Winter Cultivars Research Articles

Allelic Variation of BnaFTA2 and BnaFTC6 Is Associated With Flowering Time and Seasonal Crop Type in Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.).

Different ecological types of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.), including winter, spring, and semi-winter cultivars, exhibit varying flowering times and cannot be planted in the same cultivation areas. FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) plays a key role in regulating flowering. In allotetraploid B. napus six copies of FT (BnaFT) have been reported. However, there is uncertainty about how the translated products of each paralog, as well as cis-allelic variations at each locus, contribute functionally to flowering time and define specific crop types. In this study, we confirm that BnaFT exhibit distinct expression patterns in different crop types of rapeseed. Using the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing system, we provide functional evidence that the mutants between Bnaft paralogues affects the regulation of flowering time. Furthermore, we identify a new haplotype of BnaFT.A2 that is associated with early flowering time, although this appears necessary but not sufficient to confer a spring type phenotype. Three haplotypes of BnaFT.C6 were further identified and associated with both flowering time and crop types. We speculate that variations in both BnaFT.A2 and BnaFT.C6 may have undergone diversifying selection during the divergence of seasonal crop types in rapeseed.

Postponed Application of Phosphorus and Potassium Fertilizers Mitigates the Damage of Late Spring Coldness by Improving Winter Wheat Root Physiology.

Late spring coldness (LSC) is the main limiting factor threatening wheat yield and quality stability. Optimal nutrient management is beneficial in mitigating the harms of LSC by improving wheat root physiology. This study proposed a nutrient management strategy that postponed the application of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), effectively strengthening wheat's defense against LSC. This experiment used the winter cultivar "Yannong19" (YN 19) as plant material for two consecutive years (2021-2022 and 2022-2023). Two fertilizer treatments were used: traditional P and K fertilizers application (R1: base fertilizer: jointing fertilizer = 10:0) and postponed P and K fertilizers application (R2: base fertilizer: jointing fertilizer = 5:5); wheat plants at the anther connective formation stage shifted to temperature-controlled phytotrons for normal (T0, 11 °C/4 h) and low temperatures (T1, 4 °C/4 h; T2, -4 °C/4 h) as treatments of LSC. The results showed that under low temperature (LT) treatment, compared with R1, the R2 treatment increased the concentrations of osmotic adjustment substances (soluble sugars and soluble protein contents by 6.2-8.7% and 3.0-8.9%), enhanced activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and catalase activities by 2.2-9.1%, 6.2-9.7% and 4.2-8.4%), balanced the hormone concentrations (increased IAA and GA3 contents by 2.8-17.5% and 10.4-14.1% and decreased ABA contents by 7.2-14.3%), and reduced the toxicity (malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide content and O2·- production rate by 5.7-12.4%, 17.7-22.8% and 19.1-19.1%) of the cellular membranes. Furthermore, the wheat root physiology in R2 significantly improved as the root surface area and dry weight increased by 5.0-6.6% and 4.7-6.6%, and P and K accumulation increased by 7.4-11.3% and 12.2-15.4% compared to R1, respectively. Overall, the postponed application of P and K fertilizers enhanced the physiological function of the root system, maintained root morphology, and promoted the accumulation of wheat nutrients under the stress of LSC.

Fusarium Wilt of Coriander: Root Cause Analysis and Varietal Tolerance Development.

Since 2012, growers of coriander, Coriandrum sativum L., in Israel have been suffering from summer wilting that can result in entire fields collapsing. The current study aimed to determine the cause of the phenomenon and find a genetic solution to the problem. The disease was reproduced in a growth chamber using naturally-infested soil from a commercial field. Wilt became apparent within two weeks, and after ten weeks, all plants died compared to plants in sterilized soil from the same source. Fusarium oxysporum was isolated from infected plants, and Koch's postulates were completed. Sequence analysis of the Elongation Factor (EF1α) encoding gene of the pathogen had a 99.54% match to F. oxysporum f. sp. coriandrii. Several coriander varieties were screened for resistance or tolerance to the disease. In four independent experiments, only the cultivar 'Smadi' showed high tolerance, while other genotypes were susceptible. In a trial in a naturally infested field, the cultivar 'Smadi' outperformed the commercial cultivar 'Blair'. 'Smadi' provides a cropping solution to many Israeli farmers, yet this winter cultivar bolts early in the summer. There is a further need to characterize the tolerance mechanism and inheritance for informed breeding of late-bolting Fusarium-resistant coriander.

