Background. Global climate changes have recently led to a more frequent occurrence of adverse factors and a decrease in the productivity of major crops. Sorghum is a highly drought-resistant crop that can tolerate long-term soil and air droughts with much lower harvest losses than wheat or barley. It is important to understand physiological mechanisms affecting drought tolerance when breeding efforts are aimed at improving the adaptability to abiotic conditions and productivity of sorghum hybrids.

Materials and methods. Twenty sterile lines of grain sorghum with 8 types of CMS were studied in 2019 and 2020 in the arid conditions of Saratov Province. Indicators of the leaf water regime were assessed according to VIR’s guidelines. Statistical processing of the research results was performed using the AGROS 2.09 software.

Results. The indicators of the leaf water regime that reflected differentiated responses of the CMS-line plants to the prevailing water and temperature stressors during the critical flowering period for sorghum were analyzed. Four CMS lines were identified according to the chosen set of indicators: they manifested 71.13–72.02% of total water content, 5.26–9.08% of water deficit, and 57.40–83.17% of water retention capacity on average for the two years of research. For the first time, the effect of CMS in sorghum on the manifestation of water regime indicators was registered. In isonuclear CMS lines, the greatest effect on drought resistance was shown by cytoplasm A3 versus A4 (with the Zheltozernoe 10 genome), cytoplasm A5 versus A1 (with the Karlik 4v genome), and M35-1A versus the analog on cytoplasm 9E (with the Pischevoe 614 genome).

Conclusion. It is shown that genetically different types of sterility can be used in breeding practice to increase the resistance to abiotic stressors in components of F₁ crosses and hybrids.

Background. The breeding value of accessions from the VIR collection can be estimated only under specific climate and soil conditions. Studying such accessions helps to include them in the breeding process.

Materials and methods. Forty-two accessions of naked oats of various origin were studied at the FARC of the North-East. Biochemical analysis of grain and statistical data processing using descriptive statistics and correlation analysis techniques were carried out.

Results. The accessions were divided into groups according to their ripening schedule: early (up to 80 days), medium (81–84 days), and mid-late (85–89 days). High yielding genotypes were identified in each ripeness group. The plant height depended on the hydrothermal conditions of the growing season (r = 0.25). The studied accessions were all classified as undersized (64.0–99.1 cm), including the reference cv. ‘Vyatsky’ (88.1 cm). A significant contribution of some panicle productivity components to an increase in yield was observed. The protein and fat content in grain determines its nutritional and energy value. The results showed a positive relationship between yield and protein content (r = 0.44). A significant negative correlation between fat content and protein content (r = –0.61) was registered. The study of naked oat accessions showed different fat content in grain across the ripeness groups.

Conclusion. According to the results of the study, some accessions were identified as sources of traits useful for breeding. The following accessions were selected as the best according to a set of characters (yield, plant height, number of grains per panicle, panicle weight, protein and fat content in grain): early ‘Litovsij nagij’ (k-15234, Lithuania), ‘Gkzalon’ (k-15299, Mongolia) and ‘MF9224-164’ (k-15090, USA); medium k-15248 (local, Poland) and MF9521-281 (k-15095, USA); and mid-late ‘Bai Yan 2’ (k-15525, China), ‘Progress’ (k-15339, Russia), ‘Visit’ (k-15501, Ukraine) and ‘Mina’ (k-15192, Bulgaria).

Background. Expanding the genetic polymorphism of maize is an effective way to increase its productivity by involving multiple-ear genotypes in breeding.

Materials and methods. In 2007, 596 maize accessions from VIR were assessed at the Kuban Experiment Station of VIR. In 2020, 52 hybrids between multiple-ear and single-ear maize lines were tested in the steppe zone of Kabardino-Balkaria at the site of the OTBOR Agrifirm. Useful agronomic traits were recorded, the coefficient of prolificacy (k_mc) was calculated for the source lines and their hybrid progeny from crosses with a single-ear tester, and 52 parent lines were ranked according to the type of inheritance of the prolificacy feature.

