Length Of Vegetation Period Research Articles

Study results of the spring vetch varieties (<i>Vicia sativa</i> L.) in the Republic of Bashkortostan

Spring vetch is a valuable leguminous plant that serves as a source of high-protein feed for farm animals, and due to its ability to fix nitrogen, it is a good green manure. The cultivation of this crop plays an important role in solving the problem of plant protein deficiency; however, in the Cis-Ural steppe of the Republic of Bashkortostan, productivity of vetch seeds and green mass is low and unstable over the years. In this regard, the purpose of the current study was to estimate the potential productivity of spring vetch varieties that would be promising for cultivation in the soil and climatic conditions of our region. Field trials were conducted in 2021–2023. Weather conditions during the years of study were contrasting in temperature and moisture availability. The material for the study was a set of spring vetch varieties ‘Omichka 3’, ‘Orlovskaya 91’, ‘Lugovskaya 98’, ‘Lgovskaya 22’, ‘Yubileinaya 110’, ‘Uzunovskaya 8’, ‘Valentina’, recommended for cultivation in the Ural region of the Russian Federation. The estimation, records and measurements were carried out in accordance with the Methodological recommendations for the study of the grain legumes’ collection (1975) and the Methodology for the State Variety Testing of Agricultural Crops (2019). As a result, there has been found that in the conditions of the Republic of Bashkortostan the spring vetch varieties ‘Lgovskaya 22’, ‘Omichka 3’, ‘Uzunovskaya 8’ with a vegetation period length of 74.3±11.6 – 75.7±12.1 days turned out to be the most earlymaturing. According to the indicators of the main yield structure elements, the varieties ‘Valentina’, ‘Uzunovskaya 8’, ‘Yubileinaya 110’ were the best in terms of ‘number of beans per plant’ (4.4±0.7 – 4.9±1.3 pcs.), ‘seeds per plant’ (18.1± 5.9 – 18.5±6.8 pcs.), ‘seed productivity’ (0.90±0.26 – 0.96±0.27g). According to our study, the most promising varieties for production in the Republic of Bashkortostan are ‘Uzunovskaya 8’ and ‘Valentina’, which were the best ones in terms of productivity of grain (1.25–1.29 t/ha), green mass (6.40–6.53 t/ha) and hay (1.61–1.65 t/ha) in 2021–2023.

Bioindication for Ecosystem Regeneration towards Natural conditions: the BERN data base and BERN model

The primary task of the BERN database is to document reference data on typical site parameters for the occurrence of plant communities in which their diagnostic species are in competitive equilibrium with each other and in homeostatic equilibrium with the site factors. Common approaches for the creation of a site-plant database such as ordination or bioindication based on individual species like PROPS or MultiMOVE model are of limited use because it is not possible to determine the potential occurrence of a plant species on the basis of site factors, since the competitive influences cannot be determined in advance according to current knowledge. Therefore, the BERN database takes into account the structure of plant communities with the abundance and dominance of species in the competitive equilibrium of plant communities as a reference for determining anthropogenically induced changes. Qualitative knowledge on the relationship between site types and vegetation communities is widely available, as can be seen from the extensive phytosociological publications. For this purpose, synoptic tables and their location descriptions of around 50,000 relevés were evaluated. The BERN database includes currently 887 central European plant communities and links to their diagnostically defining species composition. The database defines the niche of 2210 central European plant species for the soil properties pH, base saturation, carbon to nitrogen ratio, and wetness index and the climatic properties continentality, length of vegetation period, solar radiation and climatic water balance. The BERN model recombines the realised species niches that mainly form the competitively homeostatic structure of a plant community in order to determine the fundamental multifactorial niche of this community. The BERN database contains mainly historical recordings of more or less undisturbed sites. The BERN model (Bioindication for Ecosystem Regeneration towards Natural conditions) as an application module of the BERN database was developed to integrate ecological cause-effect relationships into studies on environmental status assessment and forecasting. The BERN database now has been published for the first time. The methodology of creating the BERN database and the BERN model are documented and applications are demonstrated with examples. The freely available database should invite you to supplement and modify it.

