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To address the challenge of developing competitive domestic sunflower hybrids adapted to changing environmental conditions, it is essential to actively incorporate new source material into breeding programs. This source material is available in the VIR collection, which contains 2,300 sunflower accessions in the permanent catalog. One of the target indicators of the Federal Scientific and Technical Program for Agricultural Development for 2017-2030 is achieving a level of self-reliance in seeds for domestic sunflower hybrids of at least 75% by 2030. In order to select source material for breeding programs on developing heterotic hybrids and to actively incorporate them into studies, it is necessary to have a comprehensive information on the most potentially in-demand accessions and a sufficient amount of seeds of these accessions in the active collection. This article presents the information on sunflower accessions provided upon request in 2020-2025. This article presents information on sunflower accessions submitted upon request in the period 2020-2025, and an analysis of estimated data on the sunflower gene pool obtained in the Krasnodar Region at the Kuban Experimental Station – a branch of VIR for the period 2019-2025. The trait-specific collections supplied with additional information on the data obtained using diagnostic DNA markers have been compiled as proposals to recipients of the collection materials. The article presents sources of early maturity and ultra-early maturity of sunflower, sources of short stems, large fruits, donors of resistance to downy mildew, including samples with pyramids of resistance genes, early maturing lines - carriers of the pollen fertility restoration gene Rf1, as well as samples possessing a complex of economically valuable traits, for example, a combination of early maturity, short stems or large fruits with the ability to restore pollen fertility CMS PET1. The established active collection includes trait-specific collections for dwarfness: 40 lines with plant height of up to 80 cm, and for large seed size: 90 accessions for breeding domestic cultivars and hybrids for confectionery purposes. This information is intended to facilitate breeders in selecting the necessary source material during the application process.

Background. The gum extracted from guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.), a tropical legume, is an important strategic resource required in such fundamental sectors of the Russian economy as oil and gas production. It is a polysaccharide galactomannan with high gelling capacity, making it used as a thickener and stabilizer in many other sectors of the national economy. The Russian Federation imports guar gum. Following the introduction of guar to the Russian Federation in the early 21st century, opportunities for domestic gum production emerged. In this regard, research is needed to determine how the quantity and quality of the plant-produced gum depend on genotype and environment, and to find ways to maximize these characteristics. Materials and Methods. Twelve guar accessions from the VIR collection were analyzed: four tolerant, four sensitive and four neutral to drought. Seed gum content and the reduced specific viscosity were determined using a rapid laboratory method for obtaining gum extracts for viscometric evaluation. The data were statistically processed using the Statistica 13.3 package. Results. The average gum content in the seeds across the accessions was 22.3%, and the reduced specific viscosity (η) was 10,770. The gum content was found to weakly depend on such analyzed factors as the year, water supply regime, and the response of the accession to water supply. It was established that the variability of the reduced specific viscosity was mostly affected by the genotype (51%). The content and reduced specific viscosity of gum in guar seeds were insensitive to artificial drought initiated after the onset of fruiting and to the water supply regime. The accessions with the highest gum content and η values have been identified. Conclusions. A comparatively higher reduced specific viscosity of gum was found in drought-tolerant genotypes. The year of the experiment turned out to be the second most important factor after the genotype. We suppose that the longer maturation period in 2023 and the higher total accumulated active temperatures contributed to the higher content and higher reduced specific viscosity of the gum.

