VIR Collection Research Articles

Diversity of <i>PsSym29</i> and <i>PsNRLK1</i> genes in the VIR germplasm collection of pea (<i>Pisum sativum</i> L.)

BACKGROUND: N.I. Vavilov Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR) (Saint Petersburg, Russia) maintains a large collection of pea (Pisum sativum L.). Earlier, several growth and yield parameters were recorded for plants of 99 accessions grown under inoculation with nodule bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS: Polymorphism of genes encoding symbiotic receptor kinase PsSym29 [participating in the autoregulation of nodulation (AON) system] and closely related receptor kinase PsNRLK1 (with yet unknown function in symbiosis) was assessed in 99 pea genotypes from the VIR collection. Nucleotide diversity, Tajimas D, and Fay and Wus H statistics were calculated using DNAsp 5.0 software. The significance of associations of allelic state of the sequenced genes with the growth and yield parameters was tested by two-way ANOVA followed by FDR correction and by regression analysis.
 RESULTS: Nucleotide diversity and the ratio of synonymous to non-synonymous substitutions was greater in PsNRLK1 as compared to PsSym29. The analysis of Fay and Wus H in sliding window revealed signatures of positive selection in one site of PsSym29 and in three sites of PsNRLK1 gene sequences located in 1st exons encoding LRR (leucine rich repeat) domains. No significant associations of allelic state of neither PsSym29 nor PsNRLK1 genes was found with plant growth and yield parameters.
 CONCLUSIONS: The sequences of both PsSym29 and PsNRLK1 genes undergo positive selection, but the conditions in which specific allelic states of the genes become adaptive are to be elucidated in future.

Study of the collection sesame samples in the Rostov region

From 2018 to 2020, there was studied a collection of sesame varieties of various ecological and geographical origin at the Don Experimental Station, a branch of the Federal State Budget Scientific Institution Federal Research Center VNIIMK. The research was carried out within the framework of State assignment No. 0684-2019-0013 ‘Development of new source material and identifying varieties and hybrids of oilseeds: sunflower, mustard, flax. Preservation of the gene pool of the main oilseeds’. The purpose of the current research was to study the morphobiological characteristics of sesame samples of various ecological and geographical origin, to study the growth and development of light- and dark-seeded groups, to identify samples with positive economically valuable traits. The color of sesame seeds is associated with their biochemical functions involved in protein and oil metabolism, as well as with the content of antioxidants (Chengqi et al., 2021). Studying collection samples by a set of traits, it is necessary to identify the most promising ones (Bashlakova, Sintsova, 2021). They must have high productivity, resistance to unfavorable conditions of the cultivation region. It is necessary to pay attention to a length of a vegetation period, a shape, location and capsules’ cracking. (Kalitskaya, Sinegovskaya et al., 2021). The current paper has presented the study results of sesame varieties from the VIR collection. There has been presented a comparative characteristic of light- and dark-seeded groups. There have been described the differences in the main economically valuable traits, phenological phases, and fatty acid composition. There has been established a range of variation between groups with different vegetation periods, fatty acid composition and other economically valuable traits. Phenological observations have shown that the range of variation in a vegetation period and plant height in the dark-seeded group was wider than in light-seeded samples. Productivity of the light-seeded group was 0.56–0.62 t/ha, which was 0.13–0.24 t/ha higher than the dark-seeded samples with 0.32–0.49 t/ha. The range of variation within the groups was 0.16 t/ha for light-seeded and 0.17 t/ha for dark-seeded samples. The oil content in the light-seeded group is also higher than the samples with dark seeds on 0.8–1.2 %, the variation range within the light-seeded group was 2.9 % and 2.5 % within the dark-seeded group. 1000-seed weight was practically at the same level between the groups and amounted to 2.9–3.0 g for light-seeded samples and 2.9–3.1 g for dark-seeded samples.

