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Background. Knowledge about the genetic gain for fundamental traits over time is essential for a critical assessment and improvement of breeding programs, especially regarding staple crops like bread wheat.Materials and methods. To estimate the genetic gain in bread wheat breeding in Morocco, grain yield (GY) and grain protein content (GPC) data were collected from 12 multi-environment field trials for 20 bread wheat cultivars released between 1980 and 2022.Results and discussion. Analysis of variance highlighted a high significant variability between environments (E), cultivars (G), and a significant G × E interaction (P < 0.001). Based on stability analysis, the modern cultivars released during the two last decades (2002–2012 and 2013–2022) showed the highest performances and wider stability than old ones, especially in low-yielding environments. Genetic gain (GG) for GY was 21.4 kg ha−1 yr−1 (0.75% yr–1) over 4 decades of breeding. This progress was declining when advancing in decades and ranged from 11% (from 1980–1990 to 1991–2001) to less than 7% (from 2002–2012 to 2013–2022). The GG in low and intermediate yielding environments were the most important (17.34% and 6.88% yr–1 respectively), while GG was nonsignificant in high-yielding environments (4.62% yr–1). Within the same period, GPC showed a nonsignificant negative trend of –0.007% (–0.002% yr–1), while derivative parameters from GY and GPC indicated high positive genetic progress. More efforts should be deployed to implement a good balance between yield performance and quality in the new released cultivars despite the negative correlation between these two traits (r = –0.36; P < 0.001).Conclusion. Adopting advanced technologies, like genomic selection, adequate agronomic practices, and more efficient selection criteria are essential steps to further increase simultaneously grain yield and quality traits.

Background. Information on the races of Puccinia triticina Erikss. in Novosibirsk Province is needed to identify sources of effective genes for leaf rust resistance. The goal hereof was monitoring genetic variability of the P. triticina population in the Ob riverside forest-steppe, Novosibirsk Province, and detecting effective resistance genes to develop wheat cultivars resistant to the disease. Materials and methods. In 2015–2019, affliction of Thatcher lines (Tc) and cultivars under the disease pressure was assessed, and P. triticina structure in the Ob forest-steppe of Novosibirsk Province was monitored. P. triticina genotypes were identified using the Long–Kolmer system. Additionally, a set of cultivars with the Lr19, Lr20, Lr28, Lr39; 6 – Lr6Agi2, Lr6Agi1, LrKu, and LrSp2 genes was employed. Results. A high frequency of virulence was detected for cultivars with the Lr3ka, Lr10, Lr1, Lr2a, Lr2c, Lr3a, Lr11, Lr18, Lr20, Lr30, Lr16, Lr17, and LrB genes (66.7–100 %). The P. triticina structure consisted of 27 races, including 12 common ones: TGTT GB, TGTR GB, TQTT GB, TQTR GB, TGPT GB, THFR GB, KHTT GB, PHKT GB, PQTT GB, THTP BB, PGFR GB, and SGPR GB. Genotypes with the Lr6Agi2, Lr6Agi1, LrKu, Lr39, Lr42, Lr12, Lr19, Lr24, Lr25, Lr28, Lr35, Lr45, Lr47, Lr50, Lr52, LrSp2, Lr6Agi1+Lr19, Lr6Agi2+Lr10+Lr34, Lr11+Lr13+Lr22a, Lr13+LrTb, Lr24+Lr26, Lr37+Lr13, Lr37+Lr1, Lr34+Lr13, Lr43+Lr24, and Lr49+Lr34 genes were resistant to P. triticina under the infection pressure. Some wheat genotypes varied in leaf rust resistance across the years (0–5 % for TcLr29 and TcLr21, 0–10 % for CSP 44 and TcLr44, 0–20 % for TcLr13, 1–30 % for TcLr37, and 15–80 % for Pavon F 76). Conclusion. The local leaf rust population has changed slightly over the years of study (the Lr18 and Lr38 genes have lost resistance), and was very different from the population before 2010.

Introgressive hybridization is the main method of broadening the genetic diversity of bread wheat. Wild barley Hordeum marinum ssp. gussoneanum Hudson (2n = 4x = 28) has useful agronomical traits, such as high resistance to stress factors, that could be a potential source of new genes for bread wheat improvement. This study aimed to evaluate the possibility of introgression of H. marinum chromosomes into the genome of bread wheat using an incomplete amphiploid H. marinum ssp. gussoneanum (4x)–T. aestivum (Pyrotrix 28) (2n = 54) carrying the cytoplasm of wild barley. For this purpose, we crossed the line of bread wheat variety Pyrotrix 28 with an incomplete amphiploid, and then selected cytogenetically stable 42­chromosome plants with a high level of fertility in hybrid progeny. Genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) revealed a pair of H. marinum chromosomes in the genome of these plants. C­ banding analysis confirmed that bread wheat chromosome 4B was replaced by wild barley chromosome 4Hmar. SSR markers Xgwm368 and Xgwm6 confirmed the absence of chromosome 4B, and EST markers BAWU808 and BAW112 identified chromosome 4Hmar in the genome of the isolated disomic wheat­barley substitution line. The study of this line showed that the substitution of chromosome 4B with chromosome 4Hmar resulted in a change of some morphological traits. It included intense anthocyanin coleoptile coloration, specific for H. marinum, as well as a lack of purple coloration of the ears in the leaf sheath, specific for Pyrotrix 28. Line 4Hmar(4B) showed increased performance for several traits, including plant height, number of spikes and tillers per plant, spikelet and grain number in the main spike, grain number per plant, but it had decreased values of 1000­grain weight compared to wheat. Cytogenetic stability and fertility of line 4Hmar(4B) indicated a high compensation ability of barley 4Hmar for wheat chromosome 4B and confirmed their homeology.

