Root Chicory Research Articles

Variability of sugar content of the VIR root chicory collection under different sites of cultivation

Variability of sugar content of the VIR root chicory collection under different sites of cultivation

Identifying the Best Herbicides for Weed Control in Chicory (Cichorium intybus)

Chicory (Cichorium intybus) is a commercially cultivated root crop in many countries of the world. Weeds have a depressing effect on the growth and development of root chicory. There are currently no herbicides registered for use on chicory in the Russian Federation. The objective of this work was to identify potential herbicides for controlling a broad range of weed species under the soil and climatic conditions of the Russian Federation. For the field experiment, herbicides were selected according to: (1) previous studies in USA, EU and South Africa; (2) the spectrum of weeds controlled; and (3) the probability of crop damage. All the herbicides used were registered in Russia for the control of certain weeds in other crops. Crop biomass, damage, and weed control were assessed to identify suitable herbicides. The results suggested that the best weed control herbicides would be a Zeta, SC (100 g/L imazethapyr) and Paradox, SC (120 g/L imazamox). These herbicides controlled, on average, 80% or more of the dicotyledonous weeds such as lamb’s quarters (Chenopodium album), field pennycress (Thlaspi arvense), and sow thistles (Sonchus spp.). Since these herbicides do not reduce chicory biomass, they can be considered for registration or use on chicory.

Metabolic and transcriptional changes reveal the molecular mechanism that regulates taproot thickening in root chicory (Cichorium intybus L.)

Root chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) is a plant whose belowground parts are mainly used as raw material for the industrial production of inulin. To investigate the molecular mechanism responsible for regulating the process of taproot thickening in root chicory, both mRNA-seq and non-targeted metabolome detection were performed for taproots at five developmental stages in the first year of field growth. Results showed a faster increase in root diameter and root fresh weight in the early stage of taproot thickening, whereas in its late stage the dry weight content increased rapidly. In tandem, the abundance of carbohydrates and fatty acids was relatively high at the early stage, in contrast to the late stage of taproot thickening, when amino acids substantially accumulated. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were enriched to pathways or biological processes closely related to taproot thickening, namely, ‘transcriptional regulation’, ‘hormone signal transduction’, ‘starch and sucrose metabolism’, ‘cell wall organization and biosynthesis’, and ‘phenylpropanoid and lignin biosynthesis’. Further, transcripts–metabolites regulatory network revealed that sucrose, D-fructose 6-P, and phenylalanine, together with the transcription factors CiMYB20 and CiERF13, as well as the structural genes CiEXPA, Ci1-FFT, CiSPS, and CiPAL, could be critical molecules that operate to regulate chicory’s taproot thickening. We conclude that the differential expression of metabolites and genes plays a crucial role in the taproot thickening of root chicory. This study lays a foundation for future in-depth elucidation of the molecular regulatory mechanism of taproot thickening in root chicory plants.

Influence of nitrogen fertilizers on the concentrations of inulin and micronutrients in Jerusalem artichoke tubers and root chicory

Influence of nitrogen fertilizers on the concentrations of inulin and micronutrients in Jerusalem artichoke tubers and root chicory

A comparison of three different delivery methods for achieving CRISPR/Cas9 mediated genome editing in Cichorium intybus L.