Allelic diversity of the Vrn genes and the control of growth habit and earliness in wheat.

Wheat is one of three main food crops around the world, which has the largest distribution area due to its adaptation to the different environments. This review considers polymorphisms and allelic variation of the vernalization response genes Vrn controlling the major adaptation traits in wheats (the genus Triticum L.): growth habit (spring vs. winter) and length of vegetative period (earliness). The review summarizes available information on the allelic diversity of the Vrn genes and discusses molecular-level relationships between Vrn polymorphisms and their effect on growth habit (spring vs. winter) and earliness (length vegetative period in spring plants) in di-, tetra- and hexaploid wheat species. A unique attempt has been made to relate information on mutations (polymorphisms) in dominant Vrn alleles to the values of the commercially most important trait "length of plant vegetative period (earliness)". The effects of mutations (polymorphisms) in the recessive vrn genes on vernalization requirement in winter wheats are considered, and this trait was formalized. The evolution of the winter/spring growth habit in the genus Triticum species is discussed. A scheme of phylogenetic interactions between Vrn alleles was constructed on the basis of these polymorphisms; the paper considers the possibilities to enhance the diversity of polymorphisms for the dominant Vrn genes and their alleles using wheat related species and rarely used alleles and discusses the prospects of breeding for improved earliness for concrete agroecological zones.

INDUSTRIAL HEMP VARIETIES PRODUCTIVITY POTENTIAL IN THE LATVIAN CLIMATIC CONDITIONS

Varieties grown for fibre-only will be established, managed and harvested differently than varieties grown for seeds or dual-purpose. The aim was analysed yield productivity and length of vegetation period dependency of the two types of hemp variety and identified perspective hemp variety for highest yield under different meteorological conditions in Latvia. Varieties/line from diverse European and Latvian origin (seed hemp varieties/ line 'Adzelvieši', 'Pūriņi', KA-2-2011, 'Finola', 'Henola' and fibre hemp varieties 'USO 31', 'Futura 75', 'Austa') were sown in randomized field experiments in Latvia. Biomass, stem, seed yield, fibre contents and vegetation period length were assessed across tree growing seasons from 2020 to 2022. Results show that hemp, seeds and fibre varieties/line, performed well giving high yield productivity between variety. Agrometeorological conditions for hemp growth and yield were favourable in 2022. In Latvian local climatic conditions, the seed hemp line KA-2-2011 and fibre hemp variety ‘Futura 75’ identified significant higher of biomass and stem yield as well as the seed hemp variety ‘Henola’ and fibre hemp variety ‘Austa’ significant higher of seed yield and fibre contents. The yield potential dependent from length of vegetation period length. The trial analyses identified positive and significant correlations between length of vegetation period and biomass (r = 0.97), stem yield (r = 0.98), and negative between length of vegetation period and seed yield (r = -0.89).

Changes in Vegetation Period Length in Slovakia under the Conditions of Climate Change for 1931–2110

The global mean near-surface temperature between 2012 and 2021 was 1.11 to 1.14 °C warmer than the pre-industrial level. This makes it the warmest period on record. The aim of this article was to investigate vegetation period changes (onset and termination of the temperature T ≥ 5 °C, T ≥ 10 °C, and T ≥ 15 °C) due to climate change from the average air temperature for the periods 1931–1961, 1961–1991, and 1991–2020 for 24 stations in Slovakia and forecast the length of vegetation periods for the periods 2021–2050, 2051–2080, and 2081–2110. The number of days with these characteristic temperatures was used as an input dataset, from which map outputs were generated in ArcGIS software. Spatial analysis of the vegetation periods in the past, present, and future showed an earlier start of the vegetation period in spring and a later ending in autumn during the last 30 years. The maximum duration of the vegetation period will expand from the south to the north of Slovakia. Future scenarios showed an extension of the vegetation period duration. On the other hand, this potential advantage for crop cultivation is limited by a lack of arable land in the north of Slovakia and by a lack of precipitation in the south of Slovakia.

