Background. The grain of naked oat varieties has a unique biochemical composition (increased content of protein, starch, fat, and β-glucans) for the production of high-quality dietary food and feed. Relatively low adaptability restrains the spread of naked oat cultivars, but the demand for them has been increasing from year to year. Currently, only hulled oat cultivars are introduced into industrial cultivation in Kazakhstan, so the breeding trend aimed at the development of high-yielding naked oat cultivars may be regarded as a priority.

Materials and methods. Thirty-five accessions of naked oats (Avena  sativa L.  subsp. nudisativa (Husnot.) Rod. et Sold.) were selected from the germplasm collection of the N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR) for their suitability for the conditions in Kazakhstan in terms of the growing season, drought resistance and grain productivity. The study was carried out in 2015–2017 in the fields of the Kazakh Research Institute of Agriculture and Crop Production (Almaty) and the Karabalyk Agricultural Experimental Station (Kostanay). Grain quality of naked oats was assessed by various methods according to a set of biochemical characters: the content of protein and its fractions, starch, amylose, fat and fatty acids, and β-glucans.

Results. The study of naked oat accessions from VIR in the environments of the southeastern Kazakhstan showed higher average values of protein content in grain than under the conditions in the north. As a result of the study, naked oat accessions with increased and stable indicators of the content of protein, starch, amylose, fat, individual fatty acids and β-glucans were identified for the conditions of the southeastern and northern regions of Kazakhstan. All selected accessions will be used in breeding programs of the Republic of Kazakhstan to develop high-yielding and high-quality naked oat cultivars.

Corylus pontica K. Koch is a valuable nut crop. The expediency of the crop’s large-scale cultivation calls for measuring the parameters of agroclimatic indicators, ranging in variability, intensity, and duration of their impact. Environmental factors were assessed using phenological techniques based on recording the flowering and fruiting dates, recognized as the function demonstrating the complex effect of these factors on the hazelnut yield throughout the crop’s perennial cycle. Climate change urges the selection of adaptable cultivars for such areas where limiting factors are turning into stressors. Dependence of hazel cultivars on climate indicators (air temperature and humidity, and total precipitation) was observed in the phases of harvest formation. The crop’s genotypic diversity contributed to the specific nature of the complex effect produced by environmental factors. Peculiar responses of hazel plants to weather conditions in both flowering and fruiting phases were instigated by the biology of their development. Flowering started in January and depended on air temperature and humidity. Fruiting was affected by air temperatures and precipitation amounts (in July/August). Dependencies between yield and weather were well expressed, with module values of 0.86–1.0 (p < 0.05). The effect size of limiting factors is better measured with the coefficient of determination (%), a direct indicator of the correlations between harvest and weather factors. Flowering (I–III) under unpredictable conditions is regarded as a “critical” stage in the ontogenesis of hazel trees. No less critical is the fruiting phase, occurring simultaneously with the setting and differentiation of generative organs for the next year’s yield. Registration of limiting factors and their variations over the perennial plant cycle made it possible to recommend cvs. ‘Cherkesskiy-2’, ‘Anastasiya’, ‘Kristina’ and ‘Viktoriya’ as adaptable to the subtropics of Krasnodar Territory.

Background. Winter crops are the most productive component of agricultural biocenoses. In Russia, winter wheat suffers the greatest losses in winter, so a search for traits marking high or low winter hardiness in autumn-sown genotypes, including improved cultivars, is needed to assess their potential for overwintering. One of such markers of high winter hardiness is an increased lignin content in plant tissues. The terminal enzyme in the phenylpropanoid pathway of metabolism, wherein lignin components are formed, is cinnamyl-alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD, EC 1.1.1.195). In plants, the CAD enzyme is one of the links in the aromatic metabolism, which generates, in addition to lignin, a number of aromatic compounds, such as lignans, aromatic glycosides, etc. Many of these compounds, like lignin, contain chromophore groups and are capable of autofluorescence. Correlations of the genotypes that incorporate CAD1-F with overwintering are studied in this work.

