Formation Of Reproductive Organs Research Articles

Influence of Selenium on the Yield and Content of the Amino Acid Composition of Spring Wheat Grain under Optimal Conditions of Water Supply and during Drought

In model experiments in soil culture, the effect of various methods of applying sodium selenite on the formation of yield and amino acid composition of grain varieties of spring wheat Zlata and Ester, depending on water supply conditions, was studied. Sodium selenite was introduced by pre-sowing seed treatment and leaf treatment of vegetative plants. The study simulated optimal water supply conditions and soil moisture deficiency during the critical period of plant growth. The role of selenium in the regulation of the production process and the formation of the amino acid composition of spring wheat grain was studied. It was found that the production process of wheat plants, both under optimal water supply and in drought conditions, depended on the method of application of selenium and the varietal characteristics of spring wheat. The results allowed us to assume that selenium activated the attenuating ability of the ear by enhancing its acceptor properties. Under these conditions, the grains were better provided with assimilates. this made it possible to form the maximum possible yield of wheat grain. In conditions of drought, during leaf treatment of plants with sodium selenite, favorable conditions were created for the formation of reproductive organs of wheat, which stimulated the restoration of the processes of assimilate outflow from the vegetative mass into the forming grains. This made it possible to influence production processes and reduce the depression of wheat crop formation. The use of selenium revealed an increase in the total content of key amino acids, which had a significant effect on the antioxidant status of plants and contributed to the realization of their adaptive potential. The positive effect of selenium on the content of a number of amino acids, including on the assimilation of methionine, was revealed, which was probably due to the synthesis of selenomethionine, since the ways of their formation are similar and it is not possible to separate them. The greatest effect of selenium was observed in the cultivation of wheat of the Zlata variety compared with wheat of the Ester variety, which was determined by varietal differences inherent genetically and the unequal protein content in the grain.

JOINTLESS Maintains Inflorescence Meristem Identity in Tomato.

JOINTLESS (J) was isolated in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) from mutants lacking a flower pedicel abscission zone (AZ) and encodes a MADS-box protein of the SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE/AGAMOUS-LIKE 24 subfamily. The loss of J function also causes the return to leaf initiation in the inflorescences, indicating a pivotal role in inflorescence meristem identity. Here, we compared jointless (j) mutants in different accessions that exhibit either an indeterminate shoot growth, producing regular sympodial segments, or a determinate shoot growth, due to the reduction of sympodial segments and causal mutation of the SELF-PRUNING (SP) gene. We observed that the inflorescence phenotype of j mutants is stronger in indeterminate (SP) accessions such as Ailsa Craig (AC), than in determinate (sp) ones, such as Heinz (Hz). Moreover, RNA-seq analysis revealed that the return to vegetative fate in j mutants is accompanied by expression of SP, which supports conversion of the inflorescence meristem to sympodial shoot meristem in j inflorescences. Other markers of vegetative meristems such as APETALA2c and branching genes such as BRANCHED 1 (BRC1a/b) were differentially expressed in the inflorescences of j(AC) mutant. We also found in the indeterminate AC accession that J represses homeotic genes of B- and C-classes and that its overexpression causes an oversized leafy calyx phenotype and has a dominant negative effect on AZ formation. A model is therefore proposed where J, by repressing shoot fate and influencing reproductive organ formation, acts as a key determinant of inflorescence meristems.

QTL analysis of femaleness in monoecious spinach and fine mapping of a major QTL using an updated version of chromosome-scale pseudomolecules.

