Background. A promising technique for preserving plant genetic resources is cryopreservation of seeds in liquid nitrogen at –196°C. The lack of information on cryopreservation of flax seeds and on the effect of liquid nitrogen on their viability makes this work relevant for the conservation of valuable flax germplasm.
Materials and methods. Seeds of the fiber flax cultivar ‘Orshansky 2’ were used in the experiment. The experiment was carried out in 2 replications; each of them included 6 options. In options 1 and 2, the seeds were stored in paper bags at room temperature (1 – control, seeds without treatment; 2 – treated with a biodegradable polymer of 3-hydroxybutyric acid [P(3GB)]). In options 3, 4, 5 and 6, the seeds were stored in liquid nitrogen without treatment and with P(3GB) treatment (in 3 and 4 in gauze packaging, and in 5 and 6 in laminated foil bags).
Results. Laboratory-based germination energy and viability of control seeds were the same in all options of the experiment (99%), and field viability averaged 83%. The lowest germination energy, laboratory-based and field germination capacity were observed after storage in laminated bags, without P(3HB) processing: option 5. stage II (79%); option 5, stage III (74%), and with P(3HB): processing: option 6, stage II (78%); option 6, stage III (82%). A two-factor analysis of variance showed that liquid nitrogen had significant effect on laboratory germination energy, field germination capacity, laboratory germination energy and capacity after 6 months of storage at room temperature: the effect size was 42, 11, 31, and 24%, respectively, while treatment with P(3HB) had no significant effect on any of the options of the experiment with its application.
Conclusion. Flax seeds tolerated direct immersion in liquid nitrogen (t = –196°C) best of all in gauze packaging. The biodegradable polymer P(3HB) did not produce a significant effect on seed viability in any option.

Background. Indian dwarf wheat (Triticum sphaerococcum Percival) has positive traits: round grain shape, excellent flour and grain quality, and a short stem, but it is difficult to develop cultivars of this species due to low productivity. The main problem in the improvement of T. sphaerococcum is the pleiotropic effect of grain roundness and ear compactness caused by the S-D1 and C2 genes. These genes are inherited together with negative features peculiar to this species: small grain, and low ear productivity. This paper presents the results of breeding improvement of Indian dwarf wheat from the VIR collection.
Materials and methods. The research materials were five T. sphaerococcum accessions from the VIR collection, promising lines of Indian dwarf wheat released by the Tatar Research Institute of Agriculture, and regional reference cultivars. Conventional methods of spring bread wheat breeding were applied. Evaluation of main diseases was based on VIR’s methodological guidelines. Baking qualities were assessed using generally accepted methods and standards adopted in Russia.
Results. The work resulted in producing competitive lines of T. sphaerococcum which surpassed the original accessions in yield and resistance to main fungal diseases, but their grain yield was lower than that of the reference bread wheat cultivar ‘Yoldyz’. High flour and grain quality levels of Indian dwarf wheat were confirmed. A patent was obtained for the Indian dwarf wheat cultivar ‘Sakara’.

Background. Amur cork tree is a valuable woody plant of great economic importance. Its bark, liber, leaves, and fruits are successfully used in medicine and cosmetology. This tree is very ornamental and serves as is a good honey plant. It can be a potential source of industrial cork. Due to its properties and relative unpretentiousness, Amur cork tree may be of interest for introduction. In this regard, the aim of the research was to study the peculiarities of the influence of weather conditions on the seasonal rhythm of plant development for Amur cork tree (Phellodendron amurense Rupr.) under the conditions of the foreststeppe in the Ob region.
Materials and methods. Thirty two Amur cork trees were used as the material for the study. These trees were successfully introduced in the forest-steppe of the Ob region. Phenological observations to evaluate the rhythm of seasonal growth were carried out according to the methodological recommendations of I. D. Yurkevich and coauthors. The Pearson correlation coefficient (r) was used to identify the dependence of the rhythm of seasonal growth on weather conditions.
Results. The plants of Amur cork tree were found to be successfully adapted to the conditions of the arboretum of the Siberian Research Institute of Plant Production and Breeding. It was shown that in the year with the highest sum of effective temperatures (2020), the duration of interphase periods was on average 2 days shorter than in other years. At the same time, in the coldest year (2018), the plants did not have time to complete their leaf fall before the snow cover appeared. The vegetation of Amur cork tree was observed to start in mid-May. The completion of the growing season varies greatly from year to year.
Conclusion. It was established that the seasonal development of Amur cork tree in the forest-steppe of the Ob region corresponded to the features specific to the development of this species within its natural range.