Materials and methods. The winter bread wheat cultivars ‘Zitnica’ (Yugoslavia) and ‘Novosibirskaya 9’ (ICG SB RAS, Russia), contrasting in winter hardiness and CAD isozyme spectra, their hybrids, and 28 improved winter cultivars developed in Krasnodar were selected for the study. Fluorescence analysis of 28 winter wheat cultivars was also performed. Correlation coefficients between fluorescence and frost tolerance were calculated using the results of the analysis of 7 most contrasting cultivars.

Conclusions. The tested winter bread wheat genotypes demonstrated the interplay between CAD1-F and successful overwintering: a correlation was found in the genotypes carrying the 00 CAD1-F allele with higher percentage of overwintered plants. This dependence was not observed in every season. The analysis of seedling sections for fluorescence can also be used for preliminary assessment of winter tolerance in winter bread wheat under laboratory conditions.

Background. The choice of crops with greater adaptability to the environments of the Northern Region and higher yield of dry matter per hectare, rich in protein, essential amino acids, vitamins, sugars, carotene, and trace elements, would solve the problem of providing livestock with highquality feeds.

Materials and methods. The object of the study was rough comfrey  (Symphytum asperum Lepech.). The research was carried out in the experimental field of the N. Laverov Federal Center for Integrated Arctic Research in Kotlas from 2006 to 2019 using generally accepted techniques. The soils were sod-podzolic loams. Planting of  S. asperumwas carried out with cuttings (4–5 pieces per 1 m²) in May 2006. The record plot area was 5 m², the number of replications was three, and the arrangement of variants was regular.  The nutritional value of the introduced plant was compared with that of red clover (cv. ‘Prior’) in the biochemical laboratory in a NIR SCANNER 4250 infrared analyzer, calculated for 1 kg of dry matter.

Results. Successful introduction of rough comfrey (S. asperum) into the subarctic zone of the European North of Russia from its natural gene pool was assessed on the basis of a study of economically useful traits with the purpose of its possible utilization in agricultural production. This species was seen to pass through the entire cycle of ontogenesis, which is the evidence of a high degree of adaptation to the conditions of the region. The introduced species is characterized by high winter hardiness, good aftermath yield, early-spring regrowth, stable productivity, resistance to diseases and pests, and high nutritional value of the feed.

Background. The aim of the research was to identify barley germplasm accessions with the minimum and maximum content of β-glucans in their grain in combinations with other improved useful traits.

Material and methods. The material for analysis were 18 hulled and 8 naked barley accessions of various ecogeographic origin from the collection of the N.I. Vavilov All Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR), which were grown under the conditions of Eastern Siberia in 2016–2018.

Results. Hulled accessions yielded grains with β-glucan content from 3.18 to 4.51%; naked ones, from 3.18 to 5.21%. According to the minimum value of the studied qualitative trait (3.18–3.43%), cultivars of Siberian breeding were identified: ‘Mayak’ (k-29622, Krasnoyarsk Territory) and ‘Tarsky 3’ (k-30719, Omsk Province), plus cv. ‘AC Albright’ (k-30599, Canada); according to the maximum value (5.06–5.21%), the naked accessions Nudum 155 (k-13328, Ukraine) and ‘Nudum 95’ (k-31125, Chelyabinsk Province). The highest protein content in grain (16.63–18.36%) was found in the accessions Nudum 155, Nudum 7566 (k-29453, Kyrgyzstan) and ‘Nudum 95’. The accessions Nudum 155 and ‘Nudum 95’ were characterized by combined high contents of β-glucans and protein in their grain. Early maturity and increased productivity were shown by the cultivars ‘Tarsky 3’, ‘Kolchan’ (k-31039, Altai Territory), ‘Zolotnik’ (k-30845, Altai Territory), ‘Abalak’ (Krasnoyarsk Territory, Tyumen Province), and ‘AC Albright’ (Canada). A significant positive relationship was found between the content of β-glucans and the weight of 1000 grains in both forms of barley.

Conclusion. According to β-glucan content combined with other valuable characteristics in grain, the accessions ‘Mayak’, ‘Tarsky 3’ and ‘AC Albright’ are of interest for the improvement of fodder cultivars, while ‘Nudum 95’ and Nudum 155 are promising for breeding for food.

