Evaluation of valuable agronomic traits of spring triticale in a long-term breeding trial

The analysis of data of long-term breeding trials of spring hexaploid triticale, used for forage and grains, was carried out using mathematical methods and developed software. The valuable agronomic traits of the ideal variety have been determined. The possibility of purposeful breeding for adaptability to the conditions of the region when creating new high-yielding varieties is shown.

Farmers’ Trait Preferences for Varietal Replacement: A study to boost rice productivity in Odisha, India

The average age of the popular rice varieties being grown in the state of Odisha is higher than the stipulated 10-year timeframe. This is an obstacle to productivity enhancement through varietal replacement. Farmers in Odisha growing these varieties have expressed their desired traits for replacement of these long-grown varieties. The desired characters of an ideal variety have been mapped for major older varieties. Since varietal fitment and farmer’s choice vary widely between rice eco logies, the research outcomes were compartmentalized between medium and lowland. Thus, these research outcomes will be crucially helpful for breeding program to develop varieties that match evinced expectation of the farmers. The ranking of trait preferences will also augment the varietal research program to the exact needs of the rice growers in the state. Rice productivity in Odisha is one of the least in the country. Replacement of existing older varieties with a high yielder as per farmers’ choice is a strategic way to boost the productivity. The findings with regard to current varietal landscape, farmers’ trait preferences are crucially important for augmenting rice productivity and strengthening food security in the state.

Content Provision in the Media Market with Single-Homing and Multi-Homing Consumers

In this paper, we analyze the effects on content provision in the news market of single-homing (i.e. when readers consume news from just one outlet) and multi-homing (i.e. when readers can choose to consume news from competing outlets). Media firms compete on content provision and on advertising revenues. Readers have an ideal variety of content and experience a disutility from consuming news that differs from their ideal variety. In addition, readers have a preference for single-homing and for multi-homing. In this set-up, we show that media firms only diversify content with single-homing, but not with multi-homing. The reason for this is that competition for readers and advertising is lower under multi-homing than under single-homing, since multi-homing readers consume from all media outlets. We derive the consequences of single-homing and multi-homing for profits, consumer surplus and social welfare. We also discuss the implications of our results for the current debate in the media market related with social media and echo chambers.

MODERN PRINCIPLES OF GARDEN BEAN VARIETIES MODELING IN SIBERIA

The development of a variety model suitable for specific soil and climatic conditions is currently an urgent matter in the plants selection. The combination of valuable genotypes of a plant, which is based on hybridization, free pollination, mutagenesis, allows researchers to derive new perspective samples. The selection of the variety model parameters enables the researchers to create cultivated plant varieties that have appropriate characteristics of a particular cultivation zone on an efficient basis. But it is necessary to understand that the model is hypothetical even in case of conducting detailed study of parameters of a new variety based on concrete results of research. First of all, the crop breeder is guided by the imaginary model, which is based on the evaluation of the breeding material and the selection of the variety sample prototype, taking into account the features and properties of the ideal variety model. To a certain extent, the methods of crop breeding and genetic analysis applied in order to assess the breeding value of hybrid combinations are designed to level the inevitable subjectivity noted. When compiling the model of the ideal variety the breeder uses the data on soil and climate conditions of a particular region, the main economic and valuable features of a crop, the results of other researchers and applies intuitive and empirical criteria for evaluating the breeding material. Since 1997 the Chair of Breeding, Genetics and Forestry explored more than 150 breeding samples of different ecological-geographical origin, obtained on the basis of intervarietal hybridization. The samples were studied according to the main economic and valuable features: growing season, growth character, presence of parchment layer and fibers in the seam. Variability of the mentioned features has been estimated by means of correlation links and character of inheritance of separate features.