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Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) cultivation has become increasingly popular in NW Europe but little is known about the performance of contract-free varieties in this region. In this study, we phenotyped 25 quinoa varieties on a single-plant basis in a field trial in Belgium. In addition, we optimized breeding tools such as NIRS (near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy) to estimate the seed crude protein content and a multiplex PCR set to identify true F1 progeny from pair crosses. We identified 14 varieties with sufficiently early maturity, 17 varieties with plant height below 150 cm, 21 large-seeded varieties, four varieties with a crude protein content exceeding 15%, and two low-saponin varieties. A variety of seed colors and plant morphological traits was observed. Seed yield was not correlated with maturity, plant height or saponin content, but was negatively correlated with seed crude protein content. NIRS could accurately predict seed crude protein content with a determination coefficient of 0.94. Our multiplex SSR set could correctly identify the paternity in 77% to 97% of progeny, depending on the pair cross. In conclusion, our study identified various contract-free varieties that may be suitable for cultivation in NW Europe. In addition, our study provides valuable phenotypic information and breeding tools that breeders can harness for breeding efforts in NW European quinoa.

One of the most effective methods for increasing yield and resistance to abiotic and biotic factors in the environment is genetic selection and improvement of varieties. Solving these tasks is possible using positive transgressions, which are of great practical importance at this stage of selection. The aim of the research was to determine the coefficient of heritability in the broad sense (H2 ) and the degree and frequency of transgressions for productivity traits in second-generation hybrids of naked oat, created by crossing based on the eco-geographical principle and selection of economically valuable biotypes for further breeding work. During 2021, research was conducted on 15 intervarietal hybrids. F2 and parental components were analysed for traits such as plant height, spike length, number of spikelets per spike, number of grains per spikelet, and grain weight per spikelet. Field research methods (phenological observations), laboratory methods (structural analysis of the material under study), and mathematical-statistical methods (objective evaluation of the experimental data obtained) were used. A prominent level of the coefficient was observed for the trait “grain weight per spikelet”, ranging from 0.66 to 0.88 in hybrid populations OM 11-3007/Abel, OM 2803/Abel, Percy Can/Inermis, Percy Can/Abel. The analysis of the second-generation F2 intervarietal hybrids of naked oat allowed the identification of transgressions for all the studied traits. The highest number of positive transgressions was found for the following productivity traits: spike length (Tf 31.82 – 59.09%, Td 7.53 – 15.49%); number of spikelets per spike (Tf 27.30 – 54.50%, Td 8.85 – 26.49%); number of grains per spikelet (Tf 45.50 – 77.27%, Td 16.63 – 27.62%); and grain weight per spikelet (Tf 63.64 – 81.80%, Td 18.12 – 25.36%). The selection-genetic analysis of studying the nature of heritability, frequency, and degree of transgressive variation in spikelet productivity traits of F2 naked oat hybrids allowed the identification of a considerable number of transgressive forms, in which productivity elements vary widely, indicating successful selection work in creating promising high-yielding breeding material

Triticale (× Triticosecale Wittmack) is of great interest as an insurance crop that can ensure the stability of the gross harvest of feed and food grains at a lower cost. In Western Siberia, only winter triticale varieties are cultivated, however, spring triticales are important for cultivation in regions not suitable for winter crops. To create spring varie ties with high yields and good grain quality, it is necessary to study and enrich the gene pool, identify donors of economically valuable traits. One of the possible ways to solve this problem can be through the production of secondary hexaploid triticales with the involvement of the tetraploid wild-growing species of emmer wheat Triticum dicoccum (Schrank) Schuebl. The aim of this work was to create and study hybrids of emmer T. dicoccum (Schrank) Schuebl. with hexaploid triticale using genomic in situ hybridization for staining of meiotic chromosomes and analysis of plant productivity elements in F4–F8. DT4, DT5, DT6 plants and the prebreeding F6 forms obtained from them – DT 4/168, DT 5/176 and DT 6/186 – were selected according to the characteristics of the productivity and the nature of the grain in the F4 hybrid population. The offspring of hybrids DT4 and DT5 and prebreeding forms DT 4/168 and DT 5/176 had an increased grain nature (over 750 g/l), but low productivity. The hybrid DT6 and the breeding form DT 6/186 obtained from it had high grain productivity (785 ± 41 and 822 ± 74 g/m2, respectively), but, like the paternal form of triticale UK 30/33, had a reduced nature of the grain. In F8 DT 6/186 plants, 7 homologous pairs of rye chromosomes and from 27 to 30 wheat chromosomes were found in meiosis, which indicates the presence of a complete rye genome and two wheat ААВВ genomes. Rye chromosomes showed stable formation of bivalents in contrast to wheat chromosomes, which caused the presence of aneuploids in plant populations. Thus, hexaploid forms DT 4/168 and DT 5/176 with well-made smooth grain and high grain size were obtained, which can be used as a source of this trait for selection of food-grade triticale. DT 6/186 is a promising form for further breeding in order to obtain high-yielding forms of triticale.

