VIR Collection Research Articles

Physiological estimation of heat and drought resistance at the initial stages of winter barley ontogenesis

Drought and heat stress have significant effects on plant growth and productivity. In the natural environment, these abiotic stresses often occur simultaneously, which amplifies their negative effects. Therefore, understanding heat and drought influence on plant growth and productivity is particularly valuable. Winter barley, compared to other winter grain crops, is characterized by a relatively high resistance to moisture deficiency in soil and the effect of relatively high air temperatures. The current paper has highlighted the study of physiological indicators of winter barley resistance to moisture deficiency and high temperature effect. There have been presented the results of laboratory study for the period of 2022–2023. Identification of drought and heat resistance was carried out in the initial period of plant development on 100 winter barley samples of local selection and the VIR collection. The purpose of the study was to identify winter barley resistance to high temperatures and moisture deficiency using a set of laboratory methods. There has been studied the effect of sucrose solution of different concentrations (8, 12 and 14 atm.) and ambient temperature (52 and 54 °C) on the ability of seed germination under stress conditions. During the trials, there has been identified the best differentiation of resistance values under osmotic stress (8 atm.) and temperature (-54 °C). There have been identified the samples ‘Step’ (211.9 rel. units) and ‘HVW 36/72’ (157.9 rel. units) combining high resistance to osmotic and thermal stress, which reliably exceeded the values of the standard variety ‘Timofey’ by 25.3–79.3 rel. units.

Studying the biochemical composition of peanut accessions from the VIR collection

Background. Peanut is one of the most important oil crops for food purposes. Natural peanut butter contains two unsaturated fatty acids, oleic and linoleic, which make up to 80% of the total fatty acid content in peanut oil. The quality of oil depends on the ratio between these two acids. Analyzing the diversity of oil content and fatty acid composition in peanut accessions preserved at VIR and assessing the effect of soil, climate, and other factors on these characters is vital for the development of new peanut cultivars rich in oil. Materials and methods. Peanut germplasm accessions were studied for their biochemical composition of fatty acids and the content of oil and protein. The accessions were reproduced for three years (2019–2021) at two ecogeographic locations: in Krasnodar Territory, and Astrakhan Province. Cv. ‘Otradokubansky’ was used as a reference. ANOVA was applied for statistical data processing. Results and discussion. The percentage composition of 18 fatty acids was calculated in peanut oil, with oleic and linoleic acids dominating. The content of oleic acid depended on the genotype for 42–53%, and that of linoleic acid, for 50–71%. The latter was also influenced by the place and year of cultivation. The ranges of variation over the three years of studies in Krasnodar Territory were 35.4–57.6% for oleic acid, and 18.3–38.1% for linoleic acid, whereas in Astrakhan Province they were 33.4–51.2%, and 30.9–42.7%, respectively. Under unfavorable conditions, the content of oleic acid in peanut prevailed. The oil content depended on the genotype for 81%, and its percentage was 32.0–44.4%.

Black currant cultivars, developed at the Polli Horticultural Research Center (Estonia), in Northwest Russia

Background. Introduction of new foreign cultivars makes it possible to expand the limits of the genetic potential of the VIR collection. A comprehensive study of such germplasm accessions is important for identifying sources of traits useful for breeding and the best cultivars for practical utilization. Materials and methods. Eight black currant cultivars released in Estonia were studied from 2015 through 2023 at Pushkin and Pavlovsk Laboratories of VIR. Conventional methods were used to test their adaptability and assess their main productivity indicators and berry quality. The resulting data were statistically processed in Microsoft Excel according to the guidelines by B. A. Dospekhov. Results and conclusion. The studied cultivars appeared well adapted to the environments of Northwest Russia. The heat supply in Leningrad Province is optimal for their cultivation. Good adaptability, synchronized fruit ripening, stable yields, and fine taste of berries were demonstrated by cvs. ‘Almo’ (k-44169), ‘Albos’ (k-44167), ‘Elo’ (k-44171), ‘Karri’ (k-44172), ‘Mulgi Must’ (k-38061), ‘Musti’ (k-44173), and ‘Varmas’ (k-44174). They are recommended for amateur gardens in Northwest Russia. Cv. ‘Karri’ (k-44172) is a promising source of such traits as good self-fertility, large fruit size, stable yield, well-balanced taste, high anthocyanin content in berries, and resistance to American powdery mildew and gall mite. Cv. ‘Varmas’ is a source of earliness, high self-fertility, and dessert taste of berries.