The effect of weather conditions on the spring barley variety ‘Yaromir’ and its productivity in the Ryazan region

The current study was carried out in 2017–2021 in the Competitive Variety Testing on the basis of the ISPA of the FSBSI “FRAC VIM”. The soil of the experimental plot was dark gray forest, heavy loamy in granulometric composition, of medium fertility. The hydrothermal conditions of the vegetation periods differed significantly in terms of the mean daily air temperature and the sum of effective temperatures, and the amount of precipitation. The years of 2018 and 2021 were characterized with very dry conditions with HThC of 0.51–0.64. The years of 2017, 2019 were arid with HThC of 0.72–0.85. The years of 2020 was humid, with a moisture coefficient of 1.34. The purpose of the current study was to establish the effect of weather conditions of the Ryazan region on the interstage periods, the yield structure and productivity of the spring barley variety ‘Yaromir’. There has been found a correlation between the length of vegetation period with the amount of precipitation and HThC in the interstage periods of ‘germination-tillering’ (r = +0.571 and r = +0.607, respectively), ‘tillering-coming into ear’ (r = +0.735 and r = +0.655, respectively) and ‘filling-ripening’ (r = +0.881 and r = +0.967, respectively). Strong positive correlations were found between ‘amount of precipitation’ and the yield structure elements of the variety, namely ‘number of productive stems per 1 m2 ’ (r = +0.969), ‘productive tilling capacity’ (r = +0.947), ‘plant height’ (r = +0.827). Mean correlations were found between ‘amount of precipitation’ and ‘length of head’ (r = +0.562) and ‘number of kernels per head’ (r = +0.453). Negative mean correlations were found between ‘amount of precipitation’ and ‘1000-kernel weight’ (r = -0.654). There has been established that the average daily air temperature of the vegetation period had no effect on the formation of the yield structure elements of this variety. There have been identified average correlations between ‘sum of effective temperatures’ and ‘productive tillering’ (r = +0.352) and ‘length of head’ (r = +0.538). Weather conditions did not have a significant effect on grain productivity of the variety. There has been noted a slight effect of precipitation and HThC in the period ‘tillering-coming into ear’. The minimum variation in the productivity over the years (Cv = 3.5%) and revealing 95.1% of productivity potential indicates that this variety is characterized by stable productivity and adaptability to the weather conditions of this region.

The study of oilseed flax varieties in the Kostroma region

The current paper has presented the results of ecological and geographical testing of oilseed flax varieties in the Kostroma region. The purpose of the current study was to identify promising oilseed flax varieties adapted to the soil and climatic conditions of our region. The objects of the study were 5 varieties ‘Biryuza’, ‘Rucheek’, ‘Nilin’, ‘Fliz’ and ‘VNIIMK 620’ (as the standard variety) developed in the of the ‘FRC VNIIMK named after V.S. Pustovoit’. The trials were laid down, recorded and observed according to the methodology of a field trial, as well as in accordance with the recommendations for conducting field agrotechnical experiments with oilseeds. There has been established a reaction of varieties to the agrometeorological conditions of the region. The vegetation period of flax ranged from 103 to 110 days. There was revealed that these varieties of the middle-maturing group, showed themselves as late-maturing during the study. On average, over the years of study, the highest seed productivity was given by the varieties ‘Biryuza’ (1.16 t/ha) and ‘Fliz’ (1.12 t/ha). All varieties had a high positive correlation between seed productivity and plant density per m2 . The largest oil content was identified in the varieties ‘Biryuza’ (50.2%) and ‘Rucheek’ (50.3%). The largest oil productivity was given by the varieties ‘Biryuza’ (0.58 t/ha) and ‘Rucheek’ (0.56 t/ha). The largest seeds were formed by the varieties ‘VNIIMK 620’ (7.92 g) and ‘Fliz’ (8.34 g). There has been established that two varieties ‘Biryuza’ and ‘Rucheek’ are the best ones among the studied varieties according to the main economically valuable traits. In the soil and climatic conditions of the Kostroma region, there can be formed complete flax seeds with high varietal and sowing qualities despite the increase in their vegetation period length.

