Plant varieties studying and protection

Assessment of the yield characteristics of soft winter wheat seeds based on embryo morphotypes, depending on the implementation of various agronomic practices

M. M. Lystukha — 2026-03-30

Purpose. To evaluate the yield potential of seeds from new varieties of soft winter wheat developed by the Myronivka breeding program under conditions in the central part of the Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine, based on embryo morphotypes and taking into account preceding crops, sowing dates, and fertilizer rates. Methods. The study was conducted from 2021/22 to 2023/24 in the experimental fields of the V. M. Remeslo Myronivka Institute of Wheat of the NAAS. It examined how different application rates of nitrogen fertiliser (UAN-32) – 25, 50 and 75 kg/ha of active ingredient (AI) – as well as sowing dates (the first and second decades of October) and preceding crops (sunflower and soybean), affected the formation of embryo types and the yield characteristics of soft winter wheat varieties (‘MIW Assol’, ‘Estafeta Myronivska’ and ‘MIW Dniprianka’). Results. The seeds of the winter soft wheat varieties under study produced six types of embryo. Types I and III were significant in proportion, but type II predominated, accounting for 42–76% depending on variety, preceding crop, sowing date, and nitrogen application rates. These factors significantly impacted yield characteristics. Yields were 3.2% higher when a soybean preceding crop was used, compared to a sunflower one, due to an average 5% higher proportion of seeds with embryo type II. Regarding sowing dates, sowing within the first ten days of October compared to the second ten days resulted in a 3–5% higher proportion of seeds with type II embryos. This contributed to an improvement in yield characteristics. Using the nitrogen fertiliser UAN-32 positively affected the formation of morphologically sound seeds. Increasing the application rate from 25 to 75 kg/ha of active ingredient also increased the proportion of seeds with embryo type II and consequently improved yield characteristics. Conclusions. To produce high-quality seeds with improved yield characteristics, the winter soft wheat varieties under study should be sown within the first ten days of October, after a soybean crop. UAN-32 nitrogen fertiliser should be applied at a rate of 75 kg/ha of active ingredient.

Effects of different herbicide treatments on Solidago canadensis L.

H. M. Korpita — 2026-04-20

Purpose. The study aimed to evaluate the impact of various herbicide treatments on Solidago canadensis L. and develop recommendations for its long-term management. Methods. Three chemical control schemes were assessed in 2021–2025: Lintur 70 WG (triasulfuron + dicamba), Roundup Max (glyphosate), and Dianate BASF (dicamba). Treatments were applied using a handheld sprayer during the active vegetative growth phase at a temperature of +20–23 °C and relative humidity of 65–70%. The herbicides' effectiveness was evaluated comprehensively by determining the suppression of the above-ground part, the number of viable shoots, and the ability to regenerate. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA with the LSD₀.₀₅ criterion in Statistica 13.0 and Microsoft Excel 2019. Results. The results show that all the herbicides tested have a clear suppressive effect on Solidago canadensis L., although their effectiveness varies considerably depending on the active ingredients and how long they remain effective for. Overall, Lintur 70 WG exhibited the greatest effectiveness, providing rapid and progressive suppression of plant growth, reaching 91.8 ± 3.5% by 42 days after treatment, along with the greatest biomass suppression (86.8 ± 2.7%) and the strongest decrease in shoot density (~90% to 3 shoots/m²), indicates the minimal regeneration ability of the plant. Dianate BASF exhibited moderate but less stable control, with final suppression of 79.3 ± 3.5% and biomass suppression of 69.3 ± 2.6%. The reduction in shoot density (~71% to 6 shoots/m²) suggests partial recovery potential of the species after treatment. Roundup Max demonstrated moderately high yet less sustainable performance, reaching 84.7 ± 3.5% suppression and 57.2 ± 2.4% biomass suppression, with the weakest reduction in shoot density (~63% to 9 shoots/m²), indicating the highest regeneration potential among the tested variants. Conclusions. These findings confirm that multicomponent herbicides with different modes of action are the most effective way to sustainably control S. canadensis, as they ensure rapid biomass suppression and minimal regeneration. The study highlights the importance of considering the physiological responses of plants when predicting the duration of herbicide effectiveness against invasive species. These results could inform the development of chemical management strategies for invasive weeds in Ukrainian agroecosystems and natural habitats.

