Background. Searching for new sources of valuable agronomic traits is becoming ever more urgent in the context of the development of modern crop cultivars. With this in view, crop wild relatives (CWR) are of special importance as carriers of resistance to unfavorable stressors. Evaluation of their status is an essential part of plant genetic resources (PGR) management with the aim of their further conservation.

Materials and methods. Herbarium holdings (WIR, LE, MW, and MAY), our own plant explorations (2006, 2009, 2014, 2016, 2019, 2020, and 2022), and published sources served as the materials for this study.

Results. The study resulted in identifying 388 CWR species, belonging to 116 genera of 35 families, within the natural plant communities in Adygea. Those species were classified into groups (ranks) according to their breeding value: 125 species into the first group, 104 into the second, 42 into the third, 109 into the fourth, and 9 into the fifth. Ranking according to economic uses showed that forage (207 spp.), melliferous (158) and food species (141) prevailed, followed by medicinal (128), ornamental (86), green manure (86), industrial (48), and revegetation (26) species. The CWR flora included 43 endemic species of various levels, and 12 relict species.

Conclusions. As a result of the study, 28 CWR species were prioritized as subject to conservation. Maps were made on the basis of herbarium data to show the localities of those species in Adygea. A combination of in situ and ex situ approaches was recommended for their effective conservation.

Background. Common hop (Humulus lupulus L.) is actively used in brewing and has great potential for pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries because of its wide diversity of bioactive substances. Development of new high-yielding Russian cultivars requires studying the existing natural characteristics of the species, as well as its ecotopologic and phytocenotic arrangement in the south of Western Siberia, where its significant genetic resources are concentrated.

Materials and methods. Plant explorations that resulted in 400 herbarium sheets and 275 geobotanical descriptions were conducted in 2023–2024 in Altai Territory, Novosibirsk, Kemerovo, Tyumen and Omsk Provinces, and Altai Republic, also covering the adjacent areas of Krasnoyarsk Territory, and Khakassia. The search for common hop thickets in remote and inaccessible locations was made with a DJI Mavic 3 Multispectral unmanned aircraft. Primary classification and ordination of plant communities took into account the composition, projective coverage, and permanence of plant species. Over 900 hop growth localities, both under cultivated and natural conditions, were marked on the digitized map of vegetation for the south of Western Siberia.

Results. Over the southwest of Siberia, common hop presently occurs within various phytocenoses situated in the steppe and forest-steppe zones, and the southern taiga subzone of the forest zone, from low to medium mountains. Hop has a significant range of habitats, from undisturbed forest phytocenoses to urbanized areas. The cultivated part of its area was formed during Siberia’s colonization. There are 16 natural and 13 anthropogenic ecotopes where this species can be found. In the plant communities that incorporated common hop plants, 62 species of trees and shrubs were observed to serve as supports, the active core of the cenoflora consisted of 50 plant species, and 782 higher plant species were recorded in total.

Background. Higher content of photosynthetic pigments (PP) and longer time of their functioning increase the yield and resistance to abiotic stressors in plants. It is especially relevant for pea (Pisum sativum L.), since more and more leafless cultivars are introduced into production. Homologs of the STAY-GREEN gene (SGR), with mutations enabling leaves to photosynthesize longer, have been described for a number of crops, including pea. Therefore, searching for sources of higher PP levels throughout the entire pea growing season is promising for the crop’s yield increase.

Materials and methods. The analysis included 21 accessions of five P. sativum subspecies from the VIR collection. The content of chlorophyll (Chl a and Chl b), carotenoids, and chlorophyllide (Chlide a) in stipules was assessed on the first productive node at the start and the end of the seed-filling period.

Results. The analyzed accessions showed significant polymorphism in their PP content. Principal component analysis divided the material into two categories: with high and low PP content. Both included representatives of different intraspecific taxa. Wild pea accession k-3370 (subsp. elatius) had the highest PP content both at the start and the end of its seed-filling period, along with a significantly higher ratio of chlorophyll to chlorophyllide, a chlorophyll degradation product. The latter indicator attested to the resistance of chlorophyll to degradation during the completion of seed filling.

Conclusion. Accessions with high PP content, comparable with the highest values in wild accession k-3370 and exceeding the values in contemporary pea cultivars, can serve as sources of this trait for the development of new high-yielding genotypes. Primitive cultivated forms of subspp. transcaucasicum and asiaticum are especially valuable in this context. Since all the studied accessions represented the primary genepool of P. sativum, the trait can be transferred to the cultivars under development.

