Maikop Experiment Station of VIR maintains and studies the richest genetic diversity of primitive East Asian apple-tree species, including the sections Docyniopsis C.C. Schneid. and Sorbomalus Zabel. In addition, the research covers species of the Gymnomeles Koehne section, more advanced in evolutionary development, which, in addition to Siberia and the Far East, are also spread in China, Mongolia and other regions of East Asia. The collection is studied according to VIR’s guidelines.

The Docyniopsis section is represented by one of the oldest Malus spp. in the collection – M. sikkimensis (Wenz.) Koehne, inhabiting the Eastern Himalayas. Accession k-2412 is characterized by high yield, disease resistance, and late flowering. The collection contains 5 main species and 6 hybrid ones, belonging to various series of the Sorbomalus section. The Toringonae series (Rehd.) Lang. includes M. sieboldii (Regel) Rehd., spread in Japan, China, and Korea. Of the two accessions of this species, the most promising is k-43201, with a high annual yield, early start of fruiting, and high resistance to diseases. The same series also includes several hybrid species obtained with the participation of M. sieboldii. The most well-known of them is M. × floribunda Sieb. Great prospects for breeding are observed in M. × sargentii Rehd. Accession k-2428 is characterized by a short stem, early start of fruiting, high yield, ornamental traits and, according to long-term data, stable immunity to diseases. The collection harbors a broad diversity of species from the Gymnomeles section. Among them, there are species with a set of valuable traits, including disease resistance, high yield, etc. The most promising is M. hupehensis (Pamp.) Rehd. (k-14945): in addition to disease immunity, it demonstrates high annual yields, exceptional ornamental qualities, and late flowering, in contrast to other species of the Gymnomeles section. 

Background. A study of the soybean gene pool adapted to the conditions of Primorsky Territory in search of useful agronomic traits is essential for further use in breeding programs.

Materials and methods. Soybean accessions from the germplasm collection were tested in 2019–2021 at the Federal Scientific Center of Agricultural Biotechnology of the Far East named after A.K. Chaika. The study included 213 accessions of various origin. Cv. ‘Primorskaya 4’ served as the reference. An objective assessment of the potential of the said research material was made.

Results. Three years of experiments resulted in selecting promising soybean genotypes with a set of important agronomic traits for breeding programs. Compared to the reference ‘Primorskaya 4’, an increase of more than 35% in productivity was observed in the cultivars ‘Mestnaya’ (Russia), ‘Jilin’ (China), ‘Montreal’ (France), and ‘XP 977-1.9’ (USA). Cvs. ‘No. 075-2’ (USA), ‘K0152’ (Ukraine), ‘Muzanze Stamm M 4789/74’, ‘SOJA 1065’ and ‘Adsoi’ (Germany) were characterized by earliness (100 days). Cvs. ‘Mestnaya’ and ‘HS Atlas’ may be interesting for breeders due to their highest oil content: 25.9% and 26.0%, respectively. The highest protein content was found in cvs. ‘Zhuravushka’ (39.2%), ‘XN 4’ (41.9%), ‘Torlitsa’ (41.9%) and ‘XP 977-1.9’ (39.5%). Cvs. ‘Pi 6D 4182’, ‘XN 4’, ‘Skelya’ and ‘HS Atlas’ manifested resistance to Septoria brown spot. The results of the assessment for adaptability potential showed that the following cultivars of different origin had the highest resistance to environmental stresses: ‘Primorskaya 4’ (–2.5), ‘Torlitsa’ (–2.0) and ‘Kassidi’ (–3.0). 

Background. Barley grain is unique raw material of versatile uses. More than 60% of the grain produced In the Volga-Vyatka region goes directly to fodder production purposes. One of the urgent tasks is to develop high-yielding cultivars with good grain quality, thus reducing protein deficiency in farm animal feeds and meeting the need for fodder grain that increases every year. Its successful solution requires a search for new high-yielding and high-protein source genotypes adapted to the conditions of the Volga-Vyatka region and their involvement in the breeding process.

Materials and methods. Experimental work was carried out in 2018–2020 at the Federal Agricultural Research Center of the North-East named N.V. Rudnitsky, Kirov. Protein content in grain, yield, resistance to lodging, and duration of the growing season of 31 barley accessions were assessed. The barley collection was studied according to the International COMECON List of Descriptors for the Genus Hordeum L. and Methodological Guidelines. Protein content was measured using a universal rapid analyzer (INFRAMATIC 8620).

Results and conclusions. Protein content had a strong correlation with Selyaninov’s hydrothermal coefficient in the interphase period from ear emergence to maturity (r = 0.85); the sum of effective temperatures during the entire growing season (r = 0.75); and precipitation in the period from seedling emergence to maturity (r = 0.67). Traits of breeding value (yield, lodging resistance, environmental plasticity, and stability) were observed in the following accessions: k-30574 (‘Filippa’, Sweden), k-30256 (‘Rodos’, Poland), ya-52 (‘Crusades’, Great Britain), k-35415 (NCL 95098, Argentina), k-30892 (‘Naran’, Russia), k-15619 (‘Polyarny 14’, Russia), ya-4 (752A, Switzerland), k-30349 (Landrace, Peru), k-5983 (Local, Afghanistan), k-3506 (Local, India), k-2929 (Local, China), k-2930 (Local, China), and k-5210 (‘Makbo’, Australia). 