With the globally changing climate, researchers seek to use plants adapted to extreme environments in breeding and genetic programs. As a forage crop, the wheatgrass from the genus Agropyron Gaertn. is most suitable for such purposes.

The area of temperature distribution for wheatgrass lies in the range from + 42 (arid zone) to – 60°C (Verkhoyansk). The use of different wheatgrass species as a crop for arid conditions is quite profoundly studied in the USA, Canada, Russia, and Kazakhstan. Genetic and breeding studies are underway in different countries. In Yakutia, with its extremely continental climate, wheatgrass has not yet been introduced as a crop, although it could play an important role in establishing a sustainable fodder reserve.

The aim of the work was to study and select promising breeding source material, identifying germplasm with the best agronomic traits. As a result of a two-year study of 19 accessions of different wheatgrass species from the collection of VIR, undertaken in 2018 and 2019 in the collection nursery in Central Yakutia, plant forms were selected that exceeded the average green biomass yield for two cuts: k-52382 (wild crested wheatgrass, Pavlodar Region, Kazakhstan) by 43%, and k-48705 (wild-growing Kerch wheatgrass) by 40%. Besides, wild wheatgrass accession k-52382 was identified for its dry matter yield (40.2% higher than the average) and for the total green and dry matter yield for the two cuts (212.7 g/plant).

Accessions k-52440 (wild Siberian wheatgrass, Stavropol Territory) and k-51330 (crested wheatgrass, Chelyabinsk Province) were selected for their high seed yield (43.5 g/m² and 41.7 g/m², respectively). The content of crude and digestible protein was the highest in k-50857 (crested wheatgrass cv. ‘Ephraim’, USA) and k-50858 (Siberian wheatgrass cv. ‘Vavilov II’, USA): 14.6% and 99 g/kg of feed, and 14.2% and 96 g/kg of feed, respectively. Winter hardiness of 12 accessions turned out to be 100%, with 80% in another 7 accessions.

Background. Studying the gene pool of a crop under specific soil and climate conditions makes it possible to predict the breeding value of germplasm, while its subsequent inclusion in the breeding process ensures the development of adaptable cultivars capable of implementing their productive potential in large-scale agriculture.

Materials and methods. Stability (S_i²) and plasticity (b_i; PUSS), Ambient Condition Index (I_j), Homeostatic (Hom), Stress Resistance, and Stability Index (Is) were calculated for 12 hulled oat (Avena sativa L.) accessions at the FARC of North-East.

Results. Accessions 2981 IG100720 (USA) and k-15293 BORYNA (Poland) showed the best stress resistance, while the highest genetic flexibility was observed in 2981 IG100720 (USA), 3007 IG100848 (Germany), 5330 СSI  590/05,  and k-15178 ‘Begunok’ (Russia). Sources of intensive-type hulled oats: k-15330 CSI 590/05 (Russia) (b_i = 1.36)  and  k-15331 CSI 2167/03 (Russia) (b_i = 1.60),  were  identified for their higher yield values: 856 and 889 g/m² under improved growing conditions in 2017, and 365 and 285 g/m² under dry conditions in 2016, respectively. Medium-intensive accessions k-15178 ‘Begunok’ (Russia) (b_i = 1.07), and ‘Skrokolik’ (k-15321, Russia) (b_i = 0.97) were identified for the best plasticity. The reference cv. ‘Krechet’ (S_i² = 0.06) demonstrated high yield stability.

Conclusion. Sources were selected for hulled oat breeding: 2981 IG100720 (USA), 3007 IG100848 (Germany), and k-15293 BORYNA (Poland), with high stress resistance and plasticity, and plastic sources k-15178 ‘Begunok’ and k-15321 ‘Skrokolik’ (Russia), with stable high yield under varying environmental conditions.

Background.  Coriandrum sativum L. is a valuable vegetable crop with early maturity and high nutritional benefits. Green biomass of coriander is rich in vitamins, especially ascorbic acid and carotene. The feasibility of using coriander as a natural food additive is due to its high antioxidant activity. The aim of this research was to study the biochemical composition of the green biomass in the accessions of C. sativum from the VIR global collection and identify promising accessions for use in breeding for quality.