The 7DL-7Ae#1L·7Ae#1S translocation with the Lr29 gene attracts the attention of bread wheat breeders by its effectiveness against Puccinia triticina. However, its impact on useful agronomic traits has been little studied. In this report, the prebreeding value of 7DL-7Ae#1L·7Ae#1S was studied in analogue lines (ALs) of spring bread wheat cultivars Saratovskaya 68 and Saratovskaya 70 during 2019–2021. The presence of the Lr29 gene was conf irmed by using molecular marker Lr29F24. The ALs with the Lr29 gene were highly resistant to P. triticina against a natural epiphytotics background and in laboratory conditions. 7DL-7Ae#1L·7Ae#1S in Saratovskaya 68 ALs reduced grain productivity in all years of research. On average, the decrease was 35 and 42 %, or in absolute f igures 1163 and 1039 against 1802 kg/ha in the cultivar-recipient. In Saratovskaya 70 ALs, there was a decrease in grain yield in 2019 and 2020, and there were no differences in 2021. On average, the decrease was 18 and 32 %, or in absolute f igures 1101 and 912 against 1342 kg/ha in the cultivar-recipient. The analogues of both cultivars showed a signif icant decrease in the weight of 1000 grains, which ranged from 14 to 20 % for Saratovskaya 68 and 17–18 % for Saratovskaya 70. An increase in the period of germination-earing was noted only in Saratovskaya 68 lines, which averaged 1.3 days. ALs of Saratovskaya 70 had no differences in this trait. 7DL-7Ae#1L·7Ae#1S did not affect plant height and lodging resistance in all ALs. Studies of the bread-making quality in lines with 7DL-7Ae#1L·7Ae#1S revealed a signif icant increase in grain protein and gluten content. As for the effect on the alveograph indicators, there were differences between ALs of both cultivars. While Saratovskaya 68 ALs had a decrease in elasticity and in the ratio of dough tenacity to the extensibility, Saratovskaya 70 lines had an increase in these indicators. All lines increased the f lour strength and the loaves volume, but while Saratovskaya 68 ALs had an increased porosity rating, Saratovskaya 70 ALs had the same rating as the recipient.

Background. Environmental testing is the first stage of wheat breeding, the purpose of which is to identify wheat samples suitable for local environments and capable of forming a fairly stable yield and high-quality grain. The proposed study presents the test results for spring bread wheat cultivars of Russian breeding grown in arid environments of Northern Kazakhstan in order to preserve their yield and baking qualities.Materials and methods. The material of the study included 15 spring bread wheat cultivars. Protein and gluten content and the quality of gluten were determined using an infrared analyzer; the physical properties of the test were assessed using a Chopin alveograph and Brabender farinograph.Results. As a result of biochemical assessment, increased protein and gluten content and grain weight were observed in cvs. ‘Tyumenskaya 30’, ‘Aviada’, ‘Lutescens 585’, ‘Serebrina’, and ‘Tyumenets 2’. Dough deformation energy (W) characteristic of high-quality wheat and the balance in the P/L ratio (elasticity/elongation) were shown by cvs. ‘Tyumenskaya 33’ (290 a.u.; 1.15 P/L), ‘SKENT-3’ (307 a.u.; 0.89 P/L), and ‘Lutescens 585’ (374 a.u., 1.10 P/L). In laboratory baking, the volume of bread ranged from 620 ml (‘Tyumenskaya 27’) to 768 ml (‘Tyumenskaya 29’) with an average value of 707 ml. A baking quality analysis of the cultivars grown in the Northern Trans-Urals and Northern Kazakhstan demonstrated that the conditions in Northern Kazakhstan were more favorable for obtaining bread with an increased volume. On the basis of environmental tests and an assessment of a set of biochemical and technological indicators, cvs. ‘SKENT-3’ and ‘Tyumenskaya 29’ were selected. It makes sense to continue studying wheat cultivars that can be sources and donors of high-quality grain for the development of cultivars for the arid steppe of Northern Kazakhstan.