Background. Involving alien genetic material of Hordeum bulbosum in the genome for the expansion of the genetic diversity of cultivated barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is an important task because this species is characterized by a number of valuable traits. One of the ways of using the genetic potential of bulbous barley is the interspecific hybridization and the production of fertile introgression lines of H. vulgare on the basis of interspecific hybrids. The purpose of the study was to synthesize and study introgression lines (IL) of cultivated barley developed using interspecific hybrids with bulbous barley. Materials. H. vulgare ILs with alien introgressions were selected in generations from self-pollination of barley plants obtained by pollination of cultivated barley with partially fertile pollen of interspecific hybrids H. vulgare ‘Roland’ (2x) × H. bulbosum W851 (4x) (HvHbHb) and H. bulbosum I:632321 (4x) × H. vulgare ‘Borwina’ (4x) (HbHbHvHv). The study involved a total of 21 developed ILs with terminal introgression of bulbous barley genetic material in different chromosome arms, namely 1HL, 2HL, 3HS, 5HL, 1HL+3HS, 6HS. Methods. DNA-DNA in situ hybridization (FISH, GISH) was employed to detect and identify introgressions and analyze their retention during field reproduction. Plants of the lines were grown in the field without isolation of spikes. Characteristics of fertility and productivity of ILs (number of grains per spike, spike grain content (%), grain weight per spike, and 1000-kernel weight) were determined. Grain quality parameters, i.e. protein and crude fiber content, were determined as a percentage of the total dry weight of the grain using a non-destructive method of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. Results. Based on interspecific hybrids, 21 cultivated barley ILs were created with terminal introgression of bulbous barley genetic material in chromosomes 1HL, 2HL, 3HS, 5HL, 6HS, and 1HL+3HS. All lines, like the parent cultivar, are characterized by closed flowering, and the lines retain their introgression in their progeny when grown in the field without isolation. Most of the ILs match cultivated barley in fertility and productivity. Among the ILs with terminal introgression on the long arm of chromosome 2HL, forms with varying fertility were identified. Spike grain content in these forms is associated with the size of the foreign introgression: ILs 2.1.2.2.2, 2.1.2.2.6 and 2.1.1.3.1.4 with an introgression of a size visually similar to the original, are characterized by low spike grain content (less than 22%). A decrease in the size of the terminal introgression leads to the restoration of fertility. Analysis of the grain quality of 18 cultivated barley lines showed a tendency towards an increase in the protein content in the grain of line 1.4.1.1 with an introgression on chromosome 3HS, as well as of lines 1.3.1 and 1.4.2.1 with two introgressions 1HL+3HS, compared to the original cultivar ‘Roland’. Conclusions. Twenty-one barley introgression lines with terminal introgressions on various chromosomes (1HL, 2HL, 3HS, 5HL, 6HS, and 1HL+3HS) were developed. Of these, 18 are highly fertile forms of barley, characterized by closed flowering and self-pollination, which ensures the retention of the introgressed foreign chromosome fragments in subsequent generations. For the ILs with an introgression on chromosome 2HL, a dependence of fertility on the size of the foreign terminal fragment was revealed. The ILs carrying a fragment of H. bulbosum genetic material in the terminal region of the short arm of chromosome 3H were found to have a higher grain protein content compared to the original cultivar ‘Roland’.

Background. Common wheat Triticum aestivum L., which grain accumulates anthocyanin compounds with broad biological activity, is a valuable raw material for the production of functional foods. Various technological processes are used in the production of such foods, among which thermal methods such as roasting play a key role. These methods are known to shape the characteristic flavor, aroma, and textural characteristics of the final product, and also increase the bioavailability of nutrients. However, the effect of heat treatment on the biochemical and mineral composition of anthocyanin-rich grain has not yet been studied. The aim of this research was to analyze the effect of heat treatment of pigmented wheat grain on its organic and mineral content during the production of talgan, a Khakass national product made from roasted and milled grain. Materials and methods. The research employed near-isogenic iP and iP7D wheat lines differing in the presence of anthocyanins in the grain. Talgan samples taken from various processing stages (original grain, roasted grain, and finished product) were assessed for total moisture, fiber, protein, calcium, phosphorus, sugar, and crude ash content according to GOST standards. Anthocyanin content in the grain of the studied wheat accessions before and after heat treatment and milling was determined using spectrophotometry. Results and discussion. The grain of the colored iP line was statistically shown to be superior to that of the uncolored iP7D line in anthocyanin content, total moisture, fiber, phosphorus, and crude ash, while protein, calcium, and crude ash contents did not differ between the lines. During the production of talgan, which includes heat treatment of the whole and ground grain, most of the studied grain parameters either remained at the initial level, or increased compared to the untreated grain. The exceptions were a decrease in the calcium content in the grain of the iP7D line and of anthocyanin in the grain of the iP line after treatment. Grain of the uncolored line was more sensitive to technological processing stages, under the influence of which an increase in all the analyzed parameters was recorded, with the exception for the total moisture content, which remained unchanged compared to the original grain. In the colored line, however, the treatment caused only an increase in fiber and sugar content. Conclusions. The revealed features are important to consider when developing products based on wheat grain containing anthocyanins, where the balance between taste, texture and the preservation of bioactive components plays a key role.