Background. Modern bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars developed mainly to increase productivity often contain low concentrations of minerals in their grain. Wild and primitive wheats demonstrate rich genetic diversity, including the content of minerals in the grain, and can be used to improve the wheat gene pool for this trait. The aim of this work was to study the mineral composition in the grain of bread wheat lines with introgressions of the genetic material from Triticum L. spp.
Materials and methods. We studied parental spring bread wheat cultivars, accessions of tetraploid and hexaploid Triticum spp., and 20 introgressive lines obtained on their basis in 2018 and 2020. Concentrations of macro- (K, P, Ca, and Mg) and micronutrients (Zn, Fe, Cu, and Mn) were measured using atomic emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma, and total protein content in wheat grain according to GOST 10846-91. The data were processed using the Statistica 10.0 and MS Excel software packages.
Results and conclusion. The content of minerals in the grain of Triticum spp. was higher than in T. aestivum cultivars (the twoyear average difference was 1,02 to 2,13-fold, depending on the studied mineral). Most of the lines with alien genetic material exceeded their parent bread wheat cultivars in Zn, Fe, Cu and Mn content and came close to them in the levels of N, P, Mg and K. ANOVA established a statistically significant impact of the genotype, environment, and genotype × environment interaction on the variation of the grain macro- and micronutrient content. Lines with a consistently high concentration of grain minerals and high productivity were identified. These lines are of interest for wheat breeding for grain quality.

Background. Blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.) is a valuable source of bioactive compounds (BAC) of polyphenolic nature and rare for horticultural berries iridoids, which have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and other properties and are widely used in the food, medical and cosmetic industries.
Materials and methods. The berries of 20 released honeysuckle cultivars of Russian, Canadian and U.S. origin, reproduced at the I.V. Michurin Federal Science Center in Tambov Province, were studied for the content of the main BAC groups using modern methods (spectrophotometry, HPLC-UV, HPLC-RID, and HPLC-DAD-MS).
Results and discussion. The main BAC groups (the content and profile of anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, flavonols and flavones, hydroxycinnamic acids (HCA), iridoids, and organic acids) as well as mono- and disaccharides were studied in detail. A comparative study of the biological value of domestic and foreign honeysuckle cultivars was carried out.
Conclusions. The study resulted in identifying the most promising cultivars of honeysuckle according to the content of the main BAC groups.

Taraxacum kok-saghyz (TKS) is a promising natural rubber plant. In the current study we investigated effects of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium base fertilizers on growth and yield of TKS through the field experiments. We found that appropriate application of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium base fertilizers can significantly increase root, rubber and total sugar yield of TKS. The TKS rubber yield enhanced significantly when the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus, potassium increased accordingly to 107.2, 10.5 and 35.3 g m^–2. Maximum accumulation of rubber in the TSK roots is caused by application of potassium fertilizer.
According to the obtained results the recommended amount of base fertilizers under conditions of Harbin Experimental Station (N45.592729°, E126.581668°) is 107.2 g m^–2 of urea, 43.4 g m^–2 of calcium superphosphate, 10.5 g m^–2 of potassium chloride.

Background. The objective of the research was to identify promising genotypes of malting barley in the source material developed at Omsk Agricultural Scientific Center.
Material and methods. The studies were carried out from 2017 to 2020. in the southern forest-steppe of Western Siberia. The target material included 13 lines: Sasha × Getman (2 lines), Sasha × Margret, Podarok Sibiri × Getman (3 lines), Omsky 95 × Beatrice (3 lines), Omsky 95 × Despina, Omsky 95 × Viva, Omsky 100 × Margret, and Omsky 90 × Margret. Biochemical assessment of grain quality for brewing qualities was carried out jointly with Nemchinovka Federal Research Center according to GOST 5060-86 (Bаrley for brewing. Specifications).
Results and discussion. The most promising were the lines demonstrating increased yield (5.39–6.21 t/ha) and reduced mass fraction of protein (11.39–11.92%): Sasha × Getman (1), Sasha × Getman (2), Omsky 90 × Margret, Omsky 95 × Beatrice (2), Omsky 95 × Beatrice (3), and Omsky 95 × Despina. Besides, these lines had a set of the following brewing characteristics: grain evenness (98.7–99.95); grain filminess (9.3–9.9%), 1000 grain weight (55.6–57.0 g), grain extractivity (78.1 and 78.9%), mass fraction of starch (55,35–56.83%), color (0.15–0.30 EBC units), and malt vitreousness (0.0–3.0%).
Conclusion., The lines Sasha × Getman (1) and (2), Omsky 90 × Margret, Omsky 95 × Beatrice (2) and (3), Omsky 95 × Despina are recommended for further research.

