Western Siberian Region Research Articles

Traveling exhibition project in the Western Siberian region of Russia: On the river ecology of the Ob River and its tributaries

The Ob River and its tributaries in the Arctic region have interesting ecological and ethical characteristics. Museum exhibits play an important role in educating people of all ages. However, in Western Siberia, where the Ob River flows, there are no exhibits that scientifically explain the nature of the local rivers. Another issue is that small towns are scattered over large areas, making it difficult to educate residents through a single museum exhibition. Therefore, this study applied the knowledge gained from traveling exhibition research carried out in Japan to Russian regional towns, developed a traveling exhibition package for learning about the Ob River and its tributaries in a fun and hands-on manner, and traveled to three cities in Western Siberia. We were able to develop a traveling exhibition that allowed visitors to learn about the Ob River from a perspective that integrated the arts and sciences, and that was also entertaining, with many interactive exhibits. This was significant because a wide range of people, regardless of ethnicity, were able to experience and learn from the exhibition.

Climate change expected to increase yield of spring cereals and reduce yield of winter cereals in the Western Siberian grain belt

ContextHigher latitude regions are likely to benefit from an extended vegetation period driven by climate change. In this regard, Western Siberia is considered a promising area for cereal crop farming in the near and medium-term future up to 2050. In the southern regions of Western Siberia, spring and winter cereals with different physiology and phenology are cultivated. The spatial resolution of existing estimates of climate change show an impact on cereal crops, however, the resolution remains low, impairing coverage of the diversity of cereals cultivated in Western Siberia. ObjectiveThis study aims to estimate the impact of climate change on the yield of main cereal crops in the Tyumen oblast (Western Siberia, Russia) in the short (2025 – 2030) and medium (2045 – 2050) terms. MethodsThe dataset covered the period from 1990 to 2020 and contained time series data on the yield of cereal crops as well as relevant meteorological parameters (mean air temperature, precipitation, snow cover), all grouped by the 22 municipal districts of the Tyumen oblast. Daily meteorological data were obtained from the CMIP6 model-simulation output and were used to develop random effects linear regression models and to make predictions with optimal models. To assess the impact of climatic parameters on the four key stages of cereal growth (germination, tillering, heading, flowering), a series of random effects linear regression models was developed for each type of cereal crop using six different methods of model building. ResultsThe obtained models predict that the yield of spring grown cereals (barley, oats, spring wheat) would increase by 11.6% ± 1.7% and 10.1% ± 1.7% (mean ± SE), in the short (2025 – 2030) and medium (2045 – 2050) runs as compared to the control period (1990 – 2020). These models predict a decrease in winter grown cereals (rye and winter wheat) yield by 17.1% ± 3.2% in 2025 – 2030 and by 17.7% ± 3.2% in 2045 – 2050. Among the four studied agroecological zones, the largest increase in the yield is predicted in the taiga agroecological zone (up to 84.3% ± 5.5% for barley). ConclusionsCultivation of spring grown cereals adapted to the taiga environment is important for improving grain production rates in Western Siberian regions. SignificanceThis study offers an example of a new bioinformatics-inspired type of analysis that prepares raw biological data for mechanistic modeling. This type of analysis serves to identify the key explanatory variables, paving the way towards spatially resolved multiscale predictive modelling of agroecosystems.

Новый скороспелый сорт подсолнечника Кремень

Kremen is a new very early maturing sunflower varie-ty of oil type. It was developed in the laboratory of Sunflower variety breeding of V.S. Pustovoit All-Russian Research Institute of Oil Crops in 2015–2021 as a result of multiple individual selection from the best families of a variety-population SUR by productivity, morphotype, tolerance to broomrape races (A–F), high field resistance to dry rot, and toler-ance to phomopsis. The new variety is differed from the standard variety VNIIMK 100 with its increased productivity (seed yield – by 14%, oil yield – by 16%) and improved morphometric traits. The period from seedling appearance to physiological maturity of 81 days is equal to the same of the standard variety. The plant height of the new variety is 145–155 cm. The weight of 1000 seeds is within 55 g at the plant popu-lation of 40 thousand seeds per ha. The sunflower variety Kremen from 2021 is under the state variety trial in the Central Chernozrn (5), Northern Caucasus (6), Middle Volga (7), Low Volga (8), Ural (9), and Western Siberian (10) regions.

