Quantitative Trait Loci and Candidate Genes Associated with Cold-Acclimation and Microdochium nivale Tolerance/Susceptibility in Winter Triticale (x Triticosecale)

Tolerance to pink snow mold caused by Microdochium nivale appears after a cold-hardening period and it is an essential, genotype-dependent, complex quantitative trait for the wintering of triticale (x Triticosecale) and other cereals. Despite long-term studies, a marker for the selection of the tolerant genotypes is still insufficiently recognized. Chlorophyll fluorescence has been reported as a sensitive indicator of stress effects on photosynthesis and can be used to predict plant tolerance. In this study, the genomic regions (QTLs) associated with the level of winter triticale seedlings damage caused by M. nivale infection as well as photosynthesis quantum efficiency and chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters were identified in seedlings of mapping population of 89 doubled haploids lines (DHs) derived from F1 hybrid of cv. ‘Hewo’ and cv. ‘Magnat’ accompanied with the genetic map consisting of 20 linkage groups with a total map length 4997.4 cm. Independent experiments performed in controlled conditions revealed 13 regions identified by a composite interval mapping, located on 7A, 1B, 2B, 6B, 7B, 3R, 5R, and 6R linkage groups and related to the PI, PIABS, TRo/CS, ABS/CS, ABS/CSm, ABS/RC, and Qy values as well as M. nivale tolerance T and susceptibility level P expressed by the seedling damage index. Additionally, candidate genes were in silico identified with the sequence position on wheat (2B and 7B) and rye (5R) chromosomes, where relevant QTL regions were found. The most important candidate genes indicated for M. nivale tolerance of cold-hardened triticale seedlings include those coding: sterol 3-beta-glucosyltransferase UGT80A2-like, transcription factor NAI1-like, and flavonol3-sulfotransferase-like proteins on chromosomes 2B and 5R.

THE ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY OF PRODUCTION OF A TRITICALE HYBRID GENETIC LINE AT DIFFERENT LEVELS OF INTENSITY

The aim of the study was to evaluate the economic efficiency of production of a hybrid genetic line of winter triticale in comparison with a short-straw form, at different intensity levels under cereal crop rotation conditions. Calculations were made based on three-year (2017-2019) field trial results. The analysis included tillage methods (traditional and simplified), differentiated nitrogen fertilization (0,90 and 120 kg N/ha) and two forms of triticale: The rotondo variety and the hybrid genetic line – BOH 2415. The gross margin was taken as a measure of economic efficiency. The economic effectiveness of cultivation of both forms of winter triticale was assessed from the perspective of utilizing one of the basic production factors, i.e., land. The gross profitability index for particular variants of the experiment was also calculated as the relation of production value to direct costs. The analysis of production and economic indices showed that the more favorable variant of winter triticale cultivation was hybrid form cultivation technology with the use of traditional tillage (plough) and a nitrogen fertilization rate at a level of 120 kg N/ha. The level of the obtained gross margin was more influenced by the level of the obtained yield and the purchase price of triticale than by the level of incurred direct costs depending on the soil tillage method.

Comparative proteomic analysis provides new insights into regulation of microspore embryogenesis induction in winter triticale (× Triticosecale Wittm.) after 5-azacytidine treatment

Effective microspore embryogenesis (ME) requires substantial modifications in gene expression pattern, followed by changes in the cell proteome and its metabolism. Recent studies have awakened also interest in the role of epigenetic factors in microspore de-differentiation and reprogramming. Therefore, demethylating agent (2.5–10 μM 5-azacytidine, AC) together with low temperature (3 weeks at 4 °C) were used as ME-inducing tiller treatment in two doubled haploid (DH) lines of triticale and its effect was analyzed in respect of anther protein profiles, expression of selected genes (TAPETUM DETERMINANT1 (TaTPD1-like), SOMATIC EMBRYOGENESIS RECEPTOR KINASE 2 (SERK2) and GLUTATHIONE S-TRANSFERASE (GSTF2)) and ME efficiency. Tiller treatment with 5.0 µM AC was the most effective in ME induction; it was associated with (1) suppression of intensive anabolic processes-mainly photosynthesis and light-dependent reactions, (2) transition to effective catabolism and mobilization of carbohydrate reserve to meet the high energy demand of cells during microspore reprograming and (3) effective defense against stress-inducing treatment, i.e. protection of proper folding during protein biosynthesis and effective degradation of dysfunctional or damaged proteins. Additionally, 5.0 µM AC enhanced the expression of all genes previously identified as being associated with embryogenic potential of microspores (TaTPD1-like, SERK and GSTF2).