Background. Promising soybean breeding material was evaluated for a number of agronomic traits and adaptability to the conditions of Primorsky Territory. The effect of local weather and climate factors on the accumulation of protein and oil in soybean seeds is discussed.

Materials and methods. Thirty-two promising soybean cultivars were tested at the Federal Scientific Center of Agricultural Biotechnology of the Far East named after A.K. Chaika in 2021–2023. Cv. ‘Primorskaya 4’ served as the reference.

Results. The best soybean cultivars were selected on the basis of the trials for high yields, high protein and oil content in seeds, and resistance to unfavorable growing conditions. Soybean cvs. Primorskaya 1690 and Primorskaya 1693 exceeded the reference in yield by 32.4% and 38.6%, respectively. The highest oil content in seeds (24.8–25.2%) was observed in Primorskaya 1674, Primorskaya 1685, Primorskaya 1687, and Primorskaya 1690. The highest protein content (over 40.0%) was found in the seeds of Primorskaya 1659, Primorskaya 1675, and Primorskaya 1691. Resistance to stressful growing conditions was demonstrated by Primorskaya 1674, Primorskaya 1679, Primorskaya 1684, Primorskaya 1692, Primorskaya 1702, and Primorskaya 1705. Low environmental plasticity was manifested by 40.6% of the genotypes. Primorskaya 1697, Primorskaya 1698, Primorskaya 1690, and Primorskaya 1693 stood out for their high adaptability. The effect of local weather and climate factors on the accumulation of nutrients in soybean seeds was confirmed. Short-term precipitation combined with high temperatures resulted in higher protein content. Oil accumulation was facilitated by high temperatures accompanied by either deficient or excessive moisture content in soil.

Background. Photosynthesis is one of the most important physiological processes in plants, affecting the productivity of agrocenoses. Creating conditions for crops to absorb and convert solar energy as effectively as possible can be a means of increasing their yields. The objective was to study the production processes and stress resistance of some crop species in order to optimize their cultivation technology.

Materials and methods. The work was carried out in the steppe and forest-steppe zone of Altai Territory. The scheme of the experiment was conducive to studying the quantum yield of photosynthesis as a method for assessing various seeding rates in the fields of sunflower grown for seeds (‘Pioneer LE 10’) and maize grown for silage (‘Clifton’). For sunflower, the rates were 35,000, 45,000, and 55,000 seeds/ha; for maize, 40,000, 50,000, and 60,000 seeds/ha. The state of the photosynthetic apparatus in plants was analyzed using the JUNIOR-PAM fluorometer (Walz, Germany) in the main phases of plant development. results. The quantum yield of photosynthesis over the growing season of sunflower, depending on the seeding rate, was the highest during flowering and ripening (up to 0.81 relative units). The highest values of the quantum yield of photosynthesis for maize were recorded in the phases of the 2nd leaf and 6–8 leaves (0.63 and 0.64 relative units, respectively).

Conclusion. The most effective development of sunflower plants, characterized by a high quantum yield of photosynthesis and high productivity, was observed at the seeding rate of 45,000 seeds/ha. The highest maize harvest for silage (1.56 t/ha) was registered under conditions favorable for this indicator at the rate of 50,000 seeds/ha. The correlation coefficient between the quantum yield of photosynthesis and crop yield was 0.7–0.8, which confirmed the dependence between those indicators and made it possible to determine the optimal sowing structure.

Data are presented on changes in the total water content in leaf tissues and the level of real water deficiency in 7 genotypes of garden roses (Rosa gallica L., R. odorata var. gigantea × R. multiflora, R. hugonis Hemsl., R. chinensis var. minima (Sims) Voss., R. bracteata J.C. Wendl., and R. foetida var. persiana (Lem.) Rehder) and cv. ‘Borisfen’ during the summer seasons of 2022–2023 on the Southern Coast of Crimea. Most genotypes showed a sublethal limit of water deficiency with the loss of 22–26% of water in their leaves. The leaf water regime was described for the studied genotypes under the extreme drought of 2023. For R. gallica, the critical limit of water loss was 10–15%. Simulating conditions close to the hot dry wind (t = 27°C, Rh = 30%) resulted in a more intensive loss of moisture by the leaves of the studied roses, while only R. odorata var. gigantea × R. multiflora showed a reduction in water consumption. The threshold for sublethal moisture deficiency in the leaves of relatively resistant plants (cv. ‘Borisfen’ and R. hugonis) dropped to 20–24%.