Although spinach is predominantly dioecious, monoecious plants with varying proportions of female and male flowers are also present. Recently, monoecious inbred lines with highly female and male conditions have been preferentially used as parents for F1-hybrids, rather than dioecious lines. Accordingly, identifying the loci for monoecism is an important issue for spinach breeding. We here used long-read sequencing and Hi-C technology to construct SOL_r2.0_pseudomolecule, a set of six pseudomolecules of spinach chromosomes (total length: 879.2 Mb; BUSCO complete 97.0%) that are longer and more genetically complete than our previous version of pseudomolecules (688.0 Mb; 81.5%). Three QTLs, qFem2.1, qFem3.1, and qFem6.1, responsible for monoecism were mapped to SOL_r2.0_pseudomolecule. qFem3.1 had the highest LOD score and corresponded to the M locus, which was previously identified as a determinant of monoecious expression, by genetic analysis of progeny from female and monoecious plants. The other QTLs were shown to modulate the ratio of female to male flowers in monoecious plants harboring a dominant allele of the M gene. Our findings will enable breeders to efficiently produce highly female- and male-monoecious parental lines for F1-hybrids by pyramiding the three QTLs. Through fine-mapping, we narrowed the candidate region for the M locus to a 19.5 kb interval containing three protein-coding genes and one long non-coding RNA gene. Among them, only RADIALIS-like-2a showed a higher expression in the reproductive organs, suggesting that it might play a role in reproductive organogenesis. However, there is no evidence that it is involved in the regulation of stamen and pistil initiation, which are directly related to the floral sex differentiation system in spinach. Given that auxin is involved in reproductive organ formation in many plant species, genes related to auxin transport/response, in addition to floral organ formation, were identified as candidates for regulators of floral sex-differentiation from qFem2.1 and qFem6.1.

Вплив засолення на бобові рослини та їхнє використання для відновлення родючості ґрунтів

Salinity is one of the biggest harmful stress factors that limit the stability of plants and their productivity, as well as reduce the fertility of soils. Therefore, the research on plant protection mechanisms against high salt concentration in the environment and the search for ways to increase their resistance to this stress factor are relevant today. The presented literature review describes the peculiarities of legume response to salt stress, in particular during the establishment of relationship with nodule bacteria. High concentrations of salt in soil lead to the interruption of some vital processes in legumes and thus cause a significant decrease in both crop quality and harvest size. So, the results of studies which indicate a negative effect of salt stress on growth and development, hormonal status, photosynthesis and carbon assimilation, osmotic processes, maintaining the ion homeostasis and the formation of reproductive organs are given. Special attention is paid to the question of the influence of salinity on the interaction between plants and rhizobia during nodule formation and their further functioning. It is noteworthy that the presence of certain adaptive mechanisms as well as the peculiarities of growth and development of legumes, in particular their capability to form symbiotic nitrogen fixation systems with nodule bacteria, suggest a possibility of using certain species of this family for the remediation of saline soils. The importance of the selection of salt-resistant rhizobia strains and the effectiveness of rhizobia in combination with other beneficial microorganisms for agriculture are noted.

Biology of the formation of reproductive organs of plants belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family

In this article, the results of the research carried out for the purpose of researching the biology of the reproductive organs of plants belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family are presented with a deep scientific analysis. This article provides valuable information about flowering biology, pollination ecology, fruit appearance, formation and ripening stages of members of the Cucurbitaceae family. Also, 70-80% of flowers before blooming, 40-60% of female and bisexual flowers do not form ovaries, and 20-40% of fruits are shed at various stages of self development.

THE INFLUENCE OF EXTRA-ROOT NUTRIENTS ON THE DURATION OF THE INTERPHASE PERIOD OF SPRING BARLEY IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE RIGHT-BANK FOREST STEPPE OF UKRAINE