Rapid assessment of main agronomic indicators in the grain of winter and spring forms of triticale using infrared spectroscopy

Background. Calibration models were developed for rapid assessment of crucial agronomic indicators in the grain of winter and spring triticale from the VIR collection using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). These calibration models will enable users to find the most optimal utilization trends for individual triticale accessions. Materials and methods. Indicators of agronomic value (coloration, moisture, and the content of ash, protein, starch, amylose and fiber) were studied on a set of 32 grain samples collected from winter and spring triticale forms (Triticosecale Wittm. & A. Camus) reproduced in 2021–2022 at the Dagestan Experiment Station, a branch of the N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR). Calibration models for the assessment of the said agronomic characters in triticale grain were developed on the platform of the MATRIX-I IR analyzer (Bruker Optics, Germany) and based on the values obtained by classical methods of biochemical analysis adopted at VIR. Results. Reliability of the calibration models was tested on a randomized batch of triticale grain samples: the results of the new calibrations were compared with those of the conventional biochemical analysis. This verification showed that the data obtained through the use of calibration curves were reliable for protein and ash content, while other models required further improvement. Conclusion. Calibration models for measuring protein and ash content developed on the basis of the MATRIX-I IR analyzer can be used to perform rapid assessment of the winter and spring triticale grain. This method makes it possible to accelerate the process of obtaining crop characteristics for a number of basic agronomic characters and preserve valuable breeding material.

Contrast Relative Humidity Response of Diverse Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) Genotypes: Deep Study Using RNAseq Approach.

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) is appreciated for its suitability for cultivation and obtaining good yields in relatively extreme farming conditions. It is resistant to high temperatures and drought. Moreover, food products prepared from Vigna are rich in many nutrients such as proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates, minerals, fiber, vitamins, and other bioactive compounds. However, in East and Southeast Asia, where the products of this crop are in demand, the climate is characterized by excessive humidity. Under these conditions, the vast majority of cowpea varieties tend to have indeterminate growth (elongated shoot length) and are unsuitable for mechanized harvesting. The molecular mechanisms for tolerance to high relative humidity remain the least studied in comparison with those for other abiotic stress factors (drought, heat, cold, flooding, etc.). The purpose of the work was to reveal and investigate differentially expressed genes in cowpea accessions having contrasting growth habits (determinate and indeterminate) under humid and drought conditions. We performed RNA-seq analysis using selected cowpea accessions from the VIR collection. Among the genotypes used, some have significant changes in their plant architecture in response to high relative humidity, while others were tolerant to these conditions. In total, we detected 1697 upregulated and 1933 downregulated genes. The results showed that phytohormone-related genes are involved in cowpea response to high relative humidity. DEGs associated with jasmonic acid signaling are proposed to be key contributors in the maintenance of compact architecture under humid conditions.

Germination of soybean seeds after low-temperature storage and its dependence on weather and climate conditions in the places of reproduction of accessions

Background. Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is a microbiotic whose seeds quickly lose germination in uncontrolled conditions at room temperatures. This determines the need to preserve accessions in special conditions. Low temperature storage (LTS) allows to maintain high seed germination ability, but not for all accessions. Therefore, it is relevant to assess the results of LTS at the VIR Genebank and to make an attempt to determine the best geographical conditions for growing plants and harvesting seeds that will be subjected to LTS. Materials and methods. The work was carried out on 312 soybean accessions from the VIR collection, originating from almost the entire area of soybean cultivation. The accessions used in the research were reproduced at three VIR experiment stations (ES), namely Adler ES, Kuban ES (Krasnodar Territory) and the Far East ES (Primorsky Territory). The seeds were harvested in 1999 to 2017 and stored in sealed foil laminated bags at –10°C from 2002 to 2021. The accessions were removed from LTS and germination assessed in 2022. Results. At the beginning of LTS, seed germination (Gi) ranged from 12 to 100% (averaging 79.1%), while that after LTS (Gr) ranged from 1 to 97% (57.8% on average). The retention of germination ability was expressed as the germination index (GI = Gr / Gi), which ranged from 0.02 to 1.73 (an average of 0.72). All the indicators of germination in the range of up to 20 years of LTS were not associated with the duration of LTS and with the number of years before LTS (0.5-4 years in our research). The climatic conditions characteristic of the place of reproduction had a significant impact on Gi and Gr, but not on GI. The average Gi of seeds obtained at the Adler ES and Kuban ES did not differ significantly (77.4% and 75.7%), while that of seeds harvested at the Far East ES was significantly higher (84.0%). Gr of the accessions from the Far East ES (64.3%) was also greater than that of accessions from the Kuban ES (52.2%) and Adler ES (57.2%). The excessively high sum of temperatures above 10°C (recorded in some years at all stations) reduced Gi, Gr but had little effect on GI. The highest values of Gi, Gr, and GI were demonstrated by the accessions maturing in 101-120 days. Additionally drying of the most late-ripening accessions (later than 140 days) in sheaves under an awning yielded seeds with high germination ability and good LTS tolerance. Conclusion. The seeds from different places of reproduction of accessions differed in germination before and after LTS, and, on an average, the highest values were demonstrated by the seeds harvested at the Far East ES, where the temperature regime is closer to the optimal one for soybeans. The seed germination index showed relative independence from the conditions of reproduction of accessions, including the climate and weather conditions, as well as the initial germination ability and LTS duration.