Влияние погодных условий на завязываемость семян рапса озимого в условиях центральной зоны Краснодарского края

The purpose of the research was to study the influence of temperature and air moisture, wind velocity, cloud coverage, and precipitation amount on seed set of winter rapeseed in the central zone of the Krasnodar region. The objects of the research were winter rapeseed cultivars Elvis, Loris, Sarmat, Selegor, and Olivin. The conditions of 2022 during flowering period were favourable. The air temperature varied from 14.3 to 18.3 °C, precipitation amounted 12.4 mm, and they did not prevent pollination. The wind velocity in average by ten-day periods was 5.1 m/sec, cloud coverage (32.2%) and air moisture (61.1%) were op-timal both for self-pollination and for pollen transfer by wind and insects. The seed set in average was 81.3%. The weather conditions of 2023 were less fa-vorable. Lowered air temperatures – from 12.2 to 16.1 °C, frequent precipitations – 40 mm, air velocity from 2.8 to 4.7 m/sec, increased cloud coverage – to 85%, and air moisture to 77.3% negatively influenced self-pollination and prevented pollen transfer by wind and insects, and thereby decreased the realization of a potential productivity by 23.9%. The cultivars Sarmat and Selegor demonstrated the highest seed set both in favorable and unfavorable conditions. The cultivar Elvis was less sensitive to weather changes during flowering. The variation of a trait of seed set in favorable conditions was insignificant (CV = 2.4–7.1%). Changing of a trait of seed set in a pod to highly variable (CV = 11.7–28.3%) in 2023 certifies the genotype selection with high seed set ability is able only in unfavorable for pollination weather con-ditions.

Winter stress resistance of apple tree under the conditions of Krasnodar Territory

Background. Physiological and biochemical research on winter stress resistance of apple-tree cultivars of different ecogeographic origin under global warming is important for identifying the most adaptable genotypes for use in breeding practice. Such resistance is associated with the content of carbohydrates and anthocyanins, and the activity of peroxidase.Materials and methods. Two winter apple-tree cultivars developed at the North Caucasian Federal Scientific Center of Horticulture, Viticulture, Wine making (NCFSCHVW) and 3 foreign winter cultivars were studied using conventional physiological and biochemical methods.Results and discussion. The apple-tree cultivars ‘Orfey’ and ‘Prikubanskoye’ bred at the NCFSCHVW, when compared with foreign cvs. ‘Enterprise’, ‘Florina’ and ‘Ligol’, demonstrated higher contents of total water (by 2.5 %), starch (by 9.5 mg/g) and water-soluble sugars (by 19.3 mg/g) in shoots during the winter period. In the process of wintering, the anthocyanin content increased 2.9–4.3 times in the domestic cultivars, and 2.4–2.8 times in foreign ones. No regularities were found between the level of total peroxidase activity and winter hardiness of the studied apple cultivars.Conclusion. Cvs. ‘Orfey’ and ‘Prikubanskoye’ showed increased adaptability to the winter conditions in the unstable climate of Southern Russia, and can be recommended for cultivation in Krasnodar Territory and use in breeding practice.

Influence of Nitrogen Fertilisation Level and Weather Conditions on Yield and Quantitative Profile of Anti-Nutritional Compounds in Grain of Selected Rye Cultivars

Cultivar, habitat conditions and agrotechnology have an influence on the yield and chemical composition of rye grain. The main anti-nutritional substances present in rye grain include alkylresorcinols, water-soluble pentosans and trypsin inhibitors. The aim of this study was to determine the variability in yield and the concentration of anti-nutritional compounds in the grain of selected winter rye cultivars in relation to nitrogen fertilisation levels and weather conditions. Field studies were conducted at the Experimental Station of IUNG-PIB in Osiny (Poland) in two growing seasons (2018/2019 and 2019/2020). The experiment was located on pseudo-polylic soil using the randomised sub-block method in three replications. The first factor of the experiment was the level of nitrogen fertilisation (0, 70 and 140 kg N∙ha−1) and the second was the population (Dańkowskie Skand, Piastowskie) and hybrid (KWS Vinetto, SU Performer) winter rye cultivars. The study showed that the yield of winter rye depended on the genotype and the level of nitrogen fertilisation. The hybrid cultivars yield ed 17.9% higher in relation to the population cultivars. The content of anti-nutritional compounds in rye grain depended significantly on genotype, level of nitrogen fertilisation and weather conditions. The reason for the higher synthesis of anti-nutrients in rye grain was the stressful weather conditions occurring in the 2019/2020 season. Nitrogen fertilisation influenced the content of alkylresorcinols, water-soluble pentosans and trypsin inhibitor activity in grain. The interaction of cultivar and fertilisation was also found to shape the content of the aforementioned anti-nutrients.

