One- and multivariable characteristics of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars breed at the Nagradowice Plant Breeding Station of the Poznańska Hodowla Roślin, studied in experiments in 2017-2018

The aim of this study was to evaluate the yield variability of spring barley families grown at the Nagradowice Plant Breeding Station of Poznan Plant Breeding against other families studied in years 2017‒2018 in Team Breeding Experiments. Research material included 250 spring barley families cultivated in 2017 and 2018 in 6 locations. Selection of spring barley families for preliminary experiments was based on synthesis of results obtained in inter-plant experiments established in 2016 and 2017 in 5 locations. Combined (due to location) analysis of variance for experimental data was performed for each year and each series of experiments separately. Best Weighted Linear Unbiased Estimators (BWLUE) for the effects of individual sources of variation were included in ANOVA model. Significant effect of location on mean yield was observed in each research year and each series of experiments. Crucial differences were also observed between tested varieties and breeding lines. Moreover, significant interaction between locations and varieties or breeding families was also observed. Self-organising map (SOM) was applied to develop multivariable characteristic of tested families and cultivars of spring barley. Analyses results, i.e. ranking of BWLUE effects as well as SOM segmentation revealed seven breading lines from Breeding Station Nagradowice, which may be considered for further breeding process.

Particular qualities of formation of sensory characteristics of jam made from the fruits from musky squash

The goal of the research is to study particular qualities of formation of sensory characteristics of jam made from the fruits from musky squash (synthetic varieties of Tsukatnaya and Moskovskaya aromatnaya produced by LLC «N.N. Timofeev plant breeding station»). The authors conducted biometrical observation and identified descriptors that described technological properties of fruits and maturation dynamics. The jam was made with the addition of fruit raw materials and the replacement part of the water in the sugar syrups with apple juice and a sensory assessment of the quality of the finished product was carried out. The studied varieties of musky squash during the growing seasons of different weather conditions showed high stability in the formation of the yield of the raw material, leveled by the maturity degree. Storing the fruits of the studied varieties of musky squash after harvesting for at least 2-3 months improves the technological properties of the raw material, which has a positive effect on the formation of the sensory characteristics of the finished product. The bright orange pulp of the studied pumpkin varieties with an average carotene content from 10.13 (Moskovskaya aromatnaya) to 13.3 mg% (Tsukatnaya variety) has a pronounced sweet taste and a pleasant aroma. This allows getting the highest quality jam by replacing 25% of the water in the sugar syrup with apple juice or adding 25% apples to the squash fruit. The fruits of musky squash varieties of Tsukatnaya and Moskovskaya aromatnaya produced by LLC «N.N. Timofeev plant breeding station» used in the jam production were grown in the Moscow region. This results in the formation of sensory characteristics representative of a high-quality product.

NEW EARLY VARIETIES OF VEGETABLE PEA

The volume and structure of sown areas of vegetable pea varieties of different terms of ripening, selection of the Krymsk Experiment Plant Breeding Station, VIR in the southern region of Russia is shown. When creating new varieties, at present, priority is given to obtaining very early and early, in order to expand the conveyer of raw materials for processing. The merits of the breeding achievements created and included in the State Register are shown: a very early variety Prima (year of inclusion 2016) and an early Kudodesnik 2 (2018), which have already begun to be used in production. However, for processing enterprises in each group of ripening it is necessary to have 2-3 varieties. Therefore, we have set a goal - to create new varieties of vegetable peas of very early and early ripening periods, adaptive to the climatic conditions of the North Caucasus region. The studies were carried out from 2016 to 2018 in breeding fields (Krymsk Experiment Plant Breeding Station, VIR, Krasnodar region). Studied 10 varieties and lines. According to the results of evaluation in competitive variety testing (in 2016-2017), a very early grade of vegetable peas Izyuminka was transferred to the state test. The variety ripens 9 days earlier than the Alpha standard and surpasses it in yield (by 2.2 t / ha.). According to the competitive test held in 2017-2018, in 2019, the early variety Mayak was transferred to the state variety testing, which ripens 4 days earlier than the standard and is almost twice as high in yield. The use of these varieties in the processing industry will significantly increase the period of receipt of grain for processing.