Effect of genotype and contrasting climate conditions on physical and chemical characteristics of soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill)

Global warming has increased interest in growing soya in Poland. Variable weather conditions during the vegetation seasons, however, still make its cultivation potentially risky. In this study we wanted to assess how contrasting climate conditions influence on seed yield, 1000 seed weight and other important physical traits, as well as on contents of nutrients, dietary fibre constituents, trypsin inhibitor and phenolic components in nine soybean genotypes of different earliness. The field experiments were conducted in two consecutive vegetation seasons at Radzików, located in central Poland. Comprehensive seed characteristics of physical and chemical traits allowed to identify the best varieties for different end-uses, food or feed. A significant effect of variety and year of cultivation were observed for all evaluated traits. With the exception for the length of vegetation period, seed yield, seed coat and soluble non-starch polysaccharide content, significant interactions between variety and year of cultivation were found for the remaining traits. Weather conditions, such as very low precipitation with an average temperature above the multi-year average temperature in the month of July, when pod and seed is in full development, had a negative effect on all seed traits evaluated, regardless of variety earliness.

The new spring barley variety ‘Granik’

The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the high-protein spring barley variety (Hordeum vulgare L.) ‘Granik’ in the conditions of the left bank of the Saratov region. The study was carried out on the basis of the Krasnokutsk breeding experimental station, located in the Saratov region, Krasnokutsk district, the village of Semennoy on chestnut soils (coordinates of the experimental plot is 50.914007, 47.068303). The years of 2013, 2014 and 2020 (from 8 years of studying the new variety in the competitive variety testing (CVT)) were average humid; the years of 2016 and 2017 were wet; the years of 2015, 2018 and 2019 were acutely arid. There was established a significant advantage of the new variety over the standard variety ‘Nutans 553’ according to productivity on 0.25 t/ha (+11.0%) on average; according to 1000-grain weight on 2.4 g (+6.0%); according to grain number per 1 m2 on 270 grains (5.0%). The variety ‘Granik’ was distinguished by a higher straw (69.3 cm, which was 4.0 cm higher than that of the standard variety), by better resistance to lodging and to dust brand. Under artificial inoculation with spores of the local population of dust brand, the greatest damage to the variety was 9.9%, while the standard variety was 23.1%. There were no significant differences between the varieties according to ‘length of vegetation period’ (70–74 days), nutritional and energy value. There has been found that both varieties were characterized by a high protein percentage (15.6–15.9%). Since 2019, the variety ‘Granik’ has been introduced into the List of the State Register of the Russian Federation for the 8th (Lower Volga) region. In 2020 the variety was tested in production conditions at the Arkadak agricultural experimental station on an area of 50 hectares, where it produced 3.30 t/ha against the background of the variety ‘Yak 401’, which produced 2.60 t/ha on the same area.

ИЗУЧЕНИЕ СОРТОВ КЛЕВЕРА ЛУГОВОГО РАЗЛИЧНОГО ТИПА СПЕЛОСТИ

For creating new cultivars of red clover it is necessary to use traditional and modern methods: heterosis and ecological breeding. These methods have been used in breeding for a long time, but it was necessary to modify them to the cultivation of red clover considering its biological features (perennity, length of ve-getation period, winter hardiness) in conditions of harsh continental climate in Siberia. The complex-hybrid population, late maturing, diploid based the cultivar SibNIIK 10 has been created based on best polycross offspring by polycross method in West Siberia. The winter hardy, early maturing, diploid based cultivar has been created as the result of combination together with FWRC FPA for the first time ever in Siberia. The research cites a comparative study of two cultivars of red clover (SibNIIK 10 and Prima) of different types of maturity and ploidy by main economically valuable traits. Early maturing tetraploid based cultivar Prima in herbage and dry matter yield exceeds late maturing cultivar SibNIIK 10 by 9–30 and 17–44% and in seed by 18% (in good years).

