seriously, hence it become essential to breed varieties having high yield and better quality traits. For this, molecular tools and genome sequencing techniques showed effectiveness to speed up the classical breeding methods for these traits of complex pathways. Besides, genome editing techniques such as transgenics, RNA interference and CRISPR/cas have great prospect in vegetables for enriching health beneficial constituents and also for removal of antinutritional factors. The present review reports significant achievements from attempts on understanding genetic of quality traits and breeding vegetables for quality, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and other industrial traits.

Selective breeding modifies mef2ca mutant incomplete penetrance by tuning the opposing Notch pathway.

Deleterious genetic mutations allow developmental biologists to understand how genes control development. However, not all loss of function genetic mutants develop phenotypic changes. Many deleterious mutations only produce a phenotype in a subset of mutant individuals, a phenomenon known as incomplete penetrance. Incomplete penetrance can confound analyses of gene function and our understanding of this widespread phenomenon remains inadequate. To better understand what controls penetrance, we capitalized on the zebrafish mef2ca mutant which produces craniofacial phenotypes with variable penetrance. Starting with a characterized mef2ca loss of function mutant allele, we used classical selective breeding methods to generate zebrafish strains in which mutant-associated phenotypes consistently appear with low or high penetrance. Strikingly, our selective breeding for low penetrance converted the mef2ca mutant allele behavior from homozygous lethal to homozygous viable. Meanwhile, selective breeding for high penetrance converted the mef2ca mutant allele from fully recessive to partially dominant. Comparing the selectively-bred low- and high-penetrance strains revealed that the strains initially respond similarly to the mutation, but then gene expression differences between strains emerge during development. Thus, altered temporal genetic circuitry can manifest through selective pressure to modify mutant penetrance. Specifically, we demonstrate differences in Notch signaling between strains, and further show that experimental manipulation of the Notch pathway phenocopies penetrance changes occurring through selective breeding. This study provides evidence that penetrance is inherited as a liability-threshold trait. Our finding that vertebrate animals can overcome a deleterious mutation by tuning genetic circuitry complements other reported mechanisms of overcoming deleterious mutations such as transcriptional adaptation of compensatory genes, alternative mRNA splicing, and maternal deposition of wild-type transcripts, which are not observed in our system. The selective breeding approach and the resultant genetic circuitry change we uncovered advances and expands our current understanding of genetic and developmental resilience.

Economic efficiency of obtaining carrot lines using classical and biotechnological methods

Garden carrot is a traditional food in Russia. Based on the consumption rate of 10 kg per year per person, 1,469 thousand tons of carrots per year must be produced for the population of the Russian Federation. To meet the needs of the population in fresh and processed carrot products, the development of new highly productive and resistant varieties and hybrids is necessary. The traditional production of linear material and hybrids in the breeding of garden carrots is a laborious, lengthy process due to the 2-year cycle of plant development, self-incompatibility, and inbreeding depression. On average, 16-20 years can be spent on creating a hybrid of carrots with the successful course of the selection process. Using biotechnological methods, completely homozygous lines can be obtained in 1 year and a wide variety of starting material can be created for inclusion in the breeding process. The article presents an analysis of economic efficiency and a comparative assessment of the production of garden carrot lines using classical breeding and biotechnology methods. Calculations are based on the rates being used at the Federal Scientific Center for Vegetable Growing. It is shown that the economic costs of obtaining lines when using doubled haploid plants of the garden carrot are reduced in almost five times. To increase the efficiency of the breeding process, biotechnological methods need to be embedded in classical breeding schemes.

Functional genomic approaches to improve crop plant heat stress tolerance.

Heat stress as a yield limiting issue has become a major threat for food security as global warming progresses. Being sessile, plants cannot avoid heat stress. They respond to heat stress by activating complex molecular networks, such as signal transduction, metabolite production and expressions of heat stress-associated genes. Some plants have developed an intricate signalling network to respond and adapt it. Heat stress tolerance is a polygenic trait, which is regulated by various genes, transcriptional factors, proteins and hormones. Therefore, to improve heat stress tolerance, a sound knowledge of various mechanisms involved in the response to heat stress is required. The classical breeding methods employed to enhance heat stress tolerance has had limited success. In this era of genomics, next generation sequencing techniques, availability of genome sequences and advanced biotechnological tools open several windows of opportunities to improve heat stress tolerance in crop plants. This review discusses the potential of various functional genomic approaches, such as genome wide association studies, microarray, and suppression subtractive hybridization, in the process of discovering novel genes related to heat stress, and their functional validation using both reverse and forward genetic approaches. This review also discusses how these functionally validated genes can be used to improve heat stress tolerance through plant breeding, transgenics and genome editing approaches.

Creating Biotechnological Hybrids of Sugar Beet

Currently, implementation of the breeding programs, including the commonly recognized areas and classic breeding methods, cannot sufficiently ensure a quick and significant increase in the productivity of sugar beet hybrids, since its gene pool is almost exhausted. Based on the achievements in the field of genetics, new approaches to and opportunities in creating highly productive agrocoenoses of sugar beet have become popular. As a result of many years of work, results have been obtained about the nature of inheriting the resistance to glyphosate in individual heterozygous apo- and syncarpous forms in case of inbreeding and pair mating with the MC tester. The expression of target genes in the generations was monitored by the survival rate of sugar beet plants after the treatment with glyphosate. During the research, individuals with a high level of gene expression were selected. Upon self-pollination of initial heterozygous original forms, deviations from Mendelian segregation were observed in most cases. The criterion for assessing the stability of expression of glyphosate resistance genes in case of seed breeding was the compliance with the laws of Mendel among the analyzed descendants. In the initial stages of the research, the level of stability gene expression had been 10 – 15 % of the total number of analyzed plants. After four self-pollinations, the stability gene expression significantly increased, and genotypes with the resistance of 91 – 100 % were selected. The first apo- and syncarpous self-pollinating lines of sugar beet with high tolerance in the role of resistance donors have been created. The positive results of preliminary tests of the first glyphosate-tolerant hybrids need confirmation. Seeds and roots of resistant forms have been obtained for further research.