Сравнительная оценка степени повреждения клеточных мембран образцов чечевицы мировой коллекции ВИР различного эколого-географического происхождения

Differences in the degree of damage to cell membranes in small-seeded and large-seeded (plate) varieties of lentils of the world collection of VIR named after V.I. N.I. Vavilov. An assessment of the relative drought resistance of lentils by determining the exosmosis of electrolytes from plant leaves made it possible to identify samples with the lowest cell membrane permeability as an indirect indicator of drought resistance. High resistance to "physiological drought" in laboratory conditions was noted in the following samples: 2021 - k-2872 (USA), k-2850 (Russia), k-1043 (Italy), k-2839 (Canada), k-2365 (Sweden), k-1964 (Ethiopia); 2022 - k-1850 (Armenia), k-2850 (Russia), k-2365 (Sweden). Therefore, it is purposeful to include samples k-2850 (Russia) and k-2365 (Sweden) as highly resistant in breeding programs to create a valuable initial material of lentils in the arid zones of the Russian Federation. Samples of lentils with increased adaptive potential are proposed. Keywords: LENTILS, COLLECTION, SAMPLE, EXOSMOSIS, DEGREE OF DAMAGE, CELL MEMBRANES

VIR and Leningrad Quarantine Laboratory: 90 years of cooperation

The history of Leningrad Quarantine Laboratory, a subdivision of the Soviet and Russian phytosanitary services, is discussed. Its interaction and cooperation with the All-Union Research Institute of Plant Industry (later: N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources, VIR) are reviewed. The background of the need to organize such laboratory, its main activities, and the changes that followed are also explained.Leningrad Quarantine Laboratory has always closely collaborated with VIR. It has been accommodated within the Institute’s premises for 75 years. Such proximity has facilitated and accelerated the access to the plant germplasm received by VIR for plant protection and quarantine experts. Thus, a unique combination of phytosanitary safety and research activities was achieved. At the same time, the laboratory turned out to be an important research institution, publishing scientific works and methodological guidelines in the field of plant protection.In the course of its activities, the laboratory staff improved the existing methods and developed new ones for phytosanitary control of plant germplasm and its protection against pests, weeds, and pathogenic microorganisms. Manuals, directories, and identification guides written by the laboratory staff still remain the reference books for quarantine and plant protection experts. The laboratory was also very important as a qualification improvement facility for such experts. All these functions have become possible because of the work with plant germplasm that arrived to the VIR collection.

Evaluation of improved potato cultivars according to their agronomic traits under the conditions of Murmansk Province

Background. The main objective of the Polar Experiment Station is to maintain and preserve the global potato collection of VIR. The collection is replenished with new improved potato cultivars. Their main agronomic traits are studied: earliness, productivity, starch content in tubers, resistance to viruses and fungi, etc. After three years of evaluation, cultivars are transferred to the maintenance collection.Materials and methods. Thirteen new potato accessions the from VIR collection were studied in 2018–2020 for valuable agronomic traits under the extreme conditions of Murmansk Province using VIR’s guidelines.Results and conclusions. The study made it possible to characterize this set of accessions according to their phenological parameters, earliness, productivity, and disease resistance. Accessions that exceeded the reference (‘Khibinskiy ranniy’, k-6928) in a number of indicators were identified. Three accessions demonstrated the best productivity across the years of the study: k-25327 (local from Georgia), k-25330 (‘KazSIP’) and k-25314 (‘Arizona’). Accession k-25311 (‘Gornyak’) was selected for earliness, productivity, and marketability of tubers; k-25302 (‘Babayev’) was identified for its productivity and high marketability of tubers; k-25302 (Arrow’) showed high productivity, high marketability of tubers, and large tuber size. The accessions selected for their starch content were k-25330 (‘KazSIP’) and k-25327 (local from Georgia). Six potato accessions were not affected by fungal diseases: k-25258 (‘Sunkar’), k-25302 (‘Babayev’), k-25311 (‘Gornyak’), k-25314 (‘Arizona’), k-25339 (‘Bravo’) and k-25317 (‘B-O-E’). Symptoms of viral diseases were not found in k-25311 (‘Gornyak’), k-25321 (‘Labadia’), k-25327 (local from Georgia), k-25336 (‘Ametist’) and k-25318 (‘Cogu Valley’). The results of the study made it possible to recommend them for new potato breeding programs in Murmansk Province.