Materials and methods. The green biomass of  67 coriander accessions from different countries maintained in the VIR collection served as the research material. The study was carried out according to the guidelines developed by VIR.

Results. As a result of the study, the feasibility of using C. sativum as a source of bioactive compounds was theoretically justified and experimentally confirmed, thus attesting to the prospects of coriander accessions from the VIR collection for quality-targeted breeding programs. New data were obtained on the biochemical composition of coriander green biomass. A factor determining such biochemical composition is the genotypic features of coriander associated with its origin. Biochemical parameters in coriander varied significantly depending on the origin of an accession. The highest variability was observed in the content of carotenes (CV 41%). The effect of an accession’s precocity was not confirmed. Sources for individual quality indicators were highlighted.

Conclusion. Accessions with an optimal component composition for a balanced human diet were identified and recommended for quality-oriented breeding, including the development of cultivars for health-friendly, curative and preventive nutrition. The selected accessions are of interest as source material for breeding programs and practical utilization.

Background. The end-use of the bread wheat grain depends on the endosperm properties determined by the alleles of the Pina and Pinb genes at the Ha locus on chromosome 5D. The mealy (soft) endosperm is generated by the biosynthesis of puroindolines – complete proteins encoded by these genes. When milled, such grain breaks down into small starch granules covered with proteins. Mutations that disrupt the synthesis or structure of puroindolines determine the hardness and vitreousness of the grain. Earlier, we discovered a new locus for grain softness, Ha-Sp, introgressed from the diploid species Aegilops speltoides Tausch, which also determines the formation of the soft endosperm structure. By combining two active loci in one genotype, we produced a supersoft grain line (SSL). The aim of the present work was to verify the interaction of the two loci Ha and Ha-Sp in other wheat genotypes and evaluate the technological properties of grain and flour in comparison with the existing SSL line.

Materials and methods. The F₃–F₈ hybrids from crosses of the soft-grain spring cultivars ‘Golubka’ and ‘Lutescens 62’, carriers of the Ha locus, with the introgressive line 84/98w, carrier of the Ha-Sp locus, were used in the work. Grain from three field seasons was studied according to milling parameters and physical properties of flour and dough.

Results. At the early stages of selection (F_3:4), the families with milling parameters typical of bread wheat were identified, as well as supersoft-grain families with a small flour particle size (9–10 μm) and low endosperm vitreousness (29–49%). Targeted selection made it possible to obtain lines similar to the SSL line in terms of milling performance and flour strength.

Conclusion. For the first time, a set of supersoft-grain lines with special properties of grain and flour was obtained on the genetic basis of three spring cultivars. They may be in demand for a wide range of end-uses, including both food and nonfood production purposes.

Background. Glutenin is a storage protein in wheat seeds, important for the quality of bread prepared from wheat. Studying glutenin polymorphism can help to identify valuable genotypes and promising new breeding lines for further crossings. The aim of this study was to identify subunits of glutenin and determine alleles at the Glu-1 loci in the spring bread wheat germplasm collection.

Materials and methods. A panel of 54 Russian and 76 Kazakh bread wheat germplasm accessions from various breeding centers was selected. Gliadin electrophoresis was carried out in a concentrating and separating polyacrylamide gel system following the Laemmli method. Glutenin subunits were identified according to the catalogue produced by Payne and Lawrence.

Results and discussion. At the Glu-A1 locus, two alleles, b and  c, were identified, with different frequencies of occurrence among studied wheat accessions. The Glu-A1b allele occurred more frequently than Glu-A1с in the studied germplasm from all breeding centers. Meanwhile, six alleles, а, b, c, d, f and g, were found at the Glu-B1 locus. The most frequently occurring Glu-B1с allele encoded two subunits (7+9). The third homologous gene, Glu-D1, had only two identified alleles, a and d, with various frequencies among the studied wheat accessions. Wheat germplasm of various origin had specific combinations of glutenin subunits, providing different scores of grain quality. For example, the combination of glutenin subunits, 2*, 7+9 and 5+10, provided the highest score (= 9) of grain quality. A single change in the Glu-1 subunit composition, 2*, 7+9 and 2+12, caused a reduction in grain quality (= 7 score); and the combination of Null, 7 and 5+10 was accompanied by the lowest (= 6) grain quality. The analysis showed that two loci, Glu-A1 and Glu-B1, induced significant differences between wheat accessions originated from Tyumen and Chelyabinsk, while the accessions from Chelyabinsk and East Kazakhstan differed significantly at the Glu-A1 and Glu-D1 loci.