The prospects for the introduction of a mesoamerican species chia Salvia hispanica L. in the conditions of the southern forest-steppe of Western Siberia

Relevance. This article presents the results of breeding work and the introduction of the Mesoamerican culture Spanish sage or chia (Salvia hispanica L.), which is currently one of the most popular pseudo-grain crops from the family of Lamiaceae in Western countries due to its unique seeds rich in nutrients, PUFA, dietary fiber and antioxidants. In 2009, the European Union considered the seeds of the plant to be a promising type of food. There are only 17 registered genotypes of culture in the world, in the collection of GRR VIR there are two forms obtained from European countries. There are no registered varieties of Spanish sage in the state register of breeding achievements approved for use in the territory of the Russian Federation. The research of this culture is limited only by the biological side: the study of morphobiological features, its use for decorative purposes.Material and methodology. The research was conducted in the educational and experimental farm of the Omsk State Agrarian University in 2019-2023. The objects of research were several samples of various ecological and geographical origin and 2 new forms of Spanish sage obtained during local selection. All records and observations were carried out according to the following methods: field experience in vegetable growing (S.S. Litvinov, 2011), State variety testing of agricultural crops (1989), assessment of primary introduction by G.P. Semenova (2001) and variety assessment of floral ornamental plants by V.N. Bylov (1971).Results. As a result of continuous year-round introduction work, the breeders of the Omsk State Agricultural University managed to overcome the photoperiodic sensitivity of the plant and obtain adaptive forms 0/18 and 3/18. An assessment of the decorative value, the success of the introduction and the possibility of introducing new samples into production in the conditions of the southern forest-steppe of Western Siberia is given. The first of the locally obtained forms, as more productive, was transferred to the state variety testing in 2023 under the assumed name of the variety "Siberian Emerald". Breeding work in this direction continues.

Nomenclatural standards and microsatellite profiles of raspberry cultivars bred at the I.V. Michurin Federal Scientific Center

Nomenclatural standards of three raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) cultivars ‘Kleopatra’ (WIR-98480), ‘Sulamif’’ (WIR-98517) and ‘Shakhrazada’ (WIR-98536) bred at the I.V. Michurin Federal Scientific Center (FSC) were prepared according to the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants. The nomenclatural standards of these cultivars have been transferred to N.I. Vavilov Federal Research Center of the All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR) for storage in the Herbarium of Cultivated Plants of the World, Their Wild Relatives and Weeds (WIR). Plant material for herbarium specimens was collected in the experimental field of the I.V. Michurin FSC by the cultivars’ author and handed to VIR for genotyping as well as for preservation in the live collection of VIR in compliance with the comprehensive strategy for registering and preserving domestic cultivars of the vegetatively propagated crops in a genebank. Microsatellite profiles of the three cultivars in question were obtained by using six nuclear SSR-markers. The genotyped specimens of the same raspberry cultivars, genotypically identical to the nomenclatural standards, were transferred to the VIR field collection and preservation in controlled conditions in the VIR in vitro collection.

