Winter Rape Plants Research Articles

Influence of seeding rates on the formation of productivity of winter rape agrocenoses (Brassica napus L. Oleifera)

The influence of sowing rates on the growth, development and formation of seed productivity of winter rape hybrids Pancher and Fencer is highlighted. A structural analysis and comparison of indicators of the individual state of plants at the seeding rate of winter rape recommended by the manufacturer of 500 thousand seeds/ha and reduced rates of 400, 300 and 200 thousand seeds/ha, which model the possible oss of plants in the sowing during the autumn-winter period, were carried out. It was noted that at a sowing rate of 500 thousand units/ha before entering winter (BBCH 15–18), the diameter of the root collar of the hybrids was 0.82–0.84 cm, and the height of the point above the soil level was 2.18–2.35 cm. In the variant with a sowing rate of 200 thousand seeds/ha, the diameter of the root collar of Pancher hybrid increased to 1.13 cm, and that of the Fencer hybrid — 1.11 cm, while the height of the growth point above the soil level of the hybrids was at the level of 1.77–1.88 cm. In the pre-harvest period (BBCH 93–95), the height of winter rape plants was not uniform and largely depended on the seeding rate, i.e., the greater the number of plants per square metre, the taller they were. Thus, at a sowing rate of 500 thousand seeds per hectare, the average height of Pancher winter rape plants was 167 cm, while that of the Fencer hybrid was 173 cm. With a decrease in the seeding rate to 200 thousand seeds/ha, the height of plants also decreased to 156 cm in Pancher hybrid and to 168 cm in Fencer hybrid. At the recommended sowing rates of winter rape (500 thousand units/ha), the number of branches in the hybrids was 6-7 units/plant, the number of pods was 328–386 units/plant, and the weight of 1000 seeds was 2.97–3.15 g. The yield of Pancher hybrid in this variant was 4.37 t/ha, while the yield of the Fencer hybrid was 4.55 t/ha. It was noted that reducing the seeding rate to 400 and 300 thousand units/ha did not significantly reduce the yield of hybrids. However, already at a sowing rate of 200 thousand units/ha, the yield reduction in hybrids was more significant and amounted to 0.68–0.75 t/ha with a yield of 3.62–3.87 t/ha. Studies have shown that winter rape plants have a high compensatory capacity and are able to form high productivity indicators both at the recommended sowing rates (500 thousand units/ha) and at reduced rates (300– 400 thousand units/ha). However, from a practical point of view, it is not necessary to reduce the sowing rates by 40–50% of the recommended ones, as plants may be damaged or destroyed in the autumn-winter period due to drought, freezing, rooting and damage by mouse-like rodents. The revealed peculiarity of winter rape allows determining the limit of rape density at which high and stable productivity, and therefore profitability of production, is ensured.

Biometric characteristics of winter rape plants (Brassica napus L.) before harvest in the soil and climatic conditions of north-eastern Poland.

The research was based on a field experiment carried out in the Agricultural Experimental Station in the climatic and soil conditions of north-eastern Poland. The factors of the experiment were: I-morphotypes of winter oilseed rape: population, restored hybrid with a traditional type of growth, restored hybrid with a semi-dwarf type of growth. II-methods of using preparations: variant (1)-control-without using preparations; variant (2)-an organic preparation containing microorganisms as well as micro and macro elements (Ugmax); variant (3)-a biostimulant containing 13.0% of P₂0₅ and 5.0% of potassium oxide (K₂O); variant (4)-a biostimulant containing silicon. The objectives of study was to determine the effect of preparations containing microorganisms as this well as micro and macro-elements, phosphorus and potassium and silicon on the morphometric features of plants, such as: the height of the first fruit-bearing lateral branching on the main shoot, the thickness of the stem at the base, number of productive branches and siliques on the plant, the length of the pods, plant height before harvesting. The organic preparation containing microorganisms as well as micro and macro-elements, applied in the autumn before sowing seeds and in the spring after the start of vegetation, had the most beneficial effect on the biometric characteristics of plants before harvesting.