A sufficient amount of precipitation and a moderate air temperature are necessary for optimal growth and development processes, as well as the formation of reproductive organs of plants. Since their excessive or insufficient amount, as well as elevated or low temperature conditions, delay or accelerate the passage of interphase periods and adversely affect the duration of vegetative and generative growth of spring barley plants. In the course of research, it was established that in order to reduce the negative impact of the weather conditions of individual years on the stability of the gross harvest of barley grain, it is necessary to carry out foliar feeding in the phase of tillering and emergence of plants into the tube with biological preparations, such as Help Rost - 2 l/ha, Organic D2-M - 1 l/ha, Azotophyte - 2 l/ha. The duration of the period of earing-full ripeness turned out to be the most contrasting in response to the application of fertilizers. Thus, in the variant with the introduction of mineral fertilizers in the dose of N15Р15К15 and with one-time treatment with biological preparations Help Rost 2 l/ha, Organic D2-M 1 l/ha, Azotophyt 2 l/ha, the duration of this period was extended by 1 day compared to the control variant and by 2 days for two-time feeding with the indicated preparations in the phase of tillering and emergence of plants into the tube. So, in general, the duration of the growing season in spring barley varieties Armaks and Swagor on the control variant were the lowest and amounted to 83 and 79 days, respectively.By carrying out one-time foliar fertilization in the budding phase with biological preparations Help Rost - 2 l/ha, Organic D2-M - 1 l/ha, Azotophyt 2 l/ha against the background of N15Р15K15 fertilizer, the length of the growing season was extended to 85 and 86 days and 81 and 82 days , it is higher than on the control variant by 2 and 4; 2 and 3 days, respectively. With a two-time foliar feeding in the phase of bushing and emergence of plants in the tube with biological preparations Help Rost - 2 l/ha, Organic D2-M - 1 l/ha and Azotophyt 2 l/ha against the background of N15Р15K15 fertilizer, the duration of the growing season was extended to 86 and 87 days.

The auxin-responsive transcription factor SlDOF9 regulates inflorescence and flower development in tomato.

Understanding the mechanisms underlying differentiation of inflorescence and flower meristems is essential towards enlarging our knowledge of reproductive organ formation and to open new prospects for improving yield traits. Here, we show that SlDOF9 is a new modulator of floral differentiation in tomato. CRISPR/Cas9 knockout strategy uncovered the role of SlDOF9 in controlling inflorescence meristem and floral meristem differentiation via the regulation of cell division genes and inflorescence architecture regulator LIN. Tomato dof9-KO lines have more flowers in both determinate and indeterminate cultivars and produce more fruit upon vibration-assisted fertilization. SlDOF9 regulates inflorescence development through an auxin-dependent ARF5-DOF9 module that seems to operate, at least in part, differently in Arabidopsis and tomato. Our findings add a new actor to the complex mechanisms underlying reproductive organ differentiation in flowering plants and provide leads towards addressing the diversity of factors controlling the transition to reproductive organs.

Realization of symbiotic potential and productivity of soybean-rhizobia systems formed by analytically selected fungicide resistant strains of nodule bacteria under preliminary treatment of seeds with standak top

The efficacy of the soybean-rhizobia symbiotic systems formed by analytically selected fungicide resistant strains of Bradyrhizobium japonicum 634b, PC08 and soybean plants when the seeds were treated with fungicide Standak Top 7 days before sowing was studied in pot experiments using soil as a substrate. Standak Top inhibited the formation and functioning of symbiotic systems formed by fungicide resistant strains of B. japonicum 634b and PC08 during the first part of plant growth season (before beginning of flowering). The nodulation activity of B. japonicum 634b at flowering stage was reduced by 35 % while the fungicide and rhizobia were used for seed treatment. At the same time the nodulation activity of B. japonicum PC08 was stable. It was shown that the nitrogen fixation activity of the symbiotic systems formed by both rhizobial strains was decreased by 30—32 %. It was established that the strain B. japonicum PC08 was more effective under application of the fungicide than the strain B. japonicum 634b according to the realization of their symbiotic potential. At budding stage, the realization of symbiotic potential of the soybean-rhizobia systems formed by both strains under the effect of fungicide reached the same level as was observed in control plants (without seed treatment with fungicide). Standak Top had no toxic effect on the development of soybean plants including growth, formation of reproductive organs and grain yield while the seeds were treated with the fungicide before sowing followed by inoculation with the strains of B. japonicum 634b and PC08 on the day of sowing. The symbiotic systems of soybean formed with the analytically selected fungicide resistant strains B. japonicum 634b and PC08 had almost equal level of the realization of potential productivity with a slight advantage for the systems formed by the strain B. japonicum PC08. Soybean seed pretreatment with Standak Top did not influence significantly on plant seed productivity. The symbiotic system of soybean—B.japonicum PC08 under influence of the fungicide was more effective than the symbiotic system of soybean—B.japonicum 634b according the level of realization of symbiotic potential and productivity. Our results showed that analytically selected fungicide resistant strain B. japonicum PC08 can be used as a biological baсkground for bacterial fertilizers in order to use these fertilizers in agriculture together with Standak Top under the treatment of seeds by the fungicide 7 days before sowing.

