EFFICIENT METHOD OF DNA ISOLATION FROM BULKING SAMPLES OF SEEDLINGS

Forage annual and perennial grasses are the difficult subject for molecular and genetic studies because of the problem with obtaining qualitative genomic DNA for PCR, due of high content of proteins, polysaccharides and polyphenols. The known methods of DNA extraction or the numerous commercial kits allow isolating purified nucleic acids from the leaf tissue, but characterized by low efficiency at seedlings using. The modified method of DNA isolation, based on the SDS-extraction buffer (sodium dodecil sulfate), is presented in this study. Significant modifications were introduced in the reagents compound and the steps of procedure accordingly to used type of plant tissue and the result was positive at usage on the bulking samples, as well as on the individual genotypes (the only seedling). Reliability of this method and the functionality of the obtained DNA samples were tested in PCR with different molecular markers (SSR, SRAP and PawS) in researches on revealing of forage legume grasses DNA polymorphism. The general advantages of the proposed method are simplicity and effectiveness, the possibility to isolate qualitative DNA without toxic reagents application, as well as relatively low cost and availability of reagents. This method can be useful for studying the genetic biodiversity and for decision the different tasks, required the rapid analysis of large plant populations.

PREVENTION AND DETOXIFICATION OF MYCOTOXINS IN FEED

Through a comprehensive review of published reports on mycotoxin removal strategies, this work aims to update the understanding of the removal of mycotoxins present in the feed. Mycotoxins in feed: from prevention in the field to detoxification by adsorption or transformation. Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites present worldwide in agricultural products and produced by fungi that cause a toxic response (mycotoxicosis) when ingested by animals. Prevention of mycotoxicosis includes strategies before and after harvesting. The best way to reduce the content of mycotoxins in the feed is to prevent the formation of mycotoxins, but it is often not enough, so other methods are needed. The most common approach in the feed industry is the inclusion of sorbing materials in the feed, which provides more or less selective removal of toxins by adsorption during passage through the gastrointestinal tract. Another reliable approach is the addition of enzymes or microorganisms that can remove toxins from some mycotoxins.

CREEPING CLOVER (Trifolium repens L.): BIOLOGICAL FEATURES, ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE, VARIETIES AND METHODS OF SEED PRODUCTION WHEN GROWN IN GRASS MIXTURES WITH A CEREAL COMPONENT

Creeping clover (Trifolium repens L.) is one of the best crops for creating meadow and pasture agrophytocenoses of long-term use. The biological features of this crop, such as durability, good yield, resistance to grazing, high leafiness, along with good feed quality indicators, its high protein nutritional value, make it indispensable when creating pastures not only in Russia, but also abroad. Creeping clover is one of the main components of grass mixtures for improving pastures and developing fallow lands; it is also an excellent phyto-meliorative crop that restores soil fertility. The most important problem of creeping clover seed production is harvesting due to the short stature of pasture varieties. Therefore, it is recommended to grow creeping clover for seeds in a mixture of grass together with cereal components such as perennial ryegrass, reed fescue, meadow fescue, etc. Due to the use of biological nitrogen of the legume component, energy consumption for the production of 1 kg of cereal grass seeds is reduced by 20–30% in comparison with uncoverless single-species crops. In addition to clover seeds, growing in grass mixtures allows you to get high yields of grass seeds in the second year of use without the use of nitrogen fertilizers.

WHITE LUPINE IN FULL-COMPLETE FEEDS

The article is devoted to the current problem of providing rations with a source of protein with a high biological value. Such a source is suggested to be white lupine and products of its processing. Since, white lupine exceeds the protein content of peas, vetch and other legumes by more than 10%. And the significant content of fat in its composition allows, when using it, to reduce or completely abandon the use of sunflower oil in the diet. This favorably distinguishes white lupine from soybean and sunflower meal and cake, as well as partially animal feed, which are currently used as the main sources of fodder protein. This statement is confirmed in our experiments. As a result, it was found that the use of white lupine in the structures of complete feeds can improve the nutritional value of rations. It has a positive effect on the increase in live weight in animals with the inclusion of native white lupine in the structure of the diet in an amount of 10% to 33%, respectively, with a content of lupine in the diet of 20%, the increase in live weight is 95% higher. Provides a decrease in the cost of the resulting complete feed, when lupine is included in its structure in an amount of 10% by 4.35% and with a lupine content of 20%, the cost of 1 kg of compound feed is reduced by 14.49%. The use of white lupine allowed the experimental animals to use the food efficiently. The lowest costs were observed in the 3 test group. Energy costs were lower by 48.80%, crude protein by 47.22% and digestible protein by 51.3%. In the 2 experimental groups, the costs of metabolic energy, crude protein and digestible protein were lower by 25.00%, 26.38% and 39.20, respectively. Thus, the inclusion of white lupine in the structure of the diet helps to improve the nutritional value of rations, to reduce the cost of nutrients and feed, improving the economic indicators of the maintenance of animals.