Sensory profiling of pears from the Pacific Northwest: Consumers' perspective and descriptive analysis.

This study used data from consumer testing, descriptive analysis (DA), and preference mapping to determine the sensory characteristics of pear cultivars from two harvest seasons in the Pacific Northwest (PNW). A trained sensory panel (n=10) used generic DA to evaluate multiple sensory modalities of 22 pear cultivars. Six pears from summer and six from winter season were evaluated by consumers (n=219) to assess their liking of different attributes. Results of the DA showed the trained panel significantly discriminated the summer and winter pears on most of the sensory modalities. To identify the attributes driving consumer acceptability, external preference mapping was applied. Attributes such as pear aroma, pear flavor, sweet, sour, and juicy were the most contributory attributes to the liking of the summer pears. Conversely, fermented aroma, stemmy-woody aroma, fermented flavor, stemmy-woody flavor, and grainy-gritty attributes were associated with a reduction in consumer liking. Summer cultivars, "Bartlett," coded pear 573, and "Seckel" had the broadest preference, satisfying 60% to 80% of the consumers. Seventy-five percent of the consumers identified winter cultivars "Comice" and "Paragon" as the most appealing. Overall, cluster analysis showed that different pears appeal to different types of consumers; however, summer cultivars like "Bartlett" and "Seckel" and winter cultivars like "Comice" and "Paragon" would appeal to the greatest number of consumers in the PNW market. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Sensory attributes like pear flavor, sweet, and juicy, were important drivers of liking for pear consumers in the Pacific Northwest. These results should prove useful to pear growers and marketers to increase pear consumption in the United States.

Marker-assisted development of wheat lines of the winter cultivar Bezostaya 1 and the effects of interaction between alleles of Vrn-A1L and Vrn-B1 loci on heading time

Marker-assisted development of wheat lines of the winter cultivar Bezostaya 1 and the effects of interaction between alleles of Vrn-A1L and Vrn-B1 loci on heading time

Cover crop cultivars and species differ in root traits potentially impacting their selection for ecosystem services

Background and aimsCover crops have the potential to aid in adapting agricultural systems to climate change impacts through their ecosystem services, such as preventing soil erosion, remediating soil structure, and storing carbon belowground. Though roots are integral to these processes, there is a lack of cover crop root trait data. This study aims to characterize rooting behavior of several commercially available cover crops and assess how differences in root system architecture potentially impact their selection for ecosystem services.MethodsTwenty-two cover crop cultivars across the grass, legume, and brassica families were grown in O’Fallon, Missouri, USA. Canopy cover was monitored throughout the growing season. Shoot and root biomass samples were collected and analyzed.ResultsCereal rye and winter triticale were the most winter hardy cultivars and provided the highest percent canopy cover. Cereal rye and winter triticale also generated the highest amount of shoot and root biomass among treatments but diverged in their root system architectures. Winter triticale forms coarser roots and exhibited deeper rooting, which may be better suited for carbon sequestration. Rapeseed and Siberian kale have favorable C:N ratios for nutrient recycling, but rapeseed may invest more into lateral root formation and have a higher potential to “catch” excess nutrients.ConclusionSelection of cover crops for ecosystem services should account for root system architecture and their suitability for these ecosystem services. Differences in root traits among cultivars within the same family highlight the potential to breed cover crop root system architecture to further enhance ecosystem service efficacy.