Background. The relevance of the research is due to the fact that, despite the breeding achievements in releasing cultivars with high potential yield and resistance to the most common stressors in the regions, it is almost impossible to foresee and accurately predict the reaction of cultivars under production conditions. Besides, extreme weather events, including heat waves, droughts and downpours, will increasingly manifest themselves under global climate warming. To reduce the risk of a significant decrease in gross grain harvests in dry years and achieve high results under favorable conditions, the goal was to develop a comprehensive indicator for assessing the agroecological adaptability of genotypes to some consequences of global climate warming.

Materials and methods. The results of a competitive test of 5 cultivars and 9 promising lines of spring wheat for their yield across six years contrasting in moisture availability by calculating the indicators of responsiveness to favorable conditions, grain yield depression under unfavorable conditions and the relative yield index were used to develop a complex indicator proposed to assess the agroecological adaptability of a genotype to contrasting environmental conditions.

Results. The proposed method makes it possible to perform a comprehensive assessment that takes into account the responsiveness of an accession to improved agroclimatic conditions and the degree of its reaction to adverse environmental factors, taking into account the yield index in the studied set. The method is recommended for evaluating the source material and identifying the diversity of its responses to changes in agroclimatic conditions as well as for the stage of competitive variety testing in plant breeding for adaptability. 

Background. Competitive early-fruiting apple cultivars with high commercial and consumer qualities, resistant to unfavorable stressors, are required for successful horticulture development.

Materials and methods. The study included apple cultivars developed by innovative methods using scab resistance donors (Rvi6) and diploid gamete donors. Foreign cultivars commercialized in the region were also used. Conventional variety testing techniques were applied. Fifteen cultivars released by the Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding (VNIISPK), 6 foreign cultivars, and one reference (‘Antonovka obyknovennaya’) were assessed.

Results. Simulating damaging factors helped to identify good resistance of tissues and buds of domestically bred apple cultivars to early winter frosts. These cultivars survived a temperature decrease to –30°C without damage in early winter and without significant damage (no more than 2.0 pts) at –40°C in midwinter, including the scab-immune (Rvi6) cultivars ‘Ivanovskoye’ and ‘Pamyat Hitrovo’, and immune triploids (3×) ‘Aleksandr Boyko’, ‘Akademik Saveliev’ and ‘Vavilovskoye’. Bud damage in ‘Gala’ and ‘Ligol’ was stronger (2.5 pts) and increased to 3.0 pts under simulated temperatures down to –38°C and –40°C. ‘Gala’ showed the lowest resistance in midwinter. Early-fruiting cvs. ‘Blagodat’, ‘Ivanovskoye’, ‘Pamyat Hitrovo’ and ‘Rozhdestvenskoye’ were identified. On average, triploids ‘Blagodat’ and ‘Patriot’, scab-immune ‘Afrodita’, ‘Ivanovskoye’ and ‘Start’, and scab-immune triploid ‘Rozhdestvenskoye’ significantly exceeded ‘Antonovka’ and other cultivars in yield. Conclusion. The new innovative winter cultivars developed at VNIISPK matched foreign cultivars in marketability and consumer qualities, while in scab resistance and adaptability they significantly exceeded most of them. ‘Akademik Saveliev’, ‘Aleksandr Boyko’, ‘Afrodita’, ‘Vavilovskoye’, ‘Ivanovskoye’, ‘Prazdnichnoye’ and ‘Rozhdestvenskoye’ were recommended for intensive-type orchards. 

Background. Euphorbia fischeriana Steudel is used in traditional and herbal medicine in Russia and China. Its roots contain 241 chemical components, but there is not enough knowledge about the plant’s elemental composition. Concentrations of chemical elements in plants have an impact the effectiveness of medical products.

Materials and methods. The research was conducted in the Transbaikal region. Plants were analyzed using an ICP-MS Elan 9000 mass spectrometer (Canada). The ICP-MS method of measuring metal content in solid objects, PND F 16.1:2.3:3.11-98 was used. Chemical analysis of the soil was performed at Kostromskaya State Station of Agrochemical Service. The obtained data were statistically processed using the Microsoft Excel software.

