New records in non-native vascular plants of Russian Lapland

The non-native vascular plants of Murmansk Region (European Russia) are under active investigation towards the compilation of the first complete checklist. This work is part of the project 'Flora of Russian Lapland', which ultimately aims at the complete inventory of the taxonomy, distribution and status of vascular plant species in Murmansk Region, based on the comprehensive database of herbarium specimens, field observations and literature. New territory-level records of non-native vascular plants emerged during our inventory of herbarium collections and recent fieldwork. Fourteen species (Anthemis ruthenica, Aruncus dioicus, Bromus commutatus, Chaerophyllum hirsutum, Galega orientalis, Geum aleppicum, Leonurus quinquelobatus, Lepidium densiflorum, Levisticum officinale, Myrrhis odorata, Phleum phleoides, Prunus armeniaca, Rorippa sylvestris, Senecio vernalis) are reported as new to Murmansk Region. The historical occurrences of alien plants appeared in the territory largely as contaminants (of seed or forage). In particular, Rorippa sylvestris and Senecio vernalis arrived with the forage imported during the Second World War. All recent occurrences originated by escape from confinement (ornamental purposes, horticulture, agriculture), reflecting a high diversity of the modern assortment of cultivated plants in commerce and private gardens. Regarding the invasion status, five alien species are considered casual and eight species are treated as locally established or persisting (for uncertain time). Only one species, Galega orientalis, is considered naturalised and capable of further spreading in the territory, although without invasive potential.

The Effects of Foliar Application of Phenoxy and Imidazoline Family Herbicides on the Limitation of Primary Photosynthetic Processes in Galega orientalis L.

Fodder galega (Galega orientalis) is a perennial, wintering plant with great potential for agricultural development. The species has a large yield potential and exceptional adaptability to various environmental conditions. The sensitivity of G. orientalis to herbicides, however, as well as the photosynthetic performance of the species, are generally unknown. Our study aimed to evaluate the effects of the application of selected phenoxy herbicides (MCPA, MCPB) and the imidazoline family herbicide (IMA) on the parameters of primary photosynthetic processes as understood through fast chlorophyll fluorescence kinetics (OJIP). The effect of cultivation temperature was also investigated in the plants grown at 5, 18 and 25 °C. Time courses of OJIP-derived parameters describing photosystem II functioning after foliar application revealed that the plants showed negative responses to the herbicides in the order MCPB–MCPA–IMA within 24 h after the application. The application of herbicides decreased the values of maximum chlorophyll fluorescence (FM) and increased minimum fluorescence (F0), which led to a reduction in the maximal efficiency of PSII (FV/FM). Applications of MCPA and MCPB decreased variable chlorophyll fluorescence at 2 ms (VJ), 30 ms (VI) and VP, as well as the performance index (PIABS), which is considered a vitality proxy. The application increased absorption flux (ABS/RC), trapped energy flux (TRo/RC) and dissipated energy flux (DIo/RC). The effects were more pronounced in plants grown at 18 and 25 °C. The study revealed that the OJIP-derived parameters sensitively reflected an early response of G. orientalis to the foliar application of herbicides. Negative responses of PSII were more apparent in MCPA- and MCPB- exposed plants than IMA-exposed plants.

Communities with Galega orientalis Lam. in Kursk Region

. Plant communities dominated by the invasive species Galega orientalis, common in natural and anthropogenic habitats, have been identified in Kursk Region. On anthropogenic ecotopes (wastelands, roadsides), phytocoenoses of the ass. Galigetum orientalis are formed as a result of introduction of Galega orientalis into communities of the order Agropyretalia intermedio–repentis (class Artemisietea vulgaris). In natural habitats, Galega orientalis spreads in mesophylous meadow communities (order Arrhenatheretalia, class Molinio-Arrhenatheretea), while derivative communities Galega orientalis [Arrhenatheretalia] are formed. Galega orientalis is unevenly present in derivative communities, forming separate loci, as a result, its cover is less intensive than in anthropogenic communities. It may be due to a more intensive distribution of this species in disturbed habitats. Comparison of ranges of values of environmental factors showed that derivative communities are formed in wetter habitats. Phytocoenoses of the association are characterized by wider variation in values of acidity and richness of soils in mineral nitrogen.

