The cytogenetic parameters of Pinus sylvestris L. under conditions of the Far North of Russia (Karelia)

The cytogenetic analysis of the Pinus sylvestris L. seed progeny in the forests of the northern taiga in the Far North of Russia conditions was carried out. Two Pinus sylvestris populations growing in Ambarnskoy and Pyaozerskoy forest divisions of Loukhsky district of Karelia Republic were studied. The number of chromosomes, the frequency and types of mitosis disturbances at the metaphase, anaphase and telophase (as a percentage of the total number of dividing cells at the same stages), and the frequency of micronuclei occurrence, as well as the laboratory seed germination, were studied. As a result of the study, it was found that 50–56% of the studied sprouts were mixoploid. Analysis of mitosis showed that the root meristem of the studied samples contained cells with various pathologies; simultaneously, the frequency of mitosis pathologies in the Ambarnskoy population was significantly higher than in the Pyaozerskoy one. It amounted to 6.8 ± 0.4 and 4.9 ± 0.4%, respectively. Nine types of abnormalities were identified; chromosome overrun and bridges prevailed. Micronuclei were registered in 35–38% of the studied Pinus sylvestris sprouts. At the same time, the proportion of cells with micronuclei in the Ambarnskoy population was 2-fold higher than in the Pyaozerskoy one and averaged 0.12 ± 0.03% and 0.07 ± 0.02%, respectively.

The effect of a single inbreeding on the growth and development of fast-growing tree species, Betula pendula and Betula pubescens

The aim of the research is to study parameters of seed reproduction systems in Betula pendula and B. pubescens, find possibilities for producing viable inbred plants, and analyze their growth and development and hybrid heterosis at crossing the selected forms in generations F1 and I1. Differentiation in deciduous trees by self-fertility level was established. By this feature the progeny of different tree groups have different genetic and selection value depending on pollination method of parent trees: at open pollination the progeny of self-sterile and transitional forms (cross-pollinating) are the most fast-growing and resistant to unfavorable environmental factors, whereas at self-pollination – the progeny of self-fertile forms. Accordingly parent trees were classified into three groups: self-fertile, self-sterile and transitional forms. Frequency of self-fertile forms and preservation of inbred plants in downy birch are higher than the similar indicators in silver birch. Thus an ambiguous effect of closely related crossing in tree species on the growth and development of their seed progeny was revealed. The effect of inbreeding on some trees is positive, on other negative, and there is the third group, in which the growth deflections caused by inbreeding are inessential. Such trees are suggested for use in various selection programs.

Creation of clary sage cultivar using cell engineering methods. 2. Study of plant-regenerants at the stages of breeding process

Clary sage (Salvia sclarea L.) is a widely demanded essential oil plant. The products of its processing are used in medicine, perfumery and cosmetics, food industry, paint and varnish production. The main breeding tasks are to develop cultivars that combine high yield and quality of essential oil, resistant to abiotic and biotic stresses. All clary sage cultivars registered in the ‘State register of breeding achievements allowed for use’ Russian Federation were obtained on the basis of traditional methods. The initial breeding material of S. sclarea was obtained at the FSBSI “Research Institute of Agriculture of Crimea” using methods of cell engineering (induction of somaclones from callus cultures, obtaining hybrids in embryoculture and cell selection for resistance to osmotic stress). The aim of this work was to study the main economic and morphometric parameters of clary sage samples created using various biotechnological methods at the main stages of the breeding process. As a material for research, we used samples obtained in vitro using three biotechnological methods – regenerants (R2-R3) from calli of ‘C-785’ and ‘Taigan’ cultivars, obtained in isolated embryo culture hybrids (Salvia sclarea L. x S. grandiflora Etling.) and forms selected in embryoculture on a selective medium with an osmotic (mannitol or NaCl). When studying 10 sage samples (seed progeny of regenerants) in the breeding nursery (2012–2014), three that exceeded the control cultivar ‘Taigan’ in terms of basic economic characteristics were identified. The collection of essential oil from them was 1.2-1.4 times higher than in the control. In the nursery of competitive variety trials (2016–2019), when studying three samples (No. R3-1-6, 226-08 and 1-01), No. R3-1-6 was selected for a number of indicators. This sample is seed progeny of regenerant obtained by the induction of morphogenesis from callus. A characteristic feature of this sample was an increase in the number of lateral shoots per inflorescence by 41.1 %, which contributed to an increase in the mass of inflorescences. By the yield of inflorescences (162.0 c/ha) and the collection of essential oil (51.5 kg/ha), No. R3-1-6 exceeded control by 24.9 % and 43.9 %, respectively. The patent on the new clary sage cultivar ‘Selinzh’ (No. R3-1-6), in the creation of which the method of cell engineering was used for the first time, was received.

ON THE PRODUCTION OF SEED PROGENY OF METASEQUOIA GLYPTOSTROBOIDES HU ET W. C. CHENG (TAXODIACEAE) IN ST. PETERSBURG

Metasequoia glyptostroboides Hu et W.C. Cheng has been grown in the Peter the Great Botanical Garden of the BIN RAS since 1952, where it was first introduced into cultivation in Russia. It is the most winter-hardy representative of the Taxodiaceae family suitable for open field culture in St. Petersburg. The best specimens reached 14.4 m in height with a trunk diameter of 29 cm at the age of 69 years. In 2018, seed production was recorded for the first time. Seed offspring were obtained in 2020. In the conditions of the warming of the climate of St. Petersburg in the first two decades of the 21st century, there is a surge in the generative ability of woody exotics, an increasing number of trees and shrubs are beginning to bear fruits and seeds.