Results. The accumulation of macro- and microelements in plant roots was studied (Ca, P, Mg, Na, Fe, Mn, Zn, Mo, Cr, Co, Se, Cu, B, Ni, V, As, Li, Pb, Ba, Bi, Cd, Hg, Be, Sb, Rb, Zr, Sn, Ag, W, Sr, and Ti). The chemical elements whose concentrations were significantly higher or, contrariwise, lower than the clarke of terrestrial plants were identified. Accumulations of Ti, Ag, As, Cr, Sr, Li, Ba, Mo, Fe, Bi, and Sb in descending order were 2–14 times higher than the clarke of terrestrial plants. Concentrations of Mn, Cd, Se, and especially V and Cu in E. fischeriana roots were low (0.01–5% of the clarke). The concentration of As in the test areas exceeded the threshold limit value for medicinal herbage and medicinal plant products (OFS.1.5.3.0009.15). Conclusion. The study made it possible to find deficiencies of a number of vital elements in E. fischeriana roots, discrepancy between the tested herbage and the threshold limit value for As, and increased accumulation of a number of toxic and potentially toxic elements compared with the clarke. 

Background. Lodging resistance of winter rye is associated with morphological features of the stem. Searching for source material to breed non-lodging high-yielding cultivars requires studying the varietal phenotypic diversity according to morphological characters of the stem that affect the resistance to lodging and the productivity of the ear.

Materials and methods. Experiments were carried out in 2017–2020 at the Federal Agricultural Research Center of the North-East (FARC North-East), Kirov. Field resistance to lodging, morphological characteristics of the stem, yield, and ear productivity were evaluated in 16 winter rye cultivars. The study was based on the International COMECON List of Descriptors for the Genus Secale L., and Methodology for the State Variety Trials of Agricultural Crops. The weight of segments of the second lower internodes was measured in 10 plants of each cultivar under laboratory conditions.

Results and conclusions. Negative correlations of lodging resistance with stem length (r= –0.55) and the weight of the second lower internode (r = –0.65) were revealed. Ear productivity of rye cultivars was significantly associated with the wall thickness (r = 0.52) and the length of the second lower internode (r = –0.52). According to the results of the path analysis, the main causes of a decrease in lodging resistance were the weight of the segment (P = –0.467) and the length of the second lower internode (P = –0.408), while an increase was connected with the wall thickness of the second lower internode (P = 0.424). The cultivars differed significantly in their resistance to lodging (LSD₀₅ = 0.8). Cvs. ‘Moskovskaya 12’, ‘Tatyana’, ‘Bylina’ and ‘Yantarnaya’ were identified; they are recommended as source material for breeding for lodging resistance. 

Background. The northern border of cereal crop cultivation passes through the territory of Sverdlovsk Province. Cultivars of winter triticale developed in the regions of Russia located to the south are grown there, but they die under unfavorable winter conditions. The breeding of this crop in local climate is at an early stage, so a study of source material for breeding new highyielding cultivars adapted to local conditions seems quite pertinent.

Materials and methods. In 2017–2020, the Ural Research Institute of Agriculture in Yekaterinburg conducted a study of 78 winter triticale genotypes from 10 regions of Russia and 7 foreign countries. The seeds were obtained from the VIR genebank and breeding centers of Russia. Sowing was carried out in clean fallow on August 20–25 on 1 m² plots in 3-4 repetitions, with the reference ‘Bashkirskaya korotkostebelnaya’ sown on every 10th plot. Plants were assessed for winter hardiness, yield, density of productive stems, plant height, ear length, number of spikelets and grains per ear, weight of 1000 grains, and ear productivity in accordance with published guidelines.

Results. Cvs. ‘Privada’, ‘Tsekad 90’ and ‘Nemchinovsky 58’ combined high winter hardiness (70–81%) with resistance to damage by snow mold (15–20%), high density of productive stems (324–425 pcs/m²), and high yield (562–616 g/m²). They had high 1000 grain weight (45.4–49.1 g) and ear productivity (2.63–2.68 g). High yield (571–670 g/m²) and density of productive stems (285–436 pcs/m2 ) with reduced winter hardiness (62–72%) and resistance to snow mold (30–35%) was observed in cvs. ‘Sirs 57’, ‘Sotnik’, ‘Germes’, ‘Antey’, ‘Beta’, ‘Don’, and lines 1/1 and 8003 from Sweden. 

Background. Identification of promising fig cultivars (Ficus carica L.) with high content of bioactive compounds in fruits and increased adaptability to moisture deficiency is important for breeding and fruit growing in arid regions.

Methods. The chemical analysis of fruits was performed using conventional methods. The content of essential elements was measured on a Kvant 2MT atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Drought resistance was assessed using the method of determining the water-holding capacity and resistance to dehydration in the leaves of fruit crops.

