Productivity and quality of fiber’s varieties and selection numbers of flax in the Urals of the nonblack earth zone of Russia

In the Ural of the nonblack earth zone of Russia, fiber flax variety Diane from France and selection number ER-138 from Russia stood out in fiber yield. One of the parameters for obtaining a homogeneous fiber of fiber flax is the technical length of the stem - not less than 60 cm, the thickness of the stem - not less than 500 units. The selection number K4196 × 1288/12 and the variety TOST 4 from Russia, which were characterized by a high technical length (61.2 - 61.8 cm) and dryness (472 - 509 units) of the stem in all the years of study in relation to the standard grade. The indicated breeding numbers and varieties, distinguished by yield, technical length and stem thickness, can serve as a starting material in the breeding process. Keywords: FIBER FLAX, VARIETY, BREEDING NUMBER, YIELD, FIBER, TECHNICAL LENGTH, MYKLOST

NALYSIS OF THE ADAPTIVE POTENTIAL OF MODERN VARIETIES FLAX-DOLGUNETS IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE CENTRAL REGION OF RUSSIA

В статье представлены результаты оценки 16 сортов льна-долгунца отечественной и зарубежной селекции по урожайности волокна и основным параметрам адаптивности в условиях Центрального региона России. Погодные условия в годы проведения испытаний были различными, наиболее благоприятные условия сложились в 2018 году, гидротермический коэффициент за период вегетации составил 1,3, урожайность в среднем по опыту составила 2,02 т/га. Стрессовые условия, связанные с переувлажнением в критический период роста и развития растений льна-долгунца (ГТК в июне и июле 1,7 и 1,8 соответственно), имели место в 2017 году, урожайность в среднем по опыту – 1,03 т/га. Наиболее высокую урожайность льноволокна (1,78-1,97 т/га) в среднем за три года (2017 - 2019 гг.) показали сорта Цезарь, Синель, Добрыня (Россия), Marylin (Голландия), Белита (Республика Беларусь), Andrea и Altea (Франция). При стрессовых условиях (индекса условий среды -0,51) высокой адаптивностью обладали Цезарь (157,7%), Синель (152,9) и Добрыня (137,4). The article presents the results of evaluating 16 varieties of fiber flax of domestic and foreign selection in terms of fiber yield and the main parameters of adaptability in the conditions of the Central region of Russia. The weather conditions in the years of testing were different, the most favorable conditions developed in 2018, the hydrothermal coefficient for the growing season was 1.3, the average yield in the experiment was 2.02 c/ha. Stress conditions associated with waterlogging during the critical period of growth and development of fiber flax plants (GTC in June and July 1.7 and 1.8, respectively) took place in 2017, the average yield in experience was 1.03 c/ha. The highest yield of flax fiber (1.78-1.97 t/ha) on average over three years (2017 - 2019) was shown by the varieties Caesar, Sinel, Dobrynya (Russia), Marylin (Holland), Belita (Republic of Belarus), Andrea and Altea (France). Under stressful conditions (index of environmental conditions -0.51), Caesar (157.7%), Chenille (152.9) and Dobrynya (137.4) have high adaptability.

The effect of the herbicide Magnum on the yield and quality of flax products

The aim of the research was to study the response of various flax genotypes to the treatment of plants with a sulfonylurea herbicide – Magnum (active ingredient is metsulfuron-methyl) and to identify resistant forms for use in breeding programs for herbicide resistance. In 2018-2020 an assessment of 24 varieties and promising lines of fiber flax of domestic and foreign selection for resistance to this herbicide was carried out, the treatment of crops with the preparation was carried out at the recommended consumption rate of 0.01 kg/ha in the “herringbone” phase. It has been proved that the use of this herbicide leads to uneven plant growth during the “herringbone – flowering” period, which negatively affects the yield and quality of flax fiber. The decrease in the main indicators of the productivity and quality of the fiber in the variant with the use of the herbicide in comparison with the control, depending on the genotype was: in plant height – up to 44.4 %, in the weight of the technical part – 71.1 %, in the fiber mass – 74.8 %, in «myklost» (the ratio of the technical length of stem to its diameter)– 46.3 %, in the length of the elementary fiber – 27.7 %. A high level of resistance (over 80 %) to the herbicide Magnum for all analyzed traits was shown by the varieties Atlant (Russia) and Mogilevsky (Belarus). It was shown that when treating fiber flax plants with the herbicide, as a rule, an increase in inflorescence occurs due to a decrease in the technical length of the stem. It results in rise of the main indicators of seed productivity in most of genotypes under the influence of the Magnum preparation – the number of bolls and seeds per plant (up to 3.2 times). The exception was the variety Vega 2 (Lithuania), which had a decrease in the number of bolls per plant in the variant with herbicide treatment compared with the control by 1.8 times, and in the number of seeds by 5.3 times. This varietywasalso the most sensitive to the effect of Magnum in all parameters of productivity and fiber quality. The results are consistent with the data obtained whentreating various collection samples of fiber flax with a tank mixture Magnum + Herbitox L + Miura at the recommended consumption rates (0.007 + 0.6 + 1.0 kg(l)/ha).