Callus formation ability in cultivated peanuts (<i>Arachis hypogaea</i> L.)

Background: Russia is one of the largest peanut importing countries. At the same time, in the south of the country, several zones meet the requirements for peanut cultivation. It is possible to increase the yield of the existing peanut varieties by using modern biotechnology methods, in particular agrobacterial transformation. It is known from the literature data that different peanut genotypes and explants from various sources react differently to in vitro regeneration. Successful regeneration depends on the correct protocol, including both the type of regeneration and the composition of media promoting growth and in vitro induction.Objectives: a technique for obtaining peanut regenerants in in vitro culture.Materials and methods: Eight peanut accessions from the VIR collection of different origin were used in the work. Embryonic explants were grown on Murashige-Skoog medium supplemented with the hormone 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D).Results and conclusions: As a result of assessing the regenerative ability of peanuts grown on Murashige-Skoog medium with the hormone 2,4-D at a concentration of 2 g/L, differences in the callus formation ability were revealed in different accessions. Those with catalog numbers k-793, k-2054 and k-2055 did not form organogenic calli, while accessions k-698 and k-1987 showed the highest percentage of callus formation from embryonic explants.

Effective Resistance to Four Fungal Foliar Diseases in Samples of Wild Triticum L. Species from the VIR (N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources) Collection: View from Vavilov's Concepts of Plant Immunity.

To identify new sources of effective resistance to four foliar diseases of wheat, 173 accessions of four wheat species, Triticum boeoticum, T. urartu, T. araraticum, and T. dicoccoides, from the VIR collection were tested at the juvenile and adult growth stages for resistance to leaf rust (Pt = Puccinia triticina), powdery mildew (Bgt = Blumeria graminis tritici), Septoria nodorum blotch (SNB), and dark-brown leaf spot blotch (HLB = Helminthospjrium leaf blotch). The accessions included new additions to the collection, some old samples that had never been tested before, as well as earlier tested samples noted for high levels of juvenile resistance to some fungal diseases. Natural populations of Puccinia triticina and Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici, mixture of Parastagonospora nodorum and Bipolaris sorokiniana isolates were used to inoculate and to evaluate resistance to Pt, Bgt, SNB, and HLB, respectively. Two samples of T. boeoticum, three of T. urartu, and one of T. araraticum were resistant to leaf rust at both tested stages. Further tests (phytopathological and molecular analyses) excluded Lr9, Lr19, Lr24, Lr41, or Lr47 as single genes controlling resistance; hence, these accessions likely carry new effective leaf rust resistance genes. High level of Bgt resistance was identified in three entries of T. boeoticum, one of T. araraticum, and eleven of T. dicoccoides. All tested accessions were susceptible to HLB and SNB at both tested stages. Accessions identified as resistant are valuable plant material for introgressive hybridization in bread and durum wheat breeding. The results are discussed in the context of N.I. Vavilov's concept of crop origin and diversity, and the laws of plant natural immunity to infectious diseases.

Prospects for the use of natural transgenic cultivated peanut (<i>Arachis hypogaea</i> L.) in breeding

