The study of the composition and content of biologically active compounds in the leaves and inflorescences of the Pamyat of Kovas vegetable variety of the VNIISSOK selection revealed a difference in their accumulation in the leaves of the lower and upper layers. The maximum accumulation of biologically active substances was found in the leaves and inflorescences of the upper layer, exhibiting high antioxidant activity. In the studied extracts, antioxidant metabolites were found: amarantine, ascorbic acid, flavonoids, hydroxycinnamic acids, simple phenols and hydroxybenzoic acids, as well as pectins. The features typical for vegetable leaf crops were found: the maximum number of studied antioxidant metabolites accumulates in the leaves of the upper layer and amaranth inflorescences, while the decrease in the content of antioxidants is observed in aging leaves.

The potato is one of the most important food crops in the world. Improving the efficiency of potato breeding is of great importance for solving the global food problem. Today, researchers distinguish between six potato cytoplasm types: A, M, P, T, W, D. In the current study, the complete chloroplast genomes of Solanum tuberosum accessions with five out of the six major cytoplasmic genome types were sequenced (T-, W-, D-, A-, and P-genomes). A comparative analysis of the plastomes in potato accessions with different cytoplasm types was carried out for the first time. The time of origin of the different cytoplasm types was estimated. The presence of two main groups of chloroplast genomes among cultivated potato was confirmed. Based on the phylogenetic analysis of the complete plastome sequences, five main evolutionary branches of chloroplast genomes can be distinguished within the Petota section. Samples with A- and P- cytoplasm formed isolated and distant groups within a large and polymorphic group of samples with M-type cytoplasm, suggesting that A and P genomes arose independently. The findings suggest that the diversity of the T-genome in S. tuberosum Group Tuberosum could be initially low due to a bottle neck already existing at the origin of the Chilean clade. Differences in the rbcL gene sequence may be one of the factors causing differences in economically important traits in species with A and T-type cytoplasm. The data obtained will contribute to the development of methods for molecular marking of cytoplasm types and increase knowledge about the evolution and diversity of potato.

E.M. GINS, S.V. GORYUNOVA, S.M. MOTYLEVA, S.D. KHASANOVA, V.K. GINS, V.F. PIVOVAROV, I.M. KULIKOV, A.A. BAIKOV, and M.S. GINS Citation: Gins EM, Goryunova SV, Motyleva SM, Khasanova SD, Gins YK, Pivovarov YF, Kulikov IM, Baikov AA, Gins MS (2024). Modulation of low-molecular-weight antioxidants in Amaranthus tricolor leaves exposed to cold

E.M. GINS, A.A. BAIKOV, S.D. KHASANOVA, S.V. GORYUNOVA, V.K. GINS, M.S. GINS, and S.M. MOTYLEVA Citation: Gins EM, Baikov AA, Khasanova SD, Goryunova SV, Gins VK, Gins MS, Motyleva SM (2024). Amaranthus species assessment for morphological and biochemical parameters. SABRAO J. Breed. Genet. 56(4): 1387-1399. http://doi.org/10.54910/sabrao2024.56.4.6. Summary Amaranth (Amaranthus spp.)

The wide occurrence of potato genotypes characterized by male sterility considerably complicates the realization of breeding programs. Therefore, male fertility in potato germplasm requires assessment as an important task. In the fresh study, 57 breeding lines from the Russian Potato Research Center and 85 cultivars of different origins underwent acetocarmine staining and in vitro germination assessment. With acetocarmine staining, 22 samples exhibited with tetrad sterility. In the remaining 120 samples, stained pollens vary from 0% to 88.7%, and germination varies from 0% to 19.4%. The pollen fertility assessment data obtained through acetocarmine staining and in vitro germination differed significantly. In the studied potato accessions, acetocarmine staining provided 18.3% sterile samples, while 50.7% by in vitro germination. The highest stained pollens (>80%) appeared in five potato accessions, i.e., 3004-7 (88.7%), 3000-32 (86.5%), 21.32-1 (81.8%), 17.32-1 (80.3%), and cultivar Garant (86.8%). In most potato accessions, the colored pollen grains ranged from 40% to 70%. The maximum percent of pollen germination occurred in the sample, 21.32-1 (19.4%). However, seven accessions (21.32-1, 18.5-17, 20.3-6, 20.33-8, and cultivars Edison, Queen Anne, and Garant) showed more than 10% pollen germination. During the growing season of 2022, the weather was hotter and drier compared with past long-term data, which could affect a decrease in the ability of pollens to germinate. The obtained results on male fertility will help in the study of the genetic control of pollen fertility and a further improvement in the breeding of Solanum tuberosum L.

The article focuses on phenological features of amaranth varieties grown in open fields as a reaction to variability of weather conditions in the Moscow region. Amaranthine is one of the promising compounds found in red-colored amaranths. It refers to a class of betalain pigments. The study revealed growth stages defined by the highest content of amarantine per plant and analyzed accumulation of the pigment in amaranth leaves and inflorescences. Phenological observations of introduced plant species under new conditions are important and determine their resistance to adverse environmental factors, ability to produce high quality fruits and seeds, and potential for cultivation. During the introduction of new amaranth varieties, the most adapted forms were selected for the conditions of the Non-Chernozem zone of the Russian Federation in 2013-2016. The studied Russian and Ecuador varieties were divided into 4 groups depending on the growth period (from germination to seed maturity). Analysis of phenological traits of plants confirmed that period of amaranth development did not depend on the variety, except the fourth stage of late-ripening cultivars - Don Pedro and Eku 17020, dependent on weather conditions. Being dependent on weather conditions, the vegetative growth period turned to be the most stable. Late cv. Eku 17020 did not form mature seeds in open ground conditions, which is explained by its origin (Ecuador). In the present study we identified growth stages when plant raw materials had the highest dye content in red-leaved amaranth varieties (Valentina, Don Pedro and Fakel). We also considered the perspective of cultivation of green-leaved varieties with red inflorescences - Pamyati Kovasa and Eku-17020 - as sources of biologically valuable compounds in the Moscow region.