Influence of weather conditions on wintering of winter rape depending on intensification factors

Purpose and objectives of the study. The aim of the study was to investigate the peculiarities of wintering of winter rape depending on the factors of intensification in the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. Methods. General scientific and special research methods were used in the course of the work. Results. Weather conditions have made their adjustments over the years of research, especially significant impact on wintering of winter rape had the amount of precipitation over the years of research and varied greatly. Pre-sowing treatment and foliar fertilization of plants were of great importance, these measures had a positive effect on the studied aspects. It also contributed to the accumulation of high sugar content in the root collar of plants, the formation of a greater accumulation of absolutely dry plant mass, which accordingly provided a higher percentage of winter hardiness of winter rape plants by 8.0-10.3%. Analyzing the research, we indicate that the use of growth regulators in foliar feeding of winter rape plants against the background of pre-sowing seed treatment had a significant effect on the wintering of rape. Treatment of winter rape seeds with Vitavax 200 FF, 34 % w.c.c., before sowing, with growth regulator Vympel-K significantly increased field germination, and their joint use provided a more positive effect. Conclusions. The use of the growth regulator Vympel-K (500 g/t) indicated that the wintering of plants was better compared to the control (untreated seeds) and almost 5.8% higher than in the variants with seed treatment with Vitavax 200 FF, 34% w.c.k. (2.5 l/t). The use of the growth regulator Vympel foliarly in the fall in the rosette phase of 5-6 leaves against the background of pre-sowing seed treatment with Vitavax 200 FF, 34 % w.c. + growth regulator Vympel-K provided better growth and development of plants.

OIL CONTENT IN WINTER RAPE SEEDS DEPENDING ON MICRONUTRIENT NUTRITION

The article is devoted to the study of the role of micronutrients in their application in the form of foliar fertilization in view of their influence on the quality indicators of the formed crop, in particular on the oil content of seeds as a basic indicator that determines the value of winter rape as a crop for multipurpose use. The effectiveness of monocomponent application of the main physiologically active microelements in two phenological critical phases of growth and flowering of winter rape plants with different dominance of growth and growth-reproductive processes of plant organism differentiation - in the phenological phases of stemming and flowering - was investigated. The effectiveness of the influence of single-component microelements selected by the typological composition of modern multicomponent chelated microfertilizers in the form of sulfate salts, boric acid and ammonium sulfate at a physiological concentration of 0.2 %, taking into account the regulation of concentrations of physiologically active agrochemicals in the format of foliar feeding with aqueous salt solutions, was determined. It was found that the use of each of the studied microelements was effective and significant in terms of increasing the oil content of seeds in comparison with the control variant of water treatment. Individual peculiarities of seed oil content formation for two high-intensity varieties of winter rape for each of the studied microelements were established both from the standpoint of the increase in oil content to the control and from the standpoint of assessing the variability of its value, taking into account the two-year cycle of study and variation within the general set of the obtained accounting values within the replications of the experiment. On the basis of the data obtained, the expediency of the timing of foliar fertilization with microfertilizers of winter rape hybrids was determined and the role of the genotypic component in the effectiveness of the use of corrective foliar fertilization with various microelements was noted. It was established on the basis of a two-year research cycle for a guaranteed increase of oil content in seeds of intensive winter rape hybrids by at least 0.6-1, 8 % under the condition of one-component use of trace elements in the form of foliar feeding, they should be used in the following order of increasing expediency and validity of Co>Zn>B>Cu>Mn>Mo in the form of a solution of salt sulfates, boric acid and ammonium molybdate at 0.2 % concentration of the working solution for foliar feeding. Prospects for further research in the field of optimization of fertilization of intensive hybrids of winter rape with microfertilizers are formulated.