Genetic diversity of naked barley accessions from the VIR collection for resistance to powdery mildew in the North-West Region of the Russian Federation

BACKGROUND: Barley is an important grain crop characterized by adaptability to various growing conditions. In recent years close attention has been paid to groups of naked barley which compared to covered barley is more susceptible to the influence of pathogens, that decreases the yield and quality of grain. Powdery mildew is the most harmful diseases of barley (caused by the biotrophic fungus Blumeria graminis (DC.) Golovin ex Speer f. sp. hordei Marchal). The search for new promising sources of resistance to powdery mildew is necessary for barley breeding. AIM: The aim is studying the powdery mildew resistance of naked spring barley accessions from the world collection of VIR and identifying promising sources for economically valuable traits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In field and laboratory conditions 271 of naked barley accessions of different ecological and geographical origin were studied for powdery mildew resistance and other economically valuable traits (lodging resistance, duration of the vegetative period, yield). The pathogen inoculum for laboratory work was represented by the north-western population of the pathogen. The resistance of barley samples was assessed in the field using the VIR point scale, in the laboratory using the E.B. Mains, S.M. Dietz point scale. The highly effective to powdery mildew resistance allele mlo11 was identified using PCR. RESULTS: The diversity of barley of different origins in resistance to powdery mildew is shown. 16 samples mainly from Europe, local forms from Ethiopia, Japan and India, were found to be resistant in field condition. According to the results of the assessment at the juvenile stage, 1 highly resistant sample k-31058 and 5 moderately resistant (k-20923, k-25801, k-27165, k-29911, k-30231) were identified. The naked forms k-20923 from Germany and k-29911 from Poland were resistant at all stages of plant development. The mlo11 allele was detected in the Arabische variety (k-20923) and heterogeneous pathogen resistance accessions k-20921, k-25793, k-27080, k-29440, k-29820. CONCLUSIONS: As a result of the work the sources of resistance to powdery mildew with a complex of economically valuable traits were identified, which can be involve in the breeding.

A study of genetic diversity of Brassica rapa L. accessions from the VIR collection by analyzing DNA polymorphism in microsatellite loci

The species Brassica rapa L. includes leafy and root crops grown in many countries of the world. Clarification of genetic relationships and population structure allows for a more accurate parental line selection for further breeding using genetically distinct forms. The B. rapa collection maintained at VIR contains 1750 accessions representing different subspecies and countries of origin, and it is a good tool for studying the diversity of cultivated forms using molecular genetic methods. The aim of the study was to investigate the genetic diversity and clarify the relationships within the B. rapa species using molecular markers. Molecular screening of 80 accessions using 16 microsatellite markers revealed alleles ranging in size from 85 to 460 bp with an average of 7.8 alleles per locus. The average polymorphic index content (PIC) was 0.278, and the expected heterozygosity (H) averaged was 0.35. Rare and unique alleles were identified for Beijing cabbage (k-63 and k-108), Japanese leafy vegetables (k-217 and k-335) and turnip (k-738) samples. Alleles of SSR loci BRMS-007 (123 bp) and BRMS-034 (136 bp) were identified, which are characteristic only of accessions of turnips, rapeseed and sarsons. In silico analysis of primer pairs was performed to clarify the sizes of expected fragments relative to the reference genome CAAS_Brap_v3.01 of Chinese cabbage line Chiifu-401-42. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using the STRUCTURE program and resulted in the distribution of accessions into four clusters according to botanical classification: Chinese cabbage; pakchoi, tatsoi; Japanese leafy vegetables, wutacai, tsoisum, mizuna and mibuna (kyona) and hybrid forms; turnip and rape accessions.