In accordance with the purpose of the current study, there have been presented the study results of the productivity and grain quality of the co-breeding winter bread wheat varieties. Kalmykia RAI, the branch of the “Pre-Kaspy AFRC RAS” in cooperation with the FSBSI “NCG named after P.P. Lukyanenko” developed five winter bread wheat varieties. The Competitive Variety Testing was laid down in 2 layers in 4-fold repetition using a CH-16 seeder in 2017–2021. The accounting area of the plot was 50 m². The sowing was carried out at the optimal time, in the third decade of September. The seeding rate was 300 germinating seeds per 1 m². The crop was sown in weedfree fallow. The mean grain productivity of the co-breeding varieties through 5 years in the arid conditions of the Republic of Kalmykia was 3.06 t/ha. The variety ‘Khasyr’ had the maximum productivity. The study has confirmed that the co-breeding varieties formed high-quality grain suitable for baking. The highest percentage of protein (14.8%) and gluten (31.1%) among the varieties through the past 5 years was in 2020. Grain unit of all varieties exceeded the basic rate of 750 g/l and ranged from 765 to 786 g/l. The best grain unit was demonstrated by the new variety ‘Khamdan’. Grain sedimentation among the varieties varied on average from 42.0 to 49.4 ml, which is an average ratio for this crop. The flour strength ranged from 171 to 299 u.a. Strong flour was obtained from the variety ‘Bulgun’. In recent years the bread volume varied from 515 to 650 cm³, the total rate of grain and flour of the co-breeding varieties was 4.0 - 4.8, which is typical for valuable and strong wheat.

On April 2, 2022, the national and international scientific communities who specialize in wheat breeding and agricultural producers in the wheat sector celebrated the birthday jubilee of Acad. Lyudmila A. Bespalova, a renowned breeder and head of the Department of Wheat and Triticale Breeding and Seed Production at the P.P. Lukyanenko National Grain Center.The main result achieved by L.A. Bespalova’s team is more than 170 cultivars of various wheat species and triticale, including over 100 bread wheat cultivars that supply about 10% of worldwide grain harvests of this staple crop, most important for the existence of mankind. The team succeeded in commercializing their competitive wheat cultivars with unique combinations of agronomic traits (grain quality, adaptability to abiotic and biotic stressors, short growing season, etc.) because they developed and implemented a new industrial breeding system, unmatched in the world. In its essence, the approach developed under the leadership of L. A. Bespalova at the P.P. Lukyanenko National Grain Center is a practically proven strategy of the new “green revolution” capable of ensuring the global food security.

One of the main ways to fine-tune the adaptive potential of wheat cultivars is to regulate the timing of flowering using the genes of the Vrn-1 locus, which determines the type and rate of development. Recently, with the use of introgression and isogenic lines of bread wheat, it was shown that this locus is involved in the genetic control of root length and weight both under irrigation and drought conditions. It turned out that the VrnA1 gene is associated with a significant decrease in the size of the root system in a winter genotype. The Vrn-A1 gene had the strongest effect on the reduction of the root system in comparison with the homoeoallelic genes Vrn-B1 and Vrn-D1. The aim of this work was to determine whether the allelic composition of the genes at the Vrn-1 locus affects the root size in seven spring cultivars and in two lines of bread wheat differing in flowering time under conditions of normal watering and drought. The research was carried out in a hydroponic greenhouse; drought was created at the tillering stage. In this work, we have shown that early flowering wheat cultivars with the dominant Vrn-A1а allele have more lightweight and shorter roots under normal watering conditions compared to the late flowering carriers of the dominant homoeoalleles Vrn-B1 and Vrn-D1. In drought conditions, the root length decreased insignificantly, but the weight of the roots significantly decreased in all genotypes, with the exception of Diamant 2. It has been hypothesized that the level of the transcription factor VRN-1 at the onset of drought may affect the size of the root system. The large variability in root weight may indicate the participation, in addition to the Vrn-1 locus, of other gene networks in the formation of this trait. Breeders working to develop early maturing varieties should consider the possibility of reducing the root size, especially in arid conditions. A significant increase in the root size of line 821 with introgressions into chromosomes 2A, 2B, and 5A from T. timopheevii indicates the possibility of using congeners as a source of increasing the trait in wheat.

The development of bakery industry is possible due to the use of such non-traditional raw materials as durum wheat. The purpose of the current study was to estimate the effect of varietal traits of durum wheat when mixed with bread wheat according to the results of rheological parameters of dough, technological and bakery estimation of flour. There have been studied technological indicators of grain, rheological and physical parameters of dough, general bakery estimation. There has been established that the high gas-forming ability of durum wheat allows it to be used (30%) as bread wheat improver during baking. However, the positive effect was present not in all years of the study. There has been estimated an improvement effect due to mutual compensation of the missing components and complementarity of the bread and durum wheat varieties. There was found that in 2008, 2010 there was practically no improvement effect when durum wheat flour was added to the mixture in a ratio of 30:70%. There was established that in 2015 the maximum bread volume of 930 cm3 and a good bakery estimation (flat surface, oval shape, golden brown crust, as well as fine thin-walled porosity with elastic light crumb) were obtained by adding bread wheat varieties to durum wheat varieties, which during the year of the study there was formed weak grain (dilute of dough was 110 u.f.; valorigraphic number was 46 u.v.). In 2020, the varieties used in the mixtures of both spring bread and durum wheat were of high quality, and bakery estimation gave excellent indicators both in the control (the variety ‘Tulaykovskaya 108’ with 1300 cm3) and in the mixtures with 1140–1255 cm3; the appearance of bread and crumb in almost all variants had an excellent mark. The largest volume of bread, 1255 cm3, was obtained when the durum wheat variety ‘Bezenchukskaya Niva’ was added to the mixture. Adding durum wheat flour to the mixture in an amount of 30:70% when baking bread reduced its staleness by 6.5% relative to the control (bread wheat); bread remains fresh for a long time with an elastic, quickly regenerated crumb.

