The present study demonstrates the Ni toxicity-ameliorating and growth-promoting abilities of two different bacterial isolates when applied to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) as the host plant. Two bacterial strains tolerant to Ni stress were isolated from wheat seeds and selected based on their ability to improve the germination of wheat plants; they were identified as Bacillus megaterium AFI1 and Paenibacillus nicotianae AFI2. The protective effects of these epiphytic bacteria against Ni stress were studied in model experiments with two wheat cultivars: Ni stress-tolerant Leningradskaya 6 and susceptible Chinese spring. When these isolates were used as the inoculants applied to Ni-treated wheat plants, the growth parameters and the levels of photosynthetic pigments of the two wheat cultivars both under normal and Ni-stress conditions were increased, though B. megaterium AFI1 had a more pronounced ameliorative effect on the Ni contents in plant tissues due to its synthesis of siderophores. Over the 10 days of Ni exposure, the plant growth promotion bacteria (PGPB) significantly reduced the lipid peroxidation (LPO), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and proline content in the leaves of both wheat cultivars. The PGPB also increased peroxidase (POX) activity and the levels of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids in the wheat leaves. It was concluded that B. megaterium AFI1 is an ideal candidate for bioremediation and wheat growth promotion against Ni-induced oxidative stress, as it increases photosynthetic pigment contents, induces the antioxidant defense system, and lowers Ni metal uptake.

The sources were identified among collection samples characterized by highly pronounced economic and valuable features, which allows new geographically remote source material to be taken to the regional breeding practices. This research aims to assess the agronomic traits (duration of the growing period, lodging resistance and plant height, 1000-grain weight, grain weight and yield) in soft spring wheat varieties of different ecological and geographical origin. Estimation was carried out by a 9-point system of expression of the trait during the study, which allows identifying samples with the greatest expression of the trait in the years of study with respect to the average experience. 5439 samples have been studied over 28 years, with 1106 of them, over two years or more. The study was carried out according to the methods of VIR on plots of 2 m2. It was shown that the samples mainly had no correlation between the yield and the duration of the growing period, while the average dependence (г = 0.6) was revealed between the yield and the height of the plants. Varieties forming the intermediate (4.5-5 points) and above average (6-7) yield in a short growing period (69-85 days) were identified (Lutescens 675, Irkut-skaya 49, Simbirca, Hybrid F3 S-141, Hybrid F4, Hybrid F3 S-289 and Hybrid F4 S-2300 and Pamyati Vavenko-va). A high average score (8.6-9) at 1000 grains weight was shown for 16 varieties with variation from 37 g (N43 and IAO-9) to 56 g (Hofed 1). A high average score (8-9) in the evaluation of grain weight was shown for Pamyati Leont'eva, Ekada 70, Simbirtsit, Don Jose, Yong-Liang 4 and Long-Mai 11, which formed ears with an average weight from 0.96 to 2.30 g. A consistently high score (9) reflecting the yield was in the varieties Condestavel, PF 843025, Prilenskaya 19, Pamyati Leont'eva, Omskaya Krasa.

Microdochium nivale is one of the most harmful fungal diseases, causing colossal yield losses and deteriorating grain quality. Wheat genotypes from the world collection of the N.I. Vavilov Institute (VIR) were evaluated for fifty years to investigate their resistance to biotic stress factors (M. nivale). Between 350 to 1085 of winter wheat genotypes were investigated annually. Ten out of fifty years were identified as rot epiphytotics (1978, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2021). The wheat collection was investigated by following the VIR methodological requirements and CMEA unified classification of Triticum aestivum L. The field investigations were carried out in the early spring during fixed-route observations and data collection was included on the spread and development degree of the disease, followed by microbiological and microscopic pathogen identifications. The observations revealed that the primary reason for pink snow mold to infect the wheat crops was abiotic stress factors, such as thawed soil covered in snow that increased the soil temperature by 1.0–4.6 °C above normal. Under these conditions, the plants kept growing, quickly exhausting their carbohydrate and protein resources, thus weakening their immune systems, which made them an easy target for different infections, mainly cryophilic fungi, predominantly Microdochium nivale in the Moscow region. In some years, the joint effect of abiotic and biotic stresses caused crop failure, warranting the replanting of the spring wheat. The investigated wheat genotypes exhibited variable resistance to pink snow mold. The genotypes Mironovskaya 808 (k-43920) from Ukraine;l Nemchinovskaya 846 (k-56861), from Russia; Novobanatka (k-51761) from Yugoslavia; Liwilla (k-57580) from Poland; Zdar (UH 7050) from the Czech Republic; Maris Plowman (k-57944) from the United Kingdom; Pokal (k-56827) from Austria; Hvede Sarah (k-56289) from Denmark; Moldova 83 (k-59750) from Romania; Compal (k-57585) from Germany; Linna (k-45889) from Finland and Kehra (k-34228) from Estonia determined the sources, stability and tolerance to be used in advanced breeding programs.

