Plant varieties studying and protection

Characteristics of the source material for breeding winter wheat for group resistance to leaf and stem pathogens

Ye. A. Holub — 2025-04-27

Purpose. Investigation of the efficiency of using introgressive lines with group resistance to leaf pathogens as source material in breeding winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) for the aforementioned trait. Methods. Field and laboratory (evaluation of resistance to certain races of leaf rust and powdery mildew at the juvenile growth stage in greenhouses and on light plants); PCR analysis (identification of resistance genes to these diseases in the studied material); statistical analysis; and crossbreeding analysis (study of patterns of inheritance and interaction of resistance genes). Results. The original breeding lines of different generations (F₄–F₅), which were created based on the genetics of wild wheat relatives: Aegilops cylindrica, Ae. variabilis, Triticum ventricosum, Tr. erebuni, Tr. Tauschi, Thinopyrum elongatum, Triticosecale in the PBGI – NCSCI, were studied for group resistance to local populations of leaf diseases and a set of basic agronomic traits. Six lines with effective group resistance genes (Lr24, Lr68, Sr15, Sr31, Sr58, Pm38), as well as their combinations, were identified. These lines provide the selected genotypes with a consistently high level of resistance, excellent grain quality and productivity, regardless of the severity of the infection load. Investigating the genetic basis of the group resistance trait on F₁–F₂ hybrid material, obtained by crossing the studied lines with susceptible local varieties, revealed that its inheritance is determined by the action of two dominant complementary genes. This indicates the possibility of effectively using this material as donors of high resistance. Conclusions. As a result of the research, we obtained source material in the form of six lines of winter bread wheat that effectively combine a high level of group resistance to leaf pathogens and a set of basic agronomic traits in their genotype. This makes them valuable breeding material. These lines are included as parental components in the crossbreeding plans of the PBGI – NCSCI and are transferred to leading NAAS of Ukraine scientific breeding centres for use in breeding programmes.

Genetic sources of yield and stability for winter barley breeding under conditions of the Ukrainian Forest-Steppe

V. M. Hudzenko — 2025-04-27

Purpose. To determine the peculiarities of the level of manifestation and yield variability of winter barley accessions, and to identify genetic sources for breeding in the Ukrainian Forest-Steppe. Methods. The research was conducted at the V. M. Remeslo Myronivka Institute of Wheat of NAAS in 2018/19, 2020/21 and 2021/22. A total of 74 spring barley samples of different origins were used for the research. The interaction “genotype × year” was determined and the accessions characterized using the statistical parameters of adaptability and graphical models AMMI and GGE biplot. The latter were then grouped using cluster analysis. Analysis of variance and correlation analyses were used to determine the level of reliability in the experiment and the relationship between the adaptability parameters, respectively. Results. Significant variability in yield was found both between years of the study (from 436 g/m² in 2018/19 to 621 g/m² in 2021/22) and between accessions within a year (2018/19 – from 625 to 171 g/m², 2020/21 – from 738 to 138 g/m², 2021/22 – from 855 to 374 g/m²). According to the AMMI model, statistically high shares of contribution to the total phenotypic variation were found for all its sources: year (41.72%), genotype (37.30%), and “genotype × year” interaction (21.15%). The first two principal components of this model covered 100% of the “genotype × year” variation, while the GGE biplot covered 85.14%. There were 12 accessions of winter barley of different origin [‘Merlo’ (FRA), ‘MIR 12-11’ (UKR), ‘Titus’ (DEU), ‘Akademichnyi’ (UKR), ‘MIR 12-9’ (UKR), ‘Snihova koroleva’ (UKR), ‘Novosadski 525’ (SRB), ‘Novosadski 737’ (SRB), ‘Matador’ (FRA), ‘Radical / Pervenets’ (SYR), ‘Scarpia’ (DEU), ‘Manitum’ (FRA)], which had significantly higher yields than the standard ‘Zherar’ (UKR) (587–685 g/m² vs. 534 g/m²). However, even among them, the level of the latter showed different reactions to the conditions of particular years. This was reflected in different values of statistical parameters of adaptability and graphical distribution of accessions in the coordinates of the principal components of the AMMI and GGE biplot models. Based on the yield variation limits and statistical parameters of adaptability, the selected accessions were divided into five distinct clusters. Conclusions. The combination of high-yielding accessions from different clusters as the parental components of crosses, in accordance with ecological and geographical principles, will be of great practical importance in creating source material to increase winter barley yields and adaptability in Ukrainian Forest-Steppe region.