Очень ранний сорт сои Забава

A very early soybean variety Zabava was selected from the hybrid combination F4 Slavia × EU Mentor by traits of increased cold resistance, drought resistance and reduced reaction for the length of the day. The Zabava variety belongs to a very early group of maturity, at the latitude of Krasnodar (45°) it matures in 94 days, and in yield is not inferior to the Puma standard variety. At the latitude of Samara (53°), it matures in 95 days, and the yield significantly exceeds the Samer 3 standard variety. In 2022, in a competitive variety test in the Krasnodar region, its yield was 2.51 t/ha; in a competitive test in the Samara region, it was 3.33 t/ha. The height of the plants of the Zabava variety at the latitude of Krasnodar averaged 74 cm. In the Samara region, at latitude 53°, the height of plants of the Zabava variety increased slightly to 87 cm. High resistance to low air and soil temperatures in the germination phase, and increased yield in long-day conditions characterizes the new soybean variety Zabava. This allows it to be cultivated in soybean-producing farms in the Central Chernozem, North Caucasus, Middle Volga, Low Volga, Ural, Western Siberian and Eastern Siberian regions of the Russian Federation.

Новый сорт подсолнечника Юбиляр

The sunflower variety Yubilyar was developed at the Siberian experimental station - a branch of the V.S. Pustovoit All-Russian Research Institute of Oil Crops (Omsk region, Isilkul) by the method of individual selection of the productive samples from the varietal population Sibirsky 97 and directed cross-pollination of them during free flowering in an isolated area. In the conditions of the Omsk region, the Yubilyar varie-ty belongs to a very early maturity group. The stem of the variety is erect, unbranched, 120–140 cm high. The basket is convex when ripe, 19–21 cm in diame-ter. Achenes are medium-sized, narrow-ovoid, black. Weight of 1000 seeds 57–71 g. According to the results of variety testing in 2020–2022, the new variety exceeded the standard variety Irtysh of local breed-ing in terms of seed yield by 0.35 t/ha, seed oil content by 2.2% and oil yield by 0.22 t/ha. The Yubilyar variety is recommended for cultivation in the Western Siberian (10) and Ural (9) regions.

Особенности отбора и оценки крупноплодного подсолнечника кондитерского назначения для условий Западной Сибири

Sunflower breeding (Helianthus annuus L.) in Siberia aims first on the development of very early maturing genotypes resistant to pathogens. The development of large-seeded confectionary sunflower varieties is one of the breeding directions at the Siberian experimental station – a branch of V.S. Pustovoit All-Russian Research Institute of Oil Crops (Isilkul, Omsk region). Perspective sunflower samples of confectionary type bred at the Siberian experimental station were studied in 2001–2012. A middle maturing variety Baloven and early maturing Sibirsky 12 developed at the station are included into the State register of breeding achievements of the Russian Federation and permitted for production in the Western Siberian region (10). The experiments were conducted on a breeding field of the Siberian experimental station (the southern forest-steppe zone of western Siberia). Planting of nurseries, observations and accounts were carried out according to the procedure developed at V.S. Pustovoit All-Russian Research Institute of Oil Crops. Using as an example a breeding process of the sunflower variety Sibirsky 12, we showed peculiarities of selection and evaluation of confectionary sunflower for the conditions of Western Siberia. This variety was developed by a method of the multiple individual selection of very early biotypes from the variety-population Baloven and the interpollination of the best families at free flowering. Long-term data of the breeding process of the variety Sibirsky 12 are published first. The variety was submitted for the state variety trial (SVT) in 2012, included into the State register of breeding achievements of the Russian Federation in 2015. A patent for the variety Sibirsky 12 has a date of invention 06.11.2012, the authors’ certificates are received. Currently this variety is actively included into the development of new breeding material having parameters of a confectionary variety.