Wheatgrass Thinopyrum intermedium is a source of agronomically valuable traits for common wheat. Partial wheat–wheatgrass amphidiploids and lines with wheatgrass chromosome substitutions are extensively used as intermediates in breeding programs. Line Agis 1 (6Agi2/6D) is present in the cultivar Tulaykovskaya 10 pedigree. Wheatgrass chromosome 6Agi2 carries multiple resistance to fungal diseases in various ecogeographical zones. In this work, we studied the transfer of chromosome 6Agi2 in hybrid populations Saratovskaya 29×Tulaykovskaya 10 (S29×T10) and Tulaykovskaya 10×Saratovskaya 29 (T10×S29). Chromosome 6Agi2 was identified by PCR with chromosome-specific primers and by genomic in situ hybridization (GISH). According to molecular data, 6Agi2 was transmitted to nearly half of the plants tested in the F2 and F3 generations. A new breeding line 49-14 (2n = 42) with chromosome pair 6Agi2 was isolated and characterized in T10×S29 F5 by GISH. According to the results of our field experiment in 2020, the line had high productivity traits. The grain weights per plant (10.04±0.93 g) and the number of grains per plant (259.36±22.49) did not differ significantly from the parent varieties. The number of grains per spikelet in the main spike was significantly higher than in S29 (p ≤ 0.001) or T10 (p ≤ 0.05). Plants were characterized by the ability to set 3.77±0.1 grains per spikelet, and this trait varied among individuals from 2.93 to 4.62. The grain protein content was 17.91 %, and the gluten content, 40.55 %. According to the screening for fungal disease resistance carried out in the field in 2018 and 2020, chromosome 6Agi2 makes plants retain immunity to the West Siberian population of brown rust and to dominant races of stem rust. It also provides medium resistant and medium susceptible types of response to yellow rust. The possibility of using lines/varieties of bread wheat with wheatgrass chromosomes 6Agi2 in breeding in order to increase protein content in the grain, to confer resistance to leaf diseases on plants and to create multiflowered forms is discussed.

The Sr22, Sr35, and Sr25 genes attract the attention of bread wheat breeders with their effectiveness against Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici race Ug99 and its biotypes. The effectiveness and impact of Sr22+Sr25 and Sr35+Sr25 gene combinations on agronomic traits have not yet been studied. In the present article, these traits were studied using the spring bread wheat lines L503/W3534//L503, L503/Sr35//L503/3/L503 carrying the Sr22+Sr25 and Sr35+Sr25 genes during 2016–2020. These lines were assessed for resistance to P. graminis f. sp. tritici under natural epiphytotics and to the Saratov, Lysogorsk and Omsk populations of the pathogen and to the PgtZ1 (TKSTF) and PgtF18.6 fungus isolates in laboratory conditions (TKSTF + Sr33). The presence of the studied Sr-genes was confirmed by using molecular markers. Prebreeding studies were conducted during 2018–2020 vegetation periods. Under the natural epiphytotics of the pathogen and in the laboratory conditions, the Sr22+Sr25 combination was highly effective, while Sr35+Sr25 was ineffective. For grain yield, the lines with the Sr22+Sr25 and Sr35+Sr25 genes were superior to the recipient cultivar L503 in one year (Sr22+Sr25 in 2019; Sr35+Sr25 in 2018), with a decrease in 2020, but in general there were no differences. For the period 2018–2020, both combinations showed a decrease in 1000 grains weight and an increase in the germination-earing period. The line with Sr22+Sr25 genes showed insignificant effects on gluten and dough tenacity, but the ratio of dough tenacity to extensibility was higher, and flour strength, porosity and bread volume were lower; in the line with Sr35+Sr25 genes, the gluten content was lower, but the strength, tenacity of the dough and the ratio of dough tenacity to extensibility were higher, flour strength and the porosity of the bread were at the recipient level, but the volume of bread was lower.

The creation of varieties adapted to changing environmental conditions, resistant to various pathogens, and satisfying various grain purposes is impossible without using the genetic diversity of wheat. One of the ways to expand the genetic diversity of wheat is to introduce new variants of genes from the genetic pool of congeners and wild relatives into the genotypes of existing varieties. In this study, we used 10 lines from the Arsenal collection created on the genetic basis of the spring variety ‘Rodina’ and the diploid species Aegilops speltoides in the Federal Research Center “Nemchinovka” in 1994. The lines were previously characterized for the presence of translocations and chromosomal rearrangements cytologically and using molecular markers. Technological analyses were performed on grain obtained in Western Siberia and Moscow region. The aim of this study was to establish the possibilities of expanding the phenotypic diversity for technological properties of grain and flour as a result of such hybridization of bread wheat and the diploid cereal Aegilops speltoides. The variety ‘Rodina’ forms a vitreous grain with a high gluten content in Siberia, but has low physical properties of flour and dough. Five derived lines were found to have significantly higher protein and gluten content in grain. The highest values under both growing conditions were found in lines 73/00i, 82/00i, and 84/00i. Two lines (69/00i and 76/00i) showed a high flour strength and dough elasticity, characterizing the lines as strong and valuable in quality. These lines can be used for baking bread. Line 82/00i inherited from Ae. speltoides a soft-grain endosperm, which indicates the introgression of the Ha-Sp gene, homoeoallelic to the Ha gene of bread wheat, into ‘Rodina’. Flour of this line is suitable for the manufacture of confectionery without the use of technological additives. The lines generally retained their characteristics in different growing conditions. They can be attracted as donors of new alleles of genes that determine the technological properties of grain and resistance to biotic stresses.