RESULTS OF SPRING BARLEY BREEDING UNDER CONDITIONS OF THE KYZYLORDA REGION

Long-term research on monitoring of soil and climatic conditions of the Aral Sea region, based on screening of morpho-biological features in the context of zoned varieties and samples of local breeding, taking into account the complex of breeding and genetic parameters and practical breeding work, a model of a variety of spring barley was developed. The key basis of this model is the parameters aimed at creating precocious varieties with high salt and drought resistance. The formation of reproductive organs is completed before the onset of the summer drought. The purpose of the work is to increase the productivity of grain forage crops, launch new scientific and technical products on the market by creating fodder barley varieties resistant to environmental stress factors, competitive in productivity, grain quality when cultivated in environmentally unfavorable conditions of Kazakhstan. As a result of selection and practical work, five new varieties of spring barley adapted to stressful conditions were created: Sur Aruy, Inkar, Kaysar, Shakhristan, Altyn arai, combining a complex of productive traits and valuable biological properties. Varieties are included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements of the Kazakhstan Republic, and patents have been obtained

Sexually dimorphic expression of sexual differentiation genes in the internal genital organs of Japanese quail embryos

Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) is an avian model used to evaluate the reproductive and developmental toxicity of chemicals. The National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) of Japan established a strain of Japanese quail, NIES-L, which may be a better model because of its highly inbred characteristics. To understand sexual differentiation of the reproductive organs and the value of using NIES-L quails for avian toxicity assessment, we profiled estradiol and androgen plasma levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; the mRNA levels of estrogen receptor-α (ERα), ERβ, and androgen receptor (AR) in the gonads, Müllerian ducts, Wolffian ducts; and the mRNA levels of steroidogenic enzymes, cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc), 17α-hydroxylase/C17-20 lyase (P45017α, lyase), 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD), 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD), and aromatase (P450arom), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), and AMH receptor type 2 (AMHR2) in the gonads of NIES-L Japanese quails on embryonic days 9, 12, and 15 using a real-time quantitative PCR method. The plasma estradiol concentration was higher in females than males on these embryonic days, but no sex difference was found in the plasma androgens. The mRNA levels of all examined steroidogenic enzymes were significantly higher in female than male embryos. In particular, the P450arom mRNA levels showed a striking sex difference: P450arom was expressed in female but not male gonads. In contrast, the AMH and AMHR2 mRNA levels in the gonads were higher in males than females. The ERα, ERβ, and AR mRNA levels increased in the left female gonad and peaked on embryonic day 15, but not in the left and right male gonads; therefore, there was a female-biased sex difference. The ERα, ERβ, and AR mRNA levels in the left Müllerian duct, but not in the right Müllerian duct, of females increased and peaked on embryonic day 15, which resulted in asymmetric mRNA levels. The Wolffian ducts expressed ERα, ERβ, and AR in both sexes, and no sex difference or asymmetry of mRNA levels was found. The information obtained from this study helps elucidate the molecular endocrinological basis of sexual dimorphism formation of reproductive organs and clarify the value of NIES-L quails for toxicity assessment.