Background. The research goal was to study spring durum wheat cultivars from different regions of Russia to select those that were most adapted to the conditions of Primorsky Territory and had high yield and grain quality.
Materials and methods. The adaptive potential of 16 genotypes was determined through multi-environment trials at the Federal Scientific Center of Agricultural Biotechnology of the Far East named after A.K. Chaika in 2017–2021.
Results. Considerable potential for high productivity was revealed in the cultivars: ‘Solnechnaya 573’ (3.9 t/ha), ‘Donskaya elegiya’ (3.8 t/ha), ‘Lyudmila’ (3.8 t/ha), ‘Omskii izumrud’ (3.8 t/ha), and ‘Voronezhskaya 7’ (3.8 t/ha). Cvs. ‘Pamyati Yanchenko’ (–2.1), ‘Zhemchuzhina Sibiri’ (–2.4), and ‘Voronezhskaya 7’ (–2.4) displayed significant stress resistance. ‘Lyudmila’ (4.2) and ‘Donskaya elegiya’ (4.0) had high genetic plasticity and produced high yields in the years with favorable conditions. The adaptability coefficient of cvs. ‘Solnechnaya 573’ (112.5%) and ‘Voronezhskaya 7’ (111.0%) exceeded 100%. ‘Donskaya elegiya’, ‘Lyudmila’, ‘Aleiskaya’, and ‘Voronezhskaya 9’ demonstrated the highest plasticity (b_i > 1). The most stable cultivars were ‘Omskii tsirkon’ (S²d_i – 0.00), ‘Pamyati Yanchenko’ (S²d_i – 0.02), ‘Voronezhskaya 7’ (S²d_i – 0.04), ‘Aleiskaya’ (S²d_i – 0.05), ‘Nikolasha’ (S²d_i – 0.06), and ‘Omskaya biryuza’ (S²d_i – 0.08). ‘Voronezhskaya 7’ and ‘Pamyati Yanchenko’ were able to produce an increased yield and had the minimum yield loss under unfavorable conditions (the indicator of the yield stability of the cultivars was 134.9 and 144.8, respectively). ‘Pamyati Yanchenko’ (4.8 and 1.9, respectively) and ‘Voronezhskaya 7’ (3.5 and 2.0, respectively) showed high homeostatic capacity and breeding value.
Conclusions. ‘Voronezhskaya 7’ and ‘Solnechnaya 573’ were selected on the basis of complex evaluation for yield and adaptability under the local conditions. They can be recommended for further breeding and production.

Background. One of the ways to increase flax production is to expand cropping areas, including nontraditional ones. To solve this problem, it is necessary to carefully select cultivars that can produce stable high yields and have competitive raw material quality. The aim of this study was to identify the adaptability potential of flax accessions and select sources of valuable properties for their use under the conditions of the Northern Trans-Urals.
Materials and methods. Sixty flax accessions were studied in the fields of the south of Tyumen Province in 2017–2020. Phenotypic screening was performed according to the published lists of descriptors, taking into account outdoor seed germination, plant height, seed yield, flax straw, retted stalks, and fiber. Statistical data processing included the multivariate analysis of variance and correlation analysis. Environmental screening was performed according to S. A. Eberhart, W. A. Russell.
Results and conclusion. Based on the long-term data, sources of traits were identified: 4 for outdoor seed germination, 4 for plant height, 11 for the duration of the growing season, 21 for straw yield, 19 for the yield of retted stalks, 9 for seed yield, 6 for total fiber yield, and 5 for 1000 seed weight. The manifestation of traits was shown to be largely induced by the impact of the environment factor and the complex genotype × environment interaction. On the basis of screening results, 12 accessions were selected. The correlation analysis helped to find out that on average over the years of research there were high and stable direct relationships of the yield of straw (r = 0.73–1.00) and retted stalks (r = 0.68–1.00) with plant height. Under relatively favorable conditions for plant growth and development during the growing seasons of 2017 and 2020, the influence of outdoor seed germination on plant height (r = 0.62–1.00), straw yield (r = 0.78–1.00), and seed yield (r = 0.52–0.91) increased.