Freezing tolerance and tolerance to de-acclimation of European accessions of winter and facultative barley

Due to global warming, winter hardiness may seem to become less important for plant survival and yield. However, this is a superficial assumption, as probably only the most important factors locally affecting plant overwintering will change. For example, the frequency, degree, and length of extreme winter warming events may increase, leading to de-acclimation of plants. This study aimed to investigate existing variability in de-acclimation tolerance in Polish winter barley breeding materials and European winter and facultative barley cultivars, and to identify accessions with the highest and the lowest tolerance to de-acclimation by means of visual estimation of regrowth after freezing, measurements of electrolyte leakage and chlorophyll fluorescence, and LT50 assessment. The results of this study showed that freezing tolerance and tolerance to de-acclimation are independent traits, and even highly freezing tolerant plants can be susceptible to de-acclimation. Our results highlight the role of photosynthetic apparatus in de-acclimation, proving that chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, especially ET0/CS, can be useful indicators of tolerance to de-acclimation. This study also confirmed that although the mechanisms of response to de-acclimation seem to be common for susceptible barley accessions, the mechanisms of tolerance are different, and may be related to the accession’s origin.

Influence of Post-Harvest 1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) Treatment and Refrigeration on Chemical Composition, Phenolic Profile and Antioxidant Modifications during Storage of Abate Fétel Pears.

'Abate Fétel', a winter cultivar, is the most important pear cultivar in Italy; its fruits are appreciated by consumers for their aroma, texture and balanced sweet and sour taste. Maintaining high-quality characteristics to prolong the shelf-life of fruit and preserve the sensory and nutritional quality is a priority for the food industry. The aim of our study was to test the effectiveness of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) and cold storage in prolonging the shelf-life of these fruits, which were harvested at maturity at two different times. This work focused on the effects of different storage treatments and two ripening times on (i) the chemical composition of Abate Fétel pulp fruits to preserve their sweet taste and aroma and (ii) the phenolic profile composition and antioxidant activity of the peel, which is naturally rich in phytochemicals and important for the fruit's shelf-life and in the functional food industry for its high nutritional value. Abate Fétel fruits were harvested at the optimal commercial maturity stage, first on 15 September, having been treated with 1-MCP and stored for 2 months at cold temperatures; the other fruits were harvested at the end of September and stored in a cold cell for 2 months. The fruit pulp was tested for glucose and fructose, pH, acidity and organic acids (malic, citric, fumaric and shikimic), phenolic content and phenolic compounds (chlorogenic and caffeic acids, rutin, hyperoside, kaempferol-3-rutinoside and isoquercitrin), and the antioxidant activities in the fruit peels were measured. Treating the fruits with 1-MCP better preserved the phytochemical compounds compared to simple refrigeration, preserving the fruit's quality and prolonging its shelf-life. All the treatments help to maintain the glucose and fructose content and the acidity, preserving the aroma and organoleptic characteristics.

Barley yield and malt quality affected by fall and spring planting under rainfed conditions.

As a result of the changing climate characteristics, it is necessary to reevaluate the planting time for crop plants. The aim of the present study was to determine the quality characteristics of malting barley cultivars in fall and spring plantings. Sixteen malting barley cultivars were used. Two fall-planted and two spring-planted trials were conducted in two consecutive years. The field trials were carried out in a randomized complete block design with four replications in Tokat province of Turkey under rainfed conditions. Grain yields varied between 4.38 and 5.71 t/ha in fall-planted trials and between 3.12 and 4.89 t/ha in spring-planted trials. Malt extracts were between 77.0% and 78.0% kg in fall-planted trials and between 73.9% and 76.9% in spring-planted trials. Alpha amylase activities ranged from 77.9 to 81.4 Ceralpha unit (CU)/g in fall-planted trials and from 80.8 to 100.9 CU/g in spring-planted trials. Diastatic power ranged from 194.5 to 331.1 Windisch-Kolbach unit (°WK) in fall-planted trials and from 129.0 to 259.8 °WK in spring-planted trials. GGE biplot analysis indicated that winter barley cultivar Durusu and facultative barley cultivar Ince-04 were the best with consistent grain yields while Ince-04 was the best with stable malt extract across the trials. In scatter plot graphics, winter barley cultivars Durusu, Aydanhanim, Yildiz and facultative Ince-04 had superior performance in fall-plantings for grain yield and malt extract. In spring planting, facultative Ince-04 had higher performance than those of other cultivars. In spring plantings, facultative or winter barley cultivars that do not have strong vernalization requirement had better yield and malt quality. Appropriate planting time and cultivars can allow a better use of available water in malt barley production under rainfed conditions. Lastly, instead of evaluating the grain yield or malt quality alone, it would be best to evaluate the target product (malt extract percentage) obtained from a particular region, process, or production methodology.