Analyzing the Effect of Intensive and Low-Input Agrotechnical Support for the Physiological, Phenometric, and Yield Parameters of Different Maize Hybrids Using Multivariate Statistical Methods

Improving nitrogen efficiency is a crucial strategy for developing sustainable agricultural systems that leads to maximum yield in exchange for minimum inputs and nitrogen loss. Three maize hybrids (Zea mays L.) of different maturity classes and length of vegetation period (FAO 400, FAO 490, and FAO 380) were selected and for trials during the 2019 growing season. Three different nitrogen (N) fertilization treatments (0, 120, and 305 kg·N·ha−1) were applied in order to assess variability in yield-related components. The effect of hybrids, fertilizer, and the interaction of the examined hybrids in relation to fertilizer was significant on yield and oil and protein content. Correlation and biplot analysis show that increases in the lipid peroxidation (LP) amount in the plant leaf stages cause a decrease in the oil content of the harvested yield. The activity of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and LP at the six-leaf stage directly affects the protein content. The amount of APX at the silking stage has a direct and significant effect on starch content. This study showed that the activity of APX at the silking stage has the highest value in all examined hybrids. APX and LP can be controlled with nitrogen fertilization under various environmental circumstances.

The use of the Ugandan initial grain sorghum forms in the hybridization of the sorghum varieties for forage and food

The problem to develop new early maturing grain sorghum varieties adapted to mechanized harvesting with high productivity and feed advantages, is of great urgency. The purpose of the current work was to study the inheritance of the main economically valuable traits in the first generation hybrids developed in the hybridization between samples of different ecological and geographical origin. In the first generation hybrids Zernogradskoe 88 × Seso 1 and Zernogradskoe 88 × Narosorg 1, there was identified the improvement of 1000-grain weight, number of grains per panicle, and length of a peduncle in comparison with the initial parental forms. In the hybrid combination obtained as a result of hybridization of the varieties Zernogradskoe 88 and Seso 3 there was not identified any positive manifestation of heterosis for the breeding process in the main studied traits. According to the trait ‘plant height’ in all combinations, there was identified overdominance of high-growing forms. According to the protein percentage in grains there was established depression or dominance of lower values of the trait. The inheritance of the trait ‘length of vegetation period’ in the studied hybrids corresponded to the partial dominance of both lower and higher values of the trait.

The analysis of varietal structure of maize cultivated for grain in the Rostov region

The current stage of plant growing is characterized by varietal policies aimed at increasing the number of new varieties (hybrids) being bred for production. This feature of varietal diversity makes it possible to choose a variety (hybrid) for specific forecrops and soil-climatic conditions, a variety with specific adaptability, length of vegetation period and product quality. One of the largest regions of the maize sown area in Russia is the Rostov region, the conditions of which allow cultivating maize with different ripening periods. The current paper has presented the dynamics of the maize productivity in Russia and in the Rostov region. There has been conducted an analysis of sown maize hybrids and varieties in the Rostov region according to the year of including them into the State List of the Russian Federation. It has been determined that the largest number of maize hybrids was cultivated in 2018 from the number included into the State List of the Russian Federation for the period from 2009 to 2013 (52 pcs.), and in 2019 from the number included into the State List of the Russian Federation for the period from 2010 to 2014 (57 pcs.). There has been demonstrated a share of maize hybrids in the sown area depending on their time being in production. So, the hybrids that have been cultivated for 6–10 years occupied the largest share (44.6% in 2018; 52.6% in 2019). There have been identified the most popular maize hybrids cultivated in the Rostov region in 2018 and 2019. There has been calculated a share of domestic hybrids (varieties) in the sown areas and the cost advantage of domestic maize seeds.

Special issue in honour of Prof. Reto J. Strasser - Seasonal monitoring of PSII functionality and relative chlorophyll content on a field site in two consecutive years: A case study of different oak species

In search for practical silvicultural management tools to identify alternative tree species for predicted Central European climate conditions, a cross-species survey with five evergreen, semi-evergreen, and deciduous Quercus taxa with contrasting morphological leaf traits was performed. Fast chlorophyll fluorescence induction of PSII and relative leaf chlorophyll contents were performed to assess the overall plant vitality at any point in time during two complete vegetation periods in consecutive years (2012 and 2013). Maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII and the performance index on absorption base showed a very conservative relationship to each other and a similar intra-annual progress in all deciduous species, but with a different speed of increase and decrease during leaf development and senescence and thus a different length of vegetation period. The intra-annual variability of OJIP and chlorophyll content parameters is considered with respect to the practicability of measurements in the field for management purposes.