Current studies on bread wheat resistance to stem rust have two main subjects: complex analysis for resistance of bread wheat germplasm using molecular markers, field screening and laboratory tests against samples of different fungal populations, and searching for sources and donors of new genes and gene loci, including cultivated and wild relatives of wheat. To achieve adequate genetic control of the disease, an integral approach is important, incorporating both data on sources of resistance and relevant information on pathogenic populations existing in the region, their race composition and dynamics of virulence genes. The analysis of experimental data on field screening of bread wheat varieties from the CIMMYT nursery germplasm for stem rust resistance in the Omsk and Novosibirsk regions, together with laboratory testing of infection samples on the international set of wheat differential lines, suggests that a separate “Asian” population of Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici exists in Western Siberia and the Altai Territory. Wheat resistance genes Sr2, Sr6Ai#2, Sr24, Sr25, Sr26, Sr31, Sr39, Sr40, Sr44, and Sr57 are of practical interest for advanced wheat breeding programs for stem rust immunity in Western Siberia. This review provides an analysis of the gene sources that remain effective against the West Siberian population of P. graminis, in order to facilitate the initial stage of selection of breeding material to develop a stable genotype by gene pyramiding. The basic requirements for conducting a phytopathological test of breeding material are presented. A list of molecular markers for the mentioned resistance genes, both widely used in marker-assisted selection and requiring verification, has been compiled.

Stem rust in recent years has acquired an epiphytotic character, causing significant economic damage for wheat production in some parts of Western Siberia. On the basis of a race composition study of the stem rust populations collected in 2016–2017 in Omsk region and Altai Krai, 13 pathotypes in Omsk population and 10 in Altai population were identified. The race differentiation of stem rust using a tester set of 20 North American Sr genes differentiator lines was carried out. The genes of stem rust pathotypes of the Omsk population are avirulent only to the resistance gene Sr31, Altai isolates are avirulent not only to Sr31, but also to Sr24, and Sr30. A low frequency of virulence (10–25 %) of the Omsk population pathotypes was found for Sr11, Sr24,Sr30, and for Altai population – Sr7b,Sr9b,Sr11,SrTmp, which are ineffective in Omsk region. Field evaluations of resistance to stem rust were made in 2016–2018 in Omsk region in the varieties and spring wheat lines from three different sources. The first set included 58 lines and spring bread wheat varieties with identified Sr genes – the so-called trap nursery (ISRTN – International Stem Rust Trap Nursery). The second set included spring wheat lines from the Arsenal collection, that were previously selected according to a complex of economically valuable traits, with genes for resistance to stem rust, including genes introgressed into the common wheat genome from wild cereal species. The third set included spring bread wheat varieties created in the Omsk State Agrarian University within the framework of a shuttle breeding program, with a synthetic wheat with the Ae. tauschiigenome in their pedigrees. It was established that the resistance genes Sr31, Sr40,Sr2 complexare effective against stem rust in the conditions of Western Siberia. The following sources with effective Srgenes were selected: (Benno)/6*LMPG-6 DK42, Seri 82, Cham 10, Bacanora (Sr31), RL 6087 Dyck (Sr40), Amigo (Sr24,1RS-Am), Siouxland (Sr24,Sr31), Roughrider (Sr6, Sr36), Sisson (Sr6,Sr31,Sr36), and Fleming (Sr6,Sr24,Sr36,1RS-Am), Pavon 76 (Sr2 complex) from the ISRTN nursery; No. 1 BC 1F2 (96 × 113) × 145 × 113 (Sr2,Sr36,Sr44), No. 14а F 3(96 × 113) × 145 (Sr36,Sr44), No. 19 BC 2F3(96 × 113) × 113 (Sr2, Sr36, Sr44), and No. 20 F 3 (96 × 113) × 145 (Sr2,Sr36,Sr40, Sr44) from the Arsenal collection; and the Omsk State Agrarian University varieties Element 22 (Sr31,Sr35), Lutescens 27-12, Lutescens 87-12 (Sr23,Sr36), Lutescens 70-13, and Lutescens 87-13 (Sr23,Sr31,Sr36). These sources are recommended for inclusion in the breeding process for developing stem rust resistant varieties in the region.