Cucurbits are among the most valuable vegetable crops widely used for food all over the world, being an important source of carotenoids and carotenes, biologically active substances with antioxidant and other types of activity. Their content largely depends on the Cucurbita species and varietal features. The Cucurbita collection of the N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR) contains more than 3,000 accessions of five cultivated Cucurbita spp. and serves as the most important source of source material for developing new cultivars in order to expand the range of functional food products. The present research was aimed at studying the content of carotenoids and carotenes in the fruits of Cucurbita maxima Duch., C. pepo L. and C. moschata Duch. ex Poir. grown in Northwestern Russia, which is characterized by a short growing season and a low sum of active temperatures. The performed study revealed significant differences between the Cucurbita species and cultivars in terms of the content of carotenoids, total carotenes and β-carotene. In contrast to C. pepo, the accessions of C. maxima and C. moscato were characterized by a wide range of variation of these characters. A statistically significant effect of the flesh and fruit skin color on the content of carotenoids, carotenes and β-carotene in them was observed (p < 0.001). The minimum amount of carotenoids, carotenes and β-carotene was found in the fruits with light yellow flesh, and the maximum in those with dark orange flesh. Cucurbit fruits with red skin accumulated more target compounds in contrast to the fruits with white skin. The identified Cucurbita accessions with high content of carotenes and carotenoids can be used as valuable source material for breeding cultivars with improved biochemical composition, which can broaden the range of functional food products when grown in the regions with unfavorable conditions for the production of this crop.

A potential in improving nutrition and health is the consumption of high balanced whole grains. A breeding program was launched by the National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA-Morocco), aiming to develop new domesticated tetraploid oat lines of Avena murphyi Ladiz., with high nutritional benefits. A sequence-based diversity study was conducted on ten tetraploid oat lines of A. murphyi to shed light not only on the importance of domesticating wild oat species for crop improvement but also to highlight the nutritional traits of those oat lines. In this study, we assessed the lines for some grain nutritional traits, such as groat contents of proteins and lipids as well as ash, fiber fractions, carbohydrates, and minerals.
The obtained results showed a wide range of chemical contents among lines. The results revealed a high significant difference (P < 0.001) in the groat contents of proteins (11.46–15.12%), fat (4.14–10.14%), carbohydrates (48.68–57.38%), and ash (2.71–5.18%). Analysis of total fiber fractions (NDF, ADF, ADL and CF), showed the presence of significant differences between the assessed lines. The lines A. murphyi 8 and 9, recorded the highest groat protein contents of 15.12% and 13.66%, with an interesting macroelement profile, mainly magnesium and phosphorus, and iron and manganese as minor mineral profile.
Due to their biochemical composition, Moroccan domesticated tetraploid oat lines of A. murphyi offer many opportunities to improve oat cultivation in Morocco and serve as an excellent raw material for foodstuffs formulation.