Determination of the breeding value of collection chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) accessions by cluster analysis.

Assessment of the genetic resources of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in a zone that is atypical for its cultivation (eastern forest-steppe of Ukraine) gives an opportunity to identify valuable starting material for priority breeding areas. The article presents the results of a cluster analysis on chickpea accessions from the National Center for Plant Genetic Resources of Ukraine (NCPGRU) for a set of agronomic characteristics. In 2005–2017, 653 chickpea accessions from the NCPGRU’s core collection were studied: 369 kabuli accessions and 284 desi accessions. One hundred and fifty two sources of valuable traits were identified for 11 parameters: drought tolerance, resistance to Ascochyta leaf and pod spot, early ripening (vegetation period length), yield, performance, number of productive pods and seed number per plant, response to nitrogenization, protein content, seed size, and cooking quality. These accessions (77 kabuli accessions are light-colored and 75 desi ones are dark-colored) were grouped by a set of valuable economic characteristics using cluster analysis with the Euclidean distance as a measure. The study showed that this sample consisted of 4 clusters. Cluster 1 contained mainly kabuli accessions with optimal combinations of valuable traits: drought tolerance, resistance to Ascochyta leaf and pod spot, large seeds, high yield capacity and performance, pod and seed numbers as well as protein content in seeds. This cluster includes standards and most of reference varieties, which are well-adapted to the conditions of the eastern forest-steppe of Ukraine. The accessions of cluster 2 are characterized by high resistance to Ascochyta leaf and pod spot, late ripening, small seeds, low protein content, moderate response to nitrogenization, high performance attributed to a large number of productive pods and seeds per plant. Most of the accessions of this cluster are small-seeded late-ripening kabuli accessions. Cluster 3 consists of 3 accessions, which have large seeds and high protein content in them, give moderate yields, are highly responsive to nitrogenization and poorly resistant to Ascochyta leaf and pod spot. Cluster 4 comprises mainly desi accessions (63 %), which are mid-ripening, with small seeds, low performance, moderate yield capacity, medium protein content, poor cooking quality, moderate resistance to Ascochyta leaf and pod spot, and low drought tolerance. Representatives of this cluster are predominantly sources of one trait and may have restricted application in specialized breeding programs. Based on the data obtained, we concluded that the accessions of cluster 1 were preferable in breeding programs to develop chickpea varieties for the foreststeppe zone.

Випробування різних сортів сорго цукрового в зоні Полісся для потреб біоенергетики

Goal. To assess different varieties and hybrids of sweet sorghum of domestic selection to establish their adaptability in the zone of Polissia, to study empirical features of recovery of biogas and optimization of cultivation technology for the needs of «green» energy. Methods. The ontogenetic characteristics and productivity of different varieties of sweet sorghum of domestic selection were studied at the experimental field of the Institute of agriculture of Polissia of NAAS in two-factor (factor A — cultivar; factor B — fertilizer system) short-term field experiment in 2017–2018. Results. According to the peculiarities of plants’ development of sweet sorghum in terms of area of Polissia they selected hybrids that differ in the intensity of the growth of the vegetative mass, regardless of vegetation conditions (dynamics of the daily growth made 1.08–3.44 cm/day). They studied the fluorescence intensity in the leaves of sweet sorghum depending on year and fertilizer system, which in dry conditions was 400–960 cond. units, and if sufficient moisture was increased by 2.1–2.6 times. In the zone of Polissia varieties and hybrids of sweet sorghum have secured biomass at the level of 38–118 t/ha (in conversion to dry substance — 4.7–30.5 ts/ha). Different length of vegetation period allows creating a dynamic conveyor of receipt of the biomass of sweet sorghum to fill methane tanki for 34–64 days. They determined the sugar content in plants of sugar sorghum (4.48–14.99%), dynamics of its accumulation in plants (maximum on the 21st day from the start of flowering), content (10.33–10.79 MJ/kg) and energy output (23,8–205.9 GJ/ha), which was transformed into biomethane (2233–4952 m3/ha). The use during two active phases of development of plants of sweet sorghum of foliar treatment with preparation Greinaktiv-S improved the growth processes of plants on 26%, the rate of photosynthesis — on 48.7, the yield — on 2–57%, the sugar content — on 0.56–3.76%. Conclusions. It is established that in the conditions of Polissia it is possible to successfully grow different varieties of sweet sorghum for the needs of «green» energy. Vegetative mass of plants including crop yields (38–118 t/ha) provides a specific yield of biomethane per hectare on the level of 571–4952 m3/ha depending on variety, hybrid, and fertilizer system.