Results. Accessions that combined prolificacy with other useful agronomic traits were identified. The following accessions were selected for their plant height (score 5, 126–175 cm): k-8819, k-9054, k-15269, k-15355, k-15360, k-15331, k-15877, k-15442, k-15443, k-15445, k-8009, k-14344, k-15195, k-15226 and k-17385. Accessions that excelled in the height of the ear attachment for mechanized harvesting (score 5, 50–70 cm) were as follows: k-8819, k-15269, k-15355, k-15360, k-14394, k-14904, k-14979, k-14968, k-15292, k-15391, k-9289, k-15322, k-15439, k-15442, k-15443 and k-14344. Sources of the following traits were identified: long cob (score 9, > 20 cm): k-9054, k-4535, k-13730, k-14817 and k-14996; higher number of rows per ear (score 5–9, > 16 grain rows): k-14904, k-14979, k-14968, k-15442, k-15330, k-15322 and k-9257; and higher number of grains in a row (score 5–9, > 31 grains per row): k-14904, k-14996, k-15639, k-15353, k-15330, k-15322, k-15344, k-15281, k-15439, k-9357 and k-15237. Ranking 52 accessions according to the test cross results showed that 9 of them produced progeny of the maternal type (no more than one ear), 26 of the intermediate type (1.1–1.5 ears per plant), 11 of the paternal type (1.6–2,0 ears) and 6 of heterotic type (more than 2 ears).

Background. Сowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) is a thermophilic crop; in most countries it is grown for grain and vegetable uses. Positive results of open-field cowpea production in the southern regions of Russia and the possibility of its cultivation on infertile soils in hot and dry climate imply the need to develop new cultivars suitable for wider introduction into Russian agriculture. It is of paramount importance for cowpea breeders to know the patterns of variability in the relationships among agronomic traits and their characteristics in cultivars grown for different uses (grain and vegetable). Besides, acceleration of the breeding process to a large extent depends on the knowledge of the traits that make it possible to differentiate the source material according to its intended purpose.

Materials and methods. For three years, 315 cowpea accessions of various origin from the VIR collection were studied in Astrakhan Province, Russia. Eight useful agronomic characters were examined. The variability and relationships of these characters were assessed in cultivars grown for grain and vegetable purposes using multivariate statistical analyses.

Results and discussion. The characters that differentiate grain and vegetable cowpea accessions were identified: the type of seed coat surface, the presence of fiber in ventral and dorsal pod sutures and a sclerenchyma layer in pods valves, and pod length. Discriminant functions were calculated for identification and classification of accessions according to their grain and forage uses. The character (presence of depressions or longitudinal striae on the seed coat surface) diagnosing vegetable cowpea cultivars was pinpointed. Characters associated with high seed yield were identified. For grain cultivars such character is the weight of 1000 seeds, while for vegetable cultivars it is a large-seeded and long-fruit pod.

Background. Adding new plant varieties to the VIR collection is an important effort to preserve the diversity of worldwide bioresources. The millet collection at VIR is formed through the study of acquired accessions, aimed at identification of biological features that have emerged under certain conditions. Such germplasm may be recommended for use in breeding practice. Studying new accessions makes it possible to predict long-term development of the collection.

Materials and methods. The study was carried out at Yekaterinino Experiment Station of VIR, Tambov Province, in 2017–2019. New millet accessions added to the VIR collection served as the research material. The study was based on the descriptors and guidelines for Panicum miliaceum L. developed at VIR.