DYNAMICS OF EASTERN GOAT'S SEED YIELD DEPENDING ON THE SOWING PERIOD

Eastern goat's rue (Galega orientalis Lam.) is one of the most priority crops among non-traditional species and its cultivation areas in different regions of the country tend to grow steadily. Due to the southern origin of eastern goat's rue in the conditions of the Non-Chernozem zone, it develops slowly in the first year of life, which requires studying its adaptive properties and developing agricultural techniques for new cultivation areas. An important agricultural method that determines the intensity of the development of eastern goat's rue plants in the year of sowing and the amount of seed yield in the next two years is the sowing period. It is optimal to sow in the early spring at the onset of physical ripeness of the soil, the permissible period is until the end of May.

Dynamics of yield and soil chemistry under long-term cultivation of eastern goat’s rue (Galega orientalis Lam.)

В шестнадцатилетних исследованиях на Полевой опытной станции РГАУ–МСХА им. К. А. Тимирязева (2005–2020 годы) изучено продуктивное долголетие козлятника восточного сорта Гале и люцерны изменчивой сорта Находка. Установлено, что в первые 4 года использования травостоев урожайность агроценозов люцерны, созданных при различных способах обработки почвы, составляла 7,73–8,81 т/га сухой массы, что больше, чем давал козлятник восточный, в 1,8 раза. Урожайность сеяных травостоев люцерны при фрезерной обработке почвы была меньше на 1,08 т/га, чем при пахотной обработке, а на продуктивность козлятника способы основной обработки почвы не оказали существенного влияния. В последующие годы выращивания как козлятника, так и люцерны произошло выравнивание урожайности между вариантами с различными способами обработки почвы, и между ними не выявлено достоверных различий. В следующий четырёхлетний период (с 2009 по 2012 год) люцерна превосходила козлятник по урожайности на 46,8%. В среднем за 9–12-й годы жизни травостоев продуктивность уже козлятника была больше на 13,8%, а за 13–16-й годы — на 78,5%. В среднем за 16 лет травостои на основе люцерны дали больше кормов на 14,3%, но после 10-го года жизни они трансформировались в злаково-разнотравно-люцерновые фитоценозы, в то время как козлятник восточный остался доминирующим компонентом сеяного травостоя. Его доля в ботаническом составе травостоев на 16-й год жизни составляла 77,4–87,3%. За десятилетний период выращивания козлятника восточного pНKCl снизился с 5,75 до 5,46–5,60. Без внесения фосфорных удобрений почва перешла в разряд низкообеспеченной фосфором. Внесение калийных удобрений в течение первых 5 лет выращивания трав в дозе К180 позволило повысить обеспеченность почвы обменным калием с 38 до 71–72 мг/кг почвы. The productive longevities of eastern goat’s rue “Gale” and bastard alfalfa “Nakhodka” were analyzed at the Field Research Station of the Russian Timiryazev State Agrarian University for 16 years (2005–2020). For the first 4 years alfalfa productivity amounted to 7,73–8,81 t ha-1 of dry mass under different tillage practices exceeding the one of eastern goat’s rue by 1.8 times. Rototilling reduced alfalfa yield by 1.08 t ha-1 in comparison to plowing while eastern goat’s rue performance showed no significant variation. In subsequent years tillage practices had no significant impact both on two crops. From 2009 to 2012 alfalfa exceeded eastern goat’s rue in productivity by 46.8%. For 9–12th life cycles eastern goat’s rue exceeded alfalfa productivity by 13.8%, for 13–16th life cycles — by 78.5%. For 16 years alfalfa swards produced 14.3% more forage but after the 10th year alfalfa was not a predominant grass in a mixture unlike eastern goat’s rue ecosystems. Eastern goat’s rue proportion amounted to 77.4–87.3% in a sward in the 16th year. For 10 years of eastern goat’s rue cultivation pНKCl dropped from 5.75 to 5.46–5.60. Without phosphorus fertilizers soil suffered from phosphorus deficit. Application of К180 increased exchange potassium content from 38 to 71–72 mg/kg of soil in the first 5 years