Background. The need for continuous breeding practice to develop new varieties of Calendula officinalis L. is induced by the accumulation of low-grade morphotypes in the already existing cultivars as a result of crosspollination.

Materials and methods. Seeds selected from high-yielding biotypes of cv. ‘Kalta’ were treated with various mutagens for 18 hours, using 1000 seeds for each option. The mutation rate in the M₁ generation and seed quality were determined, and plant viability was assessed under field conditions. Plant height, number of branches, number of leaves, number of inflorescences per plant, inflorescence diameter, number of ray floret rows, and weight of one inflorescence were measured in the mass flowering phase. The yield of raw materials (fresh and air-dry biomass of inflorescences) was calculated for each harvest and for the total amount of all 7 harvests during the flowering period.

Results. The mutagens DES_0,05% and DMS_0,08% turned out the most effective for developing new source material. None of the plants produced seeds after treatment with nitrosomethyl urea (NMU_0.02% ), and only one plant produced seeds after treatment with NMU_0.04% . As a result of a long-term breeding process (2009–2016), new varieties were developed on the basis of mutant generations M₂–M₃ : cvs. ‘Zolotoe more’ and ‘Rajskij sad’, both exceeding cv. ‘Kalta’ in the yield of inflorescences by 39 and 30%, seed yield by 48 and 49%, total extractives by 13.8 and 21.3%, and total flavonoids by 29.9% and 43.3%, respectively.

Conclusion. New cultivars of C. officinalis, ‘Zolotoe more’ and ‘Rajskij sad’, were developed in accordance with the mutation breeding scheme that employed methods of chemical mutagenesis, with expanded selection of plants altered in their morphological characteristics, productivity and content of bioactive compounds in the first mutant generation and assessment of uniformity, distinctness and stability in the second and subsequent generations.

Bird cherry occupies a special place among stone fruit plants. Its fruits, collected in nature, were widely used by local communities, native to regions with severe climate. Development of new bird cherry cultivars, well adapted to such environments, with stable productivity and larger fruit, is a necessity.

Crossings were performed involving the most large-fruited genotypes of Prunus padus L.  and P. virginiana L.,  selected during the study of their intraspecific variability and interspecific hybrids. A number of hybrids were identified for their considerably higher fruit weight than that of both parents. Crossing the most large-fruited hybrid cultivars ‘Pamyati Salamatova’ and ‘Cherny blesk’ with large-fruited P. padus samples from Bondarev No. 11-2-64, No. 11-2-70, No. 11-2-76, and P. virginiana samples No. 1-14-1 and No. 10-5-2, produced many hybrids with a fruit weight gain of 20–50% over the parent with the largest fruit. It can be explained by the polygenic nature of fruit weight inheritance. The samples with the largest fruits had an average fruit weight of 1.4–1.5 g and maximum weight of 1.8–1.9 g. Many of them combined large fruit size with good quality and high productivity. Brief descriptions of fruit traits are presented for several hybrids. Suppositions are made about the prospects of further breeding for the large fruit trait on the basis of the same genetic sources or with the use of other sources of large fruit size in hybridization.

Thus, preliminary selection of the best genotypes in nature and in introduced populations, followed by their crossing within their own species and with other species, makes it possible to produce genotypes with larger fruits than the average fruit size for a population and considerably larger than in their parents. It would help to develop bird cherry cultivars, well adapted to local conditions, for amateur and industrial horticulture under different climate conditions of Russia.

Background. Mung bean (Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek) is a nontraditional crop for Russia. The crop’s main areas of cultivation are situated in the subtropical zone of the planet. However, positive experience with mung bean cultivation in a number of regions – the South of the European part and the Far East of Russia – implies the expediency of a search for source materials suitable for the development of cultivars adapted to these conditions.