Comparative assessment of the work of photosystem II in the leaves of soybean varieties and hybrids

The efficiency of PS II of soybean leaves was shown depending on the genotype of the variety, the phase of plant growth and development, and the intensity of their illumination in the field. Purpose of the work: to study the intensity of photosynthetic processes in soybean leaves using a MINI-PAM fluorometer to isolate highly active ones. The object of research was early maturing and mid-maturing varieties, white-flowered soybean hybrids. The efficiency of PS II (Y) with a sequential increase in the illumination intensity was determined in the early ripening variety Sonata and the mid-ripening Oktyabr 70. The most stable efficiency of PS II was in the leaves of the varieties Sonata and Oktyabr 70 at an illumination degree of ≈ 800 to 1500 μmol quanta m-2 s-1. The Sonata cultivar had a higher potential in the restoration of the photochemical activity of PS II. The dependence of PS II activity on the phase of plant growth and development was revealed. A high level of effective quantum yield of PS II (0.84 … 0.86 rel. units) during the growing season was noted in the leaves of new soybean varieties Kruzhevnitsa, Evgeniya, Persona and Kitrossa. Plants of the white-flowered collection had the maximum parameters of the quantum yield of PS II during the period of formation of reproductive organs. The data obtained allowed us to recommend the varieties Sonata, Kruzhevnitsa, Evgeniya, Persona, and Kitrossa, as well as hybrids KB (5) and KB (26) for inclusion in the breeding process, as they have a high level of PS II work, when creating varieties with increased photosynthetic activity.

Reproductive Soldier Development Is Controlled by Direct Physical Interactions with Reproductive and Soldier Termites.

Simple SummaryGenerally, in termites, the soldier caste is sterile, and their reproductive organ formation is suppressed. However, in some primitive taxa, neotenic reproductives with soldier-like mandibles, called reproductive soldiers, occasionally appear in the incipient colony. Our first step in understanding the developmental mechanism of this unique caste was to establish efficient conditions to induce reproductive soldiers in Zootermopsis nevadensis. Removing both the king and soldiers from an incipient colony strongly stimulated the formation of male reproductive soldiers, which possessed soldier-like mandibles and developed testes. Similarly, high differentiation rates of male reproductive soldiers were observed after king-and-soldier separation treatment using wire mesh. However, no male reproductive soldiers were produced without direct interaction with the queen. These results suggest that reproductive soldier development might be initiated and controlled by direct physical interactions with both reproductives (the king and queen) and soldiers.In eusocial insects (e.g., ants, bees, and termites), the roles of different castes are assigned to different individuals. These castes possess unique phenotypes that are specialized for specific tasks. The acquisition of sterile individuals with specific roles is considered a requirement for social evolution. In termites, the soldier is a sterile caste. In primitive taxa (family Archotermopsidae and Stolotermitidae), however, secondary reproductives (neotenic reproductives) with their mandibles developed into weapons (so-called reproductive soldiers, also termed as soldier-headed reproductives or soldier neotenics) have been reported. To understand the developmental mechanism of this unique caste, it is necessary to understand the environmental cues and developmental processes of reproductive soldiers under natural conditions. Here, we established efficient conditions to induce reproductive soldiers in Zootermopsis nevadensis. Male reproductive soldiers frequently developed after the removal of both the king and soldiers from an incipient colony. Similarly, high differentiation rates of male reproductive soldiers were observed after king-and-soldier separation treatment using wire mesh. However, no male reproductive soldiers were produced without direct interaction with the queen. These results suggest that male reproductive soldier development is repressed by direct physical interactions with both the king and soldiers and facilitated by direct physical interaction with the queen.

