Plant varieties studying and protection

The potential of durum winter wheat cultivars in Ukraine

A. I. Palamarchuk, V. F. Kodzhebash — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Purpose. To highlight the durum winter wheat breeding results at the Plant Breeding and Genetics Institute – National Center of Seed and Cultivar Investigation (PBGI – NCSCI) during many years. Methods. Multiple both intraspecific and interspecific (with varieties and forms of common wheat) hybridization, including introgressive hybridization to create certain desired genotypes. Evaluation of the created lines and hybrids by a number of biological and economic characteristics, including the resistance to frost (winter hardiness), drought and main diseases, as well as protein content in the grain and its vitreousness. Results. There were 6 durum winter wheat cultivars replacement in Ukraine during past 65 years, with the leading role in the assortment belonging to cultivars created at the PBGI – NCSCI. The creation of varieties was focused on the introgression of dwarfism genes and alleles with low photoperiod sensitivity, improving floral fertility, increasing resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. New cultivars (the sixth cultivars replacement) belong to the varieties of durum winter wheat leucurum (‘Lainer’, ‘Shliachetnyi’, ‘Blyskuchyi’, ‘Almaznyi’, ‘Yantarnyi’, ‘Kryshtalevyi’, ‘Zolotystyi’, ‘Marmurovyi’, ‘Sriblastyi’), hordeiforme (‘Areal Odeskyi’, ‘Hranatovyi’) and leucomelan (‘Prestyzhnyi’, ‘Yaskravyi’). All of them are cultivars of intensive type and universal use which are characterized by high resistance to lodging, drought and the most common diseases and average or above average frost resistance. Their grain has high vitreousness and high or above average protein content. Conclusions. Today, in the agricultural production of the steppe and forest-steppe zones of Ukraine, the most common cultivars of hard winter wheat of the fifth cultivars replacement are well established and therefore the most widespread: ‘Hardemarin’, ‘Burshtyn’, ‘Kontynent’, ‘Kreiser’, ‘Linkor’ and ‘Bosfor’. New varieties (sixth cultivars replacement) are also gradually spreading: ‘Areal Odeskyi’, ‘Liner’, ‘Prestyzhnyi’, ‘Shliakhetnyi’, ‘Blyskuchyi’, ‘Yaskravyi’, ‘Almaznyi’, ‘Yantarnyi’, ‘Kryshtalevyi’, ‘Hranatovyi’, ‘Marmurovyi’, ‘Zolotystyi’ and ‘Sribliastyi’ which belong to the selection of the Plant Breeding and Genetics Institute – National Center of Seed and Cultivar Investigation.

Dependence of sugar beet seed sowing qualities on zinc-containing preparation treatment

O. M. Hanzhenko, M. P. Prodyus — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Purpose. To establish the optimal rate of application of YaraVita Teprosyn NP+Zn preparation, to ensures the highest sowing quality of sugar beet seeds. Methods. Biological (conducting laboratory experiments) and statistical (descriptive statistics, variance, correlation and regression analyses). Results. Laboratory studies showed that the variation in the germination energy of sugar beet seeds depends to some extent on their treatment with the YaraVita Teprosyn NP+Zn fertiliser preparation (15.5%), as well as on the seed batch (12.7%). However, genetic differences between the domestic hybrids studied had the greatest influence (61.1%). As for the variation in laboratory similarity, 41.6% was caused by the aforementioned fertiliser and 36.7% by genetic differences. The germination energy of the seeds also changed depending on the application rate of YaraVita Teprosyn NP+Zn. Specifically, germination energy increased to 84.9% when 3 l/t was applied (compared to 80.7% for the control variant), and to 88.6% when 6 l/t was applied. Increasing the amount of fertiliser further to 9 l/t did not significantly affect germination energy; in fact, using the maximum rate for the experiment (12 l/t) reduced it to 86.9%. An increase in laboratory germination was achieved by treating the seeds with YaraVita Teprosyn NP+Zn at rates of 3 and 6 l/t, increasing the percentage from 86.6% (control) to 91.8% and 96.6%, respectively. However, a further increase in the amount of fertiliser to 9 or 12 l/t resulted in a decrease in laboratory germination. In these variants of the experiment, the figures were 96.3% and 91.9%, respectively. Regression equations were established to predict the germination energy and laboratory germination of seeds, as well as to optimise the application rates of YaraVita Teprosyn NP+Zn. Conclusions. The optimal application rate of the zinc-containing preparation YaraVita Teprosyn NP+Zn for maximising the germination energy of sugar beet seeds was found to be 9 l/t for the 'ITsB 0904' hybrid and 6 l/t for the 'Ruteniia 11' hybrid. The highest laboratory germination rate was achieved using 6 l/t of this fertiliser. However, exceeding the optimal rates can lead to inhibition of germination, although the genetic potential of the hybrid is also important for this. It can also lead to a decrease in laboratory germination, which is primarily influenced by treatment with the specified zinc-containing preparation. The developed regression models are valuable tools for predicting sowing quality and the rational use of YaraVita Teprosyn NP+Zn fertiliser under production conditions.