Clay figurine of an owl of the Lower Pritobolye

The object of this research is the clay figurine of an owl discovered in the course of archaeological excavations in the Yurtobor 9 hillfort on the right bank of the Tobol River. The goal lies in introduction of in the scientific discourse of the new unique sample of small clay plastic, as well as in preliminary determination of the functional purpose of the item. The following tasks were set: morphological and stylistic description of the item; description of the context of discovery of the figurine; establishment of the chronological framework of existence of the item, its cultural affiliation; familiarization with the history of studying the regional clay figurines in the Russian archaeological science; search for analogies in the archaeological sites of Siberia and other territories; assessment of the semantic connotation of the image of an owl in the traditional culture of Ob Ugrians (Khanty and Mansi). To article employs the traditional methods, such as comparative-historical, typological, comparative-typological, formal-stylistic, semantic methods, as well as method of analogies. As a result of the conducted research, the clay figurine of an owl is attributed to the Yudinskaya archaeological culture and dated within the framework of the XI – XII centuries. It is established that it is the only item in Western Siberian region depicting a bird in the technique of small clay plastic. Based on the analysis of ethnographic literature and medieval archaeological finds, it is established that for a long period of time, the image of an owl had positive semantic connotation due to its high sacred status. The author assumes on the use of figurine of an owl in religious rites associated with hearth and home.

Genotypic and ecological variability of zinc content in the grain of spring bread wheat varieties in the international nursery KASIB

Spring bread wheat is the staple crop in Western Siberia and Kazakhstan, a signif icant portion of which goes for export. Wheat breeding with a high level of zinc in wheat grain is the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to address zinc def iciency in the diet. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the contribution of the factors ‘location’ and ‘genotype’ in the variability of zinc content in wheat grain, and to identify the best varieties as sources of this trait for breeding. The research on screening zinc content in the wheat grain of 49 spring bread wheat varieties from the Kazakhstan- Siberia Spring Wheat Trial (KASIB) nursery was carried out at 4 sites in Russia (Chelyabinsk, Omsk, Tyumen, Novosibirsk) and 2 sites in Kazakhstan (Karabalyk and Shortandy) in 2017–2018. The content of zinc in wheat grain was evaluated at the Ionomic Facility of University of Nottingham in the framework of the EU project European Plant Phenotyping Network-2020. The analysis of variance showed that the main contribution into the general phenotypic variation of the studied trait, 38.7 %, was made by the factor ‘location’ due to different contents of zinc and moisture in the soil of trial sites; the effect of the factor ‘year’ was 13.5 %, and the effect of the factor ‘genotype’ was 8.0 %. The most favorable environmental conditions for accumulation of zinc in wheat grain were observed in the Omsk region. In Omsk, the average zinc content in all studied varieties was 50.4 mg/kg, with 63.7 mg/ kg in the best variety ‘OmGAU 100’. These values are higher than the target values of the international program Harvest Plus. ‘Novosibirskaya 16’ (49.4 mg/kg), ‘Silach’ (48.4 mg/kg), ‘Line 4-10-16’ (47.2 mg/ kg), ‘Element 22’ (46.3 mg/kg) and ‘Lutescens 248/01’ (46.0 mg/kg) were identif ied as being the best varieties. Signif icant possibilities for the production of wheat grain with high zinc content, which is in demand for the production of bread and pastry products with functional properties, were identif ied in the Western Siberian region.

Updating a reservoir geological model in order to optimize waterflooding when extracting residual oil reserves from stagnant zones

Background. In the Russian Federation, as well as in many other oil and gas producing countries, waterflooding technology is frequently used as a secondary method of oil production. This technology is aimed, on the one hand, at reservoir pressure maintenance (RPM), and, on the other, at enhancing oil recovery and intensifying oil production. The negative consequences of non-stationary waterflooding can be the premature watering of the produced wells and the imbalance of the reservoir pressure maintenance system, as well as the formation of stagnant and weakly drained zones of the reservoir with residual reserves of hard-to-recover oil.Aim. To improve the efficiency of non-stationary waterflooding under the conditions of high geological and anthropogenic heterogeneity of oil and gas reservoirs in a floating oil reservoir propped up by edge and bottom waters.Materials and methods. We used geological and field information collected on the site of the AB1-2 development object of the Kechimovskoye field in the Western Siberian region. A new methodological approach to optimizing the process of non-stationary waterflooding under complicated conditions of geological and anthropogenic heterogeneity is proposed, including the construction of an improved geological model and the solution of a number of experimental problems using the Hurst method, the Pareto distribution principle and the theory of catastrophes.Results. Using a new version of the geological model of the area of the AB1-2 development object of the Kechimovskoye field and the available geological and field information, we clarified the position of the oil-water contact (OWC) and the correlation of the well section, taking into account the working intervals of production and injection wells. Geological and technical measures were formulated to improve the efficiency of the object under development.Conclusions. An effective development of the geologically complex AB1-2object of the Kechimovskoye field is impossible without updating its geological model. Such updating should be aimed at determining the location of residual reserves in the area and section of the reservoirs, identifying the regularities of the mechanism of oil reserve recovery, assessing the efficiency of the reservoir pressure maintenance system, and developing complex geological-technological measures for achieving the approved value of the final oil recovery factor. The expected efficiency of the proposed optimization methodology provides for additional oil production, a reduction in the flow rate of injected and withdrawal of produced water.