Results and conclusions. An assessment was made for such agronomic characters as the growing season, plant height, grain size, grain yield, and resistance to bacteria. The identified accessions exceeded the reference (cv. ‘Gorlinka’) in a number of traits. Earliness was observed in k-10479 (‘Dozh’), k-10481 (‘Zapadnoye’), k-10324, k-10325, k-10478 (‘Nizhnevolzhskoye’), k-10275 (‘Kvartet’), k-10306 (‘Volga 59’), k-10322 (‘Soyuz’), k-10473 (‘Yarkoye 120’), and k-10474 (‘Kavkazskiye zori’). Low plant height was recorded for k-888, k-10324, k-10306, k-10474, k-10479, k-10326, k-10481, and k-10480 (‘Kamyshenskoye’). Large grain size was shown by k-888, k-10325, k-10306, k-10324, k-10479, k-10475 (local), k-10322, k-10473, k-10480, and k-10481. High grain yields under the conditions of the Central Black Earth Region of Russia were demonstrated by the accessions from Belarus (cv. ‘Zapadnoye’, k-10481) and from Chelyabinsk Province (local cultivar, k-888). Medium and strong resistance to bacterial pathogens was observed in k-888, k-10275, k-10473, k-10474, k-10324, and k-10325. The selected accessions can serve as source material for the development of new millet cultivars.

Background. Buckwheat is an extremely valuable groat crop in demand both in Russia and abroad. The buckwheat collection held by VIR is the largest in the world. Studying and systematizing knowledge about the conserved diversity of the genus Fagopyrum Mill. representatives cannot be efficient without switching to the use of the most detailed descriptors containing plant characters least dependent on differences in growing conditions.

Materials and methods. Seventeen buckwheat cultivars from Ukraine and Belarus and two references from Russia were studied in Leningrad Province. The methodological basis of the study included the IPGRI buckwheat descriptors and personal recommendations of N. V. Fesenko. Statistical data processing was performed according to P. F. Rokitsky.

Results. The cultivars formed their typical plant habitus and demonstrated good fruit setting − an average score was 3.3–4.9 out of five. The determinant stem growth was observed in 10 cultivars. The stem developed 2.7−6.7 generative nodes and 4–6 vegetative ones, while 1.9–4.7 generative and 0.8−2.3 vegetative nodes were formed on the two upper branches.

Conclusion. The study confirmed that medium-ripening buckwheat can be grown in Leningrad Province. The modal value of the number of vegetative nodes for the studied cultivars was 4−5, which is an indicator of intermediate ripening. The results of studying the metamerism of the stem and the two upper branches, expressed by modal values, were recorded in the “agricultural fitness” passport for the tested cultivars as follows: determinant stem; branching zone 4+1+2; fruit-forming zone 3+3+3; average score of fruit formation 4.8. The presented data format most fully characterizes a cultivar in terms of the potential of its earliness and productivity. Depending on the task, indicators for the main stem or for the two upper branches can be used. Recording values in the form of a formula is convenient and does not imply any other meanings.

Background. Studying the reproductive ability of black currant cultivars after long-term cryopreservation of their pollen in liquid nitrogen is very important for plant diversity conservation and for the effectiveness of breeding efforts.

Materials and methods. Five black currant cultivars served as the material for the research. The viability of black currant pollen after cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen was analyzed. Pollen viability was tested on an artificial medium containing 10% of sucrose and 0.8% of agar. The viability of pollen was tested on the black currant collection at Pushkin and Pavlovsk Laboratories of VIR. The cultivar ‘Andreevskaya’ (k-15630) was pollinated with pollen stored for one year in liquid nitrogen (–196°C) as well as with fresh pollen (control test).

Results and conclusion. After 12 months of conservation under ultralow temperatures there was a change in the level of pollen viability depending on the genotype: it varied from 10.4% (cv. ‘Pozdnyaya poslevoennaya’, k-7654) to 50.4% (cv. ‘Kriviai’, k-42517), while its mean value was 0.9% higher than the mean initial viability. The fruit setting rate in the control option was 81.3–94.2%. When pollinated with pollen kept in liquid nitrogen for one year, the fruit setting rate varied from 69.2% (‘Kacha’, k-44185) to 93.3% (‘Belorusochka’, k-41978); the remaining cultivars (‘Pozdnyaya poslevoennaya’; ‘Chereshneva’, k-42481; and ‘Kriviai’) demonstrated intermediate values of this indicator, i.e., the reproductive ability of pollen after cryopreservation was high even despite its low viability. As for the fruit weight, no differences were shown by cvs. ‘Kacha’, ‘Chereshneva’ and ‘Kriviai’ in both pollination options, while this indicator in cvs. ‘Belorusochka’ and ‘Pozdnyaya poslevoennaya’ was lower than the control by 0.31 and 0.24 g, respectively.