FORMATION OF PRODUCTIVITY OF WINTER RAPE HYBRIDS DEPENDING ON ROW SPACING

FORMATION OF PRODUCTIVITY OF WINTER RAPE HYBRIDS DEPENDING ON ROW SPACING

THE EFFECT OF HERBICIDES AND GROWTH REGULATOR ON THE YIELD OF WINTER RAPESEED

The article summarizes the results of research on weed control with soil and insurance herbicides, as well as evaluates the influence of the growth regulator Noostim on the formation of the winter rapeseed crop hybrid Dalton. We researched the species of weeds and evaluated the ecological and biological effectiveness of herbicides. The weeding structure of the agrocenosis of winter rape is presented as follows: on average there were 53 plants/m2, among which the presence of monocots was 14 plants/m2 and dicots 39 plants/m2. Therefore, it was established that the type of weediness is mixed, and the degree is medium. The drugs studied in the experiment did not inhibit winter rape plants and liquefaction of crop density was not observed. Treatment of rapeseed crops with Noostim was important for regulating the development of cultivated plants, reducing the risks of stress from pesticide load, ensuring control of the most common diseases and contributing to increased yields. Typhoon herbicide treatment (2.0 l / ha) reduced weeds by 79% compared to controls. Only cereal weeds remained after the application of the insurance herbicide Slash (1.0 l / ha). Higher height of winter rape plants and better branching ensured an increase in yield with consistent application of herbicides. Statistical evaluation of the obtained data confirms that the introduction of herbicides reduced the number and harmfulness of weeds, which significantly affected the growth of yield. The largest number of winter rapeseed seeds was obtained during 2 years of research on the variant, where the herbicides Typhoon (1.6 l/ha) and Slash (0.75 l/ha) were applied sequentially with reduced from the recommended rates of use together with the growth regulator Noostim (0, 3 l/ha). The oil content in winter rapeseed increased to 46.4-46.7%, and the oil yield was 1.57-1.94 t ha-1 as a result of reducing the level of weed vegetation due to the application of herbicides.

The impact of foliar application of biostimulators on the morphological characteristics of the leaf rosette of winter rape plants

The field experiment was caried out in three growing seasons (2013–2016) at the Agricultural Experimental Station – Zawady (52°03'N and 22°33'E) belonging to the University of Natural Sciences and Humanities in Siedlce, Poland. The experiment was set up in a split-plot configuration with three replications. The examined factors were: I – morphotypes of winter oilseed rape: population (Poznaniak), hybrid restored with a semi-dwarf type of growth (PX104), hybrid restored with a traditional type of growth (Konkret); II – four types of biostimulators: 1. control variant, 2. biostimulator Tytanit® (titan), 3. biostimulator Asahi®SL (sodium ortho-nitrophenol, sodium para-nitrophenol, sodium 5-nitroguaiacol), 4. biostimulator Silvit® (active silicon, potassium oxide, boron – form of pure element, zinc – form of pure element). The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of biostimulators containing various active substances on the morphological characteristics of winter oilseed rape plants in the leaf rosette stage (number of rosette leaves, tap root length, height of the growth cone) and on the fresh and dry mass of the above-ground rosette and the root system of traditional and semi-dwarf winter oilseed rape morphotypes type of growth under changing climatic conditions. The genetic factor significantly influenced the morphological features of plants, marked in autumn by inhibition of vegetation. The population variety Poznaniak developed more rosette leaves, greater length of the tap root, and fresh and dry mass of the rosette and the root system as compared to the restored hybrids. The applied biostimulators significantly influenced plant parameters determined in the fall before the vegetation inhibition. After the use of a biostimulator containing the active substance in the form of sodium o-nitrophenol, sodium para-nitrophenol and sodium 5-nitroguajakol, a significantly higher value of the tested features was obtained compared to the control variant. Regardless of the type of biostimulator used, the height of the growth cone was the same as in the control object. The most favourable parameters of the leaf rosette were obtained in the first and second periods of summer-autumn vegetation and winter dormancy, while in extreme drought conditions during sowing and a fairy dry period of emergence, its weakest features were obtained. Natural growth stimulants are becoming an increasingly common elements of agricultural plant agrotechnics. Their use has a positive effect on the growth and development of plants and increases the resistance of plants to the adverse effects of stress factors.