Principles of rye breeding for low content of water-soluble pentosans in grain

Winter rye is the second cereal crop after wheat. Rye exceeds other cereals in terms of nutritional value due to the high content of lysine, methionine, valine, as well as the balance of other essential amino acids in its protein. The direct use of baking rye grain as an animal feed is limited by the presence of water-soluble pentosans (arabinoxylans) in it. Therefore, the creation of low-pentosan rye with highly nutritious grain is a very perspective direction in the grain feed cultivar breeding. Under the leadership and with direct participation of Vladimir D. Kobylyansky, a technology for breeding multiple-use low-pentosan rye was worked out at the N.I. Vavilov VIR in 2004-2021. A relationship between the low pentosan content and grain coat thinness has been revealed. For the first time, an effective method of low-pentosan genotypes identification by selecting thin-coat grains has been developed. This method was used to study 562 accessions from the VIR collection represented by cultivar populations, weedy and wild rye. It has been established that the number of thin-coat grains in a sample varies from 12 to 70%, depending on the accession. Varieties with the highest frequencies of low-pentosan genotypes can be used as initial material for breeding. The dependence of low content of water-soluble pentosans in grains on the expression of recessive alleles of the gene/genes responsible for the manifestation of the trait has been revealed. To create grain feed cultivars, it is proposed to use the method of cumulative intrapopulation crosses and the method of pairwise cross-pollinations of the plants with indicator ears. As a result, new cultivar populations of low-pentosan rye for universal use have been created, namely ‘Vavilovskayaʼ, ‘Bereginyaʼ, ‘Podarokʼ, ‘Yantarnayaʼ, ‘Krasnoyarskaya Universalnayaʼ, ‘Novaya Eraʼ, and ‘Argaʼ. These cultivars are characterized by a low, as in wheat, genetically determined content of pentosans. They have been evaluated in the main rye growing regions, tested as raw material for fodder production and bread baking, and found to match the previously released commercial (bread) cultivars in terms of yield. The baking properties of new cultivars do not exceed those of bread rye. The use of low-pentosan cultivars in animal diets eliminates the problem that exists when feeding them with bread rye grain. These cultivars have no analogs in the world; they are listed in the State Register for Selection Achievements Admitted for Usage (2023).

Resistance of potato cultivars and hybrid clones from the VIR collection to the northwestern population of <i>Phytophthora infestans</i>

Resistance of potato cultivars and hybrid clones from the VIR collection to the northwestern population of <i>Phytophthora infestans</i>

Sources and donors of the multi-row ear trait for hybrid breeding of corn in the VIR collection

BACKGROUND: The sign of the number of rows of grains on the cob is one of the key to improving the productivity of corn. The effects of the genes that control this trait have been poorly studied. The search for sources and donors of this trait is relevant for hybrid breeding. AIM: The aim of this study is to search for sources and donors of the multi-row ear trait in the VIR collection for involvement in the breeding of hybrid corn. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The studies were carried out on 16 lines (S3–6) with different inbredness and varying the number of rows of grains on an ear from 18 to 36, the exotic 8-row race CUZCO characterized by large grains and the MP-20 population with 20–36 rows of ears. Hybridization and crop recording were carried out in the field conditions of the foothill zone of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. RESULTS: Based on similar phenotypic characteristics, 16 lines of corn with a multi-row cob were ranked into 5 groups. Analysis of the structure of the ear of the experimental F1 hybrid between the MP-20 population and the 8-row, large-grain race CUZCO showed that the trait of multi-row ear and large-grain is manifested as incomplete dominance. The yield potential of the experimental simple hybrid was no less than 12.2 tons per 1 hectare with a harvest grain moisture content of 37% and an FAO ripeness group of at least 600. A significant drawback of corn lines with multi-row cobs is the high harvest moisture content of the grain. CONCLUSIONS: The collection of multirow maize lines serves as a valuable source of genes that control important quantitative traits and can be involved in the breeding of hybrid maize for its improvement.

Application of NIR spectroscopy to determine the basic biochemical parameters of black oat grain quality

Background. The purpose of this work was to develop calibration models for rapid assessment of the main biochemical parameters of grain quality of naked and covered black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb.) using near-infrared reflectance (NIR) spectroscopy. The use of whole oat grains makes it possible to preserve breeding material of special value, which is very important for breeders. Materials and methods. Black oat grain from 50 accessions from the VIR collection was grown in 2014–2020 in various agro-ecological conditions of the Russian Federation. Chemical parameter values for constructing calibration models were determined in the Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of VIR using traditional methods, such as Kjeldahl for protein/nitrogen, Soxhlet extraction (modified by S.V. Rushkovsky) for oil, polarimetry according to Evers for starch, and gravimetry for beta-glucans. Results. The work resulted in the construction of calibration models for the determination of protein, oil, starch and beta-glucans in whole grains of black oat by a Bruker's MATRIX-I IR analyzer (Germany). A test batch of 20 accessions was used for assessing reliability of the constructed models. The models for determining protein, starch and oil were found to be reliable, while the model for determining beta-glucans needs improvements. It was found that the difference between the values obtained by spectroscopy and by standard chemical methods averaged 0.38 % for protein, 0.57 % for starch and 0.30 % for oil, which does not exceed the maximum permissible error of parallel measurements. The relative difference between the studied indicators does not exceed 3-6 % on an average. Conclusion. The proposed physical method for the analysis of black oat grain allows an express preliminary assessment of breeding material with a high speed of analysis. The main advantages of the method include the possibility of preserving valuable starting material, economizing on reagents, increasing labor efficiency, and obtaining data simultaneously on several parameters of the scanned sample with a specified repeatability.