Analyzing main parameters of chlorophyll fluorescence induction proved that the development of water deficiency in the range of 20–25% under low air humidity caused an irreversible inactivation of PS II in R. bracteata, R. gallica, and R. odorata var. gigantea × R. multiflora. Disturbances in the functioning of the photosynthetic apparatus in cv. ‘Borisfen’, R. hugonis, and R. foetida var. persiana were reversible. The variable fluorescence level and the fluorescence decay rate are informative for determining the degree of drought resistance in garden rose plants.

Background. Analyzing photosynthetic processes in a plant makes it possible to opine on the rate of its growth and development. In addition to classical physiological techniques, an interest is currently growing in spectrometry, which provides a realtime opportunity, based in the values of vegetation indices, to find out whether a plant is under stress or not.

Materials and methods. Spring bread wheat cvs. ‘Omskaya 42’, ‘Omskaya 44’, and ‘Tarskaya 12’, and spring durum wheat cv. ‘Omsky Korall’ were analyzed in Western Siberia. Seeds were bacterized before sowing with an inoculant of diazotrophs belonging to Arthrobacter mysorens 7 and Flavobacterium sp.

Results. Identification of increased plant growth and development rates is possible with the following vegetation indices in the ear emergence phase: TCARI = 27.32, MCARI = 106.4, SPAD = 40.6, CPHLT = 25.02, CPHLB = 14.5, CPHLA = 8.46, and CCI = 27.5, and those in the grain filling phase: CPHLT = 10.4, CPHLB = 7.2, and CPHLA = 4.7. The highest nitrogen-fixing activity level was observed in the rhizosphere of bread wheat cv. ‘Omskaya 42’ and durum wheat cv. ‘Omsky Korall’, amounting to 150.7–322.0 and 140.0–393.0 nM C₂H₄/100 g of soil, respectively, with the introduction of Arthrobacter mysorens 7 bacteria, and 149.0–281.0 and 86.2–554.5 nM C₂H₄/100 g of soil, respectively, with Flavobacterium sp.

Conclusion. Consistently high values of the associative nitrogen fixation process were recorded in the variants involving bacterization of wheat seeds of cvs. ‘Omskaya 42’ and ‘Omsky Korall’ with the stimulating fungicide drugs Mizorin and Flavobacterin. According to the values of the TCARI and SPAD indices, it is possible to opine on the potential nitrogen-fixing activity and the yield of a cultivar.

Background. The main strategy for the development of commercial cultivars with high yields and complex resistance to unfavorable factors is to attract new sources and donors of traits important for adaptability and agronomic use. Geographically distant cultivars as well as landraces may have unique sets of genes, so their potential requires studying under specific soil and climate conditions.

Materials and methods. Twenty-four spring bread wheat accessions, included in the VIR collection in the period from 1928 to 2015, served as the material for the study. A scoring system for important breeding traits was used to characterize them. The following indicators were measured: the duration of the growing season and interphase periods, yield, lodging resistance, plant height, productive tillering, productivity of the main ear, weight of 1000 grains, protein content in grain, and chlorophyll content in leaves. Cultivars with a set of traits were identifying using the sum of points. Resistance to leaf and ear diseases common for Kirov Province was assessed.

Results. Correlations between yield and traits important for breeding were observed, and the changes in correlation links depending on weather conditions were shown. Sources of valuable traits were identified. The effectiveness of the powdery mildew resistance genes Pm4b and Pm5, and Septoria resistance genes Stb2, Stb6 and Stb9 was not ascertained against local pathogen populations. The effectiveness of the Pm1 gene and several Lr-genes was observed. A positive trend of increasing the intensity index of cultivars (IIC) developed over a 90-year period was established.

Conclusion. Source material for breeding new high-intensity immune cultivars in Kirov Province was selected for a set of valuable agronomic and biological characteristics.

Background. Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is the earliest in maturity and most flexible cereal crop, with a wide variety of forms. There are the groups of covered and naked varieties within the cultivated barley species. The interest in naked barley has currently re-emerged due to easy separation of floral glumes from the kernel during threshing and increased content of biochemical components. However, breeders in Russia are still paying much less attention to naked barleys that they do to covered ones.

Materials and methods. In 2021–2023, 271 naked barley accessions from the VIR collection were studied in the experimental field of Pushkin and Pavlovsk Laboratories of VIR. The set included two-row (115 accessions) and six-row (156 accessions) barleys of various ecogeographic origin. Their growing season duration, yield, and protein content were analyzed.