Parameters of the optimal plant density of winter rape for successful overwintering in the Non-Chernozem zone

To obtain high yields of winter rapeseed seeds in the Non-Chernozem zone, it is necessary to provide conditions for good wintering. The studies were carried out in order to establish the optimal plant density of the zoned variety Severyanin. It was found that when sowing in rows with a row spacing of 25 cm, winter rape plants develop better, form a rosette of leaves with a lower location of the growing point, form a smaller amount of aboveground mass per unit of roots, which increases the safety of plants in winter by 2.5-4.3%. period under extreme conditions. The study of the dynamics of the plant density of winter rapeseed at different seeding rates showed that during the growing season, self-thinning of cenosis occurs. On average, over the years of research, plants overwintered better in variants with a lower stand density. With an increase in the seeding rate, the completeness of seedlings, the safety of plants in the autumn period, overwintering and the safety of plants in the year of harvesting for seeds decreased.The most optimal conditions for the preservation of plants for harvesting are provided at low seeding rates: with a row sowing with a row spacing of 25 cm with a seeding rate of 0.7-1.0 million pieces / ha, with an inter-row sowing (row spacing of 25 cm) - 0.5 million pcs / ha of germinating seeds: With the over-row sowing, the safety of plants for harvesting was higher than with the row method by 9-25%.

EFFICIENCY OF PROTECTION OF WINTER RAPE SEEDS FROM PERMANENT ORGANISMS

This article presents the results of studying the development and formation peculiarities of the number of dominant phytophages of winter oilseed rape: cruciferous fleas (Phyllotreta undulata), rape pollinator (Athalia rosae L.), rapeseed flower beetle (Meligethes aeneus F.), seed larvae (Ceuthorrhynchus assimilis Payk.), cabbage capsicum mosquito (Dasyneura brassicae Winn.), cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae L.). Theoretical generalization of the prevalence of pests in the research area and the impact on the formation of winter rape yields. The influence of modern insecticides on the control of the number of dangerous pests of winter rape and on the yield, biometric parameters of rape plants has been studied. The best results in controlling the number of dominant phytophages in the enterprise showed the drug Nuredin ™ Super KE (chlorpyrifos 400 g / l + bifenthrin 20 g / l) at a rate of 0,75 l / ha. On the basis of the obtained data it is recommended to use the drug Plenum 50 VG (pimetrosine 500 g / kg) at a rate of 0,25 l / ha, as its use provides rapeseed yield at 24,3 c / ha and gives a good economic effect, due to higher yields, the profitability of growing crops is 62,8%, which is 26,3% more than the control option for improving the control over a number of pests. Having researched the phytosanitary condition of winter rapeseed crops, it has been found that the most common diseases of rapeseed were alternaria, phomosis, gray and white rot, and cylindrosporiosis.The results of treatment of winter rape plants with new fungicides to protect against the main common pathogens: alternaria (Alternaria brassicicola Wilts), phomosis (Phoma lingam Desm.), cylindrosporiosis (Cylindrosporium concentrium Grev) are presented. Conclusions are made on the effectiveness of the new generation of fungicides in limiting the spread of diseases. To control the spread of diseases in the agrophytocenosis of rapeseed, it is advisable to use the drug Architect SE (pyraclostrobin 100 g / l + calcium prohexadione 25 g / l + mepiquat chloride 150 g / l) at a rate of 2.0 l / ha, which significantly reduced the damage of winter rapeseed major diseases and had a therapeutic effect, while providing yield at the level of 26,1 c/ha and profitability within 63,1%, which is 26,6% higher than the control option. Therefore, the use of an integrated pest management system can significantly increase the efficiency of cultivation technology and minimize crop losses.

Genes with Cold Shock Domain from Eutrema salsugineum (Pall.) for Generating a Cold Stress Tolerance in Winter Rape (Brassica napus L.) Plants