Formation of reproductive organs in an early-ripening soybean variety, depending on the daylight duration

To study the reaction of an early-ripening soybean variety to the formation of plant reproductive organs under the influence of different length of daylight hours, studies of 2 sowing periods in a growing house with a new early-ripening variety Sentyabrinka of the FSBSI FRC VNII of Soybean were conducted. Artificial reduction of the daylight duration to 8 hours was established from the phase of the 3rd triple leaf with alternating day and night periods in each variant 7 times during the growing season. The control was plants whose growth and development took place in natural light conditions. According to the research results, it was found that the change in the daylight duration during the vegetation period had a significant impact on the duration of the phases of plant growth and development, the growing season as a whole. When sowing soybeans on May 28 with a natural daylight, the height of plants and their seed productivity were higher than those of plants with a shortened daylight. At this sowing period, the highest productivity was obtained from one plant – 9.3 g, which is 1.0 g more compared to soybean plants with a sowing period of June 3. The growth of plants, the formation of reproductive organs and the seed productivity of the early-repining variety Sentyabrinka depended on the duration of daylight, which can be regulated by the sowing period.

ФОСФАТМОБИЛИЗУЮЩИЕ МИКРООРГАНИЗМЫ: 1. БИОРАЗНООБРАЗИЕ, ВЛИЯНИЕ НА МИНЕРАЛЬНОЕ ПИТАНИЕ РАСТЕНИЙ И ИХ ПРОДУКТИВНОСТЬ

Phosphorus is an essential plant nutrient involved in plants’ growth and development, accelerated formation of reproductive organs and other important factors for obtaining high and stable crop yields and, therefore, high-quality products. Easily absorbed phosphorus compounds obtained from soil or fertilizers are the most valuable for plants. One of the promising directions for improving the phosphorus nutrition of agricultural crops is biological phosphate mobilization that is carried out by soil microorganisms – bacteria and filamentous fungi (micromycetes). They contribute to the conversion of poorly soluble phosphorus compounds into forms accessible to higher plants. The effect of microorganisms on plants in terms of improving their mineral nutrition, in particular phosphorus, was reviewed in this article. We analysed domestic and foreign literature sources (over the last 15 years) focused on the biodiversity of soil phosphate-mobilizing microorganisms and their influence on converting insoluble phosphate to soluble forms. The features of the mechanisms of biotransformation of organic and mineral phosphates by soil microorganisms and the main criteria for screening effective isolates able to convert poorly soluble phosphorus compounds into forms available for plants were described in detail. This review also demonstrates that several microorganisms belonging to different taxonomic groups (bacteria and micromycetes) are recognized as powerful phosphate solubilizers or bioconverters of poorly soluble phosphorus compounds into water-soluble forms. We also surveyed scientific works, in which the practical application of effective strains of microorganisms that transform unavailable phosphorus compounds into available for plants was studied; and those, in which the role of microorganisms in increasing the availability of phosphorus for agricultural plants and their productivity improvement was demonstrated. A comprehensive description of microbial preparations “Agrofil”, “Biovays”, “Ekophosphorin”, “Ekovital”, “Biophosphorin”, “Albobacterin”, “Polymiksobacterin”, “Agrobacterin”, “Phosphostim”, “Fitostimophos”, “Agromik”, “Baktopin” based on phosphate-mobilizing microorganisms, developed and used in various countries to optimize mineral nutrition of cultivated plants, is given.

ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТЬ ПРЕДПОСЕВНОЙ ОБРАБОТКИ СЕМЯН ПРЕПАРАТОМ ПОЛИШАНС И НЕКОРНЕВОЙ ПОДКОРМКИ РАСТЕНИЙ ОЗИМОЙ ПШЕНИЦЫ МИКРОУДОБРЕНИЕМ МАКРОШАНС В УСЛОВИЯХ ЛЕСОСТЕПИ ЦЕНТРАЛЬНОГО ЧЕРНОЗЕМЬЯ