The influence of ionic form of silicon on the formation of elementary fibre cells in Cannabis sativa L.

S. V. Mishchenko — 2026-03-30

Purpose. To establish the peculiarities of the fibrous layer structure and the degree of variability of the traits of the primary and secondary bast fibre cells in industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) varieties under the influence of exogenous silicon and the possibilities of using it to improve fibre quality. Methods. Plants of the ‘Afina’ and ‘Hlukhivski 51’ varieties, grown in an area of 30 × 5 cm, were studied. During the vegetation period, the plants were treated twice or three times with an aqueous solution of K₂SiO₃·5H₂O at concentrations of 2.5 g/L and 5.0 g/L, respectively, at the BBCH development phases 15, 51 and 65. The control variants used distilled water instead of the silicon solution. For the anatomical analysis, transverse sections of bark and wood were taken from the stems at the level of the IV internode (with a diameter of 9.5 mm) and examined using light microscopy. Results. In hemp plants under the influence of silicon, the thickness of the bast fibre layer increased, as can be seen from the analysis of transverse stem sections. For the ‘Afina’ variety, the secondary fiber layer thickness increased from 105 μm in the control group to 138 μm in the treated group. For the ‘Hlukhivski 51’ variety, it increased from 163 μm to 230 μm with triple treatment using a 0.5 g/L K₂SiO₃·5H₂O solution. This increase in fiber layer thickness was mainly due to secondary fibers, i.e., silicon activates cambium activity, the secondary generative tissue. The lengths and widths of the primary fibre cells were 40.2 and 25.9 μm for the ‘Afina’ variety and 57.0 and 40.2 μm for the ‘Hlukhivski 51’ variety. The lengths and widths of the secondary fibre cells were 25.1 and 15.5 μm and 33.4 and 16.5 μm, respectively. The increase in cell sizes was due to a decrease in the channel size and an increase in the thickness of the secondary walls. These changed from 6.5 to 12.5 μm and from 16.5 to 19.7 μm in primary bast fibre cells and from 5.5 to 7.2 μm and from 6.0 to 7.6 μm in secondary bast fibre cells in the ‘Afina’ and ‘Hlukhivski 51’ varieties, respectively. An increase in the proportion of isodiametric and oval-shaped cells with a convex contour, as well as cells with a small channel, was observed, indicating a structural rearrangement of fibrous formations. Conclusions. To increase the total fibre content of hemp stems, it is advisable to treat the plants with a silicon (Si) solution during the period of intensive secondary fibre accumulation, and to obtain higher-quality fibre, during the period of intensive primary fibre accumulation.

The ecological plasticity and stability of high-oleic sunflower varieties (Helianthus annuus L.) in terms of their major fatty acid content