Background. Yield stability is a necessary trait for sustainable potato production under climate change. Potato breeding is based on crosses between parental lines selected for a set of important traits: productivity, structural yield components, and resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses. Data on plant responses to environmental conditions allows breeders to conduct informed selection of plant forms for crossing. The objective of this work was to characterize interspecific potato hybrids in terms of their productivity, yield plasticity and stability in the Central Region of European Russia.

Materials and methods. For seven years (2014–2020), 19 hybrids and cv. ‘Favorit’ (reference) were assessed for productivity, number of tubers per plant, mean tuber weight, marketability, and resistance to late blight. Growing conditions were characterized using the hydrothermal coefficient. Environmental sustainability was determined by calculating the parameters of plasticity (b_I) and stability (σ²) according to N. P. Sklyarova and V. A. Zharova.

Results. Positive and negative anomalies in heat or moisture supply were observed during the test years. The maximum productivity was obtained in 2016, with heavy rainfall and higher temperatures; the minimum, in the hot and dry 2018. For productivity, the effect sizes of the factors “variety” and “year” were 29% and 38%, respectively. Hybrids with yield levels close to cv. ‘Favorit’ were identified: 117-2, 122-29, 99-6-5, 99-1-3, 99-6-6, and 34-5-2003. ‘Favorit’ is an intensive-type cultivar, with low yield stability. Hybrid 135-2-2006, also of the intensive type, had a stable yield, but developed medium-sized tubers and was less productive than other accessions. Hybrid 117-2 is of the extensive type, with medium stability, while hybrids 8-3-2004 and 135-5-2005 demonstrated high environmental plasticity and yield stability.

Nowa days, interdisciplinary studies are increasingly important. Integration of botany with humanities, particularly with archaeology and ethnology, is amongst these studies. It is noteworthy that, as a result of such surveys, not only “synthetic” new data could be obtained, but also data in the specific fields of knowledge that compose these multidisciplinary complexes. Thus, during the archaeo- and ethnobotanical studies in Armenia in 2017–2021, along with the data on plant resources, little-known phytonyms, etc., some new floristic data were also recorded regarding the following species: Amaranthus graecizans L., A. hybridus L., Chamaenerion angustifolium (L.) Scop., Diospyros lotus L., Eleocharis palustris (L.) Roem. & Schult., Heracleum trachyloma Fisch. & C.A. Mey., Humulus lupulus L., Hippophae rhamnoides L., Polygonatum orientale Desf., and Ranunculus lateriflorus DC. Earlier, we also procured new data on the phytogeography for such species as Crataegus × armena Pojark., Ephedra procera Fisch. & C.A. Mey., Erodium ciconium (L.) L’Hér., Leonurus cardiaca L., Leucanthemum vulgare L., Matricaria matricarioides (Less.) Porter ex Britt., Neslia paniculata (L.) Desv., Origanum vulgare L., Salvia nemorosa L., Thymus eriophorus Ronn., Th. transcaucasicus Ronn., Tripleurospermum caucasicum (Willd.) Hayek, and T. parviflorum (Willd.) Pobed. Among the species, for which phytogeographic and floristic novelties were recorded, are crop wild relatives, endemics, and rare species, included in the IUCN list. Summarizing the findings, it can be stated that archaeo- and ethnobotany are productive not only in their interdisciplinary, “hybrid” results but also in the disciplines they both synthesize. This is the evidence that interdisciplinary approaches are highly efficient for research, demonstrating a mutually enhanced, i.e., synergistic effect in complex studies.

