Allelopathic activiti of eastern galega seeds with oil crops

Relevanсe. The novelty of our research lies in the fact that for the first time the allelopathic interaction of eastern galega seeds with a wide range of oilseeds is being studied. The aim of this work is to study the allelopathic effect in the initial stages of plant ontogenesis. The objectives of the study were to identify cultures with a positive and negative impact on the growth and development of sprouts of eastern galega. The objects of research were eastern galega Magister, false saffron Alexandrite, saperda mustard Lux, spring rape Tavrion, hemp Nadezhda, spring cress Iskra, white mustard Lucia, abyssinian colewort Polet, ethiopian niger seed Medea, oil radish Fiolina, damascene fennelflower Yalita, hybrid sunflower P63 LE 10 (XF 3020), winter camelina Baron, spring camelina Velez, oilseed flax Istok. The experiments were carried out in two layouts in 2019–2020 on the basis of a separate division of the Federal research center for fiber crops in the Penza region.Methods. The evaluation of allelopathic activity was carried out using a method that involves the germination of plant seeds, followed by the calculation of the percentage of germination. The number of seeds and seedlings at different stages of ontogenesis was determined along with measuring the length of the root, stem and leaf.Results. At the initial stages of ontogenesis, a weak negative allelopathic effect on the eastern galega is exerted by the abyssinian colewort Polet — the number of fullfledged seedlings was -6,1% to the control. A positive effect on the germination and development of galega seedlings is exerted by damascene fennelflower Yalita (+8,3% to control), ethiopian niger seed Medea (+8,1 to control), oilseed flax Istok (+6,4% to control). In general, the length of the galega seedling was at the level of control with damascene fennelflower and ethiopian niger seed is 3,27 and 3,24 cm (-0,40 and 0,43 cm respectively). A significant decrease is observed in the variants with oilseed flax, spring camelina, winter camelina, spring rape, false saffron, sunflower, saperda mustard, white mustard, hemp, abyssinian colewort and spring cress — from 2,81 to 1,66 cm (-0,86–2,01 cm to control).

Plutella xylostella (L.) population control in sowings of spring rapeseed using pheromones

The diamondback moth Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus, 1758) is a common pest of rapeseed and other crops of Brassicaceae family. Annual yield losses and costs of pest control worldwide are estimated at $ 4-5 billion. The pest has an increased tendency to develop resistance to insecticides. The use of traps with synthetic sex pheromone is a modern instrumental method of monitoring P. xylostella. The use of the mating disruption method will effectively decrease pest numbers and reduce the application of insecticides. In 2017-2020, we researched the pheromone activity and evaluated the mating disruption method in the sowings of spring rapeseed at V.S. Pustovoit All-Russian Research Institute of Oil Crops (VNIIMK) (Krasnodar). We established that P. xylostella males were caught in traps with all tested dispenser types. The pheromone showed the greatest activity on the foil-film dispenser (F). The mating disruption method effectively decreased P. xylostella population in rapeseed sowing; the disruption effect by the end of crop vegetation was high and reached 82.5 %.

Sunflower diseases control by biological fungicides

The demand for organic food has grown rapidly over the last 25 years in many countries of the world. Organic farming standards require the application of biological products of disease control. The article presents the material on studying the effectiveness of fungicides based on microbiological antagonists against sunflower diseases. We carried out the study in 2020-2021 at V.S. Pustovoit All-Russian Research Institute of Oil Crops (VNIIMK) (Krasnodar). We established that the fungicides Geostim Fit type E, WS based on microbiological antagonists did not reduce the germination of sunflower seeds and actively suppressed seed infection. Their effectiveness against Alternaria spp. reached 50-74 %, against Rhizopus spp. – 74–100 %, against bacteria – 76–80 %. Double treatment of sunflower plants with BFTIM, WS (different strains) reduced the frequency of bacterial blight to 37 %, of dry rot – to 60 %, of Alternaria blight – to 39 %, of Phoma rot – to 41 %, and of Fusarium blight – to 75 %. The application scheme of Geostim Fit E (G), WS; BFTIM (E), WS; BFTIM (Zh), WS showed the best economic effectiveness with a seed yield of 3.56 t/ha, net income of 122 910 rubles, and profitability of 311 %.