Common peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), or peanut, is an annual herbaceous plant from the legume family (Fabaceae). Russia is one of the largest buyers of peanuts, and at the same time, in the south of the country, a number of zones meet the requirements for the cultivation of this crop. However, at present there are no commercial peanut crops in Russia, and selection work is almost not carried out. It is necessary to identify a new source material for breeding and breeding new high-yielding varieties. In the genomes of species of the genus Arachis, homologues of agrobacterial opine synthase genes, cucumopine synthase (cus) and deoxyfructosylglutamine synthase (mas2`), have been identified. The expression of these genes can affect the economically valuable traits of the plant, since the synthesis of various opines affects the composition of the microbiome in the rhizosphere. We have analyzed the expression of the cus gene in various organs of 9 peanut lines from the VIR collection, which have different geographical origin, belong to different cultivar types, and differ in morphological characters. As a result of the analysis, the organ-specific expression was shown; samples were identified that were contrasting in terms of the level of cus gene expression, including those with a high level of expression in the roots (kk-168, 416, 751). For the first time, data were obtained on the work of the cus gene at different stages of plant development on accessions k-168 and k-1157. An increase in the level of expression in the roots during flowering was revealed; during seed germination, the expression is lower. Further analysis and search for a correlation between the expression level of the cus gene and the manifestation of economically valuable traits in peanuts can provide new material for creating promising varieties.
 The studies were carried out using the equipment of the resource center of the Science Park of Saint Petersburg State University Development of molecular and cellular technologies.
 This work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation grant No. 21-14-00050.

Diversity of the VIR basil (<I>Ocimum basilicum</I> L.) collection by morphological and phenological features

Relevance. Basil is one of the most popular aromatic plants grown in the world. Various species and forms of Ocimum spp. differ in the nature of growth, color and aromatic composition. The VIR basil collection is represented by 452 accessions of six species from 55 countries. The expansion of the assortment of basil, as well as the identification of competitive adaptive cultivars with high economically valuable traits, determines the need to study and identify promising species and forms of Ocimum spp. The purpose of our work was to study accessions of basil (Ocimum basilicum) from the VIR collection by morphological and phenological traits and to identify accessions that have a complex of economically valuable traits for further use in the breeding.Materials and methods. The studies were carried out at the Federal Research Center N. I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR) at the VIR Pushkin and Pavlovsk Laboratories in 2019-2021 in open ground conditions. The material of the study was 66 accessions of the VIR basil collection of various agrobiological status and ecological and geographical origin. When analyzing the material, phenological observations, biometric measurements and morphological description of plants were carried out. These measurements were carried out in the phase of mass flowering.Results. As a result of the study, the degree of variability of the main phenological and morphological features was revealed. Accessions of basil were selected according to such traits as early maturity, plant height, weight of one plant and cold resistance, which can be used as starting material for breeding. The studied accessions are grouped into 7 varieties of two subspecies (subsp. basilicum and subsp. minimum): var. basilicum, var. glabratum, var. purpurescens, var. majus, var. diforme, var. minimum and var. chamaeleonicum, and their characteristics are given.

Evaluating Germplasm of Cultivated Oat Species from the VIR Collection under the Russian Northwest Conditions.

Oat is one of the most widespread and important cereal crops in the global agricultural production. Searching for new high-yielding and nutritious forms continues to be relevant, especially under the global trend of climate change, when most local oat cultivars may become economically inefficient. Spring oat accessions from VIR collection served as the material for this study; their origin is diverse, as they came from 11 countries. The basic nutritional value (the content of protein, oil, starch, and β-glucans) and characters important for breeding (plant height, panicle length, number of spikelets, number of grains per panicle, 1000 grain weight, and grain yield) were analyzed in 49 accessions of the cultivated covered oat species: Avena sativa L., A. strigosa Schreb., A. abyssinica Hochst., and A. byzantina Coch., grown under the conditions of the Russian Northwest (Leningrad Province) for two years. Variability parameters, interspecific and intervarietal differences, and the effect of weather conditions were assessed. Sources of useful agronomic traits were identified; they can be used to expand the range of the source material for the development of new high-yielding and highly nutritious oat cultivars adapted to local cultivation conditions. It is demonstrated that the VIR collection has a great potential for contemporary food and feed production and for the breeding of new oat cultivars for various purposes. Thus, the contribution of Nikolai Vavilov to the plant genetic resources investigation for the benefit of humanity is invaluable.

Metabolomic prof iles of Ribes nigrum L. and Lonicera caerulea L. from the collection of the N.I. Vavilov Institute in the setting of Northwest Russia.