The purpose of the study was to scientifically substantiate the effectiveness of polishans and Macroshans as elements of the technology of winter wheat cultivation in the conditions of the Central forest-steppe, their effect on productivity and product quality. Experiments, observations, records, and analyses were carried out using the field experience methodology [6]. Statistical processing of the results was performed using methods of analysis of variance. Treatment of seeds with Polishans at a dose of 0.2 l / t promoted the growth and development of winter wheat plants on all backgrounds of fertilizer application - N45P45K45 and N90P90K90, and without applying the main fertilizer. Seed treatment with Palisander and processing plants Microsensor plant height of winter wheat increased on the background without fertilizers by 3.2 cm (4,5%), against making N90P90K90 - 2.7 cm (3.5%), and in the background making N45P45K45 - 4.2 cm (5.5 %). When treating seeds with Polishance, the coefficient of productive bushiness of plants was 1.94 on the background without fertilizers and tended to increase on the studied backgrounds of fertilizer 1.97-2.01. The yield of winter wheat in the studies was affected by the lack of available moisture for the formation of reproductive organs. At the same time, the effect of both macrofertilizers and microfertilizers, depending on the time of their application, on the yield of winter wheat was very clearly traced. The highest productivity of winter wheat was obtained with the following complex of studied agricultural methods: seed treatment with Polishans (0.2 l / t) + treatment of crops with Macrochance (0.25 l / ha) twice during the growing season-tillering and earing and all this against the background of the main fertilizer N90P90K90. The use of the Macrochance polymicrobial increased the gluten content by 2-4% while increasing the IDC index to 65-74 units, which corresponded to the I quality group.

АНАТОМІЧНА БУДОВА РОСЛИН GLYCINE MAX MOENCH. ЗА ДІЇ ШТАМУ BRADYRHIZOBIUM JAPONICUM ТА РЕТАРДАНТУ

The effect of nodule bacteria strain Bradyrhizobium japonicum and the integrated use of the strain and retardant of the triazole class - tebuconazole on linear growth, anatomical structure of Glycine plants and their influence on crop productivity were studied in the field experiment. It was found that both the aplication of Bradyrhizobium japonicum M 8 strain solely and the complex use of the preparations (treatment of the plants with retardant at the beginning of reproductive organ formation, against presowing inoculation of soybean seeds) affected experimental plants’ height, histological parameters of the vegetative organs in comparison with those of untreated control. The use of growth regulators caused changes in the leaf surface area, mesostructural organization of the leaves and accumulation of photosynthetic pigments in them. There were also indicated observable changes in the size of the bark and mechanical tissues of the stem. The effect of the restrictive growth regulators was apparant in the following: the strain of nodule bacteria caused an increase in the linear size of the stem and leaf surface of plants against control. The mutual use of tebuconazole- retardant and strain Bradyrhizobium japonicum led to a decrease in apical dominance of plants, leaf thickness due to increased cell size of wall and spongy parenchymas and intensification of chlorophyll accumulation. Treated plants were characterized by changes in the size of their bark and structural tissues of the stem (collenchyma and sclerenchyma), which is a prerequisite for higher resistance to lodging of plants. The mutual effect of Bradyrhizobium japonicum strain and the triazole preparation proved to be most efficacious among the preparations used. Exogenous application of tebuconazole against the strain of nodule- forming bacteria contributes essentially to the strength of the stem, improves donor functions of Glycine hispida Max, which further secures growth and development of generative organs towards improving yield capasity.

Transcriptome sequencing and screening of genes related to sex determination of Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim.

Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim. (TK) is a dioecious plant in the Cucurbitaceae for which different sexes have separate medicinal uses. In order to study the genes related to sex determination, transcriptome sequencing was performed on flower buds of male and female plants using the high-throughput sequencing technology. A total of 145,975 unigenes and 7110 DEGs were obtained. There were 6776 DEGs annotated to 1234 GO terms and enriched to 18 functional groups, including five biological processes related to sugar metabolism. KEGG pathway analysis indicated genes involved in hormone transduction, hormone synthesis and carbohydrate metabolism. Many DEGs of TK are involved in reproductive organ formation, hormone signal transduction and regulatory networks. Combining the results of GO, KEGG and qRT-PCR, 11 sex determining candidate genes of TK were selected, including MYB80, MYB108, CER1, CBL9, ABCB19, SERK1, HSP81-3, ACS9, SEP3, AUX1 and YUC6. The results provide a foundation for the study of sex differentiation in TK.