In the conditions of the Kirov region, 375 samples of soft spring wheat of various ecological and geographical origin (from 30 countries) of the Federal Research Centre N. I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR) collection were studied. The assessment of the source material by yield, duration of the growing season, plant height, lodging resistance, productivity of the ear and plant, 1000-grain mass is presented in the form of a 9-point system of the severity of the trait for three years of field study. As sources for breeding, varieties that combine high yield (5.0...9.0 points) with a high level of economically valuable traits (7.0...9.0 points) were identified. The maximum average point (9.0) for yield capacity was noted by the variety Karabalykskaya 91 (Kazakhstan). The optimal height (53.9...74.0 cm) and lodging resistance were noted in the varieties: Estivum 155 (Russia), Kvorum (Ukraine), Epos, Ethos, Nandu, Schenk and KVS Akvilon (Germany), AC Phil and PT-741 (Canada), Hybrid (Mexico), Leguan (Czech), PS-133 (China) and SSL 25-2 (USA). Early maturation was distinguished in the domestic varieties Skala and Iren (80...87 days). The samples Line 3691h, Izida, FPCh-Ppd-m, Gerakl, Sibirskaya 16 (Russia), Kvorum (Ukraine), Attis and Nandu (Germany), Musket (England) were distinguished by the length (7.3...8.8 cm) and the number of grain of the main ear (32.1...39.9 pcs.). The varieties Voronezhskaya 16, Gerakl, Saratovskaya 72, Saratovskaya 73, Sibirskaya 16, Serebristaya, FPCh-Ppd-m and Ekada 6 (Russia), Anshlag and Kvorum (Ukraine), AC Gabrieland Hoffman (Canada), Attis and Nandu (Germany) were distinguished by a high grain weight per ear (1.28...1.58 g). The varieties Zakamskaya (Russia), Rassvet (Belarus), AC Cadillac (Canada) and PS-95 (China) are recommended as sources of high protein content. It is shown that the wheat yield in the region is closely related to the plant height (r = 0.67), the ear and plant productivity elements (r = 0.24...0.41), the protein content (r = -0.49) and does not depend on the 1000-grain mass (r = 0.04). Sixteen samples were identified with complex resistance to dominating fungal diseases. Samples Altajskaya 110, Kinelskaya 61, Line 2, Lutescens 30 and Estivum V313 (Russia) combined high yield with aluminum resistance. Varieties Altajskaya 100, Baganskaya 95, Line 3691h, Novosibirskaya 20 and Estivum 155 (Russia), Klein Vencedor (Argentina) and NOS Norko (Germany) were characterized by high yield and drought resistance. Based on the obtained results, a bank of sources of economically valuable traits was created, which allows to involve genotypes adapted to the conditions of the region in the breeding process.

Скороспелость и морфотип сортов мягкой пшеницы Западной и Восточной Сибири

Background. Cultivation of resistant cultivars is an effective method of wheat protection against leaf rust. The purpose of this work was to characterize the juvenile leaf rust resistance of bread wheat cultivars listed in the State Register for Selection Achievements in 2021 and identify their Lr genes using molecular markers.Materials and methods. The material included 18 cultivars of winter bread wheat and nine spring ones. Juvenile resistance in the seedling phase was assessed with two test clones (kLr9 и kLr19) and the Krasnodar population of Puccinia triticina Erikss. Molecular markers were used to identify 18 Lr genes.Results and discussion. A high level of resistance (score 0 or 0;) was shown by cvs. ‘Khamdan’, ‘Sharm’ and ‘Omskaya 44’; moderate resistance (score 2, 2+) by ‘Albidum 2030’. Reactions of ‘Polina’, ‘Rossyp’, ‘Status’, ‘Balkysh’ and ‘Bogema’ were variable. The studied cultivars did not contain juvenile genes Lr9, Lr24, Lr25, Lr28, Lr29, Lr39, Lr47 or Lr66 and adult plant resistance genes Lr21 and Lr35. Markers of identifiable genes were not detected in cv. ‘Sharm’, highly resistant to leaf rust. ‘Khamdan’ had an ineffective Lr10 gene and a partial resistance gene Lr34, which offered no protection in the seedling stage. These cultivars seem to contain additional resistance genes. A high level of resistance to leaf rust in ‘Omskaya 44’ is provided by a combination of the Lr19, Lr26, Lr1 and Lr3 genes. In ‘Nemchinovskaya 85’, the partially effective adult plant resistance gene Lr37 was identified. In other tested cultivars, Lr1, Lr3, Lr10, Lr26 and Lr34 were widely represented.