Results. Field and laboratory studies resulted in making agrobiological descriptions of the accessions and identifying sources of individual agronomic traits (earliness, high yield, and good grain quality) and their combinations under the conditions of the Russian Northwest. The diversity of naked barleys of various origin was shown for all the studied traits.

Conclusion. Twelve ultra-early and 53 early naked barley accessions were selected as potential sources of earliness for breeders. Ten two-row and 10 six-row accessions were identified as high-yielding, while 8 two-row and 15 six-row accessions had the highest protein content (above 20%). Correlations among the studied traits were specified for the studied set of naked barleys. The selected source material will be offered to the leading breeding centers of Russia for the development of new cultivars with desired traits.

Background. Sorghum is a universal, highly drought-resistant crop, widely cultivated throughout the world. Sorghum grain has a valuable biochemical composition and is utilized in both food and feed production. Due to the unique structure of endosperm storage proteins, kafirins, adding sorghum flour to dough is promising for producing dietetic nutrition components. Employing polymorphic DNA markers to study the diversity of kaffir sorghum accessions from the VIR collection as potential donors of biological and morphological traits in their grain is relevant for the development of sterile lines and sterility maintainers.

Materials and methods. Sixteen kaffir sorghum accessions were phenotyped according to morphological features and kafirin electrophoretic banding patterns in their grain, and genotyped using PCR markers specific for kafirin-encoding genes. The phenotype of mature grains was assessed by seed coat color as well as by the thickness ratio between the vitreous and farinaceous endosperm layers on grain cuts. Proteins were fractionated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The SSR markers linked to the genes for β- and γ-kafirins, and the STS marker of the coding region of the δ-kafirin gene were used in the PCR analysis.

Results and conclusions. The studied accessions differed in grain color and endosperm structure. Three accessions demonstrated a significant thickness of the vitreous layer, while the others had a farinaceous or partially vitreous endosperm. No differences were found among the accessions in the kafirin electrophoretic banding patterns. Meanwhile, the accessions manifested highly polymorphic fragments amplified with primers flanking microsatellite sequences linked to the β- and γ-kafirin genes. Two different versions of the STS marker were detected after amplification with the primers specific to the δ-kafirincoding gene region. The studied accessions were differentiated using the principal coordinates analysis (PCoA).

Background. The XRQ sunflower genome has been sequenced but not yet fully annotated, and not all candidate genes for most traits have been identified. Disclosing the relationships among traits in this study will help to understand the genetic control over phenotypic characters.

Materials and methods. A set of 237 sunflower lines from VIR’s genetic collection was phenotyped for their morphological characters (plant height; branching type; shapes and sizes of the leaf, petiole, flower head, disk and ray florets; downy mildew damage rate) and genotyped with molecular markers. DNA markers were used to identify accessions carrying the Rf gene and CMS. Factor analysis was applied to structure the genetic collection.

Results and discussion. The data of 2017 and 2018 were compared using the analysis of variance. The results of the latter testified to the heritability of morphological characters, as well as to the alignment and purity of lines from VIR’s genetic collection of sunflower. New data were obtained on the phenotypic diversity of sunflower and stability of its agronomic traits across the growing seasons.

Conclusion. Groups of interacting characters were identified by the factor analysis: 1) plant height, and duration of the growing season phases; 2) pollen fertility restoration with CMS PET1, SCAR markers HRG02 and HRG01 of the Rf1 gene, and branching; 3) the color of ray and disk florets, and petiole shape, as well as lamina surface shape. Lines with CMS PET1 were classified into three groups differing in the systems (possibly genes) of pollen fertility restoration. The factor analysis made it possible to confirm the assumption that several Rf genes whose manifestation differed from the Rf1 gene were present in the studied sunflower lines from VIR’s genetic collection.

Background. Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. is among important legume crops. Agricultural producers prefer cultivars suitable for mechanized cultivation, with a determinate growth habit type. Plant architectonics depends on the functioning of the apical meristem, while the transition to the reproductive stage is controlled by a set of genes, including the TFL1 gene. Analyzing the genes responsible for the growth habit type is relevant for more efficient and rapid development of high-tech cultivars. Materials and methods. Using the Sanger DNA sequencing method, the primary structure of TFL1-like genes was studied in six cowpea accessions with different growth habit types and architectonics.