HETEROFOR 1.0: a spatially explicit model for exploring the response of structurally complex forests to uncertain future conditions – Part 2: Phenology and water cycle

Abstract. Climate change affects forest growth in numerous and sometimes opposite ways, and the resulting trend is often difficult to predict for a given site. Integrating and structuring the knowledge gained from the monitoring and experimental studies into process-based models is an interesting approach to predict the response of forest ecosystems to climate change. While the first generation of models operates at stand level, one now needs spatially explicit individual-based approaches in order to account for individual variability, local environment modification and tree adaptive behaviour in mixed and uneven-aged forests that are supposed to be more resilient under stressful conditions. The local environment of a tree is strongly influenced by the neighbouring trees, which modify the resource level through positive and negative interactions with the target tree. Among other things, drought stress and vegetation period length vary with tree size and crown position within the canopy. In this paper, we describe the phenology and water balance modules integrated in the tree growth model HETEROFOR (HETEROgenous FORest) and evaluate them on six heterogeneous sessile oak and European beech stands with different levels of mixing and development stages and installed on various soil types. More precisely, we assess the ability of the model to reproduce key phenological processes (budburst, leaf development, yellowing and fall) as well as water fluxes. Two two-phase models differing regarding their response function to temperature during the chilling period (optimum and sigmoid functions) and a simplified one-phase model are used to predict budburst date. The two-phase model with the optimum function is the least biased (overestimation of 2.46 d), while the one-phase model best accounts for the interannual variability (Pearson's r=0.68). For the leaf development, yellowing and fall, predictions and observations are in accordance. Regarding the water balance module, the predicted throughfall is also in close agreement with the measurements (Pearson's r=0.856; bias =-1.3 %), and the soil water dynamics across the year are well reproduced for all the study sites (Pearson's r was between 0.893 and 0.950, and bias was between −1.81 and −9.33 %). The model also reproduced well the individual transpiration for sessile oak and European beech, with similar performances at the tree and stand scale (Pearson's r of 0.84–0.85 for sessile oak and 0.88–0.89 for European beech). The good results of the model assessment will allow us to use it reliably in projection studies to evaluate the impact of climate change on tree growth in structurally complex stands and test various management strategies to improve forest resilience.

Результати адаптивної селекції овочевих і баштанних культур в умовах змін клімату

Goal. To determine sources of economically valuable signs, to establish relationships between the morphological characteristics of plants and resistance to harmful environmental factors and to create varieties of vegetable and melon crops adapted to cultivation in the steppe zone of Ukraine. Methods. Laboratory, field, and statistical. Results. For tomato the relationship between the length of the period “germination — fruit ripening and flowering — ripening” (r = 0,89) is determined. For sweet pepper and eggplant the relationship between the length of the period of “shoots — biological ripeness” and “flowering — biological ripeness” (r = 0.66 and r = 0,76 respectively) is determined. For the watermelon there is a link between the length of vegetative period and “tying — ripening” (r = 0.57), heat resistance and the number of breaths on the underside of the leaf (r = 0,69), between the temperature of the upper and lower sides of the leaf and drought resistance, which is respectively r = (–0,59) and r = (–0,52). The correlation is fixed between laboratory resistance and the number of breaths on the underside of the leaf of pumpkin in the field of view of the microscope at the magnification of 40 times (r = 0.74), cold resistance and area of the leaf (r = 0.51) and length of internodes (r = 0.51), between productivity, length of cotyledons (r = 0.53) and length of the main stem (r = 0.52). The zucchini correlates with the heat resistance and the number of spines on the stalk (r = 0.63), cold resistance and number of leaves per plant (r = 0,43). The bush pattypan correlates with the heat and the length of the stake (r = 0.56). The productivity of plants of muscat pumpkins has a high correlation with the length of the main stem (r = 0.84) and medium with fruit weight (r = 0.56). Fruit weight is negatively correlated with the number of fruits per plant r = (–0,62). The number of seeds per fruit correlates with the hardness of the bark of the fruit (r = 0,71) and fruit width (r = 0,61). The hardness of the bark is positively correlated with fruit width (r = 0,86). Conclusions. Over 20 years of successful work of selection workers of Southern agricultural station it has been created more than 60 varieties of vegetable and melon crops, which by their economic characteristics equal to world analogs, and as to resistance against harmful environmental factors they surpass them.