REPRODUCTION OF THE URBAN POPULATION OF THE TYUMEN REGION IN 1959-1970: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

The study of fertility and mortality in the regions where Soviet territorial-production complexes were formed is of great interest. Such studies make it possible to answer the question in which direction the demographic dynamics changed in the conditions of profound economic and social changes that were taking place in them at that time. Demographic processes in the Tyumen region during the formation of the West Siberian oil and gas complex interested many researchers. However, in their works, the main attention was paid to migration movements, the formation of labor collectives. Much less attention has been paid to the analysis of natural movement. In addition, it was produced using general indicators that have a high error. In this regard, it is still not clear how much the birth rate and mortality rate of city dwellers actually changed. The aim of the article is to study the dynamics of the total fertility rate and life expectancy in the 1960s. in urban settlements of the Tyumen region. For solving it, there were used the method of conditional generation, historical-comparative and historical-genetic methods. The study revealed that initially in 1958-1959 fertility and mortality of the urban population were approximately at the level of Western Siberia. After the beginning of the Western Siberian Oil And Gas Complex formation in the social-class structure, there was a slight increase in the share of workers, in the system of urban settlement the role of the regional center decreased. As a result, the birth rate among the townspeople of the Tyumen region in 1969-1970 became the highest among the West Siberian regions. The harsh climate, low rates of construction of housing and social infrastructure facilities, poorly organized medical services, the development of industries characterized by high injuries, an increase in alcohol consumption have led to the fact that life expectancy in the region has become the lowest among the Western Siberian regions. All of these changes in reproduction occurred taking into account the fact that the share of the northern regions in 1970 still did not exceed one third of the urban population of the region.

Stable isotopes in cave ice suggest summer temperatures in east-central Europe are linked to Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation variability

Abstract. The climate of east-central Europe (ECE) is the result of a combination of influences originating in the wider North Atlantic realm, the Mediterranean Sea, and the western Asian and Siberian regions. Previous studies have shown that the complex interplay between the large-scale atmospheric patterns across the region results in strongly dissimilar summer and winter conditions on timescales ranging from decades to millennia. To put these into a wider context, long-term climate reconstructions are required, but, largely due to historical reasons, these are lacking in ECE. We address these issues by presenting a high-resolution, radiocarbon-dated record of summer temperature variations during the last millennium in ECE, based on stable isotope analysis of a 4.84 m long ice core extracted from Focul Viu Ice Cave (Western Carpathians, Romania). Comparisons with both instrumental and proxy-based data indicate that the stable isotope composition of cave ice records the changes in summer air temperature and has a similar temporal evolution to that of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation on decadal to multidecadal timescales, suggesting that changes in the North Atlantic are transferred, likely via atmospheric processes towards the wider Northern Hemisphere. On centennial timescales, the data show little summer temperature differences between the Medieval Warm Period (MWP) and the Little Ice Age (LIA) in eastern Europe. These findings are contrary to those that show a marked contrast between the two periods in terms of both winter and annual air temperatures, suggesting that cooling during the LIA was primarily the result of wintertime climatic changes.