Eastern goat’s rue in Forage Production of Russia: state and breeding objectives

Козлятник восточный (Galega orientalis Lam.) обладает рядом ценных хозяйственно полезных признаков и биологических свойств, характеризуется высоким содержанием протеина и незаменимых аминокислот в зелёной массе. Благодаря способности к вегетативному размножению эта культура способна обеспечивать формирование устойчивых гомеостатических агропопуляций, которые при соблюдении технологии использования могут длительно сохранять высокую семенную и кормовую продуктивность. Однако до настоящего времени козлятник восточный практически не используется как кормовое растение в высокотехнологичном кормопроизводстве для породистого высокопродуктивного КРС. Эта культура имеет ряд ограничительных факторов по комплексу хозяйственно полезных и биолого-технологических признаков, качеству сырья для заготовки объёмистых кормов. В настоящее время галега как кормовое растение по площадям посевов и использованию существенно уступает традиционным бобовым травам (люцерне, клеверу, эспарцету) и может рассматриваться только в качестве дополнительной многолетней культуры для овец, коз, кроликов, лошадей, свиней. Козлятник восточный может быть классифицирован как культура с очень небольшим генетическим изменением. Зарегистрированные сорта являются улучшенными биотипами природных популяций по кормовой и семенной продуктивности, зимостойкости (для северных районов ареала интродукции этой культуры). В научных учреждениях проводится традиционная фенотипическая селекция по отдельным признакам в границах конститутивного биотипа козлятника. Для повышения эффективности производственного использования козлятника необходимо выведение сортов со сниженным содержанием антипитательных веществ в зелёной массе и повышенной толерантностью к укосному режиму эксплуатации травостоев. Для устранения недостатков козлятника, в том числе в его биохимическом составе, требуется корректировка биологических свойств как поиском природных форм с необходимыми признаками, так и их индуцированием путём редактирования генома. Для этого необходимо использование арсенала современных методов: экспериментального мутагенеза, полиплоидии, клеточной селекции, соматической гибридизации, генотипирования или трансгенеза/интрогрессии — с последующей традиционной фенотипической селекционной оценкой и отборами. Eastern goat’s rue (Galega orientalis Lam.) is a valuable crop that is rich in protein and essential amino acids. Due to its ability to vegetative reproduction the crop forms stable homeostatic ecosystems providing high seed and forage yields. However, farmers still prefer other crops for cattle feeding. Eastern goat’s rue has a number of traits limiting its wide cultivation. Nowadays the crop occupies much smaller territories compared to legumes such as alfalfa, clover and sainfoin being an additional perennial fodder for sheep, goats, rabbits, horses and pigs. Genome of eastern goat’s rue has barely changed. Registered varieties have improved feed and seed productivities as well as winter hardiness. Research Institutes mostly focus on conventional phenotypic selection. More effective use of eastern goat’s rue requires breeding of new genotypes with lower concentration of anti-nutritional factors in its green mass combined with higher tolerance to regular cutting. Selection of new natural genotypes as well as genome editing are promising areas to improve its biochemical composition. Modern methods of plant breeding can be of great use: mutagenesis, polyploidization, cell selection, somatic hybridization, genotyping or transgenesis/introgression — followed by conventional phenotypic selection.