SYMBIOTIC PROPERTIES OF BLACK MEDIC OF THE MIRA VARIETY

The first Russian variety of black medic of the Mira was created and included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements. The study of the symbiotic properties of this variety showed that the most promising strains for pre-sowing inoculation were LX1 and 412b, the first increased the collection of dry matter and seeds by 96 and 115%, and the second – by 81 and 73%, respectively. Both strains can be used when cultivating this variety for feed and seeds. Inoculation with the LX6 strain increased seed productivity by 84%. Strains LX2, LX5 and LX6 increase the adaptive ability of varieties of the Mira, shifting the metabolism of the alfalfa-rhizobial system towards increasing seed productivity. The proportion of seeds in plants inoculated with the above-mentioned strains increases to 24–31% of the total plant weight, and in other symbiotic systems this indicator was 19–22%. Strain LX1 was isolated from nodules of plants belonging to the same population on the basis of which the Mira variety was created and it is the most genetically complementary to this variety. The yield of black medic of the Mira variety without inoculation for two years of use was 3.3 t/ha of dry matter, 0.67 t/ha of seeds. Pre-sowing inoculation of seeds with the LX1 strain increased the yield of this variety to 6.48 t/ha (+96%) of dry matter and seeds – to 1.44 t/ha (+115%). In the vegetation experiment, inoculation with the rhizobium strain LX1 significantly increased the height of plants by 4.2 cm, the leaf area by 0.69 cm2 (+49%), productivity by 176%. The total nitrogen content in the aboveground part of the plants reached 3.63%, the roots 3.31%, the control indicators were 3.02 and 2.77%, respectively.

ALFALFA – HIGH-PROTEIN FORAGE CROP

The results of selection studies conducted at the Central Experimental Base of the V.R. Williams in the Non-Chernozem Zone of the Russian Federation are presented. Brief data on promising varieties of alfalfa created in the department of alfalfa breeding for the yield of green and dry mass, crude protein and other indicators are presented. Alfalfa varieties of a new generation adapted to local soil and climatic conditions have been created. Alfalfa is one of the best legume grasses for the preparation of high-protein feed. Alfalfa is a culture that is characterized by ecological plasticity, longevity, capable in many regions of Russia to solve the problem of eliminating the deficiency of vegetable protein in the diets of farm animals. It can be used as a legume component of grass mixtures on pastures and hayfields of the Non-Chernozem zone of Russia. The level of productivity and sustainability of fodder agrophytocenoses is determined by the competitiveness of species and varieties. Alfalfa varieties have a low competitive ability, do not withstand three or four times mowing, quickly fall out of the grass stand. It is known that the use of mineral nitrogen in meadow and field feed production is limited due to high energy costs in the production of nitrogen fertilizers. Therefore, the need for nitrogen in meadows and pastures should be met by legume-cereal grass mixtures, for which it is necessary to create new varieties of legumes, in particular alfalfa variable or hybrid.

EFFECT OF LONG-TERM USE OF MINERAL FERTILIZERS FOR AGROCHEMICAL PROPERTIES SOD-PODZOLIC SOIL OF HAYFIELD

The effect of long-term use of mineral fertilizers on the accumulation of heavy metals in soils of various compositions is an urgent problem in the Non-Chernozem zone of Russia. The main objective of the research conducted at the Federal Williams Research Center of Forage Production and Agroecology was to determine the effect of long-term use of mineral fertilizers on agrochemical soil parameters and accumulation of heavy metals. Systematic application of mineral fertilizers on the sod-podzolic loamy soil of hayfield for 74 years has not had a negative impact on its agrochemical indicators. On the contrary, the organic matter content increased by 30-40% according to the experimental variants. The acidity of the soil decreased from a pH of 4.3 to 4.5–5.3. The effect of mineral fertilizers on the content of mobile forms of copper, zinc, cadmium, lead in the soil and their accumulation in plants is shown. Analysis of the soil by layers showed that 15–20% more humus, mobile macroelements, microelements – copper, zinc are concentrated in the 0–10 cm layer. The content of toxic elements – cadmium and lead – was characterized by their uniform distribution over the 0–20 cm horizon. An annual balance calculation of the use of microelements supplied with mineral fertilizers to plants is presented. The obtained results showed that the forage grasses during the growing season fully used the copper, zinc, cadmium, lead introduced with mineral fertilizers and additionally consumed from the soil: copper – 68, zinc – 268, cadmium – 0.2, lead – 3 g/ha.