Materials and methods. The results of the field phenotyping of 76 mung bean landraces from VIR have been analyzed. The experiments were performed in 1949–1956 in Uzbekistan (former Central Asian Branch of VIR), and in 2009, 2018 and 2019 in Astrakhan Province, where VIR’s collection had been reproduced from the early 1990s. The data on the variability of phenological and agronomic characters and their relationships were compared for both areas and analyzed using the methods of multidimensional statistics.

Results and discussion. A strong variability of all studied characters and their dependence on the environment were observed in both locations. According to the averaged longterm data, differences were found in the duration of interphase periods and the entire growing season, seed yield, plant height, and 1000 seed weight in both sites. Significant differences were shown in the strength of correlations between the studied characters. In Astrakhan Province and in the years with less favorable conditions in Uzbekistan, the level of correlations between most traits was higher. Therefore, an increase in the strength of the relationships between crop characters may be regarded as an indicator of unfavorable growing conditions. The genotypes with short periods from sprouting to flowering and from sprouting to maturation were the most resistant to environmental changes. It is these traits that should first of all be transferred to mung bean cultivars when promoting its production to the north, beyond its traditional area.

Background. Studying genetic polymorphism of the Prunus pumila L. representatives with a wide range of variability in morphological characters will make it possible to identify promising genotypes with high combining ability for hybridization.

Material and methods. The study covered 39 genotypes from the Chelyabinsk cultivated population and 6 genotypes from Khakassia, with extreme or intermediate expressions of such characters as fruit size, color and shape; stone shape and surface structure; leaf blade serration and shape; plant habitus, and some others. Genetic distances were calculated using the data matrix for binary states of presence (1) or absence (0) of amplified fragments with the Past Program (Gower). The UPGMA dendrograms were obtained in TREECON (version 1.3b).

Results and discussion. The selected 5 ISSR and 2 RAPD primers demonstrated their effectiveness in detecting genetic polymorphism in the studied accessions. In individual cases, a weak connection of separate markers with leaf blade edge serration, stone surface structure, plant habitus, and geographic origin of the genotype was detected. Concurrent inclusion of all primers and genotypes in the cluster analysis failed to group the studied P. pumila samples into clades according to the presence/absence of any traits, which may attest to their close genetic affinity. An independent clade with reliable bootstrap support (100%) was formed only for the genotypes of the taxonomically close sp. P. tomentosa Thunb., analyzed as an external group. Moreover, this clade manifested (with the 86% reliability of bootstrap support) differences between the hybrid genotypes of P. pumila × P. tomentosa (F₃) and the genotype of P. tomentosa. Parent pairs promising for fruit quality and shrub shape improvement through breeding were identified using the produced indices of genetic distinction.

Background. The most effective way of protecting crops from diseases and pests is the breeding and cultivation of resistant varieties. The hydrothermal regime in the southern plains of Dagestan favors damage to barley plants by the causative agent of powdery mildew. The high level of disease progress observed annually helps to reliably assess the resistance of collection accessions to the pathogen.

Materials and methods. The research material included 1361 barley accessions (570 improved cultivars and 791 landraces) of different ecogeographic origin and growth habit. Field experiments were launched concurrently with winter sowing. Powdery mildew resistance was scored during the heading period and in the milk ripeness phase using a point scale. Each accession was assessed for at least three years.

Results and conclusions. The results of a long-term study disclosed a significant intraspecific variability of barley collection accessions in their resistance to powdery mildew. A significant part of the studied barley accessions (63.1%) appeared susceptible to the pathogen. The occurrence frequency of disease-resistant accessions was 11.0%, while those with medium resistance reached 25.9%. Among the landraces, four resistant accessions from the Abyssinian, West Asian and Mediterranean centers of crop origin were identified. Seventeen barley varieties resistant to powdery mildew (predominantly originated from Western Europe) are recommended for use in breeding for immunity.

Relevance of the study. One of the ways to maintain the genetic diversity of forest-forming species is to preserve highquality seed material ex situ. However, the relationship between the diversity of pathogenic mycobiota and the duration and methods of forest tree seed storage remains underexplored. The results of research into this problem can be used in forest seed production and forest phytopathology.