The increased demand in vegetable oil for food purposes and high-protein feed for livestock and poultry encourages producers to expand the production of various oil crops, while occupying rather cold agroclimatic zones. Improved cold and frost resistance of cultivated crops would significantly increase the yield and expand the range of rape cultivation in a number of cold climate regions. Nine transgenic lines of winter rape containing genes encoding proteins with a cold shock domain (CspA и EsCSDP3) were obtained as a result of Agrobacterium transformation. In total, 260 explants were involved in transformation of rape using pBI121-CSPA-plant, with a transformation efficiency of 2.3%; among 750 explants using the pBI-EsCSDP3 construction, the efficiency was 0.4%. As a result of the studies, it was shown that the expression of the new gene Escsdp3 from the plant of Eutrema salsugineum was able to increase the cold and frost resistance of plants as effectively as the cspa gene from E. coli, which is classically used for this purpose. The cold resistance analysis of T1 transgenic plants generation revealed four cold resistant winter rape lines (three lines with the cspA-plant gene and one line with the Escsdp3 gene). The transfer of Escsdp3 and cspA-plant genes into winter rape plants led to a significant increase in frost resistance of plants. Two winter rapeseed lines were resistant to freezing (with the cspA-plant gene and with the Escsdp3 gene). Non-hardened transgenic plants remained viable after 24 h of exposure to negative temperatures up to −5 °C, and plants that passed through the hardening stage survived after freezing at −16 °C.

Winter Rapeseed in the Autumn and Spring Growing Seasons in the Republic of Ingushetia

This article examines the varieties and effectiveness of fertilizers for winter rapeseed, the dynamics of the production process of crops at different sowing times, and the influence on the yield of oilseed fertilization of crops, the green mass of which was used for feed in the autumn growing season. The study and optimization of the assortment, research and development of technologies for growing highly productive crops of winter rapeseed is crucial. In this article, the authors summarize the literature and substantiate new directions for the use of winter rape crops for green fodder and oilseeds in different countries and regions of the Russian Federation. The article studies three domestic varieties of the All-Russian Research Institute of Oilseeds named after academician V.S. Pustovoit and one variety of foreign selection. The article identifies the dynamics of biomass accumulation and changes in the morphometric parameters of winter rape plants in the autumn growing season, depending on the timing of sowing. It also studies the productivity and quality of the green mass of winter rape and the possibility of using it for forage purposes. It discusses the yield of winter rape oilseeds, in which the green mass was used in the fall of the sowing year. It also determines the economic efficiency of cultivating the same crops of winter rape used for green mass in the fall and for oilseeds in the spring growing season.
 Keywords: winter rapeseed, fertilizers, green mass, oil seeds, vegetation, varieties

Improving resistance to salt stress by endophytic bacteria in winter rape plants

As a result of laboratory experiments to study the induction of systemic resistance in winter rape plants under conditions of salt stress, it was found that treatment of plants with endophytic bacterial strains 12 (isolated from corn grain), R13 (isolated from triticale roots) and 22 (isolated from rye roots) significantly increases the survival rate, length and weight of plant shoots. The selected endophytic strains are promising for the creation of a phytoprotective bacterial biological preparation on their basis.

Yield of winter rape in Ryazan region

The scientific work presents the experimental data on growing varieties and hybrids of winter rape in Ryazan region. The experiment studied the action of fungicide Caramba having a growth stimulating effect on winter rape plants. Weather conditions in 2018-2020 were satisfactory for the development of winter rape, which contributed to its rather good overwintering. During the years of winter rape monitoring, the development of diseases was not marked significantly. On average, according to experiments, the development of Alternaria blight on winter rape was recorded over the entire surveyed area, with a degree of development of 1.5-3.2 % and prevalence of 1 to 6 %, gray rot with a degree of development of 0.3-0.5 % and prevalence of 0.2-0.3 %, on variants without treating with Caramba. Rokhan F, Citro F, Visby F and Zorny were the best in terms of the yield structure. In the experiments, on average, the most productive were the hybrid of the German selection Rokhan (26.8-27.8 dt/ha), Citro (23.9-24.7 dt/ha), Belarusian cultivar Zorny (22.7-23.3 dt/ha). On average, a high survival rate was recorded when treating with fungicide Caramba according to variants with Safran (78.7 %), Rokhan (80.9 %), Zorny (75.5 %).