The aim of this research is to develop for the Russian Federation Non-Cher nozem Zone competitive prototypes of winter wheat cul tivars with several genes for resistance to stem rust (in clu ding race Ug99) based on new sources of resistance with the use of molecular markers. The individual plants and then lines of winter common wheat with several effective genes for resistance to race Ug99 of stem rust were selected by means of marker assistant selection out of hybrid combinations from the crossing of new donors of resistance to this dangerous disease. The development of initial material was based on the use of new sources of resistance to race Ug99 of stem rust from VIR and “Arsenal” collections. Three accessions of winter wheat (wheat-aegi lops-rye line 119/4-06rw, cv. Donskaya Polukarlikovaya, line GT 96|90 from Bulgaria) and one accession of spring wheat (line 113/00i-4 with genetic material from Aegilops triuncialis), which supplemented and contrasted each other in such economically valuable features as plant height, number of days before heading, resistance to powdery mildew and leaf rust, were selected for hybridization and backcrossing. To accelerate the breeding process, resistant genotypes with Sr genes were selected with the use of molecular markers. As a result the lines of winter common wheat with a set of economically valuable features and the presence of two-four genes for resistance to stem rust in homozygote state were created. The spectrum of the stem rust gene combinations in the created lines differs from the gene combinations in the parental accessions involved in the crossing and is associated with the direction of the selections conducted by the marker assisted selection method. We discovered more than 20 different combinations of the Sr2, Sr22, Sr31, Sr32, Sr36, Sr39, Sr40 and Sr47 genes in winter wheat lines. The combination of Sr22 and Sr32 in homozygote state was most often found. The genotypes with a set of economically valuable features approximating or surpassing the standard cultivar of winter wheat Moskov skaya 39 were selected for further testing in breeding nurseries of the Moscow region. The developed initial material is intended for use in selection of winter wheat cultivars resistant to stem rust in different grain-sowing regions of the Russian Federation. This will serve as a barrier for spread of new races of Puccinia graminis and will raise the resistance of selected cultivars to local populations of stem rust.

The technological purpose of grain and flour wheat is largely determined by the grains endosperm structure. Its variability among wheat varieties depends mainly on the multiple allelism for a single Ha locus on chromosome 5D leading to a continuous variation of the trait. The grain endosperm can vary from hard and vitreous suitable for yeast baking to soft and floury favorable for confectionery and technical purposes. Furthermore, these traits, especially vitreousness, are strongly influenced by the growth conditions. Earlier, the Ha-Sp locus was introgessed into chromosome 5A of the bread wheat line 84/98w from Aegilops speltoides Tausch., which reduces endosperm hardness and vitreousness, like the dominant allele of the Ha locus. This paper is the first to describe the obtaining and testing of the supersoft lines combining in their genotype the homoeoallelic loci Ha-Sp of the line 84/98w and Ha of the soft grain cultivar Chinese Spring. The lines were isolated from 6–8 generations of self-pollinated F2 hybrids. They consistently exhibit a greater grain softness than the parental forms under both greenhouse and field conditions. These lines can be used in the breeding of wheat cultivars, the flour of which will not require chemical baking powder in the confectionery industry. It is also possible to use them for technical purposes for the production of bioethanol. In addition, these lines may serve as a genetic model for the study of the functional activity of homoeoallelic genes in the complex polyploid genomes of plants.

Features of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) inflorescence development define its architecture and have an impact on yield potential. Wheat lines and forms with altered inflorescence morphology are important genetic resources for the study on the genetic mechanisms underlying plant developmental programs and inflorescence architecture; they are also important for practical use to increase productivity. Normally, wheat spikelets are arranged in two parallel rows along the spike axis. The SCR (screwed spike rachis) lines represent a non-standard morphotype, which is characterized by a spiral arrangement of spikelets along the spiked rachis. The study of the early stages of the inflorescence development in SCR-lines using light and scanning electron microscopy revealed that the spiral arrangement of spikelets were not related to changes at the early stage of inflorescence development, and resulted from spiral growth of spike rachis cells at later stages of spike growth. Thus, the spiral arrangement of spikelets in cereal inflorescence may have resulted not only from peculiarities of the mutual arrangement of spikelet meristems (phyllotaxis), but also from cell growth features at later stages of inflorescence growth. It was shown that SCR is inherited as a dominant monogenic trait; its expression can be modified by genotypic background. The SCR-lines characterized using light and scanning electron microscopy represent an important genetic resource for further study of the molecular-genetic mechanisms determining plant architecture. Furthermore, they can be used to develop wheat lines and cultivars with new inflorescence phenotypes.

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The potential of molecular approaches in the management of the technological properties of wheat grain affecting the quality of the end product of bread industry is considered. Currently, along with the growth of grain production, the traditional range of staples is crowded out, the quality of most popular bread varieties deteriorates, and dozens of different substances of biological and chemical origin are used as bread improvers. Meanwhile, the genetic potential of wheat allows the development of varieties with technological parameters of grain suitable for production of high-quality bread. In Russia, multiple examples of the creation of varieties for the production of first and second-class grain are known, and modern molecular genetics offers techniques that can supplement classical breeding approaches and accelerate the development of new varieties adapted to the conditions and requirements of the baking industry, using the natural genetic potential of wheat. We summarize the diversity of requirements for grain and flour for different end-use products. Statistics on the volume and structure of grain quality in Russia in 2011–2014 is analyzed. An essential deformation of the quality structure of the produced wheat grain in favor of less valuable classes is observed. A brief retrospective analysis of research in wheat genetics, demonstrating the contribution of genetic factors to grain and flour technological properties, is performed. Various approaches to rapid breeding of varieties with desired properties are considered in relation with the development of plant molecular genetics. The paper provides examples illustrating the feasibility of using methods of DNA diagnostics in various stages of the process, during which the genetic potential of food crops expresses itself and affects the quality of the end product. The results of molecular studies on the localization and isolation of genes determining technological properties (protein and wet gluten contents, milling properties, rheological properties, flour color, and starch properties) are reviewed. The data on diagnostic DNA markers, which are suitable for efficient selection of genotypes instead of the time-consuming analysis of technological properties during breeding process, are summarized. Thus, the information about the genetic potential of bread wheat and modern technologies that provide grounds for moving from excessive use of chemicals to a more benign and organic effect on the quality of the products throughout the "grain – flour – bread" chain, is summarized.