The Genetic Landscape of Fiber Flax

Genetic diversity in a breeding program is essential to overcome modern-day environmental challenges faced by humanity and produce robust, resilient crop cultivars with improved agronomic characteristics, as well as to trace crop domestication history. Flax (Linum usitatissimum), one of the first crops domesticated by mankind, has been traditionally cultivated for fiber as well as for medicinal purposes and as a nutritional product. The origins of fiber flax are hidden in the mists of time and can be hypothetically traced back to either the Indo-Afghan region or Fertile Crescent. To shed new light on fiber flax genetic diversity and breeding history, in this study, we presented a comprehensive analysis of the core collection of flax (306 accessions) of different morphotypes and geographic origins maintained by the Russian Federal Research Center for Bast Fiber Crops. We observed significant population differentiation between oilseed and fiber morphotypes, as well as mapped genomic regions affected by recent breeding efforts. We also sought to unravel the origins of kryazhs, Russian heritage landraces, and their genetic relatedness to modern fiber flax cultivars. For the first time, our results provide strong genetic evidence in favor of the hypothesis on kryazh’s mixed origin from both the Indo-Afghan diversity center and Fertile Crescent. Finally, we showed predominant contribution from Russian landraces and kryazhs into the ancestry of modern fiber flax varieties. Taken together, these findings may have practical implications on the development of new improved flax varieties with desirable traits that give farmers greater choice in crop management and meet the aspirations of breeders.

Approbation of elements of the informational and analytical crop management system

The object of the research is the module of the Informational and Analytical Crop Management System with differentiated fertilization. The aim of the research was to study the features of the implementation of the functionality of the Information and Analytical Crop Management System (IACMS) with differentiated fertilization. The key element of using the capabilities of the Information and Analytical Crop Management System for is the digitization of fields and the creation of their electronic maps. Differentiated fertilization was carried out in accordance with electronic maps compiled during the agrochemical survey. Digital maps of the fields were entered into the on-board computer of the tractor, equipped with additional devices for the implementation of the differential fertilization mechanism. In accordance with the main goal of the research, the tasks of checking the automated calculation of fertilizer application rates were solved for fiber-flax on the field belonged to Federal State Budget Research Institution «Federal Research Center for Bast Fiber Crops», preparation of a task-map for differential fertilization in CSV-format files and containing the number of the elementary plot and the value of the applied fertilizers, compatibility of the task-map of differentiated fertilization with the equipment of LLC “Center of Precision Agriculture «Aerosoyuz» (LLC «CPA «Aerosoyuz»»), aggregation of equipment with Russian technologies, the interaction of the working bodies of equipment for applying fertilizers with (IACMS), the possibility of controlled passage of the equipment, differentiated fertilization in compliance with the norms of task-maps.

Genes Associated with the Flax Plant Type (Oil or Fiber) Identified Based on Genome and Transcriptome Sequencing Data

As a result of the breeding process, there are two main types of flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) plants. Linseed is used for obtaining seeds, while fiber flax is used for fiber production. We aimed to identify the genes associated with the flax plant type, which could be important for the formation of agronomically valuable traits. A search for polymorphisms was performed in genes involved in the biosynthesis of cell wall components, lignans, fatty acids, and ion transport based on genome sequencing data for 191 flax varieties. For 143 of the 424 studied genes (4CL, C3′H, C4H, CAD, CCR, CCoAOMT, COMT, F5H, HCT, PAL, CTL, BGAL, ABC, HMA, DIR, PLR, UGT, TUB, CESA, RGL, FAD, SAD, and ACT families), one or more polymorphisms had a strong correlation with the flax type. Based on the transcriptome sequencing data, we evaluated the expression levels for each flax type-associated gene in a wide range of tissues and suggested genes that are important for the formation of linseed or fiber flax traits. Such genes were probably subjected to the selection press and can determine not only the traits of seeds and stems but also the characteristics of the root system or resistance to stresses at a particular stage of development, which indirectly affects the ability of flax plants to produce seeds or fiber.

