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

S. V. Mishchenko, Yu. O. Lavrynenko, T. Yu. Marchenko, H. I. Kyrychenko — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0300

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.

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 — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0300

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.

Plant varieties studying and protection

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

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