Accurate technologies of agricultural crops cultivation for organic farming

The article presents the results of many years of experiments on the development of energy-saving farming systems. Preference in crop rotations should be given to multi-depth combined treatments that provide high productivity and are characterized by high-energy efficiency. Data on the yield of grain and leguminous crops in a six-field grain crop rotation with constant dump and combined longline tillage shows that the yield of oats in the first year of rotation according to the experimental variants was the same and amounted to 3.60 t/ha. In the second year of winter wheat yield in the variant with longline tillage was by 0.20 t/ha more in comparison with a plow on row, in the third year the difference in yield of spring barley on options for primary processing amounted to 0.30 t/ha in favor of combined tiered processing, in the fourth year the yield of peas has also been found to 0.40 t/ha more, also on the option of combined longline processing in the fifth year of the rotation crop of winter triticale. The yield of oats was 0.30 t/ha higher, and in the sixth year the yield of oats was 0.40 t/ha higher on the variant of combined longline processing.

On the issue of winter triticale selection improvement in the Central region non-Black Earth area conditions

In the conditions of the Moscow region, in 1993-2020, more than 1.0 thousand Triticale Wittmack cultivars were studied, including new varieties and lines, by using diallel crossings (DIAC) (5 × 5) and other field and laboratory experiments. Tests of varietal samples in DIAC in 2011-2012 using the method of Hayman (1954) showed that the traits of winter triticale are characterized by an additive-dominant inheritance scheme. The dominant genes made the main contribution to the increase in productivity traits, and the prospects of a particular cross-breeding combination depended on their concentration. In the competitive test (CSI) in 2015-2020, the best productivity was found in the Gera variety - 8.15 t/ha (the standard one is 7.29 t/ha). It is shown that over the past 25 years in the Federal Research Center “Nemchinovka” created more than 25 varieties of winter triticale, 12 varieties submitted to the State Register, 6 varieties are now in production, including variety Nina, released in 2013 for the Central region and combines with Samara Research Institute of Agriculture variety Capella, made to the State Register from 2019.

Estimation of immunity of the winter grain varieties sown in the south of Russia to the pink snow mold pathogen (Microdochium nivale)

The purpose of the current study was to estimate immunity of the winter grain varieties sown in the south of Russia to the pink snow mold pathogen (Microdochium nivale (Fr.) Samuels & I.C. Hallett) in the sprouting phase. For resistance to M. nivale there have been studied 35 winter wheat varieties sown in the south of the Russian Federation, 19 winter barley varieties and 4 variety samples and 13 winter triticale varieties developed in the LLC “Agrostandart”, FSBSI RCG named after P.P. Lukyanenko, FSBSI FRC Kabardino-Balkarian Research Center of the RAS, FSBSI “ARC Donskoy”, FSBSI “North Caucasian FRSC”, FSBSI “FRAC”, NPO “KUBANZERNO”, FSBEI HE “KubSAU”. There has been substantiated a methodological approach to conducting research on immunological estimation of winter grain varieties in the laboratory conditions. The optimal temperature for the cultivation of the pathogen was +10/+15 °C (with a photoperiod of 12 hours). There was found that the required temperature to stimulate sporulation was +5 °C. The optimum temperature for the incubation period was +5 °C at 85% humidity. There has been established that the only winter wheat variety ‘Dolya’ had a very high resistance degree to pink snow mold; the varieties ‘Antonina’ and ‘Brigada’ had a high resistance degree; 21 varieties were classified as resistant. M. nivale resistance was demonstrated by 9 winter barley varieties and 3 variety samples (‘Versal’, ‘Iosif’, ‘KA-12’, ‘KA-5/KA-3’, ‘KA-5/KA-1’, ‘Karrera’, ‘Kondrat’, ‘Kubagro-1’, ‘Lazar’, ‘Master’, ‘Romans’, ‘Sarmat’). Among the studied winter triticale varieties, 4 varieties had a very high resistance degree (‘Argus’, ‘Slon’, ‘Tikhon’, ‘Ullubiy’) and 9 varieties had a high resistance degree to pink snow mold pathogen (‘Aznavur’, ‘Argo’, ‘Arioso’, ‘Valentin 90’, ‘Iliya’, ‘Sotnik’,’ Styuard’, ‘Forte’, ‘Khleborob’).