Results. Promoter regions and coding parts of TFL1-like genes (VuTFL1.1, VuTFL1.2, VuATC, and VuBFT) were sequenced and analyzed. Information about the genes is available in the NCBI nucleotide sequence database. A comparative study showed that there were no exon differences between different genotypes. Rearrangements were found in the introns and the promoter region, but no relationship was traced between these rearrangements and the phenotype in terms of growth habit types or architectonics.

Conclusion. The next step towards understanding the role of TFL1-like genes requires obtaining knockout lines based on these genes and studying their phenotype. Meanwhile, the results of this analysis call for a need to consider a wider range of cowpea genes potentially associated with the variability of stem growth habit types and plant architectonics.

Background. Anthracnose fruit rot (AFR), caused by Colletotrichum acutatum J.H. Simmonds, is a dangerous disease of strawberry. The employment of cultivars with genetically determined resistance will minimize the use of chemical means of plant protection and increase the produce quality. The objective of the study was to analyze allelic polymorphism at the FaRca1 locus in strawberry cultivars to identify promising genetic sources of resistance to anthracnose fruit rot caused by C. acutatum.

Materials and methods. The materials of this study were 57 strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) cultivars. The allelic state of the FaRca1 locus was identified by high-resolution melting analysis (HRM) using the ID3F and ID1R primers.

Results and conclusion. In the studied strawberry cultivars, the FaRca1 resistance locus was represented by two allelic combinations: homozygous susceptible genotype (AA) and heterozygous resistant genotype (AB). The resistance allele FaRca1 (genotype AB) was detected in 50.9% of strawberry cultivars. The homozygous susceptible genotype (AA) was characteristic of 49.1% studied strawberry cultivars. There were no strawberry cultivars with a homozygous resistant genotype (BB). Among the Russian strawberry cultivars, the FaRca1 locus was identified in 44.4% of forms, while among the foreign ones, it was identified in 53.8%. Among the strawberry genotypes developed at the I.V. Michurin Federal Science Center, the FaRca1 allele was identified in cvs. ‘Urozhaynaya CGL’, ‘Flora’ and ‘Yarkaya’. Promising genetic sources for marker-assisted breeding are strawberry cultivars combining several resistance factors in the genome: ‘Borovitskaya’ and ‘Aprica’ (FaRca1 and Rca2 anthracnose resistance loci), ‘Korona’ and ‘Ostara’ (FaRca1 anthracnose resistance locus, and 08 To-f powdery mildew resistance locus), and ‘Bylinnaya’ (FaRca1 anthracnose resistance locus, 08 To-f powdery mildew resistance locus, and Rpf1 red stele root rot resistance locus).

Background. The life in an industrial region, with hard labor and harmful emissions from enterprises, is far from healthy, so high-quality and vitamin-rich diets are needed. Apricot fruits are considered among the most beneficial for human health, due to their high nutritional value, rich biochemical composition, and diverse vitamin content. They are consumed fresh or processed into juices, fruit drinks, jams, candies or dried fruits. One of the ways to meet the demand for fresh fruits is to introduce apricot cultivars adapted to local conditions.

Materials and methods. The study was targeted at local and introduced apricot cultivars planted in 2008–2009. Conventional methods were applied to assess them for winter hardiness and yield in 2020–2023. The analysis of variance with Microsoft Excel was used for statistical processing of the results.

Results and conclusion. The results of apricot breeding and variety studies under the conditions of Chelyabinsk Province are analyzed. In the framework of the apricot breeding program launched in the Southern Urals, the breeding sources and cultivars from the collection of the South Ural Research Institute of Horticulture and Potato Growing were tested to assess their winter hardiness and yield potential. As a result of breeding efforts, new adaptable apricot cultivars ‘Uralets’ and ‘Prizer’ were released and included in the State Register for Selection Achievements Admitted for Usage in 2022 and 2023, respectively. The economic indicators of these cultivars (profitability ratios are 220.2% for ‘Uralets’ and 233.9% for ‘Prizer’) witness to their suitability for both commercial and amateur cultivation in Chelyabinsk Province.

Background. Peach is an important commercial stone fruit crop for the Crimea and Southern Russia. In 2023, the State Register for Selection Achievements Admitted for Usage included 46 peach cultivars released by the Nikita Botanical Gardens. Meanwhile, the existing assortment of this crop has a number of disadvantages. It is necessary to increase winter hardiness and frost resistance of peach cultivars for more stable fruiting, manifestation of potential productivity, and expanding their areas of cultivation to the north, as well as to increase their adaptability to drought when they are grown under arid conditions.