Трёхлинейный гибрид подсолнечника Ника

A three-line sunflower hybrid Nika was developed by hybridization of a simple sterile hybrid Donskoy 59 and a line-restorer of pollen fertility ED 155 at the Don experimental station. It is characterized by high productivity, over the years of testing, it exceeded the control on seed yield by 0.25 t per ha, on oil collection per hectare by 0.16 t per ha. According to the length of the vegetative period (98–104 days), it can be attributed to the middle-early group. Plant height is up to 170–180 cm. The leaves are large, the bubbling is very weak, and serration is large. Heads of medium size when maturing turned down with a straight stem. Achenes are broadly ovate, black with grey stripes along the edges and between the edges. The main distinguishing feature of the hybrid is its high productivity and resistance to the new aggressive races of broomrape (E, F, G) and downy mildew (race 330). The hybrid Nika has been included into the State register of protected breeding achievements of the Russian Federation since 2019 and allowed to be cultivated in the Central Black Soil (5), Northern Caucasus (6), Middle Volga (7), Low Volga (8), Ural (9), and Western Siberian (10) regions of Russia.

Overweight and obesity in patients with ulcerative colitis: prevalence and associations

The disorder of immunoregulation and activation of the immune response in relation to antigens of the intestinal microfl ora in genetically predisposed individuals under the infl uence of certain environmental factors is currently considered as the main theory of the infl ammatory bowel diseases pathogenesis. The morbidity and prevalence of ulcerative colitis (UC) is increasing simultaneously with the obesity pandemic. In recent years, information has appeared on the epidemiological interaction of predisposing factors for obesity and UC. Study objective is to assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity in patients with UC in the Western Siberian region before the fi rst symptoms of the disease and during treatment, as well as to assess the body mass index (BMI) in patients with UC depending on gender, lesion length, severity, duration of the disease and biologic therapy. Materials and methods : a case-control study was conducted with 127 patients having UC and 63 healthy ones, comparable by sex and age. BMI was calculated by the formula: mass (kg)/weight (m²). Results : overweight and/or obesity were noted before the onset of the fi rst symptoms of the disease in 58% of patients with UC of the Western Siberian region. Moreover, a statistically signifi cant predominance of overweight and obesity was observed in men. Dynamic monitoring of patients with UC revealed a lower BMI in patients with total lesion, severe course of the disease, and also against the background of a long-term disease. Biologic therapy helps to increase the BMI.

Putting the Spotlight on Opisthorchiasis: The Dread of the Western Siberian Region

Introduction: Opisthorchiasis is no doubt one of the most neglected infectious disease inspite of its huge medical importance in some parts of the World. The past decade have seen a resurgence of interests in research relating to this public health issue, however there is still a lot to be done. Social Model: Not many models have been explored in Western Siberia to deal with the opisthorchiasis epidemic when compared to the different models that have been used for other regions affected by similar disease. Life Cycle: The complex life cycle of Opisthorchis felineus has humans and other feline species as definitive host and is really prevalent among the aboriginal population of the Western Siberian because of their habit of eating raw or undercooked fresh water fish (Cyprinidae) which are intermediate host of the parasite. Diagnosis and Treatment: Diagnosis involve the use of stool microscopy, other methods such as mAb ELISA, LAMP and so on are used, while the common treatment is the use of 25-40mg of the antihelminthic drug_Praziquantel. Conclusion: The spotlight must be put on O. Felineus.

Genome-Wide Association Study of Powdery Mildew Resistance in Russian Spring Wheat (T. aestivum L.) Varieties

Powdery mildew caused by the fungal pathogen Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt) is an econo-mically important disease of common wheat T. aestivum L. One of the most effective and environmentally important ways of protection of wheat against Bgt is cultivation of the varieties with genetic resistance. The aim of this work was to study the genetic diversity of Russian spring wheat varieties for the powdery mildew resistance loci. Phytopathological evaluation of 97 wheat varieties showed that no more than 10% of the varieties have low level of susceptibility to the Bgt population specific to the Western Siberian region. Association mapping carried out on the basis of SNP genotyping and phytopathological testing during three environmental seasons identified eight loci in chromosomes 1AL, 1DS, 2BL, 5AS, 5DS, 6AL, 6DL, and 7AL. A high impact to the phenotypic manifestation of the trait was established for genetic factors localized in chromosomes 5AS, 6AL, and 6DL. The long arm of chromosome 6D contains the gene Pm6Ai=2, which was introduced from wheatgrass Thinopyrum intermedium and provides effective protection against the powdery mildew pathogen. On the basis of comparative analysis of the chromosomal localization of the known Pm resistance genes and loci mapped in this work, it was assumed that QTLs in chromosomes 1DS, 5AS, and 6AL are novel, not previously described resistance loci. The obtained results can be used in breeding programs for selection of target loci and for development of molecular markers specific to Bgt resistance loci.

