Вiotechnological approaches to reduce biogenic risks in crop production: potato case

The article presents an overview of the biogenic agro-ecological risks in crop production, to reduce which it is possible to use biotechnological approaches. Ways to reduce the negative impact of the two most common harmful objects, the сolorado potato beetle ( Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say) and phytophthoras ( Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) De Bary), which lead to significant losses of potato yield, are considered. It is shown that the currently used methods of plant cell engineering (somatic hybridization and microclonal reproduction) are environmentally sound biotechnological methods of controlling black eye rot potato. The need to develop genetically engineered methods is associated with an exacerbation of biogenic agroecological risks, the reduction of which is an important approach is a proactive introgressive breeding strategy based on cell engineering and molecular methods.

Using soybean pedigrees to identify genomic selection signatures associated with long-term breeding for cultivar improvement

Genetic hitchhiking methods used to uncover selection signatures related to traits of agronomic importance in crops have primarily been used at the level of domestication by comparing groups of wild germplasm to landraces or elite breeding lines. In this study, two groups of cultivars defined by an elite Canadian soybean cultivar, ‘OAC Bayfield’, were compared to identify selection signatures related to long-term breeding within a specific region. Cultivars were assigned to either a pre- or post-OAC Bayfield group. Of the 162 simple sequence repeat markers used to genotype members of the pedigree, 14 were fixed and 19 exhibited a selective signature. An in silico analysis compared the results in this study to quantitative trait loci (QTL) reported in SoyBase and showed that 18 out of the 19 markers with a selective signature were associated with at least one QTL. From the 80 QTL associated with the 18 markers, half were related to plant architecture, yield, or maturity. In addition, the number and type of QTL associated with the fixed versus selected loci differed, particularly for yield. Genomic regions exhibiting a selection signature may contain important loci that either need to be conserved for agronomic performance or be targeted for introgressive breeding and germplasm enrichment.

Progress and potential of interspecific hybrids of Lolium and Festuca

SUMMARYThe Lolium-Festuca complex of related species provides a wide range of variation for the development of versatile grasses adapted to meet the changing requirements of livestock farming. Various approaches have been used in order to harness the full potential of this variation. Tetraploid hybrids between the two ryegrass species L. perenne and L. multiflorum have resulted in stable and successful commercial varieties. Hybrids between more distantly related ryegrass and fescue species have demonstrated useful combinations of traits from both parents. Chromosome doubling is necessary in these hybrids to restore fertility in synthetic amphiploids. However, genetic instability can still be a problem and research is in progress to obtain tighter control of chromosome pairing. An alternative approach is to introduce a few specific traits from fescues into ryegrasses, or vice versa, using introgressive breeding procedures. This review outlines the progress already achieved in exploiting the ryegrass–fescue complex by using these various approaches and assesses the potential of hybrid derivatives.