Bread wheat callusogenesis and organogenesis using mature embryos as explants

Background. Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the staple cereal crops, so it is of great interest to breeders and researchers and requires constant monitoring of existing cultivars, including the development of new ones through classical breeding and modern gene engineering. The key stage in these techniques is successful callusogenesis and organogenesis intarget objects. With this in view, the regeneration potential of two spring (‘Saratovskaya 55’ and ‘Sigma’) and three winter (‘Tanya’, ‘Fisht’ and ‘Pamyat’) cultivars of bread wheat was assessed, and optimal conditions were identified for callus induction and organogenesis using mature embryos. Materials and methods. Immature and mature embryos of the five bread wheat cultivars were used in the study. The in vitro morphogenetic potential was evaluated under the impact of abiotic factors: preliminary exposure of grains to cold and use of exogenous hormones (2,4-D in various concentrations). Pretreatment of wheat with cold was carried out as follows: sterilized grains were incubated on the hormonal medium at a temperature of 4 °C for 2 weeks, and then transferred to 26 °C for 4 more weeks. The efficiency of callusogenesis and rhizogenesis was assessed and the numbers of morphogenetic calluses, regenerated and acclimatized plants were calculated. Results and conclusions. The analysis made it possible to identify the bread wheat cultivars ‘Fisht’ and ‘Sigma’ for their high morphogenetic and regenerative potential. It was also shown that exposure to cold can serve as a good stimulating factor for producing a large number of calluses, but regenerants are better induced under normal conditions. The results also depended on the concentration of hormones applied. Universal conditions for morphogenesis and regeneration were not identified.

The Influence of Cropping Systems on Photosynthesis, Yield, and Grain Quality of Selected Winter Triticale Cultivars

Soil serves as the fundamental foundation for agricultural production; however, inappropriate utilization of soil in conventional cropping systems (CONV) coupled with agricultural practices focused on maximizing profit through the attainment of high-quality grain yield contributes to its degradation. An alternative to the CONV is the integrated cropping system (INTEG), which is based on sustainable plant cultivation by reducing the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers. An interesting two-factor field experiment with winter triticale (×Triticosecale Wittm.) was conducted in 2019–2022 in south-eastern Poland. The experimental factors in this study included three winter triticale cultivars, namely Avokado, Medalion, Rotondo, and SU Liborius, and two cropping systems, CONV and INTEG. It was found that the use of the CONV brought out higher grain yield with higher protein and lower fat content. The cultivation of triticale grain under the CONV resulted in a higher thousand-grain weight (TGW), improved grain uniformity, and higher test weight values compared to INTEG. Additionally, the use of the CONV system resulted in improved values of physiological parameters (chlorophyll content and fluorescence and gas exchange), and that was caused by improved photosynthetic efficiency of triticale plants as a result of increased doses of mineral fertilizers, despite being cultivated in the INTEG; cv. SU Liborius achieved better values of yield parameters among the tested triticale cultivars grown in the CONV. Therefore, the selection of a suitable, efficient cultivar allows its growth under lower fertilization conditions and produces high grain yields of good quality. This knowledge can be valuable to farmers, as it would facilitate the selection of a triticale cultivar with the appropriate genetic profile for cultivation under specific agronomic conditions. Eventually, it would allow for the propagation of sustainable agricultural practices and contribute to enhancing soil biodiversity while maintaining the cost-effectiveness of agricultural production.

Optimizing organic no‐till planted soybean with cover crop selection and termination timing

AbstractResearch is needed to develop and optimize agroecological practices that can replace unsustainable managementand increase agricultural diversification. Field experiments were conducted in Maryland and New York to assess the effect of cover crop cultivar selection and cover crop termination soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] planting (roll‐plant) date on cover crop growth stage, biomass, and reseeding; weed biomass; and soybean density and yield in organically managed no‐till planted soybean production. Twelve winter cereal cultivars—four each for barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), cereal rye (Secale cereale L.), and triticale (× Triticosecale Wittm. ex A. Camus.)—were seeded at equivalent densities and terminated at four roll‐plant dates. Although many cover crop cultivars had not yet reached the recommended growth stage for adequate termination (anthesis) at the earlier roll‐plant dates, greater soybean yields and similar cover crop reseeding, compared with later dates, were observed. Weed biomass was low across treatments despite cover crop biomass production below the recommended threshold of 8 Mg ha−1. When pooled over cultivars, triticale performed as well as cereal rye in terms of biomass production, weed suppression, and soybean yield. Within each species, differences in weed biomass and soybean yield were observed among cultivars, but inconsistent across site‐years. Results from this research also show that planting soybean before cover crop anthesis can help maximize yield. Farmers can improve management in cover crop‐based no‐till planted soybean by selecting regionally adapted winter cereal species and cultivars that perform well across a range of outcomes, rather than focusing exclusively on biomass production.