The new variety of fiber flax Tomich 2

The paper presents the results of competitive testing of fiber flax hybrids in order to create an early ripening and productive variety with high quality fiber, resistant to lodging and diseases, and adapted to the conditions of Siberia. The studies were carried out on grey forest medium podzolic, medium-textured, medium-loamy soils of the sub-taiga zone in the Tomsk region. The predecessors were cereals. Climatic conditions were suitable for the cultivation of early- and mid-ripening varieties of fiber flax. In the competitive variety testing in 2012-2014, the promising hybrids H 4105 26 and H 4144 21 were bred, whose pedigree comprised a combination of a number of Tomsk selection varieties (Tomsky 9, Tomsky 10, Tomsky 16), two Russian varieties (Biryuza, Lazurnyiy), a Belarussian one (Orshan-sky 72) and a specimen of wild flax from Denmark. The assessment and selection of hybrid material was carried out using the pedigree method, based on the multiple individual selection and testing of chosen plants by progeny in hybrid generations. Competitive testing was carried out in comparison with the standard recognized variety Tomsky 16. Regarding the duration of the growing season, the studied hybrids H 4105 26 and H 4144 21 belong to the early maturing group, and the period of development from seeding to harvesting amounts to 63-86 days. The selected hybrids have a higher quality of fiber (the ratio between the stem length and diameter is 461-473), and are characterized by high productivity of straw (3.18-3.25 t/ha) and seeds (0.85-0.91 t/ha). According to the results of the competitive testing, hybrid H 4105 26 , stood out by the increased fiber content (35.8%), straw and seed yields during the years with different agrometeorological condition. Thus, it was acknowledged as a promising variety and was passed to the State variety testing as a new variety of fiber flax Tomich 2 for North-West, Central, Volga-Vyatsky and Western-Siberian regions of Russia from 2017.

The unique nature monuments of the Chai River basin (Tomsk oblast, Western Siberia)

Brief information is given on the nature and the monuments of nature in the basin of the Chaya river in the Chainskiy district of the Tomsk oblast. The current state of the main natural attractions of the area, described in the scientific works of the beginning of the XX century, is considered: the ‘Kulayka mountain’ – a natural and ancient monument of the peoples of Siberia and a wild habitat of linden (TIlia cordata Mill.) trees – a relic of the Tertiary Era. The general analysis of the expansion of linden in the Western Siberian region is provided. The data is provided on the isolated locations of the linden habitats in the Western Siberia beyond its modern habitat. The chief attention is given to the description of the natural habitat of linden on the right bank of the Chaya river in the Tomsk oblast. A history of discovery, research and protection of the ‘Linden Island’ in the Tomsk region is summarized. The main reasons for the study of the ‘Linden Island’ on the Chaya river are presented. The specifics of the ecological status of T. cordata in the harsh conditions of the Western Siberia are considered. The data on the current state of the ‘Linden Island’ in the Tomsk oblast are presented in comparison with the data from the previous researchers. It proposes measures to ensure protection of the unique natural monuments in the Chaya river basin.

Systematic errors in northern Eurasian short-term weather forecasts induced by atmospheric boundary layer thickness

Systematic errors in forecast near-surface air temperature (SAT) still constitute a considerable problem for numerical weather prediction (NWP) at high latitudes. Numerous studies in the past have attempted to reduce this problem through recalibration of physical parameterization schemes and better approximation of the surface energy budget. The errors, however, remain despite notable improvements in the overall weather forecast performance. This study looks at the problem from a different perspective. It analyzes asymmetries in the SAT forecast errors. The study reveals a statistical pattern of warm SAT biases under cold weather conditions and cold SAT biases under warm weather conditions. The largest errors were found in shallow atmospheric boundary layers (ABLs). The study attributes the problem to the modeled excessive ABL thickness in northern Eurasia (the NEFI region). The ABL thickness is considered as a scaling factor controlling the efficacy of the applied surface heating. Too thick an ABL damps the magnitude and agility of the SAT response. The study utilized the operational model SL-AV of the Russian Hydrometeorological Centre. Two turbulence schemes were evaluated in the northern European and western Siberian regions of Russia against observations from 73 meteorological stations. The pTKE (old) scheme is based on the local balance of the turbulence characteristics. The TOUCANS (new) scheme incorporated the total turbulence energy equations in an energy-flux balance approach. Neither scheme uses the ABL thickness as a prognostic parameter. The study reveals that the SAT errors are consistent with the damped response of temperature and reduced agility of temperature fluctuations in too thick ABLs. The TOUCANS scheme did not improve those features, probably because it links the turbulent fluxes and the ABL thickness. The SAT errors in shallow ABLs persist in the new scheme. This study emphasizes the need for a closer look at the ABL thickness in the NWP models.