Root chicory (Cichorium intybus L. var. sativum) is used to extract inulin, a fructose polymer used as a natural sweetener and prebiotic. However, bitter tasting sesquiterpene lactones, giving chicory its known flavour, need to be removed during inulin extraction. To avoid this extraction and associated costs, recently chicory variants with a lower sesquiterpene lactone content were created by inactivating the four copies of the germacrene A synthase gene (CiGAS-S1, -S2, -S3, -L) which encode the enzyme initiating bitter sesquiterpene lactone biosynthesis in chicory. In this study, different delivery methods for CRISPR/Cas9 reagents have been compared regarding their efficiency to induce mutations in the CiGAS genes, the frequency of off-target mutations as well as their environmental and economic impacts. CRISPR/Cas9 reagents were delivered by Agrobacterium-mediated stable transformation or transient delivery by plasmid or preassembled ribonucleic complexes (RNPs) using the same sgRNA. All methods used lead to a high number of INDEL mutations within the CiGAS-S1 and CiGAS-S2 genes, which match the used sgRNA perfectly; additionally, the CiGAS-S3 and CiGAS-L genes, which have a single mismatch with the sgRNA, were mutated but with a lower mutation efficiency. While using both RNPs and plasmids delivery resulted in biallelic, heterozygous or homozygous mutations, plasmid delivery resulted in 30% of unwanted integration of plasmid fragments in the genome. Plants transformed via Agrobacteria often showed chimerism and a mixture of CiGAS genotypes. This genetic mosaic becomes more diverse when plants were grown over a prolonged period. While the genotype of the on-targets varied between the transient and stable delivery methods, no off-target activity in six identified potential off-targets with two to four mismatches was found. The environmental impacts (greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and primary energy demand) of the methods are highly dependent on their individual electricity demand. From an economic view - like for most research and development activities - employment and value-added multiplier effects are high; particularly when compared to industrial or manufacturing processes. Considering all aspects, we conclude that using RNPs is the most suitable method for genome editing in chicory since it led to a high efficiency of editing, no off-target mutations, non-transgenic plants with no risk of unwanted integration of plasmid DNA and without needed segregation of transgenes.

Lactucin Synthase Inactivation Boosts the Accumulation of Anti-inflammatory 8-Deoxylactucin and Its Derivatives in Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.).

For several sesquiterpene lactones (STLs) found in Asteraceae plants, very interesting biomedical activities have been demonstrated. Chicory roots accumulate the guaianolide STLs 8-deoxylactucin, lactucin, and lactucopicrin predominantly in oxalated forms in the latex. In this work, a supercritical fluid extract fraction of chicory STLs containing 8-deoxylactucin and 11β,13-dihydro-8-deoxylactucin was shown to have anti-inflammatory activity in an inflamed intestinal mucosa model. To increase the accumulation of these two compounds in chicory taproots, the lactucin synthase that takes 8-deoxylactucin as the substrate for the regiospecific hydroxylation to generate lactucin needs to be inactivated. Three candidate cytochrome P450 enzymes of the CYP71 clan were identified in chicory. Their targeted inactivation using the CRISPR/Cas9 approach identified CYP71DD33 to have lactucin synthase activity. The analysis of the terpene profile of the taproots of plants with edits in CYP71DD33 revealed a nearly complete elimination of the endogenous chicory STLs lactucin and lactucopicrin and their corresponding oxalates. Indeed, in the same lines, the interruption of biosynthesis resulted in a strong increase of 8-deoxylactucin and its derivatives. The enzyme activity of CYP71DD33 to convert 8-deoxylactucin to lactucin was additionally demonstrated in vitro using yeast microsome assays. The identified chicory lactucin synthase gene is predominantly expressed in the chicory latex, indicating that the late steps in the STL biosynthesis take place in the latex. This study contributes to further elucidation of the STL pathway in chicory and shows that root chicory can be positioned as a crop from which different health products can be extracted.

ОСОБЛИВОСТІ РОЛІ ҐРУНТОВОЇ ВОЛОГИ В ЗАБЕЗПЕЧЕННІ ВИСОКОЇ ВРОЖАЙНОСТІ РОСЛИН ЦИКОРІЮ КОРЕНЕПЛІДНОГО

У статті наведено результати польових досліджень з вивчення впливу ґрунтової вологи на врожайність рослин цикорію коренеплідного та визначення вмісту форм води в рослинах на різних за родючістю ґрунту ділянках із внесенням органічних добрив 20 т/га. Установлено, що за найбільш інтенсивного росту та розвитку рослин на удобрених ділянках упродовж вегетаційного періоду накопичували у ґрунті більш високий відсоток загальної та вільної води і менше зв’язаної, порівняно з ділянками, де не вносили органічних добрив. За вмістом загальної води в рослинах різниця була незначною, особливо в денні години. Отже, внесення органічних добрив у ґрунт під цикорій коренеплідний з метою одержання високої врожайності дає можливість краще зберегти у ґрунті ґрунтову вологу, що надалі впливає на врожайність культури.