General Patterns and Species-Specific Differences in the Organization of the Tubulin Cytoskeleton in Indeterminate Nodules of Three Legumes

The tubulin cytoskeleton plays an important role in establishing legume–rhizobial symbiosis at all stages of its development. Previously, tubulin cytoskeleton organization was studied in detail in the indeterminate nodules of two legume species, Pisum sativum and Medicago truncatula. General as well as species-specific patterns were revealed. To further the understanding of the formation of general and species-specific microtubule patterns in indeterminate nodules, the tubulin cytoskeleton organization was studied in three legume species (Vicia sativa, Galega orientalis, and Cicer arietinum). It is shown that these species differ in the shape and size of rhizobial cells (bacteroids). Immunolocalization of microtubules revealed the universality of cortical and endoplasmic microtubule organization in the meristematic cells, infected cells of the infection zone, and uninfected cells in nodules of the three species. However, there are differences in the endoplasmic microtubule organization in nitrogen-fixing cells among the species, as confirmed by quantitative analysis. It appears that the differences are linked to bacteroid morphology (both shape and size).

INFLUENCE OF BIOLOGICAL PREPARATIONS ON CONSERVATION OF GALEGA ORIENTALIS LAM

Galega orientalis Lam. is a valuable forage crop due to its early regrowth, rapid growth, long-term use, high productivity and nutritional value. Given the uniqueness and wide range of applications, the study of the technology of harvesting haylage from this grass is very relevant. The purpose of the work is to conduct a comparative assessment of the process of preserving haylage from Galega orientalis in laboratory model experiments using the bio-preservative Bioamid-3 and plant growth regulator Melafen, as well as their complex application (Bioamid-3 + Melafen). The research was carried out in 2018-2019 in the department of agrobiological research Tatar Scientific Research Institute of Agriculture, Kazan Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences. According to the scheme of an experiment, in samples of green mass Galega orientalis Lam. the studied preparations were introduced: Bioamid-3 – 2.5 g/t, Melafen - 0.1 g/t; were tamped into hermetically sealed vessels with a capacity of 3.0 liters and sent for storage in a darkened room. Opening and further determination of the chemical composition of haylages according to the methods E.A. Petukhova’s was carried out on the 60th day of conservation. As a result of the experiments, it was found that due to the addition the drug Bioamid-3 in haylage, the preservation of crude protein increased by 3.55% (p <0.05), crude fiber - 0.23%, nitrogen-free extract (NFE) - 7.62% (p <0.05), crude fat - 1.41% (p <0.05) and metabolic energy concentration - 13.76% (p <0.05) in relation to the control sample without adding a preservative. Use of the combination Bioamid-3 + Melafen, along with an increase in crude protein by 1.9%, NFE - 3.71%, crude fat 0.74%, metabolic energy 12.59% (p <0.05) made it possible to achieve the optimal value pH at 4.45 and an increase in the accumulation of organic acids by 0.44% (p <0.05) in the finished feed

Dynamics of ascorbic acid accumulation in the aboveground phytomass of Galega orientalis Lam.

Aim.To analyse the patterns of ascorbic acid content in the green mass of Galega orientalis (Galega orientalis Lam.), Gale variety, cultivated under introductory conditions to develop an effective method for increasing feed production.Material and Methods. The influence of the following factors on the accumulation of ascorbic acid in plants was considered: pre‐sowing seed preparation, the presence of a cover crop (pea), cultivation conditions, meteorological factors and the biological age of the grass stand over a three‐year period.Results. It was established that the plant mass of Galega orientalis is a source of ascorbic acid after plants enter the generative phase of development with predominant localization of vitamins in the leaves (96%). Patterns were revealed of ascorbic acid accumulation in the green phytomass of Galega orientalis depending on average daily temperature during the vegetation period (r = ‐0.69) and specific leaf surface (r = ‐0.83‐0.88). Conclusion. The data obtained also indicate a statistically significant positive effect of using Baikal‐EM1 microbiological fertilizer for seed inoculation during preparation for sowing, and a negative effect of the cover crop on the accumulation of ascorbic acid in the plant mass of Galega orientalis in its virginal and generative periods of development.