The subspecies of waxy maize (Zea mays L. Ceratina) has not been adequately studied, despite the fact that its kernels are considered a valuable raw material in the food and technical industries. The purpose of the current work was to study new self-pollinated waxy maize lines and identify promising maize hybrids with an increased content of amylopectin starch in kernels. The study was carried out in the FSBSI “Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy” in 2017-2019. The initial material was presented by 40 new self-pollinated maize lines (I6) belonging to the waxy subspecies. They were studied according to the set of traits. The highly variable traits were kernels' productivity, plant lodging, blister smut infection, one cob weight (V = 27.4-191.6%); the moderate variable traits were a height of cob attachment, number of cobs per plant, 1000-kernel weight, number of kernels in a row and per cob (V = 10.3-19.0%); the slightly variable traits were harvesting moisture content in kernels, length of the period “sprouts - cobs' flowering”, plant height (V = 2.2-9.6). There have been identified the new lines ‘24/86', ‘25/92(2)', ‘26/8', ‘25/94' with a high content of amylopectin starch in kernels (68.6-69.4%), kernels' productivity (0.96-1.76 t/ha), low harvest moisture content of kernels (13.7-15.1%), high resistance to lodging (0-3.3% of lodged plants), weak infection of blister smut on a natural background (0.4-6, 5% of infected plants), with an average cob attachment height (42-53 cm). The new self-pollinated line ‘27/8' had an average starch content in kernels (68.0%), but was identified by high kernels' productivity (2.70 t/ha) and high values of other economically valuable traits. The results of the structural analysis have shown that the waxy maize lines formed the yields due to the combination of high values of various elements of the grain yield structure. For example, the most productive line ‘26/8' differed in the maximum weight of one cob (93.9 g) and 1000 kernel weight (251 g).

To evaluate the agro-biological traits and select the promising populations of alfalfa under pedoclimatic conditions, field experiments were carried out in two locations of the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry (western Lithuania 55°70′ N, 21°49′ E and central Lithuania 55°23′ N, 23°51′ E). Eleven populations were established in acidic soil with a pH of 4.0 (experimental site I) and neutral soil with a pH of 7.0 (experimental site II). The productivity and agro-biological traits: fresh matter yield, dry matter yield, seed yield, stem thickness, and stem, leaf, and inflorescence weight of alfalfa populations were evaluated from 2019 to 2021. In the acidic soil, the populations 3056, 3132, 3130, and 3058 yielded more fresh and dry matter compared to the standard cultivar Birutė in the period from 2019 to 2021. In the acidic soil, populations 3131 and 3057 had a higher seed yield compared to the cultivar Birutė in 2019 and 2020, respectively. The 3086 population significantly differed in leaf weight compared to the cultivar Birutė. The cultivar Birutė and population 3132 were similar in stem thickness and fresh matter yield. In the neutral soil, population 3056 yielded more fresh matter compared to the cultivar Birutė.

Agriculture in the populated islands of the Galapagos Archipelago, a protected area due to its unique biodiversity, has been detrimental to its conservation but highly required to meet food necessities. A potential solution to make agricultural farming more sustainable is adopting water-saving technologies (WSTs). Therefore, this study aimed to test the effectiveness of using WSTs such as Groasis Waterboxx® in three of the most valuable crops in the islands through participatory research with the involvement of a group of farmers from the Floreana and Santa Cruz islands and explore a possible transition to more sustainable agricultural practices. Capsicum annuum, Cucumis sativus and Solanum lycopersicum were cultivated using Groasis Waterboxx® and compared to conventional irrigation practices (drip-irrigated controls) to assess the variability of productivity, the number of fruits and individual fruit weight (IFW). In addition, differences in plant traits were analyzed by crop, and island. Results suggested that WSTs such as Groasis Waterboxx® may provide on-farm benefits regarding the yields of the studied traits. From this study, it is difficult to determine whether participation in such a research study will permanently change irrigation practices. However, the participant’s responses to the study suggest an increase in their understanding of the use and benefits of WST.

The aim of this research was to compare productivity traits of two pig genotypes fattened in two different ways, on deep litter and in a conventional way (flat deck), and to determine whether there was microclimatic influence on the productivity traits of fattening pigs. The research was carried out on 57 fattening pigs of both sex, divided into two groups by their housing. Each group consisted of pigs of two genotypes, i.e. three-way crossbreeds of Large White and German Landrace (LW x GL) in the dam line, and of German Landrace and Pietrain (P) in the sire line. Pigs were fed ad libitum with isocaloric and isoprotein diets. During the whole experiment, temperature, air moisture, air circulation speed and the content of NH3 and CO2 were measured in pens. No statistically significant differences were recorded with respect to temperature, air moisture, air circulation speed and content of carbon dioxide (CO2) and ammonia (NH3) in the air in pens with deep litter and without it (P>0.05). Pigs housed without deep litter had statistically highly significant (P