Agrochemical methods for increasing the yield of root chicory

Relevance. The effectiveness of fertilizers depends on the need of plants for nutrients and on the ability of the soil to meet this need. According to the Research Institute of Raw Materials of the Alcohol Industry, the responsiveness of chicory to individual substances changes dramatically during the growing season. In the first period of its development, chicory responds sharply positively only to phosphorus. In the future, the phosphorus efficiency remains stable for two months and by the end of the growing season, attenuation begins. The potash efficiency, on the contrary, is low in the first months, and by the end of the growing season, in contrast to the action of phosphorus, it gives a sharp rise. The efficiency of nitrogen during the growing season occupies an average position between the efficiency of phosphorus and potassium.Methodology. The aim of the research was to identify the most effective doses of macro- and microelements and methods of their application (basic and top dressing) to ensure maximum yields of root chicory root crops. The experiments were carried out in the Nonchernozem zone of the Russian Federation in the Rostov district of the Yaroslavl region on the experimental field of the Rostov experimental station for chicory¬ – a branch of the FSBSI FSVC.Results. As a result of the conducted studies, it was found that an increase in the dose of nitrogen nutrition against the background of phosphorus-potassium fertilizer increased the yield of root chicory root crops, fractional application of mineral fertilizers is more effective compared to the main application, the introduction of boron and cobalt increased the content of inulin and sugars in root crops. The inulin content increased as the dose of nitrogen fertilizers increased.

Influence of predecessors, mineral fertilizers and humate on the infestation of crops with weeds and the yield of chicory roots

Relevance. For the cultivation of environmentally friendly products, the preservation of soil fertility and environmental protection, the question of the prospects for longterm use of various fertilizer systems is very important. With an acute shortage of manure, a mineral-biological fertilizer system is promising, when an estimated dose of mineral fertilizers is applied against the background of annually sown siderates. Such a system of fertilizer application makes it possible to increase yields, product quality, significantly reduce the shortage of organic matter in the soil, improve its structure and biological activity. The inclusion of the employed steam with the most effective precursors, doses of mineral macro and micro fertilizers and humic acids in the rowed link of crop rotation can reduce the contamination of crops and significantly increase the yield of root chicory root crops.Materials and methods. The research was carried out in 2017-2021 located in the Rostov district of the Yaroslavl region.Results. As a result of the conducted research, it was found that on turf-podzolic medium-loamy soils of the Non-Chernozem zone of the Russian Federation, it is economically feasible to use technology for the cultivation of root chicory using an oatpea mixture as a precursor in combination with the introduction of mineral fertilizers into the soil at a dose of N60P60K120 and the treatment of vegetative plants with boron and humate. When using this technology, the contamination of crops decreases, their photosynthetic potential and the yield of root crops increases, the cost of production decreases, and the profitability exceeds 104%.

The effect of nitrogen fertilization on yield and macronutrient concentrations in root chicory (Cichorium intybus L. var. Sativus Bisch) and the health status of plants