The Use of Combined Working Bodies and Units for Fiber Flax Cultivation

The technological aspects of fiber flax cultivation under various conditions were considered. The use of mole ploughing was proposed to solve a serious problem of excessive humidity and violation of the arable layer aeration. This operation can be performed simultaneously with plowing when using a device for general-purpose plows. The authors substantiated the expediency of using combined working bodies and units for high-quality performance. (Research purpose) To analyse the work of combined working bodies and units that perform several operations in one pass. (Materials and methods) The processes and technology for flax cultivation were studied. The following documents were used: GOST standard 20915-2011 and GOST standard 33687-2015. (Results and discussion) Testing a needle working body on a soil bin revealed differences in the needle print sizes depending on the change in the disk speed. It was noted that the width of the prints hardly changed, in contrast to their length. It was found that the distance between adjacent needle prints in the soil decreased significantly when the speed increased from 0.4 to 2.8 meters per second. The authors concluded that a stronger impact on the soil is possible when the speed of 2.8-3.0 meters per second is reached. The field tests of the needle harrow revealed the performance indicator dependence on the speed characteristics. It was found that agrotechnical indicators improve markedly with an increase in the speed of the unit. At the unit speed of 3.0-3.5 meters per second, the following permissible indicators were obtained: ridging – less than 15 millimeters, soil crumbling – about 95 percent. (Conclusions) It was found out that for fiber flax cultivation, non-power needle harrows are effective, they facilitates the performance at higher speeds.

Results of ecological testing variety numbers of fiber-flax cultivars for yield and adaptability in the conditions of the non-chernozem zone of the Russian Federation

The article presents the results of an ecological test of selection numbers of fiber-flax (Linum usitatissimum L.), bred in the conditions of the North-Western region, on the yield of flax fiber and the parameters of adaptability in the conditions of the Central Non-chernozem region. We tested 3 variety numbers: LS-1, LS-2 and LS-3. As a standard, we used a highly productive Impulse variety zoned in the region, of domestic selection, which was entered in the State Register of Breeding Achievements in 2003. According to the results of the studies, high adaptability in combination with potential productivity was obtained in the number of fiber-flax LS – 3 (1,14). Under variable meteorological conditions, the LS – 2 variety number and the Impulse variety had high resistance to stress (- 0.21 - 0.02, respectively). The most productive in contrast conditions was LS-3 (1.84 t / ha). The numbers LS – 1 (2.20) and LS – 3 (1.60) were the most responsive to the improvement of cultivation conditions.

Study of collection accessions of the fiber flax gene pool according to the main agronomic characters in the conditions of the North-West of the Russian Federation

Studies on the evaluation of 20 fiber flax accessions of Russian, Chinese, Japanese and Polish breeding from the collection of the Federal Research Center "All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources named after N. I. Vavilov" (VIR) were conducted in 2018-2020 in order to identify the sources of agronomic valuable characters that are adaptive to the conditions of the North-West of the Russian Federation. The HTC for the growing season in 2018 was 0.95, in 2019 – 1.53 and in 2020-1.1. Abiotic conditions had a greater influence on the formation of plant height (59.6 %), seed yield (60 %) and fiber content in plants (55.1 %), but the influence of the genotype on these indicators was also significant. The effect size of the genotype prevailed in the formation of fiber yield (67.2 %) and the duration of the growing season (52.8 %). The variability of characters was the greatest according to the seed yield (V = 6.7-33.9 %), disease resistance (V = 3.1-26.5 %); the lowest one was noted according to the duration of the growing season (V = 4.4-9.7 %). For the rest characters, it was at the level of up to 20 %. A valuable and plastic source material was identified for practical breeding aimed at creating new varieties with the following characters: early maturity – K-8680 (Russia), K-8782, K-8783 (Japan), which matured 3 days earlier than the Dobrynya standard and had a growing period of 67 days; productivity – K-8651, K-8760, K-8795, K-8797, K-8874, K-8877 (China), which significantly exceeded the fiber yield of the Dobrynya variety (241 g/m2) by 8-14 %. There were identified genotypes significantly exceeding the standard: according to the plant height (82 cm) ‒ K-8681 (Russia), K-8751, K-8794, K-8795, K-8754 (China) ‒ by 12-25 %; yield of flax straw (241 g/m2) – K-8681 (Russia), K-8751, K-8794, K-8795, K-8874, K-8880 (China) – by 25-40 %; seed yield (149 g/m2) ‒ K-8680 (Russia), K-8772 (Poland), K-8782 (Japan) – by 10-23 %; resistance to lodging (9 samples) and diseases (7 samples). Use of the identified gene sources in breeding practice should accelerate the creation of varieties that provide high and stable yields.