ВИДОВИЙ СКЛАД ШКІДЛИВИХ ОРГАНІЗМІВ В ПОСІВАХ РІПАКУ ОЗИМОГО ЗАЛЕЖНО ВІД ОБРОБІТКУ ҐРУНТУ ТА СИСТЕМИ ЗАХИСТУ

Based on the results of research conducted in Western Polissia, it was found that tillage is important for controlling the number of pests in winter rape crops, especially the number of weeds. It was found in the experiment variants without herbicide spraying of rape plants that the most weeds were on the background of surface tillage – 407.9 pcs/m2, which is 1.8 times more than under the moldboard plowing (228.1 pcs./m2). Thus, the technical efficiency of herbicides against the background of moldboard plowing was 93.7 %. It is established that tillage has a lesser effect on the development and spread of diseases and pests, as the best results showed chemical protection. When spraying winter rape plants in the flower bud stage, the technical effectiveness of Borei insecticide (0.14 l/ha) against Pentatomids (Eurydema oleracea L., Eurydema ventralis Kol.), Mirids (Lygus pratensis L.) and Flea Beetles (Phyllotreta vitata F., Phyllotreta nemorum L.) consisted 100 %, Pollen Beetles (Meligethes aeneus F.) – 95.1–95.9 %, Cabbage Seed Weevils (Ceuthorrhynchus assimilis Payk.) – 92.5–94.6 %. The technical efficiency of Mospilan insectici-de (0.15 kg/ha) at the spraying of plants in the flowering stage against Pollen Beetles was equal to 91.7– 95.7 %, Cabbage Seed Weevils – 92.4– 94.6 %. According to the research results, it was found that the largest technical efficiency of Colossal Pro fungicide (0.5 l/ha) against Alternaria leaf spot (Alternaria brassicae) was revealed 14 days after fungicide spraying of winter rape plants and was 84–88 %. Due to tillage, it was possible to obtain an yield increase of winter rapes in the range of 0.09–0.22 t/ha. However, due to the implementation of an integrated system of crop protection on different backgrounds of tillage, seed yield increased by 0.64–0.85 t/ha. Depending on tillage and plant protection, the winter rape yield ranged from 2.20 to 3.27 t/ha. Key words: tillage, species composition, weeds, diseases, pests, herbicides, fungicides, insec-ticides.

EFFECT OF SOWING METHOD AND N APPLICATION ON SEED YIELD AND N USE EFFICIENCY OFWINTER OILSEED RAPE

In the conditions of the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe, the cultivation of winter rapeseed crops after winter wheat usually leads to a delay in sowing the latter and deterioration of autumn plant development. Based on data from a field experiment conducted in 2016/2017, 2017/2018 and 2018/2019, the aim of this study was to investigate how sowing delay affects seed yield, nitrogen uptake by seeds and significant efficiency of nitrogen use by winter rape plants; to check the ability of autumn and spring application of nitrogen fertilizers to compensate for the negative impact of delays in sowing crops; and estimate the minimum autumn development for optimal seed yield. To solve the set tasks, a combination of four sowing dates (from the first week of August to the third week of September) and four autumn nitrogen applications (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg / ha per year) was fixed. In each of these 16 variants, nitrogen application was performed 5 times in the spring (0/0, 40/40, 80/80, 120/120, 140/140 kg / ha, etc.) in order to estimate the individual nitrogen reaction curves. Nitrogen accumulation by aboveground mass of plants in autumn, seed yield and nitrogen uptake by seeds were determined. It was found that sowing the crop after mid-September significantly reduced yields. Application of nitrogen fertilizers in autumn in the amount of at least 30 kg / ha per year increased the yield and absorption of nitrogen seeds without any significant interaction with the sowing period and spring application of nitrogen fertilizers. Increasing the dose of spring fertilizer application to 130 kg / ha increased seed yield. Nitrogen utilization efficiency decreased with increasing application rate when winter oilseed rape plants used nitrogen applied in the fall to a lesser extent than in the spring. In order to achieve high yields, it was necessary for the above-ground mass of plants to absorb nitrogen at the level of at least 10-15 kg / ha at the end of the autumn vegetation. From an ecological point of view, the optimal autumn development of plants should be achieved by choosing an adequate sowing date, rather than using additional nitrogen in autumn.