Effect of growing conditions on the formation of reproductive organs in soybean varieties with different maturity dates

The influence of sowing methods on the process of formation of reproductive organs was studied on new soybean varieties Sentyabrinka, Kitrossa, Kruzhevniza in the conditions of the Amur Region. Generally, the methods of sowing with different row spacing widths are applied individually for each soybean variety. Choosing unfavorable methods can lead to low yields and a lack of seed quality. The development of cultivation technologies is required for each cultivar with individual morphological and biological features, which leads to the need for research in this direction. One of the reasons for low soybean yield is abortion during flowering, the formation of pods and seeds. We aim to study the process of the formation of reproductive organs in Amur Region soybean varieties of a new generation, depending on the availability of nutritional area in soil due to the method of sowing. With a wide-row method of sowing, more favorable conditions are formed for the growth and development of plants, which is confirmed by the yield.

Genes of the RAV Family Control Heading Date and Carpel Development in Rice.

In plants, correct formation of reproductive organs is critical for successful seedset and perpetuation of the species. Plants have evolved different molecular mechanisms to coordinate flower and seed development at the proper time of the year. Among the plant-specific RELATED TO ABI3 AND VP1 (RAV) family of transcription factors, only TEMPRANILLO1 (TEM1) and TEM2 have been shown to affect reproductive development in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). They negatively regulate the floral transition through direct repression of FLOWERING LOCUS T and GIBBERELLIN 3-OXIDASE1/2, encoding major components of the florigen. Here we identify RAV genes from rice (Oryza sativa), and unravel their regulatory roles in key steps of reproductive development. Our data strongly suggest that, like TEMs, OsRAV9/OsTEM1 has a conserved function as a repressor of photoperiodic flowering upstream of the floral activators OsMADS14 and Hd3a, through a mechanism reminiscent of that one underlying floral transition in temperate cereals. Furthermore, OsRAV11 and OsRAV12 may have acquired a new function in the differentiation of the carpel and the control of seed size, acting downstream of floral homeotic factors. Alternatively, this function may have been lost in Arabidopsis. Our data reveal conservation of RAV gene function in the regulation of flowering time in monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants, but also unveil roles in the development of rice gynoecium.

Screening for Drought Tolerance in Maize (Zea mays L.) Germplasm Using Germination and Seedling Traits under Simulated Drought Conditions.

Maize is known to be susceptible to drought stress, which negatively affects vegetative growth and biomass production, as well as the formation of reproductive organs and yield parameters. In this study, 27 responsive traits of germination (G) and seedlings growth were evaluated for 40 accessions of the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) germplasm collection, under no stress and simulated drought stress treatments by 10%, 15%, and 20% of polyethylene glycol (PEG). The three treatments significantly reduced G% and retarded seedlings growth, particularly the 15% and 20% PEG treatments; these two treatments also resulted in a significant increase of abnormal seedlings (AS). The heritability (H2) and correlations of the traits were estimated, and drought tolerance indices (DTIs) were calculated for traits and accessions. The H2 of G% values were reduced, and H2 for AS% increased as the PEG stress increased. Positive correlations were found between most trait pairs, particularly shoot and root traits, with 48 highly significant correlations under no stress and 25 highly significant correlations under the 10% PEG treatments, particularly for shoot and root traits. The medium to high heritability of shoot and root seedling traits provides a sound basis for further genetic analyses. PCA analysis clearly grouped accessions with high DTIs together and the accessions with low DTIs together, indicating that the DTI indicates the stress tolerance level of maize germplasm. However, the resemblance in DTI values does not clearly reflect the origin or taxonomic assignments to subspecies and varieties of the examined accessions.