The intensity of willow vegetative mass regrowth depending on varietal characteristics, type of planting material, and storage conditions

V. O. Daniuk, V. A. Doronin — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Purpose. To establish the characteristics of regrowth of the above-ground mass of the basket willow and almond willow after harvesting, depending on varietal characteristics, type of planting material, and the use of nitrogen fertilizers. In particular, to determine the height of shoots, their diameter and number, as well as the leave area. Methods. The study was conducted in the experimental field of the Institute of Bioenergy Crops and Sugar Beet of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine in Ksaverivka village, Bila Tserkva district, Kyiv region, from 2023 to 2024. It examined the regrowth characteristics of two types of energy willow (‘Panfylska’ variety of the almond willow and ‘Zbruch’ variety of the basket willow) in the second cycle after harvesting the shoots. Experiments were set up in 2020 using cuttings stored in various ways. Harvesting took place in 2023, after three years of vegetation and before sap flow began. The height and diameter of the shoots were measured from May until the end of the growing season, on the same date each month. Results. The stems of plants obtained from the shoots of the basket willow were found to have a significantly higher regrowth intensity than those of the almond willow. The ‘Zbruch’ variety (with fertilisers) was distinguished by its maximum height in the first year after harvesting. Conclusions. The best stem height and diameter indicators in the second growing cycle after harvesting were recorded in plants obtained from the shoots of the ‘Zbruch’ variety of energy willow. These shoots were stored in containers and their cuts were treated with lime.

Growth characteristics of foreign willow (Salix viminalis L.) varieties on leached chernozems of the Central Forest-Steppe

Ya. D. Fuchylo, T. A. Levchuk — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Purpose. To analyze the growth characteristics of six varieties of basket willow plantations over eight years of cultivation in the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. Establish the optimal age for harvesting biomass. Methods. Field, laboratory, analytical and statistical. Results. Biometric studies of eight-year-old shoots from plantations revealed differences in their height, diameter, and weight. The cultivar ‘Inger’ had the highest values: 6.42 m, 3.3 cm, and 1.76 kg, respectively. The values were slightly lower for ‘Tordis’: 6.25 m, 3.1 cm, and 1.67 kg. The heights of the other varieties ranged from 5.90 m (‘Warm-maz’) to 6.13 m (‘Wilhelm’), the diameters ranged from 1.85 cm (‘Gigantea’) to 2.55 cm (‘Marzencinski’), and the dry weights of the shoots ranged from 0.89 kg (‘Gigantea’) to 1.05 kg (‘Marzencinski’). Dry biomass productivity ranged from 9.55 t/ha (‘Gigantea’) to 36.9 t/ha (‘Inger’). A significant decrease in annual height growth was observed in all the studied cultivars: after five years in ‘Tordis’, after four years in ‘Wilhelm’, ‘Inger’, ‘Gigantea’, and ‘Marzencinski’, and after three years in ‘Warm-maz’. A significant decrease in diameter growth was observed after five years in ‘Wilhelm’, after three years in ‘Tordis’, and after four years in the rest. Conclusions. The first harvesting of biomass from the studied plantations should be carried out at the age of four years, and the subsequent harvesting at the age of three or two years.

Varietal characteristics of potato yield formation in different maturity groups in the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine

V. V. Yatsenko, N. V. Yatsenko — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Purpose. To investigate the formation of food and seed fractions in the yield of different potato crop maturity groups, as well as the key biochemical indicators of the variety. Methods. Throughout 2021–2024, field trials were conducted in the Forest-Steppe zone (Uman, 48°46′N, 30°14′E) to evaluate 15 potato varieties, including early-maturing (‘Rudolf’ st, ‘Madeira’, ‘Sanibel’, ‘Prada’), medium-maturing (‘Donata’ st, ‘Ricarda’, ‘Alians’, ‘Misteriia’, ‘Alyuett’, ‘Kniazha’), and late-maturing (‘Promin’ st, ‘Rodeo’, ‘Sluch’, ‘Toscana’, ‘Burana’) varieties. The differences in their stem-forming ability, stem density, the number and weight of marketable tubers per plant, and the yield and quality of the tubers were analyzed. Results. Based on the collected data, the most promising varieties were identified for obtaining marketable potato yields at biological maturity for consumption. Early-maturing varieties produced the highest stem density (256.1 thousand stems/ha), while medium- and late-maturing varieties produced significantly lower densities (213.0 and 207.1 thousand stems/ha, respectively). The number of tubers per plant varied insignificantly between maturity groups, at 8.8, 7.7 and 8.9 respectively. However, tuber weight varied significantly, amounting to 55.9 g for early varieties, 85.6 g for medium-maturing varieties and 109.6 g for late-maturing varieties. The varieties ‘Madeira’ (63.4 g), ‘Misteriia’ (101.0 g) and ‘Rodeo’ (128.7 g) demonstrated the maximum values. The varieties with the highest total marketable yield were ‘Prada’ and ‘Kniazha’ with 24.42 and 24.26 t/ha respectively, followed by ‘Alyuett’ with 28.55 t/ha and ‘Sluch’ and ‘Toscana’ with 41.69 and 43.21 t/ha respectively. It was also found that early-maturing varieties are predominantly used for seed production (52% versus 48%), while medium- and late-maturing varieties are predominantly used for food production (63% versus 37% and 60% versus 40%, respectively). The obtained data indicate a close relationship between maturity group and harvest structure by intended use, which is important for optimizing variety use in cultivation, storage and sales systems. Conclusions. Different maturity groups of potato varieties differ significantly in terms of morphological characteristics and productivity. Data on their distinctiveness in terms of the ratio of seed and food portions of the harvest is of great practical importance for regional agricultural technology. Since early-maturing varieties produce a higher proportion of seed potatoes, they are a good source of high-quality planting material and allow for the accelerated renewal of variety composition. Conversely, medium- and late- maturing varieties with a higher percentage of food crops are better suited to ensuring a stable food supply. This approach increases the efficiency with which variety resources are used, optimizes crop structure, and establishes an adapted potato production system that focuses on the needs of the domestic market and seed supply.