Quantitative analysis of resveratrol derivatives in seed coats of tree peonies and their hypoglycemic activities in vitro/vivo

The tree peonies were well-known horticultural and medicinal plants. The tree peony seeds, as emerging woody oil crops, recently have been attracted great attention for their metabolites and bioactivities. In...

Evaluation of Promising Sunflower Hybrids against Whitefly, Jassid and Capitulum borer

Pakistan imports edible oil to meet the national demands posing burden on national exchequer. She is trying to grow edible oil crops to overcome this expense. Area under Sunflower cultivation is continuously increasing in Pakistan. But, insect pest infestation is a major concern for the growers. There is a need to develop hybrids which are less susceptible to the insect pests. Present study was conducted to find the most less susceptible Sunflower hybrids. Promising sunflower hybrids were grown and relevant data were recorded. All the hybrids were found moderately resistant to Resistant. This response is subject to the availability of insect population in the field and environment plays an integral role in it. There is dire need to explore the potential further of these hybrids. Keywords: Sunflower, Hybrid, Screening, Whitefly, Jassid, capitulum borer

Rapeseed as an Ornamental

Rapeseed (Brassica napus) is one of the most important oil crops worldwide. However, an intriguing new use for rapeseed has recently developed: as an ornamental. Tourism based on blossoming fields of these yellow flowers has become a new economic growth opportunity in China. From a breeding perspective, two main problems currently limit the potential of rapeseed as an ornamental. First, the flowering period is quite short (30 days on average), which limits economic income; second, the flower color in commercial cultivars is currently limited to bright yellow, which may pall quickly for sightseers. This review summarizes the possible problems of using rapeseed as an ornamental, and details factors affecting the flowering period, how the flowering period can be prolonged by integrating optimal cultivation measures or/and spraying with chemical reagents, and ways of creating and breeding rapeseed with diverse flower colors.

The results of preliminary trial experimental hybrids of winter rapeseed bred at VNIIMK by economically valuable traits

The purpose of the research was a preliminary estimation of ten experimental hybrids of winter rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) bred in the V.S. Pustovoit All-Russian Research Institute of Oil Crops by the primary economically valuable traits. The research was conducted in the central zone of the Krasnodar region in 2019–2020. The results of the research are presented for the first time. On average for two years, nine of ten the best experimental hybrids increased by seeds yield by 0.32–0.76 t per ha both the standard cultivar Loris and the foreign hybrid Mercure. Middle seed yield of the studied hybrids varied significantly, variance range was from 4.99 t per ha (VN-3 × ОРK-10) to 5.62 t per ha (VN-4 × ОРK-20). Maximal values of seed and oil yields per a unit area were fixed for a hybrid combination VN-4 × ОРK-20. Except that, the hybrid is characterized with high weight of 1000 seeds (4.5 g). A hybrid combination VN-13 × ОРK-10 demonstrated high average by years seeds yield (5.33 t per ha) and oil yield (2.25 t per ha).Oil content in seeds and weight of 1000 seeds of this combination were at the level of the standard cultivar and the foreign hybrid. This hybrid shows the lowest glucosinolate content in seeds – 16.7 µmol/g, that is less that the foreign hybrid Mercure has by 2.3 µmol/g. The preliminary conclusion based on our researches is: the selected hybrids after confirmation of the competitive trial results can be of a great interest for production.

The number of glandular trichomes on the peduncles of true lavender inflorescences as an additional breeding trait for essential oil

The main receptacle of essential oil in true lavender is the peltate glandular trichomes of the calyxes in the whorls of the inflorescences. Their average size is 175 ± 25 µm, in some cases – up to 250 µm. For the extraction of lavender oil, not only the calyxes are used, but the whole inflorescences including the flowering shoots. The surface of the peduncles of lavender inflorescences is also covered with peltate glandular trichomes. However, their contribution to the total volume of essential oil in the inflorescence has almost never been determined. The aim of this research was to study the distribution density of glandular trichomes within the inflorescence and to determine the proportion of the contribution of flowering trichomes to the formation of essential oil in the inflorescence. The research was carried out in 2021 on the basis of the V.S. Pustovoit All-Russian Research Institute of Oil Crops in two ecological and geographical points of the Krasnodar region. The object of the study was the true lavender varieties Voznesenskaya 34, Rannyaya, Yuzhanka and Voznesenskaya Aroma. It was found that the size of glandular trichomes on peduncles of true lavender is 90 ± 15 µm. Their number on peduncles, depending on the variety, varies from 2141 to 3003 pcs. The density of distribution of glandular trichomes on the surface of peduncles is equal to 8.60–14.93 pcs/mm3 . The total volume of essential oil in all glandular trichomes of peduncles is 0.41–0.57 cmm . The total volume of essential oil in the inflorescences varied from 2.28 to 5.15 cmm . The share of essential oil in the glandular trichomes of the peduncles in relation to the entire inflorescence ranged from 9.33 to 19.56%. It is concluded that peltate glandular trichomes on flower-bearing axes make a significant contribution to the essential oil content of lavender inflorescences. For the selection of true lavender to increase the essential oil content and the yield of essential oil, an additional selection trait is proposed – the amount of glandular trichomes on the surface of peduncles, which can be regulated by changing their distribution density on the surface of peduncles, or increasing the length of inflorescences.