Effectiveness of leaf rust resistance genes against Puccinia triticina populations in Western Siberia during 2008–2017

A monitoring survey focused on the local leaf rust pathogen on spring bread wheat was conducted during 2008–2017 in the Western Siberian region of the Russian Federation. Resistance genetics in cultivars released in the region during the last twenty years has been limited to only a few Lr genes: Lr1, Lr9, L10, Lr26, and Lr34. The effectiveness of Lr genes was assessed in field tests of 38 «Thatcher» Near Isogenic Lines (NILs). Resistance genes were classified into four groups based on infection types (ITs) in response to the local population of Puccinia triticina. Lines carrying genes Lr17, Lr18, Lr24, Lr25, Lr29, Lr35, Lr37, Lr44, and LrW(52) remained almost free of infection for the whole duration of rating. Their disease scores did not exceed the level of medium resistant even in seasons favorable for the spread of leaf rust. ITs indicative of moderate resistance were revealed in lines carrying genes Lr12, Lr13, Lr28, Lr34, and Lr38, except under conditions favorable to infection when plants became susceptible. Genes Lr1, Lr2a, Lr2c, Lr9, Lr14a, Lr14b, Lr15, Lr16, Lr19, and Lr22 showed reduced effectiveness against leaf rust in the region during the monitoring dates. Virulence to lines carrying genes Lr2b, Lr3, Lr3bg, Lr3 ka, Lr10, Lr11, Lr20, Lr21, Lr26, Lr30, Lr32, Lr33, and LrB was recorded during the whole time of monitoring from 2008 to 2017. Since race-specific genes Lr24 and Lr29 are still effective in the Western Siberian region, they may be recommended for breeding purposes deployed in combination with slow rusting gene Lr34 and the race-specific adult plant resistance genes Lr12 and/or Lr13, to provide durable resistance.

Performance Criteria of Spatial Development Projects Based on Interregional Integration

The search of efficient ways for the development of regional socio-economic space is a relevant problem. The authors consider the models of spatial organization according to the Spatial Development Strategy of the Russian Federation until 2030. We conduct the comparative analysis of scenarios for the polarized and diversified spatial growth. Many investigations consider the concepts of polarized and endogenous growth. This study proposes a methodology to assess the development of macroregions and to increase the viability of interregional integration projects. To develop this methodology, we formulate scientific principles and indirect criteria of the project performance conforming to the theory of regional integration. In addition to the territorial community and complementarity of the development potentials, regional integration in the country should be based on the principles of security, networking, limited quantity and awareness of the potential project participants. Integration should ensure synergetic effects and take into account cultural and historical closeness, that manifests in the common mentality and existing economic relations among regions. The calculation results regarding the indirect criteria are obtained using the methods of classification and spatial correlation. This study confirms the hypothesis, that the formation of the Western Siberian and Ural macro-regions is appropriate. We have concluded this on the basis of the criteria of economic development, economic integration, the similarity of regional spaces as habitats, and a number of participants for the subjects of the Ural Federal District. The projection of the patterns of international economic integration to the interregional level allows predicting the highest probability for the successful cooperation among the Western Siberian regions with a high level of economic development. The authors’ method has revealed a high synchronization between the economies of Sverdlovsk and Chelyabinsk Regions. This synchronization increases the chances for successful integration into the Ural macro-region. The same criterion reveals the economic grounds for the productive cooperation between the Sverdlovsk Region and Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District. The application of the regional typology in terms of the mental characteristics provides fewer grounds for the optimistic forecasts in the social projects of interregional integration