Background. It is known that the pathological phenotype of potato plants can be mediated by complementary interactions between the genomic RNA of PSTVd and mRNA of some regulatory genes, which consequently lead to RNA interference, the synthesis of small interfering RNAs (vd-sRNA PSTVd), and impaired morphogenesis. At the same time, symptoms caused by the viroid may vary in different potato cultivars. Here we predict the interactions between the 3’ UTRs of various alleles of the StTCP23 transcription factor gene and the complementary regions in PSTVd genomic RNA.
Materials and methods. We selected eight commercial potato cultivars with different symptoms of viroid infection and disease. For each cultivar, six clones of each cDNA amplicon of StTCP23 with a 3’ UTR were identified, and the allelic compositions of the target regions within their 3’ UTRs were characterized.
Results. In total, 11 types of alleles of the 3’ UTR StTCP23 segment complementary to the vd-sRNA PSTVd were identified. Cultivars with the A allele (‘Gala’, ‘Colomba’, ‘Favorit’, and ‘Fioletovy’) identical to the reference genome or a high dose of the C allele with a deletion of four nucleotides (cv. ‘Impala’) were characterized by high susceptibility already at the primary (firstyear) infection with the PSTVd. Cvs. ‘Krepysh’, ‘Labadia’ and ‘Riviera’, classified as tolerant during primary inoculation, on the contrary, were characterized by the absence of the A allele and the presence of cultivar-specific mutant alleles.
Conclusion. A high degree of polymorphism in the target site (3’ UTR region) of StTCP23 indicates a possible selection pressure on this locus. It can be assumed that cultivars with shorter alleles, which have fewer bases complementary to vd-sRNA in hypothetical duplexes and therefore less likely to induce target gene silencing, are more tolerant to the PSTVd upon primary viroid infection.

Background. Selection of somaclonal variation under callus culture (СС) conditions is one of the methods of undirected genome change induction which has become actively used in the development of cultivars with high adaptive potential. The aim of the present study was the estimation of the applicability of dedifferentiated cell culture to obtain cultivars with different levels of phenotypic stability.
Materials and methods. Ten wheat regenerant lines (RLs), obtained under selective (NaCl, low pH, drought) and nonselective conditions on the basis of СС were assessed along with their donor genotypes or the ones considered equivalent to them (in the case where the breeding variety was a donor) under field conditions on plots of 1 m². 1000 grain weight data were used for the evaluation of the agronomic (b_i, s²_di) and biological (σ²_САСi) stability. The yield-based superiority measure (P_i) was also calculated.
Results. RLs from cv. ‘Novosibirskaya 15’ were more stable than their donor genotype from the biological viewpoint as well as from the agronomic one. The GGE-biplot analysis shows that they belong to the same “environment” (sector) with the vertex genotype ‘Novosibirskaya 15’ with b_i being close to 1. Cv. ‘Tayozhnaya’ and its high-yielding salt tolerant RL RS(Tayozhnaya)3.6 were located in the opposite sectors and appeared to be highly stable genotypes. They are considered to be better adapted to low-yielding locations (b_i < 0,7) along with the RZ(К-79-2)7.16 RL, selected for drought tolerance. The RLs from the high-yielding K-142-4 line showed a wide range of values of the stability parameters. They were better adapted to high-yielding locations than their reference genotype, cv. ‘Minusa’. Thus, its RL had a low stability of 1000 grain weight.
Conclusion. Consequently, cell selection is a valuable source of breeding material that differs significantly in phenotypic stability both from the donor genotype and from other RLs, developed under CC of the same donor plant.

Background. Most commercial cotton cultivars have white fiber. Massive energy and water consumption during the production of fabrics from such fiber generates significant problems, so in recent decades more and more cotton cultivars with naturally colored fiber have appeared in the world. In addition to saving natural resources, such fiber has another advantage: it is lowallergenic. Such fiber is much more expensive on the world market.
Materials and methods. The research material was cotton line 7C with light brown fiber, produced by individual selection from the hybrid combination Genetic 34 (Turkmenistan, late-maturity, brown fiber) × C2 8101-73 (k-8112, Albania, early-maturity, white fiber). This line was registered in the State Register for Selection Achievements as the cultivar ‘Braun’ in 2019. The authors of the cultivar were M. Sh. Asfandiyarova, L. P. Podolnaya, A. G. Dubovskaya, and R. K. Tuz. The selection achievement was patented (patent No. 10638). The research was conducted at the Caspian Research Institute of Arid Agriculture (now the Caspian Agrarian Federal Research Center of the RAS). 7C was compared to the white-fiber reference ‘AS-5’ for morphological and agronomic traits in 2013–2018 according to VIR’s guidelines.
Results and conclusion. ANOVA analysis showed that cv. ‘Braun’ differed significantly from cv. ‘AS-5’ only in fiber length. However, the 5th type to which the fiber cv. ‘Braun’ belongs is used for the production of fabrics on a large scale. The cultivar’s yield of 2.5–3.0 t/ha is comparable to the reference. Variability of the values of the studied traits in cv. ‘Braun’ over the years was less than in the reference cultivar, attesting to its good adaptation to the Northern Caspian environments. The fiber’s natural color would make the products from such fiber notably more attractive. The estimated cost efficiency of its cultivation showed high profitability – up to 132%.