Spike parameters of hexaploid wheats from the genus Triticum L. are determined by the major genes and play an important role in systematics. Having a strong pleiotropic effect they are also have a practical importance. In this work, the interaction of the dominant genes QS and Q with the dominant gene C17648 determining a spike shape was investigated. The gene Q is situated in 5AL chromosome and determines the formation of elongated lax spike in the species T. spelta L. The homoeoallelic gene QS introgressed into bread wheat from Aegilops speltoides Tausch. and causing the formation of speltoid spike also situated in 5AL chromosome of the line 84/98w. The gene C17648 is analogous in the phenotypic manifestation to the gene C determining the formation of a dense short spike on a short culm like in T. compactum Host. It was mapped to 5AL chromosome in bread wheat line ANBW-5A and the donor of the gene was a mutant of durum wheat. In the present work, spike length, spikelet number, index of spike density and stem length were studied in F1 , F2 and F3 of three different hybrid populations. For the first time it was showed that the gene C17648 is epistatic to the dominant genes QS and Q. It was manifested in the formation of compact spike in F1 hybrids and in numerical prevalence of plants with a compact spike in F2 . At the same time, the gene C17648 showed a smaller effect on stem length and did not affected spikelet number. Using the genetic analysis it was found that the genes QS and Q are independently inherited from the gene C17648 but a substantial linkage was observed between QS or Q and b1 gene.

The shortage of polymorphic markers for the regions of wheat chromosomes that encode commercially valuable traits determined the need for studying wheat microsatellite loci. In this work, SSR markers for individual regions in the short arm of bread wheat chromosome 5B (5BS) were designed based on sequencing data for BAC clones, and the regions of the corresponding chromosome were saturated with these markers. Totally, 130 randomly selected BAC clones from the 5BS library were sequenced on the Ion Torrent platform and assembled in contigs using MIRA software. The assembly characteristics (N50 = 4 136 bp) are comparable to the recently obtained data for wheat and relative species and acceptable for identification of microsatellite loci. An algorithm utilizing the properties of complexity decompositions in he sliding-window mode was used to detect DNA sequences with a repeat unit of 2–4 bp. Analysis of 17 770 contigs with the total length of 25 879 921 bp allowed for designing 113, 79, and 67 microsatellite (SSR) loci with a repeat unit of 2, 3, and 4 bp, respectively. The SSR markers with a motif of 3 bp were tested using nullitetrasomic lines of Chinese Spring wheat homoeologous group 5. Thus, 21 markers specific for chromosome 5B were detected. Eight of these markers were mapped to the distal region of this chromosome (bin 5BS6) using a set of Chinese Spring deletion lines for 5BS. Eight and four markers were mapped to the interstitial region (bins 5BS5 and 5BS4, respectively). One marker was mapped to a pericentromeric bin. A comparative analysis of the distribution of trinucleotide microsatellites over wheat chromosome 5B and in different cereal species suggests that the (AAG)n repeat has proliferated and has been maintained during the evolution of cereals.

Alien hybridization in cereals is used for comparative investigations of genome structure and evolution as well as for extracting useful genes from the wild gene pool. The tetraploid species Triticum timopheevii has long been used as a source of genes for resistance to fungal diseases. Line 821 was developed on the genetic background of cultivar Saratovskaya 29 (S29), which is drought-resistant but is very susceptible to diseases and carries big introgressions in 2A and 2B chromosomes and a small introgression in the subtelomeric region of 5A chromosome. The two genotypes were compared for the parameters associated with direct and indirect reaction of the photosynthetic apparatus to water stress. In flag leaves of 821 line, an increased transpiration rate and stomatal conductance (1.6 times the value in optimal watering and 1.2 times the value under water deficit) and, correspondingly, reduced water use efficiency were found compared to the initial cultivar. Additionally, the actual effectiveness and electron transport rate of photosystem II and chlorophyll and carotenoid content were reduced as well as the total antioxidant capacity (approximately three-fold) under water stress. Under the same conditions, lipoxygenase activity was increased two-fold. On the whole, water deficit tolerance was decreased in the line in comparison with the parental cultivar and was accompanied by leaf senescence. Thus, it may be supposed that 2A, 2B and 5A chromosomes of the drought-tolerant cultivar S29 carry important genetic factors responsible for reaction to water stress in wheat plants.