Integrating weed-suppressive cultivar and cover crops for weed management in organic sweetpotato production

AbstractField studies were conducted in 2021 in Kibler and Augusta, AR, to determine the effect of winter cover crops and cultivar selection on weed suppression and sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] yield. The split-split-plot studies evaluated three cover crops [cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) + crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.)], [winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) + crimson clover], and fallow; weeding (with or without); and four sweetpotato cultivars (‘Heartogold’, ‘Bayou-Belle-6’, ‘Beauregard-14’, and ‘Orleans’). Heartogold had the tallest canopy, while Beauregard-14 and Bayou Belle-6 had the longest vines at 5 and 8 wk after sweetpotato transplanting. Sweetpotato canopy was about 20% taller in weedy plots compared with the hand-weeded treatment, and vines were shorter under weed interference. Canopy height and vine length of sweetpotato cultivars were not related to weed biomass suppression. However, vine length was positively correlated to all yield grades (r > 0.5). Weed biomass decreased 1-fold in plots with cover crops compared with bare soil at Augusta. Cover crop biomass was positively correlated with jumbo (r = 0.29), no. 1 (r = 0.33), and total sweetpotato yield (r = 0.34). Jumbo yield was affected the most by weed pressure. On average, sweetpotato total yield was reduced by 80% and 60% with weed interference in Augusta and Kibler, respectively. Bayou Belle-6 was the high-yielding cultivar without weed interference in both locations. Bayou Belle-6 and Heartogold were less affected by weed interference than Beauregard-14 and Orleans.

Impacts of ZnO nanoparticles and dissolved zinc (ZnSO4) on low temperature induced responses of wheat

Nanoparticles (NPs), due to their specific physical and chemical properties, can cause benefits and risks once they are released into the environment. Consideration of nano-specific impacts of nanomaterials is essential for the safe design of NPs applications. In the present study, the effects of ZnO NPs and ZnSO4 application on low temperature-induced responses was investigated in two wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum L. spring cultivar Sivand and the winter cultivar Pishgam). Seedlings were grown in a Johnson nutrient solution and then exposed to the uptake solution containing zinc (Zn) from two sources of ZnSO4 and ZnO NPs and subjected to temperature treatments by incubating them in the dark at +25, +9, and −4 °C for 18 h. Our results indicate that ZnO NPs and ZnSO4 did not show the same effects on wheat cultivars at freezing temperature. The ZnO NPs led to an increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) content, higher electrolyte leakage, and intensified the freezing effects compared to ZnSO4 and Zn-free treatments, in Sivand. At optimum temperature, root MDA content and electrolyte leakage index (ELI) was greater in Sivand plants compared to Pishgam. The differences indicate that the two cultivars differ in their responses to ZnO NPs application and low temperatures. In general, Sivand reacted more sensitively to the ZnO NPs treatment compared to ZnSO4. Freezing temperature resulted in higher activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), MDA content and ELI in both wheat cultivars. In Sivand, with regard to the activity of SOD, MDA content and ELI, ZnO NPs cause effects different from that of ZnSO4, which indicates that ZnO NPs used under the current experimental conditions because nano-specific risks under low temperatures.

Assessment of the planting material infection and fungal pathogens identification of garlic

The research results of the main diseases that cause garlic bulb rot in the Moscow region during storage are presented. It was shown that long-term storage (17 months), as expected, increased the rots prevalence and development, both Penicilus: 10.0-12.5%, and Fusarium: 10.0-11.3%. Winter garlic cultivar Nina Arsentyevna’s Memory bulbs by 2 species of Fusarium hade been infected: F. fujikuroi and F. roliferatum identified by PCR analysis and subsequent sequencing of the two isolates target genome. Winter garlic cultivar Pamyati Nina Arsentievna is highly resistant to rots of fungal origin, even after long-term storage (more than a year), in comparison with the reference sample from the Federal Scientific Center for Vegetable Growing, the bulbs of which were completely affected, and corresponded to the fifth defeat point. On winter garlic, the causative agent of penicillium rot, Penicillium glaucum Link, was also found. On collection samples of winter garlic, during selective annual studies, penicillary rot was not found.