Microsatellite analysis of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes

N. E. Volkova, G. I. Slishchuk, T. Yu. Marchenko, R. A. Vozhehova — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Purpose. To investigate the polymorphism of chickpea genotypes at microsatellite loci within the QTL-hotspot region of linkage group 4, associated with drought tolerance. Methods. DNA extraction and purification from seedlings using the CTAB method; polymerase chain reaction; horizontal gel electrophoresis; determination of amplification product sizes using the “GelAnalyzer” software; cluster analysis using the “MEGA12” software. Results. Of the 26 samples analyzed from the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) collection, one to eight alleles were identified at the following microsatellite (SSR) loci within the QTL-hotspot region of linkage group 4 in the chickpea genome: ICCM0249, NCPGR127, TAA170, NCPGR21, TA130 and STMS11. The distribution of SSR locus alleles in the samples under study was compared with that in chickpea samples from various breeding centers, including those in Ukraine. Genetic distances were calculated for the 26 ICRISAT samples and seven Ukrainian varieties. A dendrogram was constructed which grouped the samples into seven clusters; the Ukrainian chickpea varieties formed a separate cluster. Conclusions. The chickpea samples from the ICRISAT collection were found to be polymorphic at SSR loci ICCM0249, TAA170, and TAA130, with three, five, and eight alleles respectively, and monomorphic at three SSR loci: STMS11, NCPGR127, and NCPGR21. This distribution of polymorphic and monomorphic alleles corresponded to that observed in the Ukrainian chickpea varieties. Cluster analysis revealed that the Ukrainian varieties formed a distinct group, suggesting differences in genetic origin and breeding approaches compared to the ICRISAT collection.

Creation of source for marking and mapping of frost resistance QTL in winter barley

V. I. Fait, M. S. Balvinska, P. O. Feoktistov, S. V. Havrylov, V. R. Fedorova — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Purpose. Creation the sets of recombinant-inbred lines for marking and mapping of frost resistance QTL in winter barley. Methods. Hybridization, artificial vernalization, growing plants under long-day conditions in phytotron light chambers and on a plot of land under natural daylight duration condition, DNA isolation with use CTAB-buffer, spectrophotometric determination of DNA concentration, polymerase chain reaction with direct primers, agarose and polyacrylamide gels electrophoresis, method of mathematical statistics chi-square test (χ²). Results. Using the SSD (single seed descent) method with maximum avoidance of selection, a set of 265 recombinant inbred lines F₉ from the cross combination of the varieties ‘Khutorok’ / ‘Grabe’ was created, differing in the level of frost resistance, type of development and other traits. The creation of RIL from the crossing of the varieties ‘Akademichnyi’ / ‘Luran’ (170 lines F₄) and ‘Tymofei’ / ‘Snihova Koroleva’ (145 lines F₅) continues. The polymorphism of parental genotypes for the 14 microsatellite loci of chromosome 5H, including those localized in the region of the Fr-H1 and Fr-H2 key genes of the main frost resistance QTL. The allelic differences between parental varieties in several cross combinations were detected for a number of the studied microsatellite loci. The inheritance pattern of polymorphic microsatellite loci alleles in F₁ hybrids from three cross combinations and individual plants from F₂ populations ‘Akademichnyi’ / ‘Luran’ was investigated. Conclusions. The created RILs are suitable for use in barley genetic studies for identification, labeling, mapping of the main genes and QTL of qualitative and quantitative traits, primarily frost resistance. Polymorphic microsatellite loci were identified, which can be used for further analysis of recombinant-inbred lines, manipulation of genetic diversity, tracing inheritance and studying the effects of their alleles by the level of frost resistance and other traits of barley.