Development of methodological approaches to assessing the technological properties of oat grain

The range of methods for assessing the quality of grain and its technological properties in cereal crops, of oat in particular, is extremely limited. The available methods are labor-intensive and not always sufficiently informative. The variety of modern processing methods dictates the necessity in searching for more universal and informative assessment methods. Cereal crop breeding also requires high-speed and low-cost methods for assessing grain quality. The present work is a methodological study that uses a limited set oat accessions from the genetic collection of VIR, differing by geographical origin and contrasting technological properties, with an aim of developing a new grain quality assessment method and testing new methods for analyzing technological properties. The resulting criteria are compared with each other and with more traditional indicators. New systems for assessing the technological properties of grain of naked and covered oat have been proposed. A new method of sedimentation analysis for cereal crops is proposed. The diversity of the oat protein complex is exemplified in the results of sedimentation analysis, and of the carbohydrate complex – in the results of its testing by a micro-visco-amylograph. The variety of interactions between oat grain storage substances and wheat material during joint processing is shown by assessing the rheological properties of the dough mixture using a farinograph. The obtained results can be recommended for the assessment for breeding purposes, as well as for obtaining complete information about the quality of oat grain for the purpose of its further processing.

Оценка крупноплодных форм подсолнечника коллекции ВИР

The purpose of the research was to study and identify among the collection samples of sunflower from the N. I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR) the most promising ones for the de-velopment of new large-seeded source material. The studies were carried out in 2022–2023 on the fields of the Don experimental station – a branch of the V.S. Pustovoit All-Russian Research Institute of Oil Crops in accordance with the methods of conducting field experiments with oil crops. In the source material nursery, 30 foreign and Russin samples of confectionery sunflower from the VIR collection were studied. Among the 30 studied numbers, only 13 had a weight of 1000 seeds above 100 g, which indicates their large-seeded size. According to the method of A.I. Mamonov on the differentiation of genotypes by the size of achenes using the indicator of the number of seeds in 1 liter, it was confirmed that all 12 samples are large-seeded. According to meanings of oil content and huskness, nine samples belong to edible type, and three – confectionary type.

Allelic differences in the key genes of betalain biosynthesis in table beet accessions with contrasting root color from the VIR collection

Background. Table beet (Beta vulgaris L.) contains a great amount of naturally red-colored betanins. A number of enterprises are forced to import foreign dyes because the reserves of domestic plant raw materials are insufficient. With this in view, the development of cultivars with high betalain pigment content is now required.Materials and methods. Allelic differences were screened in the key genes of the betalain biosynthesis pathway among table beet accessions with various root color from the VIR collection using the Sanger DNA sequencing method.Results and discussion. For the first time we identified a nonsense mutation in the CYP76AD1 gene in cv. ‘Serdolik’ with yellow flesh; it led to the truncation of the functional P450 domain. We suggested that the detected polymorphism correlated with phenotypic switching because the well-known role of CYP76AD1 was essential for the red betalain accumulation. Moreover, a number of missense mutations in cv. ‘Avalanche’ in the first exon of the BvDODA1 gene were found. These mutations were probably associated with the expression of the uncolored phenotype. An in silico analysis revealed highly homologous copies of CYP76AD5, located tandemly on chromosome 9. Attention should be paid to these copies, together with the CYP76AD6 gene, as they seem the most preferable targets for a knockout to increase the red pigment content.Conclusion. It is possible to identify the best table beet accessions for further genome editing among a previously selected high-betanin group. In addition, this study revealed the allelic differences in the key genes of the betalain biosynthesis pathway. These results will be useful for the development of DNA molecular markers to facilitate the selection of table beet forms with required properties.

