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The narrow-leafed lupinе (Lupinus angustifolius L.) is considered as a crop of untapped opportunities. The food and forage potential of the species is not fully exploited due to the presence of quinolizidine alkaloids (QA) in plants, which are secondary metabolites that make the seeds bitter and toxic to humans and animals. Varieties with a low content of QA (“sweet” varieties) created over the last 50-60 years turned out to be more susceptible to damage by sucking insects and insect-transmitted viruses than high alkaloid ones (“bitter” varieties). Based on the rapidly developing genomic, transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling of the species, some molecular determinants and features of alkaloid biosynthesis in narrow-leafed lupinе plants have been identified: alkaloids are formed in the vegetative organs of the plant and then transported to the seeds. This information substantiated the creation of “bitter-sweet” forms with a high content of alkaloids in the vegetative parts of the plant, which would make it possible to reduce the attack of pathogens, and a minimal content of alkaloids in the seeds. This review summarizes the existing prerequisites for obtaining such forms of narrow-leafed lupinе on the basis of the available scientific developments. Information on the creation of saturated genetic maps of the species, in which the iucundus (iuc) locus determining the overall low alkaloid content in seeds is integrated and is used in breeding programs. The use of the new generation sequencing allowed the identification of the RAP2-7 gene, encoding the transcription factor APETALA2/ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR, which is coupled to the iuc locus and located in the area with the main QTLs that affect the composition of the QA. It is a likely candidate gene for regulating alkaloid content in narrow-leafed lupinе seeds. The initial stages of QA biosynthesis and its regulatory factors have been revealed. Two reference assemblies of the genome of narrow-leafed lupinе have been carried out. All these achievements constitute a valuable resource for the creation of forms of narrow-leafed lupinе with a high content of alkaloids in the vegetative mass and low in the seeds, which are absent in nature.

Tan spot of wheat (pyrenophorosis) is a worldwide spread and economically significant disease of wheat. Growing resistant cultivars is an environmentally friendly method of disease control. The aim of the present work was to assess tan spot resistance in common wheat cultivars recommended for cultivation in the Russian Federation, and to identify the dominant Tsn1 allele using a molecular marker. The assessment involved 39 winter and 31 spring wheat cultivars included in the State Register of Selection Achievement in 2018-2020. Evaluation of wheat resistance was carried out in laboratory conditions under artificial inoculation of seedlings and leaf segments. Two isolates of Pyrenophora tritici-repentis (Died.) Drechs, producing ToxA toxin (I_ToxA) and ToxB toxin (ToxB) were used. The dominant allele of the Tsn1 gene was identified using the Xfcp623 marker. A high level of resistance (R) to both isolates (I_ToxA and I_ToxB) was shown by spring cultivars ‘Grenada’ and ‘Silach’; moderate resistance (MR) was demonstrated by winter cultivars ‘Felicia’ and ‘Akhmat’ and spring cultivars ‘Omskaya 42’, ‘Zauralskaya Zhemchuzhina’, ‘Radmira’, ‘Tarskaya 12’ and ‘Extra’. A resistant reaction (R, MR) to the isolate I_ToxA was typical for 26% of winter cultivars and 45% of spring ones. The number of cultivars resistant to the I_ToxB isolate was significantly higher (59% and 52%, respectively). The total fraction of cultivars resistant to the isolate I_ToxA (reaction R, MR) in the collection of winter wheat was 26% and 45% in the spring wheat collection; while the fractions of cultivars resistant to the I_ToxB isolate in these collections were equal to 59% and 52%, respectively. By using the Xfcp623 marker, the diagnostic product was amplified in winter cultivars ‘Bodry’, ‘Kavalerka’, ‘Timiryazevka 150’, ‘Shef’, ‘Anastasia’, ‘Barynya’, ‘Donskaya Step’, ‘Elanskaya’ and spring cultivars ‘Odeta’, ‘Stolypinskaya 2’, ‘Iren’ 2’ and ‘OMGAU 100’. All these cultivars were moderately susceptible to the isolate I_ToxA, with the exception of ‘Odeta’ and ‘Iren’ 2’, which may indicate a decrease in the expression level of the ToxA gene in genotypes of these cultivars.

Currently, several species of the genus Gossypium are cultivated to produce fiber. Cotton has been grown for a long time, however, many aspects of its cultivation and processing are still researched. When talking about the agronomy of cotton, some fundamental problems should be mentioned. For example, the amounts of pesticides used in the cultivation of cotton are greater than for any other crop. Chemicals sprayed on cotton are washed away from the fields and pollute fresh water sources, causing significant damage to the environment. Fortunately, such challenges can be overcome by switching to the cultivation of transgenic cotton. The introduction of transgenic cotton has already brought many important environmental, social and economic benefits, including a reduction in the use of pesticides, indirect influence on the increase in yields, minimization of environmental pollution, reduction of economic costs and labor for cultivating the crop. Until today, the main methods of obtaining transgenic cotton lines are still agrobacterial transformation and biolistics. In recent years, however, innovative methods of transformation have also been developed. For example, the pollen tube-mediated introduction of genetic material for obtaining commercial transgenic cotton is actively used in China. Although transgenic lines with resistance to diseases and abiotic stresses, and with improved fiber quality have been obtained in recent decades, the market of transgenic cotton is still dominated by insect- and herbicide-resistant lines. All the above indicates an insufficient integration between institutes as sources of advanced developments and agricultural industry. The present review collected and summarized the results of research on the cultivation and genetic modification of cotton. The main methods of genetic transformation of cultivated representatives of the genus Gossypium, both actively used at present and still under development, were considered. Also, the most remarkable transgenic lines were also described, among which are those that have already been adopted by the agricultural industry and those that have been obtained only recently. Thus, the reader will be able to get a general idea of the current achievements in the field of cotton genetic modification.

Nine separate scientific conferences and school-conferences dedicated to the conservation, development, study and practical use of biological collections of various types were held under the auspices of the First Scientific Forum “Genetic Resources of Russia”, which took place in Saint Petersburg on 21-24 June 2022. A total of more than 300 oral presentations were made at these events. The Forum plenary sessions, which included 25 lectures, attracted more than 1,500 participants. The development prospects, research and scientific-practical potential of biological collections were thoroughly discussed at the events of the Forum. The results of these discussions are presented in this publication in the form of a Forum resolution. The strategic role of biological collections for the conservation of genetic diversity, for the scientific and technological development of society and for the provision of educational processes is emphasized. This strategic framework, which should be developed and maintained, also makes it possible to implement practical tasks related to meeting the challenges in the field of food and environmental security, health care and technological independence in the rapidly developing spheres of the economy.

The first scientific forum «Genetic Resources of Russia» took place in Saint Petersburg on 21-24 June 2022. The Forum brought together more than 500 specialists from more than 100 research institutions and universities of the Russian Federation. A round table «Regulations and standards of work with bio-resource collections» was organized within the framework of the Forum in connection with the relevance to create the legislation base for the work with biological collections and regulation of the activities of bioresource centres in the Russian Federation. This publication presents the outcomes of the Forum and its resolution relating to the legal regulation of biological collections.