Increasing the area under a given agricultural crop largely depends on the adaptive potential of new cultivars or those in production. The objective of this study was to comparatively assess the variability of economically important traits in hemp cultivars of the Central Russian ecotype ‘Nadezhda’, ‘Lyudmila’, ‘Surskaya’, and ‘Vera’ in the Middle Volga region and the western part of the Central Non-Chernozem Zone of Russia. In 2023-2024, the research was conducted in experimental fields at the Federal Scientific Center for Bast Crops in the Penza and Smolensk regions. The agroclimatic conditions of the regions varied significantly in terms of moisture availability. The sum of active temperatures in the Penza Region was 2397°C in 2023 and 2234°C in 2024, with precipitation of 177 mm and 156 mm, respectively. In the Smolensk Region, the sum of active temperatures was 2299°C in 2023, and 2385°C in 2024, with precipitation of 236 mm and 358 mm, respectively. The favorable climatic conditions during the two years of testing allowed for a significant realization of the cultivars’ potential, as observed under the conditions of the originator. In the Smolensk Region, maximum plant height reached 191 cm, technical length 162 cm, and seed weight per plant was 7.8 g. In the Penza Region, these values reached 281 cm in height, 262 cm in technical length, and 18.7 g in seed weight per plant. Variability of economically important traits in all studied cultivars depended on heat and moisture availability. In the conditions of the western part of the Central region, the level of variability of the main economically important traits was higher, namely, the variation coefficient reached 16.2% for plant height, 13.9% for technical length, and 27.0% for stem diameter. In the Middle Volga region, the maximum variability values were noted at 13.6% for plant height, 13.4% for technical length, and 19.8% for stem diameter. Economically important traits characterizing the generative structure are more variable than vegetative ones: the maximum level of variability was recorded at 46% for seed weight per plant in the Penza Region and 63.9% in the Smolensk Region. Using mathematical analysis methods, it was established that among the studied cultivars ‘Vera’ exhibited high plasticity: the linear regression coefficient for environmental conditions according to Eberhart and Russell (b_i) was 1.4, and low stability: the weighted average of absolute scores (WAASВ) was 54.4; and the yield and stability balance index (WAASBY) was 50.0. Cv. ‘Surskaya’ demonstrated high stability with WAASВ=19.7, and WAASBY=52.7, and cv. ‘Vera’ demonstrated the highest seed yield in both test zones.

Background. In global hybrid corn breeding, only cultivars and hybrids with a diploid (2n) genome are used. The present research for the first time compared the yield of leaf and stem mass and silage quality of tetraploid (4n) corn with those of diploid corn. Materials and Methods. Silages from the leaf-stem mass of the diploid corn cultivar ‘Raduga’ and tetraploid cultivar ‘Tetrasil’ of waxy maturity, treated with AiBi® Lb 15.10 F and BIO-SIL preservatives, have been analyzed. Silage from diploid and tetraploid corn without preservatives served as a control. Silage quality was determined on days 14, 30, and 60 in triplicate. Phenotyping of diploid and tetraploid corn accessions was conducted under agroclimatic conditions of Saratov city at 51°32′ N and Prokhladny town at 43°45′ N in Russia in 2022/2023. Results. Tetraploid corn plants significantly differ from those of diploid corn in leaf and stem yield (2.4 times higher), dry matter content (2 times), and grain protein content. After 60 days of ensiling, silage from diploid corn is inferior to that from tetraploid corn in terms of Nitrogen-free extractives (NFES) content and acidity (pH), but has superior protein, fat, ash, and fiber content. The biopreservatives AiBi 15.10 F and BIO-SIL used in the experimental variants significantly improved the quality indicators after 30 and 60 days of ensiling for all components in diploid and tetraploid corn silages. Cv. ‘Tetrasil’ does not yield mature grain in northern climates, therefore its use in this zone is limited to silage production. Discussion. It is possible that these differences between the two cultivars are due to a later maturity group or a higher amylopectin starch content in the grain of cv. ‘Tetrasil’ cultivar compared to that of cv. ‘Raduga’, which is better adapted to the agroclimatic conditions of the Saratov Region and contains less amylopectin than ‘Tetrasil’. Conclusions. Cv. ‘Tetrasil’ has advantages over cv. ‘Raduga’ in terms of green mass yield when grown in the agroclimatic conditions of the Saratov Region, and in some quality indicators of silage with and without the use of preservatives. Tetraploid corn produces high-quality silage similar in quality to that produced from diploid corn.