Recently, the trend of using fruit and berry crops as ingredients for functional and dietary nutrition, the development and implementation of f lavors, pigments, new medicines and dietary supplements has been actualized. Because the direction of use depends on the biochemical properties of fruits, which are determined not only by species and varietal characteristics, but also by reproduction conditions, the study of the biochemical composition of fruits grown in various regions of the world continues to be relevant. In this regard, the collection of N.I. Vavilov Institute (VIR), which has a wide diversity of fruit and berry crops, is of great interest for study. Ribes nigrum fruits have a balanced set of sugars, organic acids, essential oils, microelements, a high content of vitamins, anthocyanins, pectins. Lonicera caerulea fruits are characterized by high values of phenolic substances: biof lavonoids, hydroxycinnamic acids, f lavonols, polyphenols, anthocyanins, as well as vitamins, carotenoids, iridoid glycosides and other natural antioxidants. The investigation of L. caerulea and R. nigrum fruit's accessions from the VIR collection using gas-liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry allows us to obtain new information about the biochemical characteristics of fruits, to identify L. caerulea and R. nigrum varieties with optimal economically valuable characteristics, to determine the specif icity of L. caerulea and R. nigrum metabolomic spectra in the setting of Northwest Russia. As a result of the analysis, typical compounds of the metabolomic prof ile of each culture were identif ied. Organic acids, phenol-containing compounds and polyols prevailed in L. caerulea, while mono- and oligosaccharides, in R. nigrum. The qualitative composition of the black currant varieties 'Malen'kii Printz', 'Dobriyi Dzhinn', 'Tisel', 'Orlovskii Val's', and blue honeysuckle 'S 322-4', 'Malvina', 'Leningradsky Velikan' was optimal for food consumption; the varieties of blue honeysuckle 'Bazhovskaya' and black currant 'Aleander' had a good representation of biologically active compounds, which makes samples attractive as raw materials for the production of biologically active additives, including with the use of microorganisms' cultures.

Phenotypic traits differentiating the genetic resources of pea (Pisum sativum L.) by the type of use.

The paper presents an analysis of the data obtained for pea accessions from the VIR collection studied at the Adler Experiment Station in the setting of the Krasnodar Territory in 2017-2019. It was for the f irst time that these accessions were studied for a set of phenotypic traits. The object of the study was a sample of 494 pea accessions originated from 43 countries and 18 regions and territories of the Russian Federation. The work was carried out in compliance with the methodological guidelines developed at VIR. Statistica 13.3 software was employed for statistical data processing. An assessment of four qualitative, 10 quantitative and four phenological traits in the accessions made it possible to differentiate them by the type of use, that is, as dry, forage and garden peas. The varieties differing in the type of use signif icantly differed by the values of such traits as stem length, number of pods per plant, number of nodes to the f irst f lower, number of f lowers in the inf lorescence, the maximum number of seeds per pod, pod length, and a narrower pod of forage pea compared to that of dry and garden peas. The average values of these traits were recorded for the peas with different types of use. The maximum difference was noted between garden and forage pea varieties. Dry pea varieties occupied an intermediate position. The complex of phenotypic traits identif ied determines the differences between three types of pea use, which is important when selecting the initial material for breeding appropriate varieties.

The efficiency of molecular markers of the <i>SKr</i> suppressor gene that determines the crossability of common wheat with rye

BACKGROUND: Among the genes involved in the control of crossing between common wheat and rye, the dominant suppressor SKr (Suppressor of crossability) having the major effect on inhibiting crossability is the most studied. DNA-markers have been developed for this gene. There are cases of successful application of some of them in wheat breeding, but there is practically no information about their diagnostic efficiency in screening of ex situ collections.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS: To evaluate the effectiveness of SKr markers Xcfb341, TGlc2, gene12 и gene13 to identify forms with high crossability with rye, we studied 103 bread wheat accessions from the VIR collection with different seed set (093%) after pollinated with rye.
 RESULTS: Efficiency in detection crossable forms (upper 15%) was demonstrated by markers Xcfb341, TGlc2 and gene12. No significant allele-trait association was found for gene13 marker. Ten haplotypes were identified based on four markers. Five haplotypes were revealed for accessions from China, while two of them were associated with high crossability. Eleven accessions including the line L6-HSR were heterogenic in markers. For this line the relationship of diagnostic fragments with the crossability level observed in the field has been experimentally confirmed.
 CONCLUSIONS: The SKr gene markers studied can be used for accessions searching at ex situ collections that potentially have high crossability with rye, for controlling the retention of recessive skr alleles when regenerating seed accessions, as well as in breeding programs.