INVERTEBRATE SPECIES COMPOSITION (Invertebrata) PESTS OF AGROCENOSES OF WHITE CLOVER (Trifolium repens L.) AND THE RELEVANCE OF PROTECTIVE MEASURES

The area of natural growth and the scale of economic use of white clover among perennial legumes are spatially one of the most global. Due to the constant presence of wild white clover in many natural phyto-cenoses of most agricultural landscapes of different geographical zones, a certain complex of phytophages has evolved from various classes of invertebrate animal organisms that feed on various parts of this plant and reproduce on it. With the introduction of white clover into the culture and the spread of production crops of this plant over large areas, more favorable conditions are created for uncontrolled mass re-production of pests, which can cause already economically and economically significant crop losses. White clover is affected by multi-eating and specialized pests, the damage from which is determined by their biological characteristics and climatic conditions. The high population of white clover crops with a complex of herbivorous invertebrates implies constant monitoring and control of the species composition of the harmful fauna of white clover crops in order to organize, if necessary, protective measures against them. This issue is especially relevant for seed crops. The main pests of seed stands are considered to be weevils of the genera Apion Herbs., Phytonomus Herbs., Sitona Germar., Hypera Germar., which can re-duce seed yield by 50% or more. To reduce the economic losses of the crop on white clover, an integrated protection system should be implemented using chemical, biological and agrotechnical pest control meas-ures based on taking into account their economic harmfulness thresholds. One of the important directions of increasing the efficiency of the production use of white clover is the development of varieties of this crop that are resistant to damage by pathogenic organisms and pests.

ECONOMICALLY USEFUL SIGNS AND FEATURES CULTIVATION OF TETRAPLOID VARIETY MEADOW FESCUE 'BINARA'

Due to the presence of a complex of economically useful signs, meadow fescue is one of the most popular perennial grasses in the country's feed production. To increase the effectiveness of the use of meadow fescue, it is important to develop and introduce new highly productive varieties of this crop into produc-tion practice. In the Federal Williams Research Center of Forage Production and Agroecology a tetraploid variety of meadow fescue 'Binara' was created. The higher effect of economic use of induced tetraploid varieties is due to the increased buffering of their genotype due to a higher level of intra-population hete-rosis and homeostasis. The collection of green mass of the forage crop of the 'Binara' variety exceeds the standard by 20.6% (diploid variety), dry matter — by 58%. In terms of protein content, the 'Binara' varie-ty exceeds the standard by 1.4%, in terms of carbohydrates — by 4.0%, which provides an increase in the indicators of palatability, digestibility of feed, especially in aftergrass. The palatability of the dry matter of the feed is higher than standard by 8.4%, the digestibility is 4.4%. The seed yield is 650–800 kg/ha and can reach 1000 kg/ha. The weight of 1000 seeds in the 'Binara' variety is 3.7–4.5 g versus 2.0–2.6 g in diploid varieties. Plants are differ by the gigantism of some metameric organs (generative shoots, spike-lets, leaves of the middle tier, etc.). Winter hardiness and disease resistance are stable, disease prevalence is low.

NEW VARIETY OF SPRING RAPESEED 'VELES'

The results of breeding a promising variety of spring rapeseed 'Veles' are presented. The variety was created using chemical mutagenesis. The seeds of the 'Vikros' variety were treated with ethylmethanesul-fonate at a concentration of 0.03%, followed by the selection of lines characterized by early maturity, re-sistance to lodging, and improved biochemical composition of the seeds. The line № 834-16 is distin-guished by the accelerated development, the changed architectonics of the plant. The growth of lateral shoots begins from the base of the main shoot, the lower internodes are shortened, which increases the resistance of plants to lodging. Side shoots of the first order begin to bloom almost simultaneously with the main shoot. Flowering and maturation of seeds on shoots of different orders takes place simultaneous-ly with the central one, which contributes to the friendly maturation and equalization of the obtained seeds. Seeds are characterized by an increased fat content, contain less fiber. The content of crude fat va-ries from 47.4 to 48.8%, crude protein — 19.7–24.4%, crude fiber — 6.52–7.62%. In the composition of fatty acids, the content of valuable oleic acid is 7.15% higher than of standard. The average seed yield for 3 years of testing is 3.28 t/ha, which is 0.64 t/ha higher than the standard. The line was transferred to the State Commission for Variety Testing and Protection of Breeding Achievements under the name 'Veles'. The variety is resistant to lodging. Guarantees the production of 28–32 t/ha of green mass with a yield of up to 6 t/ha of dry matter. The low content of glucosinolates in seeds (11.6–13.9 mmol/g) will allow the use of seeds, cake and meal when feeding animals in high doses. The variety is approved for use from 2021 in 4 regions of the Russian Federation: North-West, Central, Ural and West Siberian.