Relevance of cultivated plant preservation in gene banks and broadening variability of their traits keeps increasing due to the substantial shrinking of the genetic base for the development of modern intensive varieties. The VIR Collection contains over 53,000 vegetable and cucurbit specimens from 98 countries, including representatives of 32 families, 148 genera, and 610 species. VIR vegetable and cucurbit collections have leading positions in the global gene bank system. The uniqueness of the collections reaches 80%. The main areas of collection development include the collection of wild species and local forms with a high degree of resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses and valuable biochemical composition. The identification of genetic sources and donors of valuable traits in vegetable and cucurbit crops, subsequently proposed for use in breeding programs, is based on a study of the global collection of vegetable and cucurbit crops at 11 VIR branches located in various ecological and geographical zones of the Russian Federation and at the main institute in St. Petersburg. These comprehensive botanical-agrobiological, ecological-geographical, morphological, biochemical, immunological, and genetic studies are conducted with particular attention paid to the characteristics of accessions for early maturity, shelf life during long-term storage, cold, drought, and heat resistance, developmental characteristics, flowering biology, disease and pest resistance, and chemical composition. This brief overview of the global diversity of VIR collections of vegetable and cucurbit genetic resources presents an analysis of the main areas of their use in modern breeding. This article reports information on how the accessions of vegetable and cucurbit crops from the VIR collection were used on request over the past five years, during 2021-2025.

A key factor in conducting breeding work at a high scientific and technological level is the use of the diversity of the potato gene pool preserved by gene banks and bioresource centres, an integral part of whose function is to provide accessions from the collections they maintain upon request. The main catalogue of VIR collection contains over 8,200 potato accessions: over 2,700 cultivars bred in Russia and abroad, over 3,400 accessions of cultivated species from South America, and approximately 2,000 accessions of wild species from Central and South America. The temporary catalogue features over 500 breeding lines, dihaploids, and interspecific potato hybrids. In 2020-2025, the recipients of tuber reproduction of potato samples from the VIR collection were leading state potato breeding centres and scientific institutions in the field of various areas of plant biology, protection, and phytopathology, receiving 1,042 potato samples upon request. The recipients primarily require plant material with high productivity, taste qualities, high starch content, resistance to late blight, potato cancer, and viral diseases. Sets of accessions with a range of valuable breeding traits, as well as evaluation data on them, form the basis for the effective fulfilment of subsequent requests from state research universities and higher education institutes aimed at solving pressing issues in potato breeding. To assist the requesting parties in formulating their future requests, this publication provides an analysis of the information on the collection material open for distribution, as well as an algorithm for creating subcollections that unite specimens with the greatest potential.

Background. Annual ornamental crops are in demand in the landscaping of public spaces and private gardens, and are also grown outdoors or in greenhouses for cutting. The accelerated production of high-quality ornamental plant cultivars requires the use of biotechnological techniques, such as the introduction into aseptic conditions, in vitro cultivation, and viable organogenic callus production. Materials and methods. The study focused on the Antirrhinum majus L. cultivars from the VIR collection. The explants of each cultivar in the form of young shoots with buds were introduced into aseptic conditions after sterilization, and then the plants were transferred to media containing growth regulators that promote accelerated microclonal propagation, rhizogenesis, or callusogenesis. Results and discussion. The introduction of A. majus plants into aseptic conditions was highly effective. Media for microclonal propagation, root formation, and callusogenesis were selected. A high intensity of formation of new shoots for cuttings was observed on all cultivation media. The best results for root formation were achieved on media supplemented with IAA and NAA. The highest efficiency for callus formation was observed on a medium containing 1 mg/L of BAP, 1 mg/L of 2,4-D, and 1 mg/L of NAA. Substrates for ex vitro plant adaptation have been selected to ensure high survival rates of the specimens. Conclusions. In the course of the study, techniques for A. majus plants in vitro cultivation were developed, ranging from introduction to aseptic conditions to adaptation to the external environment. The conditions for the development and maintenance of a viable callus have been optimized. The techniques presented in the study ensure a stable supply of biological material for molecular genetic research.

Background. The development of high-yielding and nutritious cultivars of leaf turnip Brassica rapa L. using traditional breeding methods is a lengthy process. The application of biotechnological methods, particularly the production of doubled haploid (DH) lines in vitro, significantly accelerates the creation of homozygous forms and unlocks the genetic potential of hybrids. The aim of the research was to evaluate DH-lines of leaf turnip, produced from the F₁ Torazirok hybrid, for a set of economically important morphological and biochemical traits. Materials and methods. The object of the study was the leaf turnip F₁ Torazirok hybrid (k-330, Japan) and 15 DH lines derived from it through in vitro isolated microspore culture. Plants were grown under controlled conditions in a climate chamber. The plants were described morphologically, and biochemical analysis of the content of photosynthetic pigments chlorophylls a, b, carotenoids, and β-carotene was performed by spectrophotometry. Results and discussion. Significant polymorphism has been revealed between the DH lines and the F₁ hybrid. The duration of the vegetative period varied from 41 to 52 days. Rosette diameter ranged from 20.5 to 40.3 cm, and the above-ground plant mass from 0.15 to 0.33 kg. β-carotene content fluctuated from 2.6 to 6.3 mg/100 g of fresh weight. The lines that were found to significantly surpass the original hybrid in key traits were DH 8 – in productivity with the mass of 0.33 kg and β-carotene content (6.3 mg/100 g); DH 4 – in rosette diameter (40.3 cm) and the mass of 0.31 kg; DH 2 and DH 5 – in β-carotene content (5.6 and 5.2 mg/100 g, respectively). The DH 2 line combines early maturity (41 days), high productivity, and maximum carotenoid content. Conclusions. The isolated microspore culture method is effective for the rapid creation of genetically diverse and homozygous leaf turnip breeding material. The obtained range of DH-lines is a valuable source for breeding. Promising donor lines have been identified: DH 2 and DH 8 – for early maturity and increased β-carotene content; DH 4 and DH 8 – for high productivity. The results confirm that the haploid technology allows not only for the fixation but also for the enhancement of economically important traits, providing ready-made material for genetic research and the creation of new cultivars.