The effect of N fertilization on the health status of chicory plants, yield and the content of dry matter and macronutrients in chicory roots was determined in the study. Three root chicory cultivars, Polanowicka, Orchies and Chrysolite, were grown in a plot experiment. Three levels of topsoil N fertilization were applied before sowing: 0, 80 and 120 kg ha–1. The severity of leaf diseases was estimated during the growing season. Root yield, agronomic and marginal N-use efficiency, DM content and macronutrient concentrations in roots were calculated after harvest (10–20 October). The symptoms of powdery mildew, gray mold and leaf spot on chicory leaves were significantly least severe in the unfertilized treatment. The highest yield (83 Mg ha–1) was obtained in 2017, in cv. Chrysolite without N fertilization. Root yield decreased in response to the application of N fertilizer at both rates. A minor increase in yield was observed only in cv. Polanowicka in N-fertilized treatments in 2017, and in cv. Chrysolite fertilized with 80 kg N ha–1 in 2018. Root yield was negatively correlated with disease severity during the growing season. The DM content of chicory roots (mean values for years of the study, cultivars and N rates) was similar in all treatments. N fertilization induced changes in the content of N, K, Mg and S in chicory roots of the analyzed cultivars. The application of N fertilizer had a beneficial influence on the N content of roots in all cultivars.

Environmental and socio-economic impacts of new plant breeding technologies: A case study of root chicory for inulin production.

In Europe, root chicory and other plants are cultivated for their prebiotic food fiber, inulin, which boosts the growth of beneficial gut bacteria and stimulates the human immune system. CHIC, a H2020 project, develops new chicory variants which produce more and reported to be healthier inulin as well as medicinal terpenes. This paper presents an environmental and socio-economic assessment of the whole value chain of the new chicory variants and their derived products using a case study based in the Netherlands. Two scenarios based on new chicory variants using new plant breeding technologies (NPBT) are analyzed and impacts thereof are compared to the reference scenario; the current commercial inulin process from conventional chicory. Both scenarios show higher inulin content, but the inulin adsorption process differs. While one aims to optimize inulin yield, the other one explores the potential of a multipurpose use, yielding inulin and health beneficial terpenes. Methodologically, we employ multi-regional input-output (MRIO) analysis to estimate additional economic benefits, added value and job creation, while by means of life cycle assessment (LCA) effects on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and primary energy demand are derived. Both methods, MRIO and LCA, are well suited to analyze the raised issues and draw on the same data. Generally, the results highlight the importance of inulin production at a national and EU-level in the reference scenario. In case of the two scenarios, we find that the related socio-economic impacts are much higher than in the reference scenario and thus highlight their ability to boost economic activity and increase competiveness of the EU, i.e. over 80% of the generated value added stays in the EU. In terms of environmental impacts, the two scenarios show lower GHG emissions and primary energy demand due to the higher efficiencies of the process in the scenarios compared to the reference inulin process. Additionally, regarding the goal of climate neutral production, we find that the majority of GHG emissions stem from the electricity mix and natural gas demand. Replacing these sources of energy with more renewable ones will contribute to this goal.

Boron fertilization of root chicory (Cichorium intybus var. sativum) in a field experiment in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa

Root chicory (Cichorium intybus var. sativum ) production is increasing in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa, especially on coarse-textured soils, prone to boron (B) deficiency. Literature on the response of chicory to B application is scarce and largely anecdotal. A field experiment was conducted to determine this response and the movement of B in the upper 60 cm of a loamy sand. Eight rates of B (from 0 to 3.5 kg ha−1) were either soil- or foliar-applied, with four replications. Soil samples were taken pretrial and after each of the two harvests at 15 cm depth intervals to 60 cm for fertility analysis. Hot water soluble B was also analyzed. Results are presented as means of the two harvest periods for yield, and leaf and soil analysis. Root analysis is reported for the second harvest only. Yield effects were not significant (p > 0.05) for both seasons over all B application rates. Application method (App), and the App × B interaction were also not significant. Root chicory was tolerant to 3.5 kg B ha−1. Multiple rooting, especially in the control plots, was significant compared to plots that received B and root rot incidence was also significantly higher, probably due to B deficiency. Root quality was compromised at about 0.1 mg B kg−1 in the topsoil. A highly significant movement of B occurred from the topsoil to 45–60 cm measured after the final harvest. The application rate, App, and time were all significant for the averaged data from the 0–15 to 45–60 cm depths.