Effectiveness of ISSR markers for detecting genomic variability in <I>Panicum miliaceum</I> L. accessions

Background. Millet is one of the main cereal crops with a wide area of cultivation. Over the past decade, there has been a significant increase in the consumption of millet and its processed products. As a result, the breeding of cultivars with high consumer properties is becoming relevant, requiring knowledge of the genetic diversity of germplasm accessions to identify donors of valuable agronomic traits and select parental forms using ISSR markers.Materials and methods. The analysis with 8 ISSR primers included 21 accessions of Panicum miliaceum L. of various origin from the VIR collection. The DNA of each accession was isolated by the CTAB method, and ISSR analysis was performed in a ­BioRad T100 Thermal Cycler. Statistical processing was made in the DARwin program (version 6.0.21).Results and conclusion. Eight primers were used to amplify 116 fragments, 62 (53.4%) of which turned out to be polymorphic. To assess the effectiveness of the analyzed primers and identify the polymorphism of millet, basic indicators of their informativeness were calculated and assessed by quantifying four marker parameters. Average PIC (0.27–0.36), EMR (1.38–14.5) and MI (0.12–4.87) values were obtained for most ISSR primers. Four ISSR primers had high Rp values (3.52–6.76) and were the most informative for genotyping. The selected ISSR markers were used to assess the genetic variability of the accessions and identify them. The values of genetic distances (GD) were 0.05–0.21. It was shown that four ISSR markers with the best informativeness values provided sufficient polymorphism to assess the genetic diversity of the analyzed P. miliaceum genotypes and could be recommended for identification of the variability in the genome of millet accessions.

Adaptive features of winter triticale accessions from the VIR collection

Background. In the context of global climate change, the study and development of genetic material with environmental plasticity and stability in the manifestation of its traits becomes relevant. The scientific and practical results achieved in triticale breeding place this crop among the most popular cereals in terms of economic importance. However, the main problem for the use of triticale in breeding practice is its limited genetic resources.Materials and methods. The research materials were 161 winter triticale (× Triticosecale Wittm. ex A. Camus) accessions from the global collection of VIR. The study and breeding-oriented assessment of the material were based on conventional breeding techniques and carried out according to the guidelines approved by VIR with minor amendments. The obtained research data underwent statistical analysis using the method by A. V. Kilchevsky and L. V. Khotyleva.Results. Environmental and genetic parameters were analyzed under the conditions of the Middle Volga Region of Russia. Genotypes were identified for their high general adaptability, i. e., securing the highest average yield in the entire set of environments. Cultivars were also selected for their least variable high yields under the impact of weather conditions. The analysis of the studied set of accessions showed that both high-yielding and low-yielding genotypes were stable. The character’s mean value and its environmental sensitivity were relatively independent and could be incorporated in one genotype in various combinations. This finding can be used in the process of triticale breeding.

Breeding value of potato hybrid clones from the VIR collection revealed in the environments of Kamchatka Territory

Background. Potato breeding involves planned artificial hybridization between previously selected parental lines. A way to make potato breeding more efficient is to use the diversity of the germplasm and broaden the gene pool of parental lines. Interspecific potato hybrids originated on the elite potato germplasm display a set of valuable traits. The current challenge is to assess the performance of potato hybrids under specific soil and climate conditions to clarify their breeding value.The objective of the study was to evaluate potato hybrids in the environments of Kamchatka Territory according to a set of traits, identify the best parental lines, develop new hybrid combinations, and select promising breeding material.Materials and methods. Eleven potato hybrids from VIR were studied over three years (2020–2022) in the fields of Kamchatka Research Institute of Agriculture. The hybrids were benchmarked against two reference potato cultivars, ‘Fresco’ and ‘Vulkan’, belonging to the early and mid-early maturity groups, respectively. Crosses between the hybrids and 28 potato cultivars were carried out in the greenhouse. The new hybrid material was tested in a preliminary trial nursery for yield and earliness.Results. Hybrid 117-2 was better in yield (899 g/plant) than cvs. ‘Vulkan’ and ‘Fresco’ (700–739 g/plant). Hybrids 94-5, 99-10- 1, 8-1-2004, 8-3-2004, 8-5-2004, 135-3-2005, 135-5-2005, 99-6-6, and 134-2-2006 in most traits matched the potato cultivars, manifesting good berry formation and seed setting when crossed. Out of 140 crosses between 11 hybrids and 28 cultivars, 35 crosses between 10 hybrids and 13 cultivars were successful. Most hybrids were effectively used in crossings as maternal forms.Conclusion. VIR’s hybrids 94-5, 8-1-2004, and 8-5-2004 proved the most promising as source material for the development of new early potatoes under the conditions of Kamchatka Territory.