L. M. Prysiazhniuk — 2026-04-20

Purpose. To determine the role of varietal genetic characteristics, growing conditions, and their interaction in the formation of the fatty acid (FA) composition of oil, as well as to assess the adaptive capacity and stability of the synthesis of major fatty acids in high-oleic (HO) sunflower varieties. Methods. Biochemical (gas chromatography) and statistical methods (analysis of variance, correlation and regression analyses). Results. An assessment of the effects of soil and climatic growing conditions, as well as genotype, on the fatty acid (FA) composition of sunflower oil revealed that varietal affiliation was the most influential factor in determining variations in oleic and linoleic acid content, accounting for 66% of total variation. Weather conditions of the year contributed 11% to the variability of oleic acid content, while the interaction of factors “location × year” explained an additional 11%, highlighting the role of environmental variability in the realization of the genetic potential of the varieties. The highest ecological plasticity for oleic acid content was observed in the varieties ‘AM PRESTIGE’ and ‘P64GE233’, which combined high ecological plasticity coefficients (bᵢ) with low stability variance (Wᵢ), allowing them to be classified as intensive-type genotypes. For linoleic acid content, the varieties ‘AM KLP 25’, ‘IR Polysk’, and ‘IR Legat’ exhibited the greatest plasticity. The content of palmitic acid was largely determined by the genotype factor (64%) and the interaction “location × year”, whereas stearic acid content was predominantly influenced by weather conditions (79%). A strong negative correlation was identified between oleic and linoleic acid contents (r = –0.93; R² = 0.87). Conclusions. HO sunflower varieties are characterized by a high level of genetically determined stability of fatty acid composition, while simultaneously maintaining the ability to effectively realize their potential for enhanced oleic acid synthesis under favorable growing conditions. The assessment of ecological plasticity and stability revealed that the varieties ‘AM PRESTIGE’ and ‘P64GE233’ can be classified as intensive types with respect to oleic acid content, whereas the varieties ‘IR Polysk’, ‘AM KLP 25’, and ‘IR Legat’ demonstrated intensive responses for linoleic, palmitic, and stearic acid contents. The absence of extensive-type genotypes indicates stable expression of the HO phenotype across all studied varieties, regardless of growing conditions.

Domestic cultivars of Primula L. and breeding directions for enhancing their resistance to changing climatic conditions in the Northern Forest-Steppe of Ukraine

O. P. Pereboichuk — 2026-04-20

Мета. Встановити та обґрунтувати ключові напрями селекції представників роду Primula L. на підвищення стійкості до ксеротермічного стресу та здійснити комплексний аналіз господарсько-цінних декоративних ознак нових адаптованих вітчизняних сортів в умовах Північного Лісостепу України. Методи. Дослідження проводили протягом 2010–2025 рр. Вивчали колекційний фонд роду Primula Національного ботанічного саду імені М. М. Гришка НАН України, що налічує 17 видів, 2 підвиди, 38 сортів і міжвидових гібридів. Інтродукційну та селекційну цінність таксонів визначали за комплексом інтегральних показників стійкості, декоративної стабільності та параметрів фенологічного розвитку. Застосовували методи цілеспрямованої та інтрогресивної гібридизації, індивідуального клонового добору й порівняльного сортовипробування. Результати. Чинником, що лімітував культивування представників роду Primula в умовах Північного Лісостепу, був гідротермічний режим, де критичним стресором стала літньо-осіння посуха навіть за помірного поливу. На основі комплексного інтродукційного дослідження та аналізу еколого-біологічних характеристик природних біотопів ідентифіковано таких основних донорів стійкості проти ксеротермічних умов регіону: P. auricula L., P. elatior (L.) Hill, P. veris L., P. veris subsp. macrocalyx (Bunge) Lüdi, P. vulgaris Huds., P. vulgaris subsp. rubra (Sm.) Arcang., P. woronowii Losinsk. Обґрунтовано етапи селекційного процесу, що базуються на генеративній рекомбінації та фіксуванні цільових ознак вегетативним способом. Представлено перші вітчизняні сорти, які поєднують комплексну резистентність до абіотичних і біотичних стресорів із високими показниками декоративності. Висновки. Доведено, що успішність культивування первоцвітів залежить від ступеня пристосовуваності рослин до ксеротермічного стресу в літньо-осінній період. Серед досліджуваного генофонду максимальним рівнем адаптивності вирізнялися представники секції Primula. Виділено види зі специфічними адаптивними стратегіями, а саме: P. japonica A. Gray, P. roseа Royle та P. sieboldii E. Morren. Представлено дев’ять вітчизняних сортів (‘Веснянка’, ‘Чумацький Шлях’, ‘Лісова пісня’, ‘Вишиванка’, ‘Сутінки’, ‘Білосніжка’, ‘Марі’, ‘Світанок’ та ‘Ююша’), які поєднують високі декоративні якості з підвищеною адаптивною стійкістю. Це дає змогу рекомендувати їх для розширення асортименту ранньоквітучих рослин у різних типах ландшафтних композицій урбанізованих середовищ.