Background. When researching crop genetic diversity, including flax species, molecular markers are used to identify cultivars, establish phylogenetic relationships among them and select valuable genotypes and sources of useful traits. One of the effective ways to solve these tasks is the use of SSR markers, as a molecular method. The aim of this work was to study the molecular genetic polymorphism of modern flax cultivars listed in the State Register for Selection Achievements of the Russian Federation, find out their phylogenetic relationships and develop a version of their genetic certification.
Materials and methods. The materials for the research were 82 flax cultivars (60 cultivars of fiber flax and 22 of oilseed flax) and 3 ancient landraces. Genetic analysis was carried out using the PCR method with a set of 11 SSR markers labeled with fluorescent dyes, followed by the detection of products on the genetic analyzer.
Results. The study of the cultivars revealed 50 alleles at 11 loci, with the number of alleles per locus ranging from 2 to 10, averaged to 4.55 alleles per locus. Each flax sample contained a unique set of alleles.
Conclusion. The resulting SSR database made it possible to develop genetic certificates for each cultivar in the form of an alphanumeric code. A cluster analysis was also carried out and a dendrogram of genetic similarity was constructed. The identified sib relationships among the cultivars confirmed the information about their origin.

Background. Due to the increase in the harmfulness of wheat stem rust (Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici Erikss. & E. Henn.) in the Volga region, and the likelihood of the spread of the aggressive Ug99 race, an assessment of the genetic diversity of wheat breeding lines and identification of effective Sr genes are of fundamental importance.
Materials and methods. Ninety spring bread wheat introgressive lines with stem rust resistance, developed at the Federal Center of Agriculture Research of the South-East Region, were analyzed. Molecular markers were used to identify resistance genes: Sr24/Lr24, Sr25/Lr19, Sr26, Sr28, Sr31/Lr26, Sr32, Sr36, Sr38/Lr37, Sr39 and Sr57/Lr34. The analysis of plants for resistance was carried out according to standard methods; the Stakman scale was applied to determine the type of reaction.
Results. The genes Sr31/Lr26, Sr25/Lr19, Sr57/Lr34, Sr38/Lr37 and Sr39/Lr35 were identified in the analyzed breeding lines. Sr25 was found in 51 lines (56,7% of samples), Sr31 in 41 lines (45.6%), Sr57/Lr34 in 5 lines, Sr38 in 10 lines and Sr39 in one line. Combinations of resistance genes were identified: Sr31+Sr25 in 28 lines (31.1%), Sr25+Sr38 in 5 lines, and Sr25+Sr39 in one line. The Sr24/Lr24, Sr26, Sr28, Sr32 and Sr36 genes were not identified.
Conclusion. As a result, promising highly resistant introgressive wheat lines with promising combinations of Sr31+Sr25, Sr25+Sr38 and Sr25+Sr39 genes were identified. They can be used in Russian breeding programs for immunity.

Currently, when implementing breeding programs to produce pathogen-resistant grape genotypes, the DNA marker assessment method is used both directly in breeding-oriented selection and in evaluation of the initial gene pool. The ‘Talisman’ grape cultivar, with its fine consumer characteristics, resistance to diseases and frost, and a functionally female type of flower, is promising for breeding.
We performed a DNA marker assessment of the ‘Talisman’ genotype and cultivars as well as new hybrids of grapes developed with the participation of cv. ‘Talisman’ for the presence of the Rpv3 and Rpv12 downy mildew resistance loci. It is known that the presence of these two genes in the same grape genotype has an additive effect. According to the pedigree of cv. ‘Talisman’ (Frumoasa Albe × Vostorg), the presence of these genes can be assumed in the studied sample. The study was based on PCR with an analysis of the results on an automatic genetic analyzer. DNA was isolated from young shoots of the analyzed plants by the CTAB method. We used closely linked microsatellite markers recommended for DNA identification of the allelic status of the Rpv3 (UDV305, UDV737) and Rpv12 (UDV343, UDV360) genes. The simultaneous presence of Rpv3 and Rpv12 was detected only in the cv. ‘Talisman’ genotype. When analyzing the progeny genotypes of cv. ‘Talisman’, the presence of the Rpv3 downy mildew resistance gene was found in the grape hybrids “Agat Dubovskiy”, “Pestry”, and Rpv12 gene in the ‘Viktor’ and ‘Preobrazheniye’ genotypes. DNA-marker analysis confirmed the prospects of the cv. ‘Talisman’ genotype for breeding of table cultivars as a donor of the downy mildew resistance genes Rpv3 and Rpv12.