HETEROFOR 1.0: a spatially explicit model for exploring the response of structurally complex forests to uncertain future conditions – Part 1: Carbon fluxes and tree dimensional growth

Abstract. Given the multiple abiotic and biotic stressors resulting from global changes, management systems and practices must be adapted in order to maintain and reinforce the resilience of forests. Among others, the transformation of monocultures into uneven-aged and mixed stands is an avenue to improve forest resilience. To explore the forest response to these new silvicultural practices under a changing environment, one needs models combining a process-based approach with a detailed spatial representation, which is quite rare. We therefore decided to develop our own model (HETEROFOR for HETEROgeneous FORest) according to a spatially explicit approach, describing individual tree growth based on resource sharing (light, water and nutrients). HETEROFOR was progressively elaborated within Capsis (Computer-Aided Projection for Strategies in Silviculture), a collaborative modelling platform devoted to tree growth and stand dynamics. This paper describes the carbon-related processes of HETEROFOR (photosynthesis, respiration, carbon allocation and tree dimensional growth) and evaluates the model performances for three broadleaved stands with different species compositions (Wallonia, Belgium). This first evaluation showed that HETEROFOR predicts well individual radial growth (Pearson's correlation of 0.83 and 0.63 for the European beech and sessile oak, respectively) and is able to reproduce size–growth relationships. We also noticed that the net to gross primary production (npp to gpp) ratio option for describing maintenance respiration provides better results than the temperature-dependent routine, while the process-based (Farquhar model) and empirical (radiation use efficiency) approaches perform similarly for photosynthesis. To illustrate how the model can be used to predict climate change impacts on forest ecosystems, we simulated the growth dynamics of the mixed stand driven by three IPCC climate scenarios. According to these simulations, the tree growth trends will be governed by the CO2 fertilization effect, with the increase in vegetation period length and the increase in water stress also playing a role but offsetting each other.

Results of research into affinity of promising table grape hybrid forms

Aim. To study affinity of 12 rootstock-scion combinations of new promising table grape hybrid forms with common and new Ukrainian rootstock varieties. Results and Discussion. The study results demonstrated differences between rootstock-scion combinations in the number of check seedlings after stratification and differences in survival rates of seedlings after their planting. Analysis of phenological data showed significant differences in “the vegetation period length” and “the sum of active temperatures” for all hybrid forms grafted onto Dobrynia variety. Analysis of data on promising hybrid forms in rootstock-scion combinations allowed us to confirm significant effects of rootstocks on scion varieties, which cover both bio-physiological and economic characteristics of a grafted organism. Conclusions. Estimated amounts of check grafted seedlings after stratification in all 12 variants of rootstock-scion combinations were quite high (57-92%). Survival rates of seedlings after their planting ranged from 57% to 100%. For traditional wine-growing regions, it is recommended to graft Tairian and Persei hybrid forms onto Dobrynia and Berlandieri x Riparia Kober 5BB rootstocks. Fontan hybrid form should be grafted onto Riparia x Rupestris 101-14 (reference cultivar) and Dobrynia varieties. For experimental, non-traditional regions of viticulture, it should be taken into account that vegetation period of seedlings grafted onto Dobrynia variety tends to increase by three days for Persei and Fontan hybrid forms (2%). The vegetation period of Tairian – Dobrynia rootstock-scion combination exceeded reference combination rates by seven days (5.7%). Studies of the influence of stress factors on traits of interest will be continued.