Materials and methods. A new peach cultivar, ‘Mechta’, was bred at the Nikita Botanical Gardens. It was obtained by crossing cv. ‘Valiant’ with cv. ‘Favorita Morettini’. The authors of the cultivar were Z. N. Perfilyeva, A. V. Smykov, V. K. Smykov, and O. S. Fedorova (patent number for breeding achievement: 9016). It was tested at the Central Division of the Nikita Botanical Gardens (Yalta) using conventional techniques for fruit crop variety trials.

Results and conclusion. Cv. ‘Mechta’ demonstrated high flowering vigor (scoring 4.6 points), a long flowering period (12.7 days), stable annual yield (27.9 t/ha), high frost and drought resistance, excellent taste (4.7 points), and good biochemical parameters of the fruit. It is well adapted to the agroclimatic conditions of the Crimea’s southern coast and steppe. Its susceptibility to leaf curl was low (2.1 points), and to powdery mildew above average (3.4 points). ‘Mechta’ is recommended for use in breeding practice, as a source of valuable traits, and for commercial cultivation in the peach plantations of the Crimea and Southern Russia.

Background. Dagestan boasts a long tradition of apricot cultivation that resulted in a unique gene pool of this fruit tree. However, the potential of local apricot cultivars for breeding still remains poorly investigated. This fact validates the need for further research into apricot genetic resources in Dagestan.

Materials and methods. The local breeding material of apricot (23 forms and 5 cultivars) underwent genetic evaluation. For convenience, all accessions were divided into 4 groups according to the origin of cvs. ‘Krasnoshchekiy’, ‘Krymskiy Medunets’, ‘Shalakh’, and ‘Bukhara’. Their genetic diversity was analyzed using 11 SSR markers. Polymorphism of SSR markers varied 2 to 10 alleles per locus (on average, 5 alleles per locus). The effective number of alleles (Ne) and the Shannon Diversity Index (I) showed low values for the set of accessions, which is typical for seedlings with shared parental forms in their pedigrees. The differences in Ne and I values between the most contrasting groups were insignificant: Ne = 2.719 and I = 1.085 for the Shalakh group versus Ne = 2.014 and I = 0.782 for the Krasnoshchekiy group.

Results. A comprehensive study of the apricot collection showed greater numbers of heterozygotes in hybrid seedlings than the expected values, attesting to large genetic distances between the pairs of parents selected for crosses. The highest heterozygosity was observed in the seedlings from the crosses ‘Krymskiy Medunets’ × ‘Krasnoshchekiy’, ‘Krasnoshchekiy’ × ‘Krymskiy Medunets’, and ‘Krymskiy Medunets’ × ‘Khonobakh’.

Conclusion. Clustering the accessions with the principal coordinates analysis and Bayesian analysis on the basis of their genotyping data made it possible to identify general patterns in the distribution of cultivars and seedlings, namely the concentration of seedlings next to their maternal parents. Two genotypes attributed to cv. ‘Bukhara’ were found to have different genetic origin.

Background. The phenotypic structure of Lupinus angustifolius L. is dynamically expanding due to genetic recombinations and mutagenesis. Therefore, the existing concepts of the inflorescence color diversity in narrowleaf lupine need regular updating.

Materials and methods. Research materials consisted of 887 narrowleaf lupine accessions from the VIR collection. Their morphological descriptions were made in 2009–2023 during field trials under the conditions of Moscow Province, Russia. Longterm observations made it possible to evaluate probable color modifications in inflorescences under varying weather conditions.

Results. The lupine gene pool was divided into 15 biotypes differing in the anthocyanin pigmentation of separate inflorescence parts, such as the vexillum, wings, and keel, as well as the inflorescence axis. Individual color features of cotyledons, leaves, stem, and seeds also characterized the biotypes. Phenotypic characteristics of lupine biotypes were compared with diagnostic traits of intraspecific taxa and known genes for flower color.

Conclusion. Three new varieties and six new subvarieties were marked out for narrowleaf lupine. Probable carriers of genes responsible for the flower’s basic color: roseus (fco 1), violaceus (fco 3), albus (fco 4), and leucospermus (fco 2¹, fco 2²), and its modifications: Supercoeruleus, dispersus, discolor, and albiflorus, were identified. Descriptions of some biotypes failed to agree with the data on any known gene’s phenotypic expression, which attested to the presence of new mutations, recombinations, or unstudied gene associations.