Materials and methods. For our study we used seeds of Рinus sylvestris L. and Picea abies (L.) Karst. of the orthodox type, harvested in the period of 1996–2011 and stored under different temperatures: +20°С, +4°С, –18°С, and in liquid nitrogen vapor (–182°С) since 2011. Prior to their storage, seed samples were dried to a moisture content of 4.2–4.4% and hermetically packed. Seed germination was tested before and after three, five and eight years of storage, following GOST 13056.6-97 standards. The level of seed infection and the composition of pathogenic fungi were assessed.

Results. After eight years of storage at +20°С, pine and spruce seed germination capacity decreased by 13–60%, depending on the year of harvesting. Seed storage at –18°С and –182°С allowed us to prevent seed infection and preserve seed viability. In most cases, the germination energy and germination capacity were negatively correlated with the level of seed infection. The diversity of pathogenic (mold) fungi on the surface of seeds was represented by ten genera; the most common were saprotrophs: Aspergillus P. Micheli, Penicillium Link, Rhizopus Ehrenb., Scopulariopsis Bainier.

Conclusion. At the present stage of research, the success of seed storage at low and ultralow temperatures was demonstrated. We recommend cryopreservation for the long-term storage of improved and valuable seeds.

Evaluation of plant breeding material, based on protein markers, gives an opportunity to perform rapid and reliable selection and control the transfer of desired traits from parents to their progeny. A search for new and stable protein markers is needed to identify genotypes with high grain quality. Such storage proteins in wheat as glutenins have been studied profoundly enough. Full characterization of individual protein fractions and components can be found in many scientific publications, while studying genetic patterns of protein accumulation in the grain of different wheat cultivars and using high-molecular-weight (HMW) and lowmolecular-weight (LMW) glutenin subunits (GS) for genotype identification remain high in the research agenda. This is a comprehensive review of scientific publications about the structure and molecular organization of glutenins and a comparative analysis of 22 research papers about the degree of their effect on grain quality indicators: SDS-sedimentation volume (ml), grain/ flour protein content (%; 14% m.b.; 12,5% m.b.), mixing time (min), mixing tolerance (min; mm), bread loaf volume (cm³; ml), dough strength  (10^-4J), and P/L ratio. As a result of reviewing, the best alleles (subunits) of glutenin were identi fied, namely: Glu-A1а, Glu-B1(h, f, b), Glu-D1d, Glu-A3d, and Glu-B3d.

The article is devoted to the replenishment of the VIR collection with plant genetic resources from the territories of the Philippines, Burma, Laos and Vietnam as a result of plant explorations, seed requests and germplasm exchange. In total, four collecting missions were sent to this region in the late 1970s and 1980s.

Through their efforts, 2668 germplasm samples were collected and delivered to the Institute. The most numerous were the accessions of grain legumes (916), followed by vegetables (835) and groat crops (653). In addition to direct collection, the Institute was constantly engaged in requesting plant germplasm.

In the prewar period, from 1925 to 1941, 396 accessions of cereal, groat, grain legume, vegetable, industrial and fruit crops were received from Burma, Vietnam, French Indochina (Laos since 1949) and the Philippines.

From 1946 to 2019, 7928 accessions were added, with the largest number shipped from Vietnam (7840). Such a huge number can be explained by the activities of the Soviet breeding stations in Lai Châu Province, Northern Vietnam, and near Ho Chi Minh City, Southern Vietnam, in the 1980s and early 1990s. It should be noted that significantly fewer wild species and crop wild relatives were mobilized from these countries than from India, Indonesia and Ceylon – about 100 spp., or 10,992 accessions.

Altogether, collecting teams brought from the South Asian tropical center of crop origin 18,594 germplasm samples, most of which were groat crops (4521). The prewar seed requests yielded 3520 accessions, with 1022 representing tropical woody, ornamental and medicinal plants from botanical gardens. Requests for germplasm from 1946 to the present time resulted in adding 16,687 accessions to the collection, half of which were groat crops (rice, maize and sorghum). A total of 39,161 accessions were received from the region.