The interphase period “germination–heading” of 8x and 6x triticale with different dominant Vrn genes

The existing spring forms of wheat-rye amphiploids are characterized by late maturity due to the long duration of the interphase period “germination–heading”. The manifestation of this trait is influenced by Vrn-1 genes. Their dominant alleles also determine the spring type of development. The results of studying the interphase period “germination–heading” of spring octaploid and hexaploid forms of triticale created for use in research and breeding programs under the conditions of forest-steppe of Western Siberia are given in this article. The interphase period of the primary forms 8xVrnA1, 8xVrnB1 and 8xVrnD1 obtained by artificial doubling of the chromosome number of the wheat-rye hybrids made by pollination of three lines of the soft wheat ‘Triple Dirk’ – donors of different dominant Vrn-1 genes – by a winter rye variety ‘Korotkostebel’naya 69’ was determined under the field conditions in the nursery of octaploid (8x) triticale. In the nursery of hexaploid triticale, this trait was studied in the populations of hybrids obtained by hybridization of these three primary forms of octaploid triticale with the hexaploid winter triticale variety ‘Sears 57’. In the offspring of crossing 8хVrnD1× ‘Sears 57’, spring genotypes of 6x triticale bearing Vrn-D1 were selected. This fact was determined by PСR. It means that the genetic material from the chromosome of the fifth homeologous group of the D genome of the bread wheat is included in the plant genotypes. This genome is absent in the winter 6x triticale ‘Sears 57’. The grain content of spikes of the created hexaploid forms of triticale is superiour to that of the maternal octaploid triticale forms. It was shown that plants of the hybrid populations 8xVrnA1× ‘Sears 57’ and 8xVrnD1× ‘Sears 57’ carrying the dominant alleles Vrn-A1a and Vrn-D1a, respectively, have a shorter duration of the “germination–heading” interphase period than the initial parental forms of primary 8x triticale. The short interphase period of “germination–heading” of the 6x triticale is a valuable breading trait for the creation of early maturing and productive genotypes of triticale.

PSXII-16 Fertility affects in yearling beef heifers grazing triticale before artificial insemination

Our objective was to compare two systems of pre-breeding heifer development, drylot (D) or grazing winter triticale (T) on heifer fertility. In each of 4 years (yr), Black Angus heifers (n = 168, 86, 97 and 103, respectively) were allotted to treatment (trt) 32 to 50 days (d) prior to artificial insemination (AI). Each year a 14-d CIDR PG protocol was used to synchronize estrus (d-30 to d-16: 1.38 g progesterone intravaginal insert, CIDR; d 0: 25 mg dinoprost tromethamine injection; + 66 hours: 100 µg gonadorelin hydrochloride injection, and AI). Starting body weight and body condition were similar between treatments but differed by year (P < 0.01). After CIDR removal, 83% were in estrus by d -10 and did not differ with trt or yr. Weight at AI was greater (P < 0.01) for T (384 kg ± 2) than D (378 kg ± 2) with a trt by yr interaction. Body condition change between start of treatment and AI was greater (P < 0.01) for T (0.44 ± 0.03) than D (-0.02 ± 0.04) with a trt by yr interaction (P < 0.01) due to the magnitude of difference. A trt by yr interaction occurred for estrous response before AI (P < 0.01). Treatment means for AIPR were 59.1% (143/242) for D and 42.1% (101/240) for T (trt; P < 0.01). AIPR was similar between treatments in yr 1 and higher for D than T in subsequent yr (trt x yr, P < 0.05). Blood urea nitrogen was greater (P < 0.05) in T than D on d 0 and at AI. At the time of AI, triticale was more mature in yr 1 when there was no difference in AIPR. Grazing triticale during estrus synchronization and AI resulted in acceptable gains but decreased fertility in yearling beef heifers.

The results of using in the breeding process of collection samples of winter triticale in terms of grain quality

The aim of the work was to evaluate the collection samples of winter triticale by protein content and to establish the relationship between its quantity and other valuable economic features. Materials and methods. Collection samples of winter triticale, infrared spectrometry method, mathematical and statistical processing. Results. According to the protein content, the samples was divided into four groups. The average protein content in the collection nursery was 11.2% with the variability of individual values from 9.3% to 12.2%. The average reliable inverse correlation of yield with protein content in grain (r = −0.37) and weak line with starch content (r = 0.17) were established, Conclusions. An inverse relationship of medium strength between starch and protein content has been found. which proves the possibility of selection to increase grain yield without reducing the starch content. An inverse correlation between protein content and grain yield has been shown.