Molecular-genetic mechanisms of regulation of dihydroflavonol reductase and transcription factor Hy5 by exogenous 5-aminolevulinic acid in winter rape plants

The effect of exogenous 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) on the activity of dihydroflavonol-4-reductase (DFR), the expression of the dfr gene and the hy5 gene of the transcription factor Hy5 and the light effect of different intensities in combination with the ALA action on the accumulation of anthocyanins in cotyledonous leaves of winter rape (Brassica napus L.) were studied. It was shown that the stimulation of the accumulation of anthocyanins under the exogenous ALA action at the molecular level was provided by increasing the expression level of the dfr and hy5 genes and the activity of the DFR enzyme. Increasing the light intensity from 40.5 to 66.2 μmol photons/m2·s enhanced the ability of plants to accumulate anthocyanins on average by 35 %. The ALA action at concentrations of 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg/L led to an additional increase in the accumulation of anthocyanins at the two used levels of illumination, and in a dose-dependent manner. The stimulating effect of ALA under high light intensity was much higher than in the case of lower illumination. Thus, the stimulation of the anthocyanin accumulation under illumination of 40.5 μmol photons/m2·s was 106 % when using 50 mg/L ALA, 165 % – when using 100 mg/L ALA, 222 % – in the case of 150 mg/L ALA and 350 % – under the action of 200 mg/L ALA compared with light control without of ALA treatment. At an illumination of 66.2 μmol photons/m2·s, these indicators were 164, 262, 359 and 583 % respectively. Thus, it was demonstrated that the stimulation of the accumulation of anthocyanins under the action of ALA in winter rape plants was due to its positive effect on the transcription of the dfr and hy5 genes at the molecular level.

Development of an Effective In Vitro Regeneration System for Ukrainian Breeding Winter Rape Brassica napus L.

An optimized regeneration method for commercial winter rape of the Bn1 line was proposed. Hypocotyl fragments of 6-day-old seedlings were used as explants. Regeneration occurred via organogenesis on an MS medium supplemented with 3 mg/L of 6-benzylaminopurine and 2 mg/L of 2-isopentyladenine. All obtained regenerated plants successfully formed roots on hormone-free media and were adapted to the soil conditions. The vernalization conditions were specified to promote budding and flowering at the level of 83.93 ± 5.33%. The PCR analysis using the ISSR 2 and ISSR 15 markers has shown that no somaclonal variations in Bn1 winter rape occur under the protocols based on the proposed methodology. Thus, the developed methodology is efficient and economically profitable for obtaining biotechnology-based winter rape plants.

Photosynthesis and Oxygen Uptake Rate in Winter Rape Plants Treated with 5-Aminolevulinic Acid

Effects of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) at 200 mg/L on photosynthesis, structural organization of photosynthetic apparatus, oxygen uptake rate by the leaf tissue, contents of key respiratory enzymes—cytochrome c-oxidase (COX) and alternative oxidase (AOX)—and COX activity in winter rape plants (Brassica napus L.) were studied. It was found that 4–7-day-old seedlings grown on ALA solution accumulated phenols and their derivatives anthocyanins; the composition of the latter compounds was the same as in the control seedlings. Photosynthesis was inhibited in the ALA-treated plants since their capability to form structural the components of the photosynthetic apparatus—pigment–protein complexes (PPC) of the photosystems I and II—was reduced. In these plants, oxygen uptake by the leaf tissue increased under dark conditions. Simultaneously, the activity of the terminal COX of the cytochrome part of the respiratory path also increased as did the activity of another terminal respiratory enzyme, AOX, which is usually activated under stress, including oxidative.

Induction of anthocyanin accumulation and status of protective system in winter rape plants treated with 5-aminolevulinic acid