Plant breeding in Lithuania: 95 years for science and agriculture improvement

Plant breeding in Lithuania was started in 1922 after the Dotnuva Plant Breeding Station had been established. The first head of this station was prof. D. Rudzinskas whose activities in plant breeding began in 1902 in Russia. The genetic basis for plant breeding was the local varieties and landraces, as well as the material developed by prof. Rudzinskas at the Moscow Plant Breeding Station. The chief method during the initial period of the Lithuanian plant breeding was analytic, later the so-called, “synthetic” plant breeding which included crossing programmes. The breeders used several selection schemes and field designs. In the first schemes the direct yield test was evaluated in late generations only. Progress in the field mechanization allowed to start yield tests at more early generations. Up-to-date breeding schemes are based on new requirements for varietal purity and uniformity. Over the period 1922–2017, 325 varieties have been developed by Lithuanian plant breeders.

Wheat germplasm screening for stem rust resistance using conventional and molecular techniques

In Central Asia, stem rust (Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici) causes considerable damage, especially during growing seasons with high rainfall. Ug99 is a race of stem rust that is virulent to the majority of wheat varieties. To develop disease-free germplasm, wheat material was screened using the predominant stem rust races of Kazakhstan and tested in two nurseries; CIMMYT-Turkey and the Plant Breeding Station at Njoro, Kenya. A total of 11 pathotypes of P. graminis f.sp. tritici were identified in Kazakhstan from the stem rust samples collected in 2008–2009. In particular, pathotypes TDT/H, TPS/H, TTH/K, TKH/R, TKT/C and TFK/R were highly virulent. Of the 170 advanced lines of wheat, 21 CIMMYT lines resistant to 5 aggressive Kazakhstani pathotypes of P. graminis were identified. A high level of resistance was observed in 11 wheat cultivars and advanced lines: Taza, E-19, E-99, E-102, E-572, E-796, E-809 (Kazakhstan), Ekinchi (Azerbaijan), Dostlik, Ulugbek 600 (Uzbekistan) and Umanka (Russia). Based on data obtained from Turkey-CIMMYT and the Plant Breeding Station Njoro, Kenya nurseries, out of 13 tested entries, 6 wheat breeding lines which were resistant to both stem and yellow rust and 10 wheat lines which showed high and moderate levels of resistance to Ug99 were selected. Using the sequence tagged site (STS) molecular marker Sr24#12, associated with Sr24/Lr24, seven wheat entries resistant to stem rust were identified. These results will assist breeders in choosing parents for crossing in programmes aimed at developing varieties with desirable levels of stem rust resistance in Kazakhstan and they will also facilitate stacking the resistance genes into advanced breeding lines.

Nitrogen Fertilizer Use Efficiency in Winter Wheat Trials

The field experiments with ten diverse varieties of winter wheat were laid down according to uniform scheme during 2001 – 2002 at three locations having different soils and agroclimatic conditions: study and research farm “Pēterlauki” of the Latvia University of Agriculture on sod – calcareous medium loam soils, humus content 19 – 21 g kg-1 of soil; at the Stende Plant Breeding Station on sod – podzolio soils, humus content 18 - 19 g kg-1 of soil and at Latgale Science Centre in Viļāni on humus – podzolic gley soils, humus content 65 – 95 g kg-1 of soil. There was observed sharp variation in meteorological conditions during experimental years and quite variable weather conditions between the trial sites. The average results obtained in the experiments suggest that stable increase of winter wheat grain yield was reached increasing fertilizer N rates from N90 to N120 (split application) thus ensuring grain yield increase 1 to 20 kg per 1 kg N applied. The crude protein yield 2,8 – 3,47 kg per 1 kg N applied was obtained from trial plots at the study and research farm “Pēterlauki” and at the Stende Plant Breeding Station. The mineral N use efficiency was considerably lower in humus – rich soils in Viļāni. The increase of fertilizer N rate up to N180 (split application) resulted in gradual decrease of nitrogen use efficiency, and utilization coefficient was to a great extent depended on meteorological conditions during vegetation period.

Ecology: A Science of Nation? The Utilization of Plant Ecology in New Zealand, 1896 - 1930

Following the creation of the Empire Marketing Board in 1926, Australia's development was influenced by an imperial science increasingly aware of ecology. The present paper traces similar New Zealand links in the ecological approach to pasture development promoted in the Dominion by Bruce Levy and fuelled by the vision of George Stapledon of the Welsh Plant Breeding Station, who visited New Zealand in 1926. However, plant ecology came much earlier to New Zealand by way of Leonard Cockayne, who in 1908 used ecological arguments to press for the extension of Tongariro National Park and who saw New Zealand's unique plant associations as emblems of nation rather than endowments of empire. By comparing the application of ecology, in New Zealand at different times, to the separate (though not necessarily opposed) goals of building a nation and supporting an empire, insight is gained into the changing ways in which any science may be drawn into the service of societal priorities and aspirations.