Results. Fruits of cv. ‘Muason’ demonstrated the highest dry matter content (26.60 ± 1.30%), total phenolic compounds (169.0±26.0 mg%), sugars (mono: 15.03 ± 1.25%, and total: 17.46 ± 0.56%), water-soluble pectin (1.17%), total pectin substances (1.99%), and K (13565 ± 805 mg/kg); fruits of cv. ‘Pomoriysky’ had the maximum content of Ca (532 ± 65 mg/kg), Mg (982 ± 121 mg/kg), and Mn (1.98 ± 0.182 mg/kg); ‘Sabrutsiya Rozovaya’ excelled in the content of ascorbic acid (17.32 ± 0.78 mg%), Fe (15.413 ± 1.989 mg/kg), Zn (10.688 ± 1.338 mg/kg), and Cu (1.435 ± 0.132 mg/kg). ‘Sabrutsiya Rozovaya’ showed high drought resistance, ‘Pomoriysky’ had a medium degree of resistance, while ‘Muason’ demonstrated low water regime values. The loss of 15–20% of moisture by the leaves is critical: dehydration exceeding this limit leads to the impossibility of restoring satisfactory turgor. Conclusion. Fruits of the studied fig cultivars belong to the group of products with high K and Mg content, and satisfactory content of Fe, Zn and Mn. ‘Sabrutsiya Rozovaya’, a potentially adaptable cultivar with resistance to hydrothermal stress, was identified for its increased water-retaining capacities and high reparative ability of leaf tissues. It is recommended for use in the breeding for drought resistance and for establishment of large-scale plantations in arid regions. 

Background. The main objective of the Polar Experiment Station is to maintain and preserve the global potato collection of VIR. The collection is replenished with new improved potato cultivars. Their main agronomic traits are studied: earliness, productivity, starch content in tubers, resistance to viruses and fungi, etc. After three years of evaluation, cultivars are transferred to the maintenance collection.

Materials and methods. Thirteen new potato accessions the from VIR collection were studied in 2018–2020 for valuable agronomic traits under the extreme conditions of Murmansk Province using VIR’s guidelines.

Results and conclusions. The study made it possible to characterize this set of accessions according to their phenological parameters, earliness, productivity, and disease resistance. Accessions that exceeded the reference (‘Khibinskiy ranniy’, k-6928) in a number of indicators were identified. Three accessions demonstrated the best productivity across the years of the study: k-25327 (local from Georgia), k-25330 (‘KazSIP’) and k-25314 (‘Arizona’). Accession k-25311 (‘Gornyak’) was selected for earliness, productivity, and marketability of tubers; k-25302 (‘Babayev’) was identified for its productivity and high marketability of tubers; k-25302 (Arrow’) showed high productivity, high marketability of tubers, and large tuber size. The accessions selected for their starch content were k-25330 (‘KazSIP’) and k-25327 (local from Georgia). Six potato accessions were not affected by fungal diseases: k-25258 (‘Sunkar’), k-25302 (‘Babayev’), k-25311 (‘Gornyak’), k-25314 (‘Arizona’), k-25339 (‘Bravo’) and k-25317 (‘B-O-E’). Symptoms of viral diseases were not found in k-25311 (‘Gornyak’), k-25321 (‘Labadia’), k-25327 (local from Georgia), k-25336 (‘Ametist’) and k-25318 (‘Cogu Valley’). The results of the study made it possible to recommend them for new potato breeding programs in Murmansk Province. 

Background. Late blight (agent: Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary) is one of the most destructive diseases for potato. The climate conditions in the northwest of Russia are very favorable for annual late blight infestation. Spreading of the pathogen leads to significant harvest losses. A promising breeding strategy is to expand the genetic diversity of resistance sources.

Materials and methods. Resistance of experimental hybrid clones to late blight, their ability to form tubers under long daylight conditions, and a number of agronomic traits were studied using standard methods.

Results. Long-term evaluation data were obtained for original interspecies potato hybrids concerning their resistance to late blight. The hybrids were also assessed for their yield and agronomic tuber characteristics. Some of the produced interspecies hybrids demonstrated field resistance to late blight, high tuber yield, and good agronomic traits. Clones derived from some cross combinations significantly exceeded both parents in tuber yield per plant and tuber size.

Conclusions. Crosses between potato cultivars and various late blight resistance sources made it possible to combine in hybrid clones the genes of wild and cultivated Andean species and Solanum tuberosum L. with different pedigrees. Productive hybrid clones with resistance to late blight and good agronomic characteristics promise to become useful material for potato breeding programs. 

Background. Dairy farming is one of the main segments in the agricultural sector of Murmansk Province. Expanding the range of cultivated legume fodder crops and their cultivars is one of the ways to comprehensively solve the problem of feed in the Kola Peninsula. Introduction of perennial legumes into the feed production practice will reduce the production cost of feeds and improve their quality.

Materials and methods. Fodder galega, variable and yellow alfalfa (2005–2009), bird’s-foot trefoil (2006–2007), and sweet clover (2007–2008) were studied at the Polar Experiment Station of VIR. Weather conditions during the years of study differed in temperature and water regimes. Observations and records were made according to VIR’s guidelines. Statistical data processing included the calculation of the main variation parameters and the construction of a generalized linear model of the variance structure.

Results. The data are presented on the study of the collection of four perennial fodder legumes in Murmansk Province, Russia, in 2005–2009. Alfalfa surpassed fodder galega, sweet clover and bird’s-foot trefoil in winter hardiness, height and bushiness, showed medium leafiness, and (for the entire study cycle) had low air-dry mass yield. Biennial bicarpic sweet clover stood out for its air-dry mass yield on average per year, had medium height and foliage, but low winter hardiness and bushiness. Bird’sfoot trefoil was significantly inferior to the rest of the studied crops in all agronomic characteristics. Galega had the highest leafiness; in winter hardiness, bushiness and plant height it was slightly inferior to alfalfa, and in yield to white clover. Seeds under the conditions of Murmansk Province can be obtained only from galega accessions.