Anatomical features of conductive tissues of soybeans that prevent the penetration of pathogenic agents of bacterial blight into seeds

The ways of penetration of pathogenic bacteria from the infected vegetative parts of plants into soybean seeds remain practically unexplored. It is widely believed that soybean seeds are infected through the vascular system from already infected areas of the vegetative parts. The aim of the present research was to study the possibility of penetration of pathogens of bacterial blight into soybean seeds through the conductive tissues of plants. The studies were carried out in 2019–2021 in V.S. Pustovoit All-Russian Research Institute of Oil Crops on plants and seeds of soybean variety Vilana. It was found that the size of stomatal slots in soybean leaves is 8–12 µm. This ensures free penetration of bacteria with a diameter of 1.3–1.7 µm into the leaf mesophyll. The pore sizes of the sieve plates of the phloem range from 0.4–0.7 to 0.8–1.6 µm, depending on the age of the plants. The largest pores of the phloem sieve plates are comparable to the diameters of pathogenic bacteria. However, a large number of transverse sieve plates located in the vessels of the phloem every 0.05–0.1 mm will filter and partially retain bacteria in each sieve tube along the path of cell sap in the phloem. Therefore, the pathogenic bacteria passing through the entire phloem from leaves infected with bacteriosis up to pods is physically unlikely. In pods, the vascular system ends in the area of attachment of the placenta to the seed hilum. In the hilum, there are no conductive tissues, and the further flow of water and nutrients into the seed is carried out diffusely through the plasmodesma of cell walls. It was found that the anatomical structure of the soybean phloem prevents the free movement of pathogenic bacteria along the conductive system directly into the inner tissues of the seeds. Therefore, the hypothesis of infection of soybean seeds with pathogens of bacterial blight through the conducting system of the plant should be considered untenable

Breeding of winter rapeseed in VNIIMK: history and new results (review)

Breeding of winter rapeseed in the V.S. Pustovoit All-Russian Research Institute of Oil Crops was started at the end of 60th of previous century with a selection of perspective winter forms from hybrids of spring brown mustard and winter rapeseed. Heterosis in intraspecific hybrids was studied. The best intraspecific hybrids exceeded the parental forms by 20–36% by seed yield, by 20–27% by green mass yield. A possibility to create intervarietal hybrids based on heterostyly was studied. Conditions for plants acclimation to increase cold resistance of winter rapeseed were studied; methods of selection for cold resistance were developed. In 1982, the development of rapeseed and turnip rape cultivars of ‘00’ type began. To create diversity of breeding germplasm, a great amount of samples from European counties that actively deals with rapeseed breeding were included into the work. In the V.S. Pustovoit All-Russian Research Institute of Oil Crops, the methods of estimation of oil and fodder protein quality were perfected, cultivars of rapeseed and turnip rape of ‘00’ type (e.g. erucic acid free and with low glucosinolate content) were developed. As a result of breeding for oil quality, high oleic cultivars were developed, that not only improve upon the oil nutritive efficiency but open new possibilities of its technical uses due to increasing oxi- and thermostability. The first Russian high oleic winter rapeseed cultivar Olivin was developed in the V.S. Pustovoit AllRussian Research Institute of Oil Crops and introduced in the State Variety Commission in 2019. The linear cultivars of winter rapeseed were developed by inbreeding, the first interlinear hybrids – using a CMS Ogura system. One of them named Debyut was introduced in the State variety trials 2020.