Background. The use of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) as a feed and food plant is hindered by the presence of antinutritional substances and in particular phenolic compounds – tannins – in the seed coat. The existence of low-tannin or zero-tannin forms in the faba bean gene pool allows breeders to promote this trait. The aim of this work was to carry out biochemical validation of a known morphological marker of low tannin content and identify relationships of some phenotypic traits characterized by accumulation of phenolic compounds (tannins and anthocyanins) with their concentration for use as additional morphological markers of the low content of these antinutrients in bean seeds.
Materials and methods. Associations of the presence/absence of anthocyanin in seedlings, pigmentation on petals, and dark extrafloral nectaries on stipules with the content of tannins and anthocyanins were analyzed in 10 faba bean accessions with different seed coat colors from the VIR collection. The plants were grown and evaluated in Leningrad Province in 2020–2021. Tannins in seeds were assessed using Leventhal’s method. Anthocyanins were analyzed in the green biomass of plants using a spectrophotometric method.
Results and conclusion. Different combinations of the studied morphological features associated with the coloration of the studied organs were found. A high positive correlation between the levels of anthocyanins and tannins (r = 0.79) was identified as well as a direct connection of the high value of these traits with the presence of a dark extrafloral nectary on stipules and anthocyanin in seedlings. The absence of anthocyanin staining on seedlings and the absence of dark-colored extrafloral nectaries on stipules can serve as markers of low-tannin genotypes in the early stages of plant development. The light seed coat color that does not darken for a long time may also be the evidence of low tannin content.

Background. Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the world’s main food crops. In Russia, its gross harvest in recent years has reached 21.079 million tons. Blumeria graminis is one of the most harmful diseases of bread wheat. Annual harvest losses can reach 10–30%. In Leningrad Province, powdery mildew appears almost every year on cereals. Development of cultivars resistant to powdery mildew is the most important trend in spring bread wheat breeding. Its progress is determined by new sources of effective resistance genes and their incorporation into promising spring bread wheat cultivars. The purpose of this work was to retest the seedling and adult resistance to powdery mildew in spring bread wheat accessions selected over a period of more than twenty years and redefine the effectiveness of disease resistance sources at the present time.
Materials and methods. Since 2000, VIR has conducted a search for powdery mildew resistance among 1283 spring bread wheat accessions. The identified 36 sources of adult and seedling powdery mildew resistance were reevaluated in 2022. Field and laboratory studies into the resistance to the pathogen were performed according to VIR’s guidelines.
Results and discussion. In 2022, field and laboratory studies of spring bread wheat cultivars revealed accessions with resistance to the pathogen in all phases of plant development. Six sources remained resistant to powdery mildew for 13–22 years, another six showed resistance for 7–12 years, and 8 cultivars were immune for 6 years. Resistance of 9 accessions identified for this trait in 2020 was confirmed.
Conclusion. Field and laboratory research into the resistance of spring bread wheat accessions to the pathogen identified sources retaining seedling and adult resistance to the Leningrad population of powdery mildew for 7 years or more. These accessions are recommended for use in wheat breeding programs.