To improve biotic and abiotic stress tolerance in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), novel genotypes with genomic fragments introgressed from other cereal species are extensively developed. One of the most important abiotic environmental factors that impede the expansion of wheat cultivation areas is soil salinity. Salt-sensitive wheat varieties have poor yield and impaired grain quality when exposed to salinity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the degree of influence of alien genetic material on salinity tolerance in common wheat seedlings. Seedlings of introgression lines carrying single fragments of Aegilops speltoides and T. timopheevii genomes in common wheat chromosomes 2А, 5В, and 6В, were tested for salt tolerance. The parental common spring wheat genotypes Saratovskaya 29, Novosibirskaya 29 and Rodina-1, possessing mode- rate salt tolerance, were used as reference. The expe- riment showed that the presence of the translocation T5BS • 5BL-5SL either in Novosibirskaya 29 or in Rodina-1 increased salt tolerance. On the contrary, another translocation between T. aestivum and Ae. speltoides (T6BS • 6BL-6SL) made wheat more sensitive to salinity. Different fragments of T. timo- pheevii genome had different effects: introgression into the chromosome 2A increased salt tolerance, whereas introgression into chromosome 5B reduced it significantly. The observed differences between the parental wheat genotypes and the introgression lines derived from them are discussed with regard to the locations of alien introgression fragments in the lines tested and the map positions of known wheat QTLs and major genes related to salt tolerance. It is assumed that a locus yet undescribed that affects wheat salt tolerance is located distal to the Xgwm0604 marker on the long arm of chromosome 5B.

Microsatellites, or simple sequence repeats (SSRs), are ubiquitous in genomes of eukaryotes, including plant genomes. The structure and location of SSR loci determine their potential as molecular genetic markers and may have impact on the potential function of microsatellites in important biological processes. Identification and study of the distribution of SSR loci in gene-rich regions of the bread wheat genome and development of novel SSR markers based on these data are of practical interest, being important for the study of bread wheat genome organization. Bread wheat BACclone sequences containing homoeologous WFZP genes that control spikelet development served as the base for the identification and localization of SSR loci in generich regions of chromosomes 2AS, 2BS, and 2DS. It was found that di- and trinucleotide motifs were predominant. The most common dinucleotide motifs were AG and GA/TC. They were distributed in noncoding regions of genes, transposable elements (TEs) and unannotated sequences. Most identified trinucleotide motifs were associated with transposable elements. Homoeologous SSR loci were found in either genes or unannotated sequences. Comparison of these loci showed that the divergence in their structure was caused both by changes in repeat number and nucleotide substitutions. New SSR markers were developed and mapped. On the genetic maps of chromosomes 2A, 2B и 2D, they collocated with the WFZP-A-B-D genes. Thus, they can be used for gene tagging in molecular research and in marker-assisted selection.

Perception of genes action controlling of quantitative traits is very important in genetic breeding methods the plant populations. to study and estimate the parameters of genetic and appointment the best genetically model for justification the genetic changing some of traits the bread wheat under drought stress condition, parents (P1 & P2) and F3, F4, F5 generations together the four control cultivars (Kharchia, Gaspard, Moghan and Mahuti) were evaluated by generation mean analysis using a agoment design including six blocks. Generation mean analysis was performed for all traits with Mather and Jinks model using joint scaling test. Three parameter model [m d h] provided the best fit for all traits expect harvest index, main spike grain weight, number of grain per plant, Total spike weight of plant with significant at 5% and 1% levels . Though additive and dominance effect both had interfered in controlling often the traits but with attention to difference effects and variety component was determined that dominance is more impressive than additive effect for traits of number of tiller, main spike weight, grain yield and grain number of main spike. Therefore will benefit using of these traits in the collection and to improve these traits hybridization would be much efficient than the selection strategies. In this study additive Ч additive epistasis effect only observed for traits of Total spike weight of plant, number of grain per plant, main spike grain weight and harvest index and other traits hadn’t any epistasis effect that it was demonstration lack of existence the genes reciprocal effect in the inheritance studied traits. Therefore we can suggest that the selection strategies perform in terminal generations and additive Ч additive epistasis effect would be confirmed in selection under self-pollination condition.

The article presents information on the distribution of bread wheat in South Caucasus, including Azerbaijan. The subspecies and varietal composition and history of traditional and newly bred varieties of bread wheat are considered. It is shown that ecotype-contrasting groups of varieties should be used to obtain reliable scientific results on the comparative study of physiological and biochemical characteristics.

Drought is one of the major environmental factors that limit crop growth and yield. Development of new wheat genotypes carrying introgressions from other cereal species is widely applied to improve the complex stability of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The aim of this study was estimation of the effect of foreign genetic material (derived from Aegilops speltoides, Ae. tauschii and T. timopheevii) on osmotic stress tolerance in wheat seedlings. Indirect evaluation of drought resistance by creating artificial shortage of moisture under laboratory conditions identified different degrees of the influence of foreign genetic material. In particular, it was shown that the presence of the T6BS· 6BL-6SL translocation from the Ae. speltoides genome in bread wheat might increase its drought resistance, whereas the presence of a T. timopheevii introgression in chromosome 2A, on the contrary, reduced the resistance of wheat to osmotic stress. By the example of translocation T5BS· 5BL-5SL, it was found that the same foreign fragment introgressed into different wheat genotypes could exert different effects on resistance to osmotic stress depending on the drought tolerance degree of