Possibilities of using leaves cultivated chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) as a medicinal plant material (review)

Common chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) is widely known as a food plant. However, in folk medicine in many countries, the roots and leaves of chicory are used as a choleretic, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic agent. In this regard, a promising direction of research is a detailed study of the biological characteristics and chemical composition of this plant in order to substantiate its use for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes. The article presents an analysis of the available information on the botanical classification and biological characteristics, agricultural technology, chemical composition and the use of the aerial part of the cultivated common chicory in scientific and folk medicine. Possible resources for collecting chicory leaves are wild-growing populations, as well as varieties of root chicory, which is grown in Russia as an industrial crop. Under natural conditions, chicory occupies disturbed habitats characterized by low soil fertility, pollution with heavy metals, and increased competition with other ruderal plants. While in the conditions of culture, the best agroecological conditions for growing plants are provided, accelerating their development and contributing to accumulation of biologically active substances in greater quantities, compared with wild ones. In this regard, a promising direction of research is to study the influence of various factors (illumination, temperature, weather conditions, agrotechnical measures, varietal characteristics, growth regulators) on the content, qualitative composition and dynamics of the accumulation of biologically active compounds in the leaves of cultivated common chicory.

Genetic sources of resistance to root rots chicory

Relevance. One of the significant problems in the technology of obtaining root chicory is the protection of root vegetables from the defeat of root rots. The most common lesions of root vegetables chicory various pathogenic species of fungi causing phomosis (Phoma rostrupii Sacc.), gray rot (Botrytis cinerea (R.) Fr.J), wet bacterial rot (Erwinia carotovora (Jones) Holt.). An important place in solving this problem is the breeding of new varieties that are resistant to major diseases and adapted to the conditions of cultivation in the soil-climatic conditions of the chicory-seeding zone. This requires, first of all, to determine the range of donor varieties of the sign of resistance to root rots, both during the growing of culture, and during long-term storage.Material and methods. In 2018-2020, studies were carried out to assess gene sources of different ecological and geographical origin (including against a provocative background) in the Non-Black Earth Zone of the Russian Federation and to isolate donors of resistance to root rot from them. Research on the Rostov Vegetable experimental station on chicory.Results. Studies have shown that the defeat of root vegetables chicory root rots genetic sources were very different from each other, so Harpachi, Luxor did not affect the. root rots neither on the usual nor on provocative backgrounds.

Crossbreed and feed allowance affect final meat and eating quality of pigs from a free-range system

This study compared the meat and eating quality from fattening pigs raised in a free-range system involving two cross-breeds: Duroc x (Landrace x Yorkshire) (DYL); and Tamworth x (Landrace x Yorkshire) (TYL) and two feeding strategies (semi-ad libitum (NORM) or restrictive feeding of concentrate (80-50% of semi-ad libitum; RES)). Sixteen female pigs from each cross-breed were strip-grazing diverse pasture with a grass-clover mixture and forage herbs (338 m2/pig) and root chicory (34 m2/pig) from the age of 88 days and an average live weight of 32.2 kg (SD=1.9), and were allocated to either the NORM or RES feeding strategy after a three-week training and adaptation period. The NORM pigs were slaughtered after 68 days and RES pigs were slaughtered after 90 days of experimental feeding, in order to allow them to obtain the same slaughter weight as NORM within each cross-breed. Meat and eating quality was determined on the M. longissimus lumborum (LL) and the M. biceps femoris (BF) removed twenty-two hours post mortem. The DYL were superior to the TYL crossbreed when it came to carcass weight (84.6 vs. 70.3 kg) and lean percentage (63.6 vs. 54.5%) no matter the feeding strategy. The RES feeding strategy caused smaller carcasses (8.7%) with higher lean percentage (+1.5%). The BF was tenderer from the DYL crossbreed, whereas the LL from the TYL crossbreed had less acid and metal but sweeter flavor. The restricted feeding strategy had a negative impact on the texture of specifically the loin both measured as Warner Bratzler shear force (+8 N, 4 days post mortem) and as tenderness evaluated by a sensory panel, whereas the flavor of the meat was unaffected. The restricted feeding caused a change towards more poly-unsaturated fatty acids and n3 fatty acids and a lower ratio of n6/n3 fatty acids in the meat, which is favorable from a human nutrition point of view.