Characteristics of the post-harvest ripening period of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and durum wheat (T. durum Desf.) seeds

A. A. Siroshtan — 2025-05-05

Purpose. To determine the duration of post-harvest seed ripening in new varieties of spring durum and bread wheat depending on varietal characteristics. Methods. The research was carried out in 2022–2024. 12 spring bread wheat varieties and 6 durum wheat varieties were grown under soybean as a preceding crop. Results. During the years of research, particularly during the earing period – full maturity of spring wheat – we observed deviations in precipitation and average daily temperature from their long-term values. This allowed us to obtain objective results. After analysing the experimental data to determine the post-harvest seed ripening period, it was found that it was much longer for spring bread wheat than for spring durum wheat. In the first three days, the dynamics of spring wheat seed germination was very low (0–3%), which indicates the physiological state of grain dormancy immediately after harvest. In spring bread wheat, this was also observed on the fifth and seventh day – then the number of germinated seeds was 1–12%, but in most durum varieties, this figure reached 19–85% on the fifth day (only in varieties ‘MIP Raiduzhna’ and ‘MIP Kseniia’ it was at the level of 0–4%). Seed dormancy lasted 30–40 days for most spring bread varieties. ‘Dubravka’ and ‘MIP Zlata’ had a short post-harvest ripening period of about 20 days, while ‘MIP Vizerunok’ and ‘Panianka’ had a period of more than 40 days. Among spring durum wheat varieties, ‘Zhizel’, ‘MIP Mahdalena’ and ‘MIP Perlyna’ had short dormancy periods (5–7 days), ‘Diana’ (15 days) and ‘MIP Raiduzhna’ (20 days) had longer dormancy periods. Conclusions. The presented experimental data indicate the species and varietal specificity of the reaction of the process of ripening of spring bread and durum wheat seeds to hydrothermal conditions. Varietal differences in the duration of post-harvest ripening in spring wheat varieties should be taken into account when determining the biological justification of the harvest time, which is extremely important in the technology of growing seeds with high sowing qualities and yield characteristics.

The possibilities of GAIA method application for DUS examination in Ukraine

L. M. Prysiazhniuk — 2025-05-05

Purpose. To determine the applicability of the GAIA method for comparison of reference collection of maize lines based on weights of the difference for morphological characteristics and SSR markers. Methods. Field methods (descriptive plant morphology), molecular methods (PCR, capillary electrophoresis), and statistical methods (principal component analysis, correlation analysis). Results. The study examined 57 lines of maize reference collection to determine their differences based on phenotypic and molecular distances using the GAIA method. The comparison of maize lines, considering the difference for morphological characteristics, identified 12 lines classified as “Distinct Plus” compared to other studied maize lines. The obtained data indicate that most of the “Distinct Plus” lines were classified as distinct according to distinctness, uniformity, and stability (DUS) testing. However, three pairs of lines identified as “Distinct Plus” were classified by the DUS expert as similar or very similar. It was determined that the first two principal components explain 23.37% of characteristic variability. Principal component analysis revealed that the high level of variability attributed to the differences of grouping characteristics and traits which are not used for variety grouping during DUS testing. This suggests that to enhance the effectiveness of the GAIA method, it is advisable to increase weights of the difference for qualitative morphological characteristics. Based on the combination of phenotypic and molecular distances, an additional 35 pairs of maize lines were identified with a high degree of distinction, eliminating the need for side-by-side field comparisons in the next growing season. Conclusions. The application of the GAIA method for maize line analysis helps reduce the number of side-by-side field comparisons by integrating morphological traits and molecular markers.