Background. The problem of resistance to aluminum toxicity of soils is very relevant for the cultivated type of barley. The area of acidic soils in Russia is about forty percent of the total area of arable land, so the toxicity of aluminum is one of the main factors that reduce the yield of barley. The study of wild relatives of the main crops, including barley, is of considerable interest for the development of stress-resistant cultivars. Wild barley Hordeum spontaneum K. Koch has biological characteristics similar to the cultivated H. vulgare L., grows in various ecogeographic zones, and is well adapted to local soil and climate conditions. All this makes it possible to use it as a new donor of source material for breeding high-yielding cultivars adapted to certain environmental conditions. The objective of this work was to search for H. spontaneum genotypes highly resistant to ionic (Al³⁺) toxicity.
Materials and methods. One hundred accessions of H. spontaneum from the collection of the N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR) were examined. The resistance of barley accessions to toxic aluminum ions was studied at the early stages of plant development by the root test method (185 mcМ Al³⁺, pH 4.0) with the calculation of root and sprout length indices.
Results and conclusions. The studied fragment of the wild barley collection demonstrated broad genetic diversity in terms of resistance to phytotoxic aluminum ions. Laboratory assessment allowed us to identify barley genotypes differing in the reaction of their roots and sprouts at the early phases of ontogenesis. The identified genotypes with a high level of resistance to ion stress can be used as a valuable source of genetic material to improve existing cultivars and develop new ones by introgression of foreign resistance genes.

Oat is one of the leading cereals cultivated in the world and in Russia; it has an important fodder and nutritional value. To preserve the entire crop agrobiodiversity worldwide, there is a network of genebanks that hold more than 200,000 oat accessions. International and national genebanks are located in all the world’s countries, but one of the largest oat collections is located in Russia.
The global collection of the genus Avena L. (Oats) at the N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR) is one of the largest worldwide and consists of over 13,000 accessions. The collection preserves and maintains live accessions of all cultivated oat species: A. sativa L., A. byzantina K. Koch, A. strigosa Schreb. and A. abyssinica Hochst., landraces, breeding lines, spring and winter forms, covered and naked genotypes, and all geographic diversity of 22 wild Avena spp. from 50 countries. This review provides historical background of the collection of cultivated and wild oat species, and who were the main donors of these holdings. The taxonomic system of the genus is briefly presented, which is used as a tool for efficient work and guaranteed safe preservation of accessions. Most of the cultivars developed in Russia have in their pedigree accessions obtained from the global collection of VIR. The passport database contains detailed information about all accessions of the collection, which makes it possible to improve the work with the oat collection, including safe preservation of accessions and their effective evaluation and use as source material for breeding in the leading breeding centers of Russia.
Thus, the global oat collection at VIR has factual and potential value for the sustainable development of environmentally friendly agriculture, efficient processing of agricultural products, and production of safe and high-quality food products, including functional foods.

Several methods of plant preservation are currently used in the Republic of Kazakhstan: 1) field gene banks in natural growing areas and pomological collections; 2) preservation of seeds at +4°С, –18°С, and –196°С; 3) сold storage of in vitro shoots at +4°С and +10 ± 2°С; 4) cryopreservation of plant tissues and organs at –196°C; 5) preservation of plant DNA at –80°C.
Ex situ field collections of plants in Kazakhstan are maintained in botanical gardens of the Republic, arboretums, pomological gardens, nurseries, peasant and farm enterprises, and personal plots. The largest collection of fruit and berry plants is located in the Pomological Garden and includes about 4 thousand varieties, more than 40 thousand hybrids and wild forms of various crops.
The Republic of Kazakhstan has about 42,000 accessions in the seed collection. The cereal crop collection is mainly concentrated in the Kazakh Research Institute of Agriculture and Plant Growing – 1/3 of the national genetic resources. The main seed collection of vegetable crops and potatoes (14,700 accessions) is held by the Kazakh Research Institute of Potato and Vegetable Growing. Collections are also available at the Institute of Botany and Phytointroduction and in the Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology (IPBB), with the storage mode of + 4°C and –18°C. IPBB also uses cryopreservation technology at –196°C for seed storage.
The main in vitro collection of Kazakhstan is kept at the IPBB at + 4°С and +10 ± 2°С; it includes more than 140 accessions of various fruit, berry, nut, vegetable, ornamental, and woody crops, grapes, potatoes, etc. A cryogenic collection of seeds, shoot tips, dormant buds, and embryonic axes in liquid nitrogen (–196°C) is found only in IPBB. The collection includes more than 700 accessions.

 On January 16, 2023 we celebrated the 75th birthday of Professor Alexey V. Konarev, Doctor of Biological Sciences, a renowned scientist in the sphere of plant biochemistry and molecular biology, one of the eldest staff members of VIR. 

Catalogues of the VIR Global Collection of cereal crops: oat, rye, and barley, for 1964-2021.