GROWTH OF ANNUAL SEEDLINGS OF LARGE-FRUITED APPLE VARIETIES IN THE SUBURBAN AREA OF KRASNOYARSK

The article presents a study of the growth rates of annual seedlings of large-fruited varieties of domestic apple (Malus domestica Borkh), grown in the conditions of the upper terrace of the Botanical Garden named after M. Kru-tovsky, Krasnoyarsk. The seeds for cultivation were collected from mother trees growing on the lower and upper terrac-es of the garden. The height of the terraces differs by 28 m. It was revealed that the phenological form of apple varie-ties also affects the growth rates of seed progeny. Large size of aboveground part and weight of one leaf is noted in seedlings of winter varieties. The presence of intervarietal variability in indicators of apple seedlings was established. Fast-growing varieties (Anisik ordinary, Antipaskhalnoe, Papirovka, Pepin saffron) and individual half-sibs (Papirovka No. 44, Cinnamon striped No. 30, Grushovka Moskovskaya No. 34, White filling No. 8 and 27, Slavyanka No. 28, Aport Central Russian No. 1, Titovka No. 1, General Orlov No. 43, variety No. 22 No. 29, etc.), characterized by a greater height and diameter of the stem of annual seedlings, for further selection research

Influence of the Urban Environment on the English Oak (Quercus Robur L.) Growth and Development

The morphological parameters of the maternal trees growth, seed progeny and seedlings, and the value of the fluctuating asymmetry (FA) of the leaves of adult plants under urban influence were estimated. Urban oak groves have a low growth rate of shoots. Rural and suburban oak groves are characterized by an increase in the shoot. The coefficients of variation (Cv) in the length and width of leaf blades are generally low; only for 1 territory near urban radius and experiencing the influence of industrial enterprises, the Cv of the length of the leaf blade is 29.3% and the width of the leaf blade - 30.4%. FA for all oak forests, with the exception of Chizhovskoe tract (0.056), not exceed 0.04, thus, they are resistant to the anthropogenic factor. The average growth of seedlings is 13-14 cm. The coefficient of variation for shoot length for most groups of seedlings exceeds 30%. The suburban seedlings have the largest shoot thickness and exceed 0.3 cm. Among urban seedlings, the oak population in the most distant from the city (middle circle), is close to this indicator. The areas of the lowest emission load of pollutants coincide with the forest areas of the city.

BREEDING EVALUATION OF THE USSURI PLUM IN THE DEENDRARIA OF SIBERIAN STATE UNIVERSITY

The research was conducted in the arboretum of the M. F. Reshetnev Siberian State University of Science and Technology (SibSU). The paper summarizes the results of the growth of mother trees and seed progeny of Ussuri plum trees growing in the introduction department of the arboretum. On average, the height of the Ussuri plum is 3.3 ±0.17 m with a high level of variation of the trait (29 %). The diameter of the stem of the studied plants is in the range from 1.5 to 5.7 cm and is expressed by a very high level of variability (51.2 %). The average crown diameter is 3.2 ±0.22 m. Among the queen trees, specimens No. 10 and No. 14 were selected by height. From these trees, the seeds were collected for sowing. As a result of a comparative analysis of the variability of annual seedlings in the height of the aboveground part of the stem and the diameter of the stem, the most promising seed progeny was identified. In the seedlings of the 2018 sowing year, the height and diameter of the stem were 12.9–1.8 cm and 10.4 and 1.6 mm, respectively. The height of the seedlings of specimen No. 14 (2019) varied from 4 to 18 cm, with an average value of 10.2 cm 0.59 and the diameter of the stem at the root neck — 1.8 cm 0.09. The obtained data are used for further reproduction and replenishment of the collection of the SibSU arboretum. When studying the size characteristics, it was noted that the minimum fruit length of the examined specimens is 1.4 cm, the maximum — 3.0 cm, the highest coefficient of variation in the specimen No. 14 is high and is equal to 22.8 %. According to the diameter of the fruit, the largest sizes are noted in specimen No. 10, the smallest — in No. 6. From five samples of Ussuri plum (No. 2, 6, 8, 10, 14), growing in the introduction department, the taste has the advantage of the sweet taste of the fruits, which are characterized by a yellow color. This should be taken into account when further breeding work with these specimens.

The results of cherry species (Prunus L.) alien pollination in connection with the possibility of agamosperm reproduction

Agamosperm (asexual) reproduction, along with conventional sexual reproduction, is quite widespread inthe Rosaceae Juss. family. It provides several advantages for successful seed progeny reproduction in unfavorable natural conditions. Remote hybridization and polyploidy are genetic mechanisms, which favor to the development of seedswithout fertilization. For species of stone plants, in the phylogeny of which these two factors play a decisive role, it is important to assess the possibility of the presence of a pseudogamous type of apomixes, which requires the obligatory pollenapplication on the stigma for seed development. The aim of the investigation was to study the results of alien pollinationfor 4 wild and cultivated cherries (Prunus pensylvanica L., P. maackii Rupr., P. fruticosa Pall., P. cerasus L.) in connection with the prospect of including the agamosperm genotypes in breeding crosses. The possibility of pseudogamous reproduction was revealed only for wild P. fruticosa.