Conclusion. According to a set of agronomic characters, the most promising crop is fodder galega, especially its adapted naturalized accessions selected in 1991–1993. 

Background. This publication presents the results of a study into the genetic structure of apricot genotypes from Dagestan using the SSR genotyping technique. The importance of the study is seen in the still underexplored gene pool of Dagestani apricot at the genetic level. With this in view, an assessment of the Dagestani apricot genetic diversity, followed by an analysis of its genetic structure, is of theoretical and practical interest.

Materials and methods. The study included 27 apricot genotypes of Dagestani origin: 9 advanced contemporary cultivars and hybrids, 15 seed selections and landraces, and 3 wild forms. Eight SSR markers were used for the genetic diversity analysis: H1-3, A1-91, H2-79, H1-26-2, H2-16, A1-17, RPPG1-032, and RPPG3-026.

Results. The UPGMA and NJ dendrogram construction techniques revealed the genetic similarity among the Dagestani apricots, confirmed by a low level of cluster significance. The tendency towards setting apart the genotypes of hybrid origin (obtained from free pollination of introduced cultivars) from the locally selected cultivars was observed by comparing the results of Bayesian analysis and the K-means approach using the Structure and Statistica software. Such isolation is partial, being obviously affected by constant integration of new apricot genotypes into the local gene pool and its enrichment with new alleles at the genetic level.

Conclusion. The contemporary assortment of apricots in Dagestan was formed on the basis of both the local autochthonous gene pool and Central Asian and European cultivars introduced into this area. The obtained data will enrich the knowledge about the genetic diversity of apricots in Dagestan and serve as the platform for further studies into the florigenetic links of the North Caucasus with other regions. 

Background. The method of induced mutagenesis is used to temporarily increase the frequency of mutations, allowing a higher probability of obtaining plants with new alleles and traits valuable for breeding. The search for new agents with high mutagenic activity is of particular interest for the development of mutational breeding. A new mutagen for barley is phosphemide.

Materials and methods. Field and laboratory studies were conducted in 2016–2018. Three barley genotypes were treated with an aqueous solution of phosphemide at two concentrations: 0.002% and 0.01%, exposure: 3 hours. Experimental data were statistically processed by the analysis of variance (ANOVA) using Statistica 7. The error of the mean (S_x) was calculated for the mean values. Significance of differences (P < 0.05) was determined by Student’s t-test. Mutation frequency (Mf), mutagenic effectiveness (ME), and efficiency (Me) were assessed.

Results and conclusion. It was found that the greatest contribution to formation of field seed germination of mutant populations in M₁ and M₂ generations was made by the mutagenic factor (20,36%) and interaction of the genotype × environment (18,55%) and mutagen × environment factors (14,93%). The concentration of 0.01% was recognized as semi-lethal for two accessions. In the M₂ generation, the mutagenic effectiveness of the 0.002% phosphemide concentration exceeded that of 0.01% more than 4 times. The low concentration was more effective for cv. ‘Zernogradsky 813’ (17.43%) and accession Dz02- 129 (12.04%). For C.I. 10995, a higher concentration of phosphemide had greater effect (29.66%) providing a high mutation frequency (9.79%) against a relatively low lethality (33.00%). Nine different types were identified in the mutation spectrum. In M₃ generation, distinct inheritance of the changes was confirmed in 46.43% of families. The highest number of families with confirmed changes was recorded for C.I. 10995 in the experiment with a higher concentration. 

Background. The development of barley cultivars accumulating anthocyanins in grain is an important task for breeding, which is based on the Ant1 and Ant2 genes that control synthesis of these compounds. To optimize the breeding strategy and selection of the initial material, quantitative assay of anthocyanin content in the leaf sheath base of barley cultivars was carried out and the relationship between this parameter for some of the barley cultivars and anthocyanin content in grain of the hybrids derived from them was evaluated.

Materials and methods. The anthocyanin content in the leaf sheath base was studied in 32 barley cultivars in the tillering stage and in mature grains of 11 purple-grain hybrids selected from the hybrid populations using DNA-markers.

Results and discussion. It was shown that there were quantitative differences in the anthocyanin content in the leaf sheath base among barley cultivars, which varied from 1 to 191 mg/kg. A cluster analysis helped to identify three groups of cultivars: with low, medium and high anthocyanin content. The hybrids from crossing cultivars differing in their anthocyanin content in the leaf sheath base with line P18, the donor of the dominant allele of the Ant2 gene, showed variation of the anthocyanin content in grain from 22 to 71 mg/kg. The observed differences among the hybrids were determined by the genotypes of individual plants and the allelic state of Ant2. A weak correlation (r_s = 0.37, p = 0.0362) was shown between the anthocyanin contents in the leaf sheath base and in the grain of the obtained hybrids.