Safflower Carthamus tinctorius L., a member of the Asteraceae family, is an important oilseed crop; its seeds are rich in fatty acids, particularly oleic and linoleic. Safflower is also used for ornamental purposes and has been extensively cultivated in many countries for centuries. In recent years, secondary metabolites obtained from safflower inflorescences, particularly flavonoids, have attracted particular interest. Safflower flavonoids can be divided into two groups: specialized flavonoids, represented by quinochalcones, and general ones. Many of these substances significantly influence the color of safflower inflorescences, which changes depending on the flowering stage (from yellow to orange and red at fading). Safflower flavonoids are widely used in medicine and as natural dyes in the manufacture of fabrics, cosmetics, and in the food industry. The process of pigment biosynthesis in inflorescences is still being studied; many stages remain unexplored, and the mechanical aspects of their formation are unknown. Of particular interest is the synthesis of the red pigment, carthamin, a unique dimeric quinochalcone extracted only from orange and red safflower inflorescences. When properly purified, this pigment acquires a metallic golden sheen. A 2021 study used safflower inflorescences for extracting carthamin synthase (CarS) proteins responsible for the final step in converting precarthamin to carthamin. The CarS genes (CtPOD1, CtPOD2, and CtPOD3) are expressed in safflower tissues regardless of flower color. Presumably, precarthamin accumulates in corolla cellular structures that are physically separated from the cellular compartment containing CarS. During floral senescence, cells degrade, allowing CarS to interact with precarthamin and form carthamin, which is adsorbed by the corolla cell wall, thereby stabilizing the red pigmentation. This review summarizes data on the specifics of carthamin synthesis, particularly the final step – the conversion of precarthamin to carthamin and its accumulation in inflorescences.

Ancient cereal crops with unique genetic diversity, which determines a wide range of hereditary traits including specific protein composition and micronutrient profiles of the grain, are of great scientific interest. Triticum dicoccum Schrank ex Schübl., or emmer wheat, is one such species. In Russia, emmer wheat is currently cultivated in the Republics of Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, Chuvashia, Dagestan, and Karachay-Cherkessia. Emmer can successfully grow under various soil and climatic conditions typical of regions with diverse agroecological characteristics. Its grain is rich in protein, including all essential amino acids, as well as in micronutrients, vitamins, and other beneficial compounds. Emmer belongs to the group of ancient wheats that share a common ancestor with bread wheat, and contains genes responsible for domestication traits. These genes are a valuable source for improving disease resistance, adaptation to adverse climatic conditions, and the development of new varieties. The study of genetic diversity in emmer using molecular markers, along with the availability of a reference genome, opens new perspectives for breeding and genetic improvement of cereal crops such as emmer and barley, which may lead to increased yields and more efficient utilization of their beneficial properties. This review summarizes current knowledge on T. dicoccum, its origin, domestication, genetic diversity, and breeding potential.

The article describes the scientific and pedagogical career of Lyudmila Alekseevna Lutova, Doctor of Biological Sciences, and Professor of the Department of Genetics and Biotechnology at St. Petersburg State University (SPbU), who celebrated her anniversary in October 2025. It highlights key areas of her research in biotechnology and plant developmental genetics, including the development of the genetic bases of plant regeneration and the creation of pest-resistant forms and plants producing bioactive compounds. Particular attention is paid to her teaching activities, contributions to personnel training, and the popularization of advances in genetics. Colleagues from the Vavilov Society of Geneticists and Breeders (VOGiS) cordially congratulated Lyudmila Alekseevna on her anniversary and wished further creative success in her research and teaching, lots of energy, good health, and successful development of plant genetics and biotechnology at St. Petersburg University!