Selection of pairs for intervarietal crossing of root chicory

Relevance. Modern agricultural production requires the creation of varieties that combine high productivity, quality, and adaptability. Taking into account the development trends of modern agriculture towards multiplicity, it is necessary to improve and expand the assortment, helping to meet the needs of both large and small producers of agricultural products. Due to the lack of material and human resources in the agricultural sector, there is a clear need for varieties and hybrids adapted to industrial cultivation and storage technologies. Existing zoned varieties of root chicory have a root crop length of 40 cm or more, and the soils of the area of cycoroseeding are mainly heavy in mechanical composition, where the use of digging devices to such a depth is impossible. Production requires varieties with a short root crop, which has the main mass concentrated in the upper part.Methods. The purpose of this work is to identify valuable genotypes in the soil and climate conditions of the non-Chernozem zone of the Russian Federation among the variety of varieties of chicory root of different ecological and geographical origin for use in the creation of the source material of selection by inter-port crosses.Results. When creating the source material for the selection of root chicory by the method of intervarietal crosses, one of the parents should choose local intrazonal varieties adapted to the soil and climatic conditions of the zone (Yaroslavsky, Gavrilov-Yamsky), and the second – off-zonal varieties with economically valuable qualities (short root crop, high yields and chemical-technological indicators, resistance to root rot) and donors of these traits (Kharpachi, Sleszka, BilogorkaOS-2, BilogorkaOS-3, Rexor, Wixor, Luxor).

Assessment of the safety of chicory root crops during winter storage

Relevance and methods. For the production of chicory seeds, care must be taken not only to obtain a high-grade source material, i.e. varietal seeds and masterbatch root crops, but also to store the resulting root crops in winter with minimal losses. The main requirement for growing mother chicory root crops is the placement of crops on fertile soils that are clean of weeds. Installed. That on podzolized loams the best dose of mineral fertilizers for this crop is N45P120K60, where an increased dose of superphosphate increases the yield and rootability of Queen cells, increases seed productivity for the second year. Materials and methods. The purpose of this work is to analyze the safety of root crops of chicory root and the degree of their damage by root rot during winter storage in plastic bags in burts. The purpose of the study is to identify the best way to store the mother chicory root crops and the effect of reproduction on the rootability of root crops in winter. Questions of storage of the mother material of root chicory were studied in the laboratory of selection and seed production on the example of the Petrovsky variety in 2017-2019. The material for research was the families of chicory of the Petrovsky variety in the control and elite nursery. Results. The obtained data show that when evaluating and selecting families for the purpose of obtaining highly productive seed material, the safety of root crops in long-term winter storage should be taken into account. If its values are low, the entire family should be completely excluded from the process of primary seed production. In selection and seed-growing work, a mandatory component of the assessment should be the safety of root crops during long-term winter storage.

Donors of valuable economic traits for selection of chicory root

Relevance. Root chicory is a valuable economic crop. However, its attractiveness for the producer is reduced due to the high labor intensity of cultivation and a high proportion of manual labor, primarily when harvesting root crops. Modern agricultural production is in urgent need of new varieties of root chicory that combine high yields and the necessary chemical and technological qualities, having the form of a root crop suitable for mechanized harvesting and adapted to cultivation in the soil and climatic conditions of the non-Chernozem zone of Russia. The purpose of this work is to test varieties of root chicory in a collection nursery in the Yaroslavl region.Material and methods. The research was conducted at the the Yaroslavl region. The material for research was three varieties of Dutch selection Wixor RS, Rexor RS, Luxor. The experience is based on the "Guidelines for the study and maintenance of the world's collection of root crops", recommended by VIR. Vavilov.Results. Investigated varieties in the soil and climatic conditions of the non-black earth zone of Russia were distinguished by a short root crop (up to 25 cm long) with a large diameter (up to 9 cm). We recommend them as donors in the selection of root chicory for suitability for mechanized harvesting. From long-term observations, it follows that the varieties Wixor RS, Rexor RS and Luxor are early-maturing. The length of their vegetative period does not exceed 125 days. This group of varieties is the most valuable when breeding for early maturity. Based on the analysis of the results of economic-biological and environmental studies of Dutch varieties of root chicory, it was found that they have high average values of certain economic-valuable characteristics and stability of their manifestation over the years.