Researchers of the N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR) and Sverdlovsk Horticultural Breeding Station developed nomenclatural standards for 18 apple cultivars released at the said station: ‘Aksyona’ (WIR-53949), ‘Blagaya Vest’ (WIR-53950), ‘Danila’ (WIR-53952), ‘Isetskoye Pozdneye’ (WIR-53953), ‘Iset Belaya’ (WIR-53954), ‘Krasa Sverdlovska’ (WIR-53955), ‘Papiroyantarnoye’ (WIR-53956), ‘Pervouralskaya’ (WIR-53957), ‘Rodnikovaya’ (WIR-53958), ‘Rumyanka Sverdlovskaya’ (WIR-53959), ‘Sverdlovchanin’ (WIR-53960), ‘Serebryanoye Kopyttse’ (WIR-53961), ‘Sokovoye 3’ (WIR-53962), ‘Tavatuy’ (WIR-53963), ‘Uralets’ (WIR-53964), ‘Fakel’ (WIR-53965), ‘Fermer’ (WIR-53966), and ‘Ekrannoye’ (WIR-53967). Nomenclatural standards serve to confirm the authenticity of a cultivar and its name. They should be kept perpetually in the scientific herbarium collection. Herbarium specimens of nomenclatural standards are formatted in accordance with the recommendations of the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants (ICNCP), registered in the VIR Herbarium Database and included in the Herbarium of Cultivated Plants of the World, Their Wild Relatives, and Weeds (WIR).

Background. Diseases and pests cause great damage to barley stands and harvests. Harvest losses from harmful organisms reach 25–30%.

Materials and methods. During 2017–2020, 46 spring barley cultivars from the VIR collection, listed in the State Register for Selection Achievements, were studied for their resistance to fritfly, net and spot blotches, brown rust, and powdery mildew. The tests were carried out in the field with provocative colonization by fritfly and under natural infection pressure of leaf pathogens.

Results and conclusions. In 2017, net blotch predominated over other diseases. In 2018, there was an epyphytotic outburst of spot blotch, and cultivars with weak development of this disease were identified. In 2019 and 2020, the incidence of brown rust and powdery mildew was significant, and the virulence of fritfly increased greatly in the same years. Field tests resulted in identification of 3 barley accessions resistant to fritfly: ‘Odon’ (k-31118, Buryatia), ‘Miar’ (k-31203, Orenburg Province), and ‘Omsky 99’ (k-31230, Omsk Province). Cv. ‘Posada’ (k-31245, Germany) was weakly affected by fritfly, brown rust and powdery mildew. Cultivars were selected for their low susceptibility to powdery mildew (up to 5%): ‘Chiraz’ (k-31131, Denmark), ‘Cheerio’ (k-31297, Denmark), and ‘Odyssey’ (k-31333, England), and brown rust: ‘Chiraz’ (k-31131, Denmark), ‘Eifel’ (k-31249, France), ‘Ursa’ (k-31339), and ‘Sunshine’ (k-31129, Germany). Such long-term assessment results can be used in breeding programs to develop cultivars with group or complex resistance to harmful organisms.

Background. An effective way to obtain barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) genotypes stress-tolerant to cadmium, with a low level of toxic ion accumulation in grain, is the selection of cells in selective in vitro systems, based on somaclonal variability, which promotes the formation of specific and nonspecific adaptive mechanisms.

Materials and methods. The object of the study was cv. ‘999-93’, developed by selection from a hybrid combination of spring barley (Luly × Conrad) × 2867-80, and its regenerated forms in seed reproductions of the 3–5th generation, induced in the process of cell selection on media with cadmium, aluminum and polyethylene glycol. The plants were grown under normal soil conditions and against a provocative background for cadmium.