Conclusion. The results of the study would help to optimize the breeding strategy for the development of new barley cultivars with high anthocyanin content in the grain and substantiate the need to test the anthocyanin content in the grain of individual lines. 

Background. Bird cherry plants are highly ornamental; they are diverse in shape, size and color of leaves and flowers, flowering and fruiting schedules. At present, they are widely used for landscaping parks and public gardens. In Russia there is a need to release new highly ornamental and winter-hardy cultivars using the genetic potential of both known and newly developed genotypes.

Materials and methods. In our experiment we used a pink-flowered sample found by R. A. Mastinskaya in the vicinity of Novosibirsk and transferred to Krymsk Experiment Breeding Station of VIR, where it was studied and released as a cultivar named ‘Nezhnost’. One of its seedlings from free pollination became known as No. 11-5-37. Crosses included cvs. ‘Colorata’ (source of the spring red leaf trait), ‘Purpurnaya Svecha’ (summer/autumn red leaf), ‘Pamyati Salamatova’ (number of flowers, and brush length), accessions Nos. 1-1-8 and 11-1-8 from the Central Siberian Botanical Garden’s collection (diameter of flowers and inflorescences), and selected forms “Tereshkovoy 38” and “Tereshkovoy 48/2” planted in Akademgorodok (brush length, number of flowers, and flower diameter).

Results. Unlike European genotypes, these cultivars and hybrids are adapted to the conditions of Siberia. Over a long observation period, freezing was not observed on plants even in the most severe winters. Our data indicate a manifold composition of the gene complexes controlling the manifestation of both the pink flower trait and spring red leaves.

Conclusion. A possibility of obtaining pink-flowered seedlings in a number of cross combinations and peculiarities of the inheritance of traits in them are shown. Five hybrids were identified for combining valuable traits; they are promising for ornamental and breeding uses. Some of them have already been developed into new ornamental cultivars. 

The work is relevant for understanding evolutionary processes in plant species. Twelve callus lines with multiple regeneration of haploids and doubled haploids were obtained in F₁ hybrids of Oryza sativa L. through in vitro androgenesis. Intracallus variability of the morphological features of haploids was often accompanied by a decrease in the values of morphological features with an increase in the serial number (p < 0.05). The number of panicles on a plant and the number of flowers on a panicle on two callus lines in the second or third group were increased. No variability was detected in five callus lines, i.e., such a phenomenon was not a rule. The nuclear DNA content of doubled haploids in four groups of the same callus line was 1.03– 1.09 pg, and for haploids it was 0.53–0.58 pg. Intracallus variability of nuclear DNA content was detected between groups of haploids of the same line and among doubled haploids of the same line. Significant differences were found between the haploids of one callus line and the three other callus lines of the Sadko × Kuboyar hybrid towards an increase of nuclear DNA content (p < 0.0015). The theoretical possibility of the appearance of intraspecific variability among plants with a small number of chromosomes is considered. A scheme of genomic reorganization is proposed for such species: initial plant (2n) → aneuhaploid plants (n + 1) → megasporogenesis and microsporogenesis of the 0-n type, formation of fertile pollen (n + 1) → diploid plant (2n + 2). Aneuhaploid evolution explains the intraspecific variability of chromosome numbers among plant species with low ploidy. Aneuploid technologies can help in the artificial formation of new polyploid crops, and rice is given a primary role. 

Background. Comprehensive research into crop wild relatives (CWR) is essential to ensure food security. Protected areas serve as the main reserves for CWR in situ conservation and their population genetics studies. There are four federal protected areas in the Republic of Bashkortostan: the Bashkiria National Park, the Shulgan-Tash State Biosphere Nature Reserve, the South Ural and Bashkir State Nature Reserves.

Materials and methods. The floristic study of CWR was conducted using the standard route method. The methods of comparative floristics were applied in the CWR analysis,. The economic value of plant species was assessed according to the ranking developed at the N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources.

Results. In total, out of 259 species of CWR growing in Bashkortostan, 186 (72%) occur in the federal protected areas, with the highest number in the Bashkiria National Park (148 spp.). Species belonging to the Poaceae, Fabaceae, Rosaceae and Lamiaceae families and the Poa L., Trifolium L., Lathyrus L., Allium L. genera are predominant. CWR are mainly confined to the forest meadow, forest margin, steppe and riverside communities. Alpine and raised bog CWR species occur only in the South-Ural Nature Reserve. There are 13 regional endemics in the studied territories and 34 species on their range boundaries. Of the 23 CWR species listed in the regional Red Book, seven are conserved in the surveyed areas: Allium obliquum L., Crambe tataria Sebeok, Linum uralense Juz., Melilotoides platycarpos (L.) Soják, Oxycoccus microcarpus Turcz. ex Rupr., Rubus arcticus L., and R. humulifolius C.A. Mey.

Conclusion. Monitoring of the rare CWR species populations is required in the surveyed protected areas. Eight CWR species are recommended for further population genetics studies: Amygdalus nana L., Cerasus fruticosa Pall., Allium rubens Schrad. ex Willd., A. obliquum L., A. schoenoprasum L., Lathyrus gmelinii Fritsch, L. litvinovii Iljin, and L. sylvestris L. 