Effects of exogenous 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) on development and certain biochemical parameters of winter rape plants (Brassica napus L.) were studied. Plant growing on 50–200 mg/L ALA solutions for 7 days resulted in an accumulation of anthocyanins in cotyledonous leaves and changed in leaf color from green to violet. An application of 200 mg/L ALA under a stronger illumination (66.2 instead of 40.5 μmol photons/(m2 s)) elevated the anthocyanin content 1.8 times in cotyledons (up to 3.15 ± 0.37 mmol/g dry wt) and 1.3 times in hypocotyls (up to 2.71 ± 0.36 mmol/g dry wt). In the plants enriched with anthocyanins, the hypocotyl linear growth was significantly suppressed (63% of control) and the far stronger suppression of the root growth (46% of control) took place. In the treated plants, chlorophylls a and b accumulated much slower than in the control during vegetation. For both pigments, the corresponding values were 44 and 38% by the fourth day of development, 37 and 27% by the fifth day, 31 and 27% by the sixth day, and 24 and 21% by the seventh day. Thus, the difference between the treated and untreated plants progressively diminished. Levels of carotenoids obeyed a similar pattern. In 7-day-old seedlings treated with 200 mg/L ALA, the activity of the key enzyme of anthocyanin biosynthesis—dihydroflavonol-4-reductase (DFR)—was 1.8 times as high as the control. Simultaneously, the content of proline was 2.2-fold higher; the level of heme noncovalently bound to protein, as well as levels of hydrogen peroxide and reactive oxygen species, exceeded the control level 60, 30, and 25%, respectively. Meanwhile, amounts of lipid peroxidation products and those of superoxide radical were as low as 29 and 62% of the control. In anthocyanin-enriched cotyledons, antiradical and total antioxidant activities were, respectively, 38 and 42% higher than in the control. Therefore, the set of metabolic rearrangements was revealed in the protective and energy systems of winter rape plants in response to exogenous ALA. The reduction in uptake of exogenous ALA by the system synthesizing tetrapyrroles of chlorophyllic nature and decrease in their production were found. Induction of accumulation of anthocyanin antioxidants as a consequence of almost twofold activation of DFR was shown. Simultaneously, the increased contents of heme and proline, together with the rise in antioxidant and antiradical activities, were found. Overall, this reduced the superoxide-generating capacity and lipid peroxidation in intracellular membranes but slightly elevated ROS and H2O2 levels above the control.

Peculiarities of winter rape pollen formation in the Eastern Forest-Steppe of Ukraine

Plants of "00" varieties were found to produce by 26% more pollen than "0" varieties. 10% of "00" varieties and 80% of "0" varieties were the least particular about germination conditions judging by the pollen amount per flower. Conditions of the year had the greatest impact on the pollen grain size. The share of environment influence on the pollen grain size was 85.6% and 58.9% in "00" and "0" varieties, respectively. It revealed that the pollen grain shape changed depending on weather conditions: it was round under dry conditions and elongated ellipsoid under affluence or excess of moisture.The aim and tasks of the study. Investigation of the pollen-forming ability of winter rape plants of "00" and "0" varieties and of the environment impact on the pollen formation in the Eastern Forest-Steppe of Ukraine.Materials and methods. The investigation was conducted in the laboratory and in the field of the Plant Production Institute nd. a VYa Yuryev in 2012-2015. Twenty winter rape varieties of "00" and "0" types were evaluated for the pollen size, pollen amounts per flower and per the whole plant as well as for the pollen weight per flower and per the whole plant. The method of determining optical density of suspended pollen was used. Adaptability of varieties was calculated as SA Eberhart and WA Rassel described. Program STATISTIKA 10 was used to process data statistically.Results and discussion. Our data showed that conditions of the year had the greatest impact on the pollen size both in "00" and in "0" varieties; the share of this influence was 85.6% and 58.9%, respectively. It was established that rape pollen was of round shape under dry conditions and the ratio of the smallest diameter of a pollen grain to the largest one was about 1, but under sufficient or excessive humidification pollen was of has elongated (ellipsoid) shape, and the ratio of the smallest diameter of a pollen grain to the largest one ranged from 0.75 to 0.91. We observed that varieties ‘Antariia’, ‘Galytskyy’, ‘Liradjet’, ‘Franki’, ‘Svitoch’ and ‘Yanus’ were the most plastic in terms of the pollen amount per flower, as the regression coefficient (b) was 0.96, 1.04, 0.96, 0.97, 1.00, and 1.02, respectively (within b = 1). The study of the pollen amount per flower showed that there were few "00" varieties adapted to cultivation on poor agricultural background or under unfavorable climatic conditions (b <1): 10% vs. 80% across "+0" varieties. Rape breeding maximally aimed at product quality is a probable cause of this phenomenon.Conclusions. Specific effects of the factors "variety", "year", "year x variety" on parameters of pollen formation by winter rape varieties belonging to different types were detected.