Results. The contribution of the environment-forming activity in the roots of the studied genotypes to inactivation of toxic ions appeared insignificant. The total removal of cadmium by plants against a provocative background increased 22.5 times, reaching 5.8–10.3 mg/kg of dry phytomass when distributed among organs: roots (91.9–93.4%) > stems (5.9–7.8%) > grain (0.5–0.8%). The amount of toxic metal in grain increased 11 times in the original form and 2.8–6.8 times in regenerants. The negative effect of excess cadmium in the soil on the accumulation of zinc in barley was shown. There was no gradation in the importance of organs for zinc accumulation or any presence of functional barriers preventing this. Regenerants induced on selective media with cadmium had the greatest adaptive advantages to stress: pronounced barrier functions of roots, minimal accumulation of toxic ions in aerial organs, and high seed productivity (they exceeded the original genotype by 35.5%). Adaptive reactions associated with the limitation of cadmium accumulation in plant tissues of regenerants, obtained by in vitro selections with aluminum and an osmotic, were shown to be weak.

Background. Barley is the second cereal crop in Russia in terms of its importance and production volume. It is used for food, feed, and industrial purposes. The production of malting barley in Russia exceeds 1.5 million tons; each year the area under this crop increases by 10–15%, reaching 600,000– 800,000 hectares. Barleys suitable for brewing must have certain physicochemical and technological properties. The main requirements for raw materials are presented in GOST 5060-86 (state standard for malting barley). An important condition for obtaining sustainable harvests is the development and utilization of cultivars resistant to a set of edaphic stressors. The purpose of this work was searching for resistant cultivars for use in targeted breeding.

Materials and methods. The material for the study included 161 spring barley cultivars for brewing from the collection of plant genetic resources held by VIR. The laboratory assessment of aluminum tolerance in barley accessions was carried out at the initial phases of plant growth and development, using the method of calculating root and shoot length indices. The tested malting barley was classified into five resistance groups.

Results and conclusions. Cultivars resistant to Al³⁺ ions were identified among different ecogeographic groups of malting barleys. The trait had a wide range of variability in terms of both the root length index (0.17–0.95) and shoot length index (0.47–0.99). Accessions with high resistance to ionic (Al³⁺) stress can be used in barley breeding targeted at the development of high-yielding malting cultivars most adapted to harmful environmental factors.

The analysis of environmental plasticity and stability made it possible to identify adaptable gooseberry cultivars: ‘Avangard’ (CA = 1.77), ‘Vladil’ (CA = 1.58), ‘Grinchel’ (CA = 1.24), ‘Kovcheg’ (CA = 1.13) and ‘Arlekin’ (CA = 1.01). Cv. ‘Grinchel’, submitted for state trials in 2020, is an intensive-type cultivar (b_i = 1.49), cvs. ‘Arlekin’ (b_i = 1.03; S_i2 = 4.1) and ‘Vladil’ (b_i =1.03; S_i2 = 1.0) are environmentally plastic and stable, while cvs. ‘Avangard’ (b_i = 0.51) and ‘Kovcheg’ (b_i = 0.53) belong to the neutral type. The advantages of these cultivars are their high productivity, large fruit size, dessert flavor, high winter hardiness, low thorniness, and increased resistance to American gooseberry mildew. High productivity in years with favorable and satisfactory growing conditions can be provided by the intensive-type cultivars ‘Stanichny’ (b_i = 1.55) and ‘Kooperator’ (b_i = 1.35) as well as the plastic but insufficiently stable cv. ‘Uralsky Izumrud’ (b_i = 1.03; S_i²= 5.3).

Using a wide range of modern biotechnologies and genetic techniques to study plant germplasm accessions held by VIR makes it possible to procure valuable results, required for the development of new high-yielding cultivars adapted to adverse environmental conditions and possessing specified technological properties, particularly to identify and mark new genes and alleles useful for plant breeding. This research trend is in line with Presidential Decree No. 680 “Concerning the development of genetic technologies in the Russian Federation”. Soybean is among the key crops in agricultural production, but the use of next-generation breeding tools to obtain new soybean cultivars with desired properties is still limited. Successful application of novel methods also requires new approaches to studying soybean accessions, specifically their ability to regenerate and produce calluses for subsequent inclusion in biotechnological programs.

