Wart (a disease caused by Synchytrium endobioticum) and golden cyst potato nematode (Globodera rostochiensis), which parasitize the roots of the host plant, cause significant damage to potato crop. Both of these disease factors are quarantined in the Russian Federation, and each registered variety is tested for resistance to their most common races and pathotypes. The main method of opposing such diseases is by the development of resistant varieties. An important step in this process is the selection of resistant genotypes from the population and the estimation of the resistance of hybrids obtained by crosses during the breeding process. Conducting a permanent phenotypic evaluation is associated with difficulties, for example, it is not always possible to work with pathogens, and phenotypic evaluation is very costly and time consuming. However, the use of DNA markers linked to resistance genes can significantly speed up and reduce the cost of the breeding process. The aim of the study was to screen the GenAgro potato collection of ICG SB RAS using known diagnostic PCR markers linked to golden potato cyst nematode and wart resistance. Genotyping was carried out on 73 potato samples using three DNA markers 57R, CP113, Gro1-4 associated with nematode resistance and one marker, NL25, associated with wart resistance. The genotyping data were compared with the data on the resistance of the collection samples. Only the 57R marker had a high level of correlation (Spearman R = 0.722008, p = 0.000000, p < 0.05) between resistance and the presence of a diagnostic fragment. The diagnostic efficiency of the 57R marker was 86.11 %. This marker can be successfully used for screening a collection, searching for resistant genotypes and marker-assisted selection. The other markers showed a low correlation between the presence of the DNA marker and resistance. The diagnostic efficiency of the CP113 marker was only 44.44 %. Spearman’s correlation coefficient (Spearman R = –0.109218, p = 0.361104, p < 0.05) did not show significant correlation between resistance and the DNA marker. The diagnostic efficiency of the NL25 marker was 61.11 %. No significant correlation was found between the NL25 marker and resistance (Spearman R = –0.017946, p = 0.881061, p < 0.05). The use of these markers for the search for resistant samples is not advisable.

Breeding of cereals with anthocyanin-rich grains is promising for health food production. Here, we transferred genes responsible for activation of anthocyanin biosynthesis in the grain pericarp (Ant1 and Ant2) and aleurone (HvMyc2) to elite barley cultivars Aley, Tanay, and Vorsinsky-2 by marker-assisted backcrossing. Donors were Bowman lines BW648 and BW418. Three pairs of near-isogenic lines (NILs) with purple or blue colored grains were chosen in generation BC₆F₂ and propagated up to BC₆F₆. Genotyping-by-sequencing of resulting NILs and parental lines showed that the NILs carry 4.6–17.6% of donor SNPs including those at target loci. Unexpected big blocks of donor SNPs were revealed in some NILs on chromosomes 1H and 5H that do not carry target loci. The NILs possessed 274% and 12% higher anthocyanin (40.0–170.4 μg/g) and total phenolic content (2367.2–4396.8 μg/g), respectively, compared to original cultivars (18.3–33.1 μg/g and 2319.6–3768.5 μg/g). On average, antioxidant activity was 14% higher, although some lines showed reduced activity. NILs’ productivity depended on growth conditions and was similar to that of the recurrent cultivars. Hence, the applied breeding strategy is an effective approach to enrichment of grain anthocyanin content in barley.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the most important food crops in the world. The genome of this potato species is autotetraploid and has a high level of heterozygosity, also this potato species is a cross-pollinated plant. These characteristics complicate the genetic analysis and breeding process. The tuber’s eye depth is an important trait that affects the suitability of potato varieties for processing. Potato breeding for this trait is based on phenotypic assessment. Identification of the loci that control tuber eye depth would allow diagnostic markers for the marker-assisted selection to be created. The aim of this study is to search for loci associated with the eye depth by analyzing Solanum tuberosum varieties from the GenAgro collection of the Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, genotyped using the Illumina 22K SNP potato array DNA chip. The 24 significant markers associated with the “eye depth” trait were identified using 15,214 SNP markers genotyped with the Illumina 22K SNP potato array chip and the general linear model (GLM) taking into account the population structure. Data obtained showed the presence of SNPs in four genomic regions: on chromosome 4 (1 marker in the 3.92 Mb area), 5 (1 marker in the 4.67 Mb area) and 10 (1 marker in the 4.87 Mb area and 21 markers in the region between 48.1–48.9 Mb). The results of localization in the region 48.1–48.9 Mb of chromosome 10 correspond to previously published studies, the remaining three regions were detected for the first time. DNA sections containing SNPs linked to the tuber’s eye depth were studied in the SolTub_3.0 potato genome assembly (https:// plants.ensembl.org/). KASP markers were developed based on the data obtained. It will be possible to screen the breeding material and to breed the varieties more effectively using current markers associated with a shallow tuber’s eye depth.