Powdery mildew (Podosphaera xanthii (Castagne) Braun & Shishkoff ) is considered the most common disease of cucurbitaceous crops, especially in the northwestern and southern regions of Russia. For example, in Krasnodar Territory, the largest domestic squash producer, the damage from powdery mildew reaches 20–40%, which leads to significant economic losses. A possible solution to this problem is to increase the resistance of host plants to pathogens by introducing resistance genes from wild species or rare crop relatives, since other options, including the use of fungicides, can disrupt ecosystems and harm living organisms. Marker-assisted molecular breeding techniques make it possible to quickly identify necessary DNA fragments in order to find resistant and susceptible forms of donor plants. Assuming the presence of original genes for resistance to powdery mildew in rare cucurbits, we conducted molecular screening of 50 sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrica M. Roem.), 50 bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl.), and 10 Cucumis sp. accessions from the VIR collection for the presence of 15 markers of powdery mildew resistance genes known for widespread and rare cucurbitaceous crops, and clarified the effectiveness of 3 molecular markers.

Background. Biomorphological and geographic analyses conducted on long geographic gradients are relevant for identifying botanical and geographic features of segetal floras.

Materials and methods. A comparative analysis was used to study biomorphological and geographic elements of segetal floras in nine regions of Russia: Vologda, Leningrad, Novgorod, Sverdlovsk and Rostov Provinces, the Republic of Bashkortostan, the Republic of Crimea, the Udmurt Republic, and Altai Territory.

Results. Biomorphological groups in the compared segetal floras contained approximately equal ratios of therophytes and hemicryptophytes, monocarpic and polycarpic herbaceous plants. Meanwhile, the indigenous fraction manifested a higher share of polycarpic herbs (about 60–70%), while monocarpic herbs predominated in the alien fraction (80–90%). For the most part, indigenous plants represented widespread species (Holarctic and Eurasian), mainly plurizonal ones. At the same time, the composition of geographic elements in segetal floras retained the features of their locations. Species of southern distribution prevailed in the segetal flora of Crimea, while Central and East Asian species in Altai Territory. Depending on the zonal arrangement of segetal floras, the shares of boreal, forest-steppe and steppe species changed. The ratios among geographic elements in the alien fractions of the compared segetal floras were relatively stable. The groups of Eurasian and American species were the most numerous.

Conclusion. The ratio of life forms (an increased share of therophytes, and a decreased share of phanerophytes) is probably a characteristic feature of the segetal flora, associated with the living environments of plants in agricultural phytocenoses. Geographic analysis confirmed that segetal floras retained their biogeographical features.

Background. According to the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants (ICNCP), a cultivar is regarded as documented when its nomenclatural standard has been formalized and published. This procedure attaches a cultivar name to a herbarium specimen, and makes it possible to refer to such specimens when the taxonomic affiliation of a cultivar is being disputed. It also helps to maintain a national catalogue of crops and protect breeders’ rights.

Materials and methods. The nomenclatural standards are presented, along with morphological, biological, ecological and agronomic descriptions, for spring oat cvs. ‘Uralets’ and ‘Kross’ released by the Ural Research Institute of Agriculture, as well as those of collective authorship: ‘Blits’ (with Perm Federal Research Center) and ‘Ural 2’ (with the Siberian Research Institute of Feed). The herbarium material for nomenclatural standards was collected in the fields of Pushkin and Pavlovsk Laboratories of VIR. All specimens of one cultivar are the plants grown from a single seed sample. Each herbarium sheet contains the entire plant in the state of milky ripeness, as well as mature spikes and grains.

Results and conclusion. The nomenclatural standards for the four spring oat cultivars were formatted in line with the ICNCP recommendations and registered in the VIR Herbarium Database. The items are deposited in the Herbarium of Cultivated Plants of the World, Their Wild Relatives and Weeds (WIR), and are made part of the collections of the National Center for Plant Genetic Resources. The nomenclatural standard of each cultivar is presented on one herbarium sheet and has three duplicate sheets, except for cv. ‘Blits’ with its four duplicate standards.

Background. Preparation and publication of the nomenclatural standard is an important step in a cultivar’s documenting. Development of nomenclatural standards for cultivars of domestic breeding helps to make and maintain a national catalog of valuable crop genetic resources.

Materials and methods. Biomorphological and agronomic plant characters are described for the spring oat cultivars ‘Foma’, ‘Tobolyak’ and ‘Raduzhny’ developed at the Research Institute of Agriculture for the Northern Trans-Ural Region, branch of the Tyumen Scientific Center, Tyumen Province, Russia. Nomenclatural standards for these cultivars are presented. The plant material for the nomenclatural standards was collected at the experimental plots of Pushkin and Pavlovsk Laboratories of VIR. All plants of each cultivar were grown for the herbarium from a single seed sample. Each herbarium sheet contains an entire plant in the milk-ripeness stage, mature spikes, and grains samples.