Ten soybean accessions of various origin, contrasting in ripening schedules, were selected to study the possibility of effective introduction into in vitro culture and further assessment of their ability to produce calluses and regenerate in in vitro culture. The work included evaluating the effects of different seed sterilization techniques (one-step sterilization, using a commercial bleach, and two-step one, combining the impacts of a chlorine-containing preparation and hydrogen peroxide), types of explants (epicotyls, hypocotyls, cotyledon nodes, and cotyledon leaf segments), and phytohormone composition of nutrient medium: (1) MS + 1.13 mg/L BAP + 0.5 mg/L HA, and (2) MS +1 mg/L BAP + 0.1 mg/L IAA).

The assessment results showed that the option of two-step seed sterilization was the most effective for soybean at the stage of in vitro culture initiation, while hypocotyls, epicotyls, and cotyledon nodes had the highest callus formation ability in both types of nutrient media.

One of the most promising trends in apple breeding is polyploidy. Triploid cultivars show higher fruiting stability and increased self-fertility. The easiest way to obtain triploids is to cross diploid and tetraploid cultivars among themselves. The main limiting factor in this case is a restricted number of initial tetraploid forms whose characteristics affect the quality and prospects of the resulting hybrid progeny.

The staff of Sverdlovsk Horticultural Breeding Station in the Middle Urals produced and analyzed 5 hybrid families using cv. ‘Papirovka tetraploidnaya’ as the paternal source; the latter’s pollen was supplied by Acad. E. N. Sedov from the All-Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding. Ninety hybrid seedlings were studied.

The study showed that ‘Papirovka tetraploidnaya’ with a high degree of probability conveyed the following traits to its progeny: large fruit size, fruit ripening in early summer, midsummer and autumn, loose or medium density of coarse fruit flesh, and nonoutstanding fruit taste (scoring 3.8–4.2 points).

This is an overview of contemporary published works dedicated to the ability of soybean plants to regenerate in vitro and the techniques to achieve high regeneration rates, which is a necessary condition for the inclusion of soybean genotypes in genome editing programs. The main factors that determine the regenerative capacity of explants from various soybean accessions are considered. The greatest effect on the efficiency of regeneration is exerted by the conditions of in vitro culture initiation, type of explant, composition of the nutrient medium, shelf life of seeds, and genotypic characteristics of soybean accessions.

Sesame is an ancient oilseed crop grown throughout the arid and subarid climates. Sesame oil has a good taste and is appreciated for its beneficial properties. The genus Sesamum L. (Pedaliaceae Lindl.) includes up to 38 species. The only cultivated species is S. indicum L. (2n = 26). It is grown in areas located between 45° N and 45° S. South Africa is considered the homeland of S. indicum. Sesame seeds contain 50–63% of oil, 25–27% of protein, 20% of carbohydrates, and are sources of such micronutrients as copper, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, vitamins A, B1, C and E. Sesame seeds and oil are used not only in the food industry but also in medicine. Sesame meal is a good animal feed. Recently, thanks to the deciphering of the sesame nuclear genome and the development of various genomic resources, including molecular markers for qualitative and quantitative characters, molecular breeding has become possible for such agronomic traits as high oil content and its composition, drought resistance, resistance to waterlogging, disease resistance, and high yield. The world production of sesame seeds according to FAO estimates for 2019 was about 7 million tons. The largest cropping areas are located in Africa, India, and China. In Russia, sesame can be grown in southern regions: Krasnodar and Stavropol Territories, Rostov and Astrakhan Provinces. Breeding work on sesame was carried out at the All-Union Research Institute of Oil Crops, where cultivars resistant to bacterial blight and Fusarium wilt were developed. Currently, sesame breeding programs are absent in Russia. There are over 25,000 sesame accessions in the world’s genebanks, including about 1,500 accessions in the VIR collection.

Tatyana Yakovlevna Serebryakova (1893-?) conducted taxonomic research on Cannabis sativa L. for 20 years. She published important papers and a book on the subject. Next to every great man stands a great woman, and Serebryakova was Vavilov’s hemp expert. Yet her biography has never been written, and many details are lost. We have reconstructed her history based on historical archives, her publications, and her-barium specimen labels. Highlights of her scientific contributions are presented.