The article presents the results of introducing wild species. forms and varieties of Allium L. in the South-Ural Botanical Garden– Institute, Ufa. This genus is known for many useful plants – edible, medicinal and ornamental – and for its rare species requiring protection. The collection contains 111 taxa: 92 species, plus a number of onion cultivars and forms. It includes 7 species listed in the Red Book of Bashkortostan, 35 rare species from other regions of the ex-USSR, 2 rare species from the Red Book of the Russian Federation, and 19 endemic species.

The collection serves as the basis for studying biological characteristics, agronomic and ornamental traits, reproduction and in vitro cultivation features, etc. Biochemical composition of introduced genotypes is also analyzed. Special attention is paid to the cultivation of rare onions as one of the methods of preserving their biodiversity – their reintroduction into natural habitats is possible on this basis. Most of onions introduced into the Bashkir Cis-Urals (65 species, 78 taxa in total) are stable in cultivation and possess valuable food and/or ornamental qualities, which makes it possible to recommend them for wider use in gardening and phytodesign. 

Background. Cultivation of resistant cultivars is an effective method of wheat protection against leaf rust. The purpose of this work was to characterize the juvenile leaf rust resistance of bread wheat cultivars listed in the State Register for Selection Achievements in 2021 and identify their Lr genes using molecular markers.

Materials and methods. The material included 18 cultivars of winter bread wheat and nine spring ones. Juvenile resistance in the seedling phase was assessed with two test clones (kLr9 и kLr19) and the Krasnodar population of Puccinia triticina Erikss. Molecular markers were used to identify 18 Lr genes.

Results and discussion. A high level of resistance (score 0 or 0;) was shown by cvs. ‘Khamdan’, ‘Sharm’ and ‘Omskaya 44’; moderate resistance (score 2, 2+) by ‘Albidum 2030’. Reactions of ‘Polina’, ‘Rossyp’, ‘Status’, ‘Balkysh’ and ‘Bogema’ were variable. The studied cultivars did not contain juvenile genes Lr9, Lr24, Lr25, Lr28, Lr29, Lr39, Lr47 or Lr66 and adult plant resistance genes Lr21 and Lr35. Markers of identifiable genes were not detected in cv. ‘Sharm’, highly resistant to leaf rust. ‘Khamdan’ had an ineffective Lr10 gene and a partial resistance gene Lr34, which offered no protection in the seedling stage. These cultivars seem to contain additional resistance genes. A high level of resistance to leaf rust in ‘Omskaya 44’ is provided by a combination of the Lr19, Lr26, Lr1 and Lr3 genes. In ‘Nemchinovskaya 85’, the partially effective adult plant resistance gene Lr37 was identified. In other tested cultivars, Lr1, Lr3, Lr10, Lr26 and Lr34 were widely represented. 

Background. Diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella L.) has now acquired the status of the most dangerous pest of plants from the Brassicaceae family in the world, including Russia. In order to identify genotypes resistant to the pest, cabbage accessions from the VIR global collection were assessed in the field according to plant infestation and damage by diamondback moth in the vicinity of St. Petersburg.

Materials and methods. The infestation of plants by diamondback moth was assessed on model accessions when examining all plants in the plot by (1) the number of larvae and pupae, and (2) leaf damage, assessed using a standard scoring scale. The number of adults was monitored using sticky Delta traps of two designs: (1) cardboard traps equipped with commercial dispensers with synthetic sex pheromone, and (2) plastic LED traps designed at VIZR.

Results. The results of field surveys attested to very high variation among cabbage accessions in the rates of infestation and damage to plants caused by diamondback moth. The data on the abundance of adults caught by pheromone traps correlated well with the estimates of larval and pupal density of the pest on plants. The capture rate of diamondback moths with LED traps varied greatly during the season. In June/early July, i.e., during the period of the so called “white” nights, LED traps caught diamondback moths much worse than pheromone ones, but during the second half of July and August their capture rate significantly exceeded that of pheromone traps. As a result, the relationship between numbers of diamondback moth larvae on plants and adults in LED traps turned out to be negative. Conclusion. The resulting materials indicate obvious prospects of studying the VIR global collection in order to identify sources of host plant resistance to diamondback moth. The abundance of this pest in northern regions of its spreading is recommended to be controlled with pheromone traps. 

Background. Cereal ergot caused by the fungus Claviceps purpurea (Fr.) Tul. is a progressive disease of winter rye. There are no rye cultivars resistant to the disease, and breeding methods of protection have not been developed in Russia.

Materials and methods. The material for the research included 97 winter rye cultivars. A biochemical analysis of the sclerotia of the fungus was carried out, the composition and content of ergot alkaloids (EA) in the sclerotia of C. purpurea from the Kirov population were studied, and the relationship between the biometry of sclerotia and the EA content, toxicity and pathogenicity of C. purpurea was analyzed. Well-known methods of resistance assessment and EA analysis were applied.