Specific features of the biochemical composition of life forms of black medic (<i>Medicago lupulina</i> L.)

BACKGROUND: Black medic is used as a pasture, cover, siderate, anti-erosion culture for fixing embankments along roads, on mining dumps and for phytoremediation. Mono-, bi- and polycarpic forms are distinguished within the species, differing in the number of fruitions during the plant life cycle. The presence of polymorphism of morphological features and features of ontogenesis suggests the presence of differences in biochemical parameters in the selected groups.
 AIM: The aim of the study was to study the polymorphism of biochemical parameters of various life forms of black medic.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS: The material for the study was 20 accessions of black medic of various origins from groups of mono-, bi- and polycarpic plants of the VIR collection. For the study, a freshly harvested green mass of plants was used. The assessment was carried out according to the following biochemical parameters: the content of dry matter, protein, sugars, ascorbic acid, total acidity, chlorophylls, carotenoids, carotenes, -carotene, anthocyanins. Statistical processing of the results included calculation of the main parameters of variation, analysis of variance and discriminant analysis.
 RESULTS: The nutritional value of black medic was characterized by the content of crude protein and sugars. The range of protein variability ranged from 11,94 to 19,69 mg / 100 g of raw matter, sugars from 0,44 to 2,67%. Differences in the sugar content of plants of different groups were revealed. The content of ascorbic acid was the highest in five varieties from the polycarpic plant group presented in the study in comparison with wild-growing accessions and the monocarpic Bereginya variety. Monocarpics are distinguished by the content of anthocyanin (19,5 1,41 mg / 100 g); no significant differences were found in the content of other pigments.
 CONCLUSIONS: The results of in-depth biochemical analysis of accessions from the collection of plant genetic resources demonstrate the high variability of biologically active substances in the green mass of plants and will significantly improve the choice of the initial material for selection for forage usage.

Sources of spring common wheat resistance to powdery mildew

Effective breeding work to create disease-resistant wheat varieties provides for regional, retrospective studies to determine effective sources of resistance. One of the most harmful and globally significant wheat diseases is powdery mildew. In the conditions of Tatarstan, located in the Volga economic region of Russia, the mass development of powdery mildew on spring common wheat is noted annually, regardless of the prevailing weather conditions. The prevailing high natural infectious background allows us to objectively differentiate spring wheat samples by disease resistance. The purpose of our research was to search for sources of resistance to powdery mildew among the samples of spring common wheat of the VIR collection, which retain stability for a long time. The studies were conducted in the period from 2011 to 2021. In total, during the entire period, the resistance to powdery mildew of 702 samples was studied in the conditions of the Pre-Kama zone of the Republic of Tatarstan. The reaction of the samples was evaluated to a natural population of the fungus Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici, caused by powdery mildew of wheat. The screening of spring common wheat samples for the period from 2011 to 2020 allowed us to identify sources of field resistance to powdery mildew that retain their effectiveness for a long time: Tybalt (k-64897, Netherlands), Zebra (k-64707, Sweden), CH Rubli (k-65003, Germany), Visa (k-64390, Belarus). During this period, there was a decrease in the resistance of spring common wheat samples to powdery mildew from 3.5 points in 2011-2015 to 4.6 points in 2016-2020 (on a 9-point scale). At varietals: Toma (k-66193), Sudarynya (k-6647), Laska (k-66421) from Belarus; KWS Torridon (k-66273, UK); Tybalt (k-64897, Netherlands); Griwa (k-66701), Zura (k-66702) from Poland; Florens (k-66391, France); Odeta (66394, Czech Republic); Lavett (k-66095), Boett (k-66353) from Sweden no symptoms of powdery mildew were recorded in 2019-2021. The collection of Russian varieties and varieties from the countries of the former USSR (except Belarus) is poor in resistant varieties, only two varieties of Barakat and Sitara from Tatarstan turned out to be highly resistant. Resistant to B. graminis samples mainly originate from the European part of the world (band: Great Britain ?Belarus), approximately in geographical coordinates - 50...55? north latitude.