Winter cereal species, cultivar, and harvest timing affect trade-offs between forage quality and yield

Volatile feed costs and extreme weather events are contributing to greater economic risk and precarity throughout much of the United States dairy industry. These challenges have prompted dairy farmers to seek ways to reduce feed imports without compromising milk production. For organic dairy farmers, the need to produce more homegrown forage is exacerbated by the high cost and limited supply of organic feed. Integrating winter cereals for forage as part of a double-cropping system is a potential solution, but increasing the amount of forage in dairy cow rations can reduce milk production if the forages are not managed for optimal quality. Organically managed field experiments in Maryland (MD) and New York (NY) were conducted to address two primary objectives: (1) determine the yield and quality of winter cereals—four cultivars each for barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), cereal rye (Secale cereale L.), and triticale (× Triticosecale Wittm. ex A. Camus.)—grown as forage and harvested at different crop growth stages, and (2) evaluate the trade-offs between yield and quality in relation to winter cereal phenology and harvest date. Mean yield at a commonly harvested growth stage, swollen boot (Zadoks 45), was 1.3, 2.2, and 2.2 Mg ha−1 in MD and 1.8, 2.5, and 2.9 Mg ha−1 in NY for barley, cereal rye, and triticale, respectively. Mean relative forage quality (RFQ) at the same growth stage was 180, 158, and 163 in MD and 179, 156, and 157 in NY for the three species. Overall, cereal rye reached swollen boot stage the earliest, barley produced the highest RFQ and retained high quality the longest, and cereal rye and triticale produced the highest yields. Based on these results, farmers should consider barley cultivars if quality is the priority and winter-hardiness is not a concern; cereal rye cultivars if an early harvest is most important; and triticale cultivars if greater harvest schedule flexibility would be most valuable. These findings can be used to better meet the needs of dairy farmers, enhance double-cropping system performance, and improve the synchronization of harvest timing with the specific needs of lactating dairy cows, dry cows, heifers, and calves.

Transcriptome profiling at the transition to the reproductive stage uncovers stage and tissue-specific genes in wheat

BackgroundThe transition from vegetative to floral phase is the result of complex crosstalk of exogenous and endogenous floral integrators. This critical physiological event is the response to environmental interaction, which causes biochemical cascades of reactions at different internal tissues, organs, and releases signals that make the plant moves from vegetative status to a reproductive phase. This network controlling flowering time is not deciphered largely in bread wheat. In this study, a comparative transcriptome analysis at a transition time in combination with genetic mapping was used to identify responsible genes in a stage and tissue-specific manner. For this reason, two winter cultivars that have been bred in Germany showing contrasting and stable heading time in different environments were selected for the analysis.ResultsIn total, 670 and 1075 differentially expressed genes in the shoot apical meristem and leaf tissue, respectively, could be identified in 23 QTL intervals for the heading date. In the transition apex, Histone methylation H3-K36 and regulation of circadian rhythm are both controlled by the same homoeolog genes mapped in QTL TaHd112, TaHd124, and TaHd137. TaAGL14 gene that identifies the floral meristem was mapped in TaHd054 in the double ridge. In the same stage, the homoeolog located on chromosome 7D of FLOWERING TIME LOCUS T mapped on chr 7B, which evolved an antagonist function and acts as a flowering repressor was uncovered. The wheat orthologue of transcription factor ASYMMETRIC LEAVES 1 (AS1) was identified in the late reproductive stage and was mapped in TaHd102, which is strongly associated with heading date. Deletion of eight nucleotides in the AS1 promoter could be identified in the binding site of the SUPPRESSOR OF CONSTANS OVEREXPRESSION 1 (SOC1) gene in the late flowering cultivar. Both proteins AS1 and SOC1 are inducing flowering time in response to gibberellin biosynthesis.ConclusionThe global transcriptomic at the transition phase uncovered stage and tissue-specific genes mapped in QTL of heading date in winter wheat. In response to Gibberellin signaling, wheat orthologous transcription factor AS1 is expressed in the late reproductive phase of the floral transition. The locus harboring this gene is the strongest QTL associated with the heading date trait in the German cultivars. Consequently, we conclude that this is another indication of the Gibberellin biosynthesis as the mechanism behind the heading variation in wheat.