Results and conclusions. Fourteen cultivars least affected by the pathogen were identified: ‘Flora’, ‘Kiprez’, ‘Grafinya’, ‘Lika’, ‘Batist’, ‘Simfoniya’, ‘Garmoniya’, ‘Sadko’, ‘Parom’, ‘Virazh’, ‘Saratovskaya 7’, ‘Volkhova’, ‘Novaya Era’, and ‘Podarok’. They can be used in breeding for ergot resistance. Three types of EA were identified in C. purpurea sclerotia: ergocristine, ergotamine, and its stereoisomer ergocristinine. Cvs. ‘Lika’, ‘Simfoniya’ and ‘Garmoniya’ were the least affected by ergot, and the sclerotia formed on the plants of these cultivars did not accumulate EA. A significant (r = 0.50–0.60) correlation was found between lesions and biometric parameters of C. purpurea sclerotia, and between grain contamination with sclerotia and their biometrics (r = 0.63– 0.78). A weak positive correlation (r = 0.22) was detected between the toxicity and pathogenicity of C. purpurea. A negative correlation was established between the weight of sclerotia and the accumulation of EA in them (r = –0.46), which indicated the biological danger of small sclerotia that got into the seed and food batches of grain. 

This review presents brief information about the history of the table beet (Beta vulgaris L. subsp. vulgaris var. conditiva Alef.) collection at the N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR), its composition, research trends, and significance for domestic breeding. The collection started in 1924 with Vavilov’s collecting activities. Currently, the collection consists of 2512 accessions; the table beet variety is represented by 461 accessions from 45 countries, collected in numerous expeditions, obtained from foreign genebanks through germplasm exchange and seed requests, received from domestic and foreign breeders, plus materials developed by VIR researchers. Table beet is an economically important, high-yielding, ubiquitous crop that has a wide cultivation area and is a valuable biochemical food product with beneficial effects on human health.

The information is provided on the genetic diversity of VIR’s table beet collection, including current trends of its study and use in breeding. Characteristics of table beet accessions available in the collection, their morphological features and value, and the names of accessions from different trait groups and genetic sources are described. Presently, 125 cultivars and 38 F1 hybrids of table beet are listed in the State Register of Breeding Achievements of the Russian Federation, 70% of which are products of domestic breeding. 

The history of Leningrad Quarantine Laboratory, a subdivision of the Soviet and Russian phytosanitary services, is discussed. Its interaction and cooperation with the All-Union Research Institute of Plant Industry (later: N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources, VIR) are reviewed. The background of the need to organize such laboratory, its main activities, and the changes that followed are also explained.

Leningrad Quarantine Laboratory has always closely collaborated with VIR. It has been accommodated within the Institute’s premises for 75 years. Such proximity has facilitated and accelerated the access to the plant germplasm received by VIR for plant protection and quarantine experts. Thus, a unique combination of phytosanitary safety and research activities was achieved. At the same time, the laboratory turned out to be an important research institution, publishing scientific works and methodological guidelines in the field of plant protection.

In the course of its activities, the laboratory staff improved the existing methods and developed new ones for phytosanitary control of plant germplasm and its protection against pests, weeds, and pathogenic microorganisms. Manuals, directories, and identification guides written by the laboratory staff still remain the reference books for quarantine and plant protection experts. The laboratory was also very important as a qualification improvement facility for such experts. All these functions have become possible because of the work with plant germplasm that arrived to the VIR collection. 

The index of Nikolay Vavilov’s works includes publications in the journal Proceedings on Applied Botany, Genetics and Breeding from the first one in 1913 to the last in 1938. In 1991, the editors of Proceedings considered the expediency of reprinting Vavilov’s article Near the Pamirs (Darvaz, Roshan, Shugnan): an agronomic sketch, previously published in an issue of the Tajik Academy of Sciences (1964). The preface to this publication explained that the report on the collecting mission to the Pamirs in 1916 was found in Nikolay Vavilov’s archives and submitted for publication by his son, Yury Vavilov. The decision to republish the report in Proceedings on Applied Botany, Genetics and Breeding was supported by the fact that this work was little known to a wide community of readers. The article was published in Vol. 140 dedicated to the 75th anniversary of Vavilov’s first collecting missions.

The present list shows the publications that appeared in the journal Proceedings on Applied Botany, Genetics and Breeding from 1912 to 2022. All of them were dedicated to the life, activities and scientific achievements of Nikolay Vavilov as well as to his contribution to the contemporary research trends. The main attention is focused on Vavilov as a researcher, founder and leader of VIR. Of course, the compilers presented only a fraction of the publications describing the versatile activities of this scientist of worldwide renown. Most of the papers were published by his disciples, associates and colleagues in the journal’s celebration issues to honor the memory of Nikolay Vavilov as a prominent Russian scientist. Besides, there are publications with Vavilov’s photos and other materials submitted by him as the leader and plant explorer of collecting missions to the authors of Proceedings on Applied Botany, Genetics and Breeding.