   Background. Barley grain contains such flavonoid compounds as proanthocyanidins. Despite their positive effect on plant adaptation to environmental conditions, they can worsen the quality of raw materials used in barley products. In this context, releasing proanthocyanidin-free cultivars is an important task. Mutants at the Ant25, Ant26 and Ant27 loci with unknown molecular functions can be used as donors of recessive alleles of the genes specifically controlling proanthocyanidin synthesis in barley grain. This study explored the effect of these loci on barley plant growth and development. A conclusion was made about their functional role in the biosynthesis of flavonoids and the expediency of using such mutants in the breeding of proanthocyanidin-free cultivars.   Materials and methods. The weight of grains, roots and shoots, the length of the main shoot, and the number of lateral shoots were measured in mutants and original cultivars grown in a hydroponic greenhouse. The harvest index was calculated as the ratio of grain weight to total plant biomass. Differences between genotypes were assessed using the Mann–Whitney U-test.   Results. The ant25.264 and ant27.488 mutants showed lower values of all analyzed characters than the parental cultivars ‘Secobra18193’ and ‘Zenit’, respectively. The ant27.2043 mutant had a shorter main shoot, less grain weight, and lower harvest index compared to cv. ‘Arena’, but did not differ from the original cultivar in other characters. Mutants at the Ant26 locus demonstrated no differences from the parental cultivar ‘Grit’ in all parameters, except the ant26.486 mutant whose root weight exceeded the cultivar’s value.   Conclusion. The effect of the Ant25 and Ant27 loci on plant growth and development was proved. Mutants at the Ant26 locus, with no negative effect on plant development, may be recommended to barley breeders as promising donors for the development of proanthocyadin-free cultivars.

Phenolic compounds constitute a significant group of secondary metabolites in barley grain and influence its technological qualities when used in brewing, feed production, and food manufacturing. Proanthocyanidins – polymeric flavonoids localized in the seed coat – play a particularly important role among them. These compounds are responsible for several production issues, such as colloidal haze in beer and browning of groats after heat treatment. Although proanthocyanidins possess health-beneficial properties based on their antioxidant activity, they can act as antinutritional factors due to their ability to bind proteins. In this regard, the breeding of barley varieties completely lacking proanthocyanidins in the grain was initiated, primarily for use in the brewing industry. Initially, it was assumed that their absence would not be critical for the plant, since wheat, corn, and rice varieties lacking proanthocyanidins in the grain had been identified. However, accumulated evidence indicates that proanthocyanidins perform important physiological functions: they contribute to the maintenance of seed dormancy, provide protection against fungal and bacterial pathogens and pests, and their absence negatively affects agronomic traits. For instance, proanthocyanidin free barley mutants obtained through induced mutagenesis exhibit reduced productivity and pathogen resistance, an increased risk of pre-harvest sprouting, and deterioration of several technologically important properties. Nevertheless, these mutant lines are actively used in breeding programs to develop varieties for various purposes. This review aims to systematize and analyze global experience in breeding proanthocyanidin-free barley varieties, describing achieved results to identify the most successful approaches and define future research directions. The work examines challenges faced by breeders when using mutant lines, as well as strategies that have helped minimize negative side effects. It is demonstrated that through targeted crossing and optimal selection of mutant alleles, competitive varieties have been developed that combine the required technological qualities with satisfactory agronomic performance, meeting the demands of both the brewing and food industries.

Background. Naked barley is a promising food crop. To enhance its production, active breeding is required to create productive varieties. The purpose of this study was to test the STS-marker for the Nud1 gene controlling the hulled phenotype, and use it for the production of naked barley hybrids. Materials and methods. Genotyping of 112 F₂ hybrids obtained by crossing the naked black variety ‘Jet’ and the hulled white variety ‘Elf’ was carried out using wF2 and kR1, or tR2 primers in the regular PCR mode to amplify the recessive or dominant alleles of the Nud1 gene, respectively, and also in the multiplex PCR mode, which allows simultaneous amplification of both dominant and recessive alleles of the Nud1 gene. The genotyping data were compared with those on phenotypes of hybrids. Results and discussion. The possibility of using multiplex PCR with a set of primers wF2, kR1, and tR2 for identifying dominant and recessive alleles of the Nud1 gene in hybrid material has been demonstrated. However, while the observed number of hybrids homozygous for the recessive allele nud1 almost completely corresponded to their expected number, the clear predominance of homozygotes for the dominant allele Nud1 and the lack of heterozygotes compared to the expected number of hybrids of these groups indicates erroneous identification of some heterozygotes as dominant homozygotes, which must be taken into account during selection of hulled barleys by genotyping. Conclusions. The STS-marker amplified by primers wF2, kR1, and tR2, can be used to select recessive homozygotes nud1nud1 from hybrid populations, however, additional analysis is required for a more reliable identification of heterozygotes and homozygotes for the dominant allele of the Nud1 gene.