Results and conclusion. The nomenclatural standards were made in accordance with the recommendations of the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants (ICNCP) and registered in the VIR Herbarium Database. The herbarium specimens are deposited with the Herbarium of Cultivated Plants of the World, Their Wild Relatives, and Weeds (WIR) at the National Center for Plant Genetic Resources. The nomenclatural standard for each cultivar is presented on one herbarium sheet, with three (‘Tobolyak’ and ‘Raduzhny’) or four (‘Foma’) duplicate sheets.

An endeavor is made to analyze the development of cabbage seed production in Dagestan whose soil and climatic conditions are conducive to the use of a seed-growing practice without replanting. The vegetable seed production system in southern Dagestan is undergoing modernization within the framework of a subprogram of the Federal Scientific and Technical Program for the Development of Agriculture. Dagestan Experiment Station of VIR has started implementing one of the tasks under an integrated research and development project entitled “Obtaining competitive mid-late and late white cabbage hybrids with the purpose of import substitution”. This task includes identification of seed production areas with sites best suited for the seed production of white cabbage with various ripening schedules. Dagestan Experiment Station of VIR has many years of experience in growing vegetable seeds and is located in Derbent District, an area with natural and climatic environments most favorable for cabbage seed production.

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is one of the most important grain legume crops whose production has been growing every year and by 2024 reached ca. 7 million tons. The objective of this review was to summarize the latest achievements in soybean breeding, including the use of high-throughput sequencing methods and genomic technologies. Soybean is one of the most studied plants. The studies of recent years showed the advantage of approaches based on the use of molecular genetic markers in breeding. The first version of the soybean genome sequence, the G. max genome “Williams 82”, was presented in 2010, and this event significantly accelerated the study and development of genetic research on the crop. The data obtained made it possible to develop resources aimed at both studying the functional organization of soybean genes and breeding new improved cultivars. The review summarizes the results of large-scale soybean sequencing projects, including pan-genome works. Methods used for high-resolution genetic mapping, such as the SNP array analysis and the GBS (genotyping-by-sequencing) technique, are described. Information is provided on soybean genes associated with valuable agronomic and breeding-oriented traits whose identification made it possible to single them out as targets for editing.

Molecular breeding of rice (Oryza sativa L.) for yield is of great importance for ensuring food security of the population. Living organisms manifest genetically determined responses to environmental factors, including stressors. Photosynthetic activity affects all metabolic processes in plant cells. The genes involved in photosynthesis, in their turn, are regulated by differentially expressed genes associated with circadian rhythms. Plants, as sedentary organisms, require more efficient regulation of gene expression. GATA factors are transcription factors (TFs) that affect the production of phytohormones and mediate the stress response. GATA factors are divided into four main classes (A to D), based on the difference in the structure of the zinc finger domain, and into seven subfamilies, depending on the availability of additional domains. GATA TFs incorporate domain structures that may be involved in the regulation of circadian rhythms. Effects on the circadian rhythms influence other regulatory metabolic pathways in plants, which makes the study of genes associated with circadian rhythms relevant and significant. The most well-known and popular method of gene editing at the moment is the CRISPR/Cas technology. More than 30 rice genes were successfully genomically edited using the CRISPR/Cas technology in the period from 2018 through 2023. This helped to improve their valuable agronomic traits.

This review summarizes all information about the classification and known functions of OsGATA genes and OsGATA TFs and provides evidence for the possibility of influencing the regulation of rice photoperiodicity by editing these genes.

The name of Alexander An. Richter, a prominent scientist in the field of breeding new cultivars of nut crops and subtropical fruit plants, is widely known worldwide. A winner of the USSR State Prize, Prof. Dr. A. Richter was second in the world to develop a program of almond cultivation and breeding, thus making a significant contribution to the development of horticulture in the south of Russia. Over thirty new cultivars released in the course of many years made it possible to expand adaptation of cultivated almond to various regions of Southern Russia. Prof. A. Richter continued Nikolay Vavilov’s mission to mobilize and utilize plant genetic resources, contributing to the promotion of this nut crop and the broadening of industrial almond cultivation areas. Years of his participation in the USSR Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy (VDNKh) earned him numerous gold medal awards.