Aluminum tolerance and micronutrient content in the grain of oat cultivars with different levels of breeding improvement from the VIR collection

Background. Soil toxicity of Al is associated with severe changes in plant root morphology that limit the uptake of water and mineral nutrients. Long-term exposure to Al results in deficiencies in some important nutrients, such as phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and iron. Thus, the joint study of plant resistance to the effects of Al and the accumulation of micronutrients in the oat grain is relevant.Materials and methods. Thirty oat accessions of Russian and French origin from the VIR collection served as the research material. They were represented by cultivars with different levels of breeding improvement: landraces (early 1920s), cultivars developed by primitive breeding (1920–1930s), and modern improved cultivars.Results. Oat cultivars with different breeding improvement levels demonstrated significant differences in the content of micronutrients and aluminum tolerance. Among the studied accessions, landraces and modern improved cultivars showed a tendency towards medium or high Al tolerance, the group of primitive cultivars from Russia had the lowest Al tolerance, while primitive cultivars from France demonstrated the highest average resistance (0.5–1.9).Conclusion. The content of Fe and Zn was influenced by the geographic origin of genotypes. The concentrations of different micronutrients positively correlated with each other. Strong correlations were recorded between the contents of Zn and Fe (r = 0.81), and between Zn and Mg (r = 0.75). There was a positive correlation between the content of micronutrients and the resistance to crown rust (0.38 to 0.50). High content of the studied set of micronutrients was registered in such improved cultivars from France as the naked ‘Avoine Nue Renne’, ‘Chantilly’, ‘Negrita’ and ‘Noire de Michamps’, plus the Russian improved naked cultivar ‘Gavrosh’. Among them, ‘Chantilly’ was distinguished for its yield, and the naked ‘Gavrosh ‘for its high tolerance to aluminum.

Studying grain color diversity in the barley collection of VIR

Background. Dark color of barley grain (Hordeum vulgare L.) can be caused by the synthesis and accumulation of two types of polyphenolic pigments – anthocyanins and melanins, which perform important functions in plant life, participating in the regulation of growth and development, and protecting plants from adverse environmental conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the diversity of barley in the VIR collection in the context of grain color.Materials and methods. To analyze the pigment composition of the grain, 150 barley accessions with colored grains were selected from the VIR collection. Anthocyanins and melanins in grain husk were identified using qualitative reactions.Results and discussion. It was shown that in 60% of the accessions the dark color of their grain was induced by independent accumulation of melanin, while the accessions characterized by accumulation of only anthocyanins, and those with combined accumulation of anthocyanins and melanins, were 14.6% and 14%, respectively. For 11.3% of the accessions the presence of anthocyanins and melanins in grain husk was not found; their pigmentation could presumably be associated with an increased content of other polyphenolic pigments – proanthocyanidins. Accessions with melanin in grain predominated in all identified geographic groups, while other types of pigmentation were most evenly represented in the regions with the widest genetic diversity of barleys – Africa, East Asia, and the Middle East.Conclusion. Dark pigmentation of barley grain was shown to be mainly associated with the accumulation of melanin, and this type of pigmentation prevails in all geographical regions identified. The results obtained made it possible to describe the barley collection more fully and expand the possibilities of its utilization.