Impact of vernalization and heat on flowering induction, development and fertility in root chicory (Cichorium intybus L. var. sativum)

Root chicory (Cichorium intybus var. sativum) is a biennial plant that requires vernalization for flowering initiation. However, we previously showed that heat can induce root chicory flowering independently of vernalization. To deepen our understanding of the temperature control of flowering in this species, we investigated the impact of heat, vernalization and their interaction on flowering induction and reproductive development. Heat increased the flowering percentage of non-vernalized plants by 25% but decreased that of vernalized plants by 65%. After bolting, heat negatively affected inflorescence development, decreasing the proportion of sessile capitula on the floral stem by 40% and the floral stem dry weight by 42% compared to control conditions, although it did not affect the number of flowers per capitulum. Heat also decreased flower fertility: pollen production, pollen viability and stigma receptivity were respectively 25%, 3% and 82% lower in heat-treated plants than in untreated control plants. To investigate the genetic control of flowering by temperature in root chicory, we studied the expression of the FLC-LIKE1 (CiFL1) gene in response to heat; CiFL1 was previously shown to be repressed by vernalization in chicory and to repress flowering when over-expressed in Arabidopsis. Heat treatment increased CiFL1 expression, as well as the percentage of bolting and flowering shoot apices. Heat thus has a dual impact on flowering initiation in root chicory since it appears to both induce flowering and counteract vernalization. However, after floral transition, heat has a primarily negative impact on root chicory reproduction.

Water consumption in root chicory plants of in agrophytocenosis under their mass formation

The research aimed to study the transpiration and water consumption in root chicory plants during the growing season in the conditions of the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. It has been established that well-developed plants consume signifi cantly more water during the growing season, compared with poorly developed plants. So, on average for 2012–2016, water consumption for plants with a mass of 685.63 g. during the growing season was 98.3 l., and for plants with a mass of 18.65 g. water consumption for a growing season was 34.0 l. However, comparing the plant water consumption required for the formation of 1 g of root weight of the root crop, the opposite pattern is observed, for plants with a mass of 685.63 g, the water consumption rate for 1 g of the root weight of the root crop was 73 liters, while for plants with a weight of 18.65 g and 1 g of fresh root weight the rate was 97 liters. It was also found that the water consumption in a plant depends to a large extent on the degree of plant leaf amount. The higher the ratio of the aerial parts to the root crop is, the more water the plant consumes. Therefore, the formation of a unit of leaf mass requires much more water than a unit of root crops. It was revealed that water consumption increases signifi cantly in poorly developed plants, in which the ratio of aboveground mass and root crop is broken. Such a violation also occurs with high yields. The transpiration coefficient rises dramatically when chicory plants develops in the tops. The decrease in the transpiration rate from 261 to 211 in the course of root chicory growth and development is predetermined by the fact that in the early period of its development, the aboveground part intensively grows and larger amount of water is needed for its formation compared to that for the root unit formation. Thus, the issue of the transpiration relation with the water content in plant tissues is closely related and depends on the plant growth specifi c conditions. Well-developed plants, in comparison with poorly developed ones under the same nutritional conditions and soil moisture, usually contain more water in the tissues, and despite this, their transpiration rate is lower. Key words: root chicory, water consumption, transpiration coeffi cient, root crop mass, leaf mass.