Comparative assessment of the resistance of introduced spring oat varieties to arid climate of the Astrakhan region

In the semi-desert zone of the north of the Astrakhan region, a comparative assessment of spring oat varieties from the world collection of VIR was carried out. The 2019-2021 studies included 57 variety samples. Based on the results of the study, the most resistant samples were identified, capable of producing a stable crop, regardless of the climatic conditions of the current years. These samples are distinguished by: high field germination, early maturity, high levels of plant productivity elements, and, consequently, high genetic potential of variety samples. Selected varieties: Leo, Scorpion and Borets (Moscow region) with a yield of 3.48, 3.00 and 2.70 t/ha, respectively.

Resistance of oats to smut diseases in the forest-steppes of the Pre-Ob region

Loose smut (Ustilago avenae (Pers.) Jens.) and covered smut (Ustilago kolleri Wille) are considered to be the most harmful and widespread in the forest-steppes of the Pre-Ob region. The poor grain yields in some years could reach up to 25%, and up to 50% in the years of epiphytoties. The purpose of the current study was to identify the resistance of oat varieties to dusty and covered smut in the forest-steppes of the Pre-Ob region. The study was carried out at the phytopathological plot of the laboratory for plant gene pool of the SRIPCB, the branch of Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of RAS in 2018–2021. The objects of research were Russian varieties from the world collection of VIR named after V.I. Vavilov. There have been studied 64 oat genotypes for resistance to local populations of loose and covered smut. There has been established a significant correlation between plants’ damage caused by loose and covered smut and soil temperature during the period ‘third decade of May – the first decade of June’ (r = 0.76 and r = 0.73). There was no significant correlation between plants’ damage and the average daily air temperature (r = 0.32 and r = 0.48). There has been determined a negative relationship (r = –0.77 and r = –0.71) between the manifestation of the disease and the amount of precipitation during the period ‘sowing-sprouts’. There has been established that most varieties are susceptible to pathogens. According to smut fungi resistance under conditions of an artificial infectious background, there have been identified such oat varieties as ‘Sibirsky Gerkules’, ‘Fakel’, ‘Rysak’ and ‘Uralets’. These varieties are characterized by large productivity, 1000-grain weight, resistance to lodging.

Selection of the starting material with winter soft wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) for selection for virus resistance

In the Volgograd region, in the dry-steppe, and especially in semi-desert zones, favorable hydrothermal conditions for obtaining maximum yields are not so often - about 20% of the years, but in these years, as a rule, various diseases, including viral ones, cause significant damage to the crop. Field and laboratory research was carried out on the basis of the laboratory of breeding, seed production and nursery breeding of the Federal Research Center of Agroecology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, located in the Kamyshinsky district, in the right-bank zone of the Volgograd region, in 2019/20. Samples of the world collection of VIR were studied, by origin they were presented from: Russia - 132 pcs., Kazakhstan - 10 pcs., USA - 8 pcs., Ukraine - 8 pcs., Poland - 3 pcs. and one - Belarus and Japan. Collection samples were sown in a wide row, with a row spacing of 0.45 cm, with a cassette seeder SKS - 6 - 10, the area of the plot for each sample was 1 m2, the number of plants on five rows of the experimental plot was 300 pcs. Collection samples were studied and evaluated in accordance with methodological guidelines, assessment of resistance to various diseases on a 5-point scale, cleaning by pulling out plants. The resistance to the harmfulness of plants was evaluated in the field during the phase of milky-waxy ripeness. To determine the harmfulness of viruses, each sample was divided into healthy and affected plants, the ratio of healthy plants to damaged plants was calculated, followed by an analysis of their elements of the crop structure. A biometric analysis of plants was carried out, which included a sample of 30 plants and the determination of: plant height (cm), ear length (cm), the number of spikelets - total and including developed (pcs), the number of grains and the weight of grain from the ear (pcs). Of the varieties of local breeding, Kamyshanka 3 and Kamyshanka 5 showed relative stability. With a viral lesion, in tolerant varieties, the greatest decrease in plant productivity structure elements was observed by the grain weight of the main ear - 27.9% (due to a decrease in the number of grains -27.5%) and the grain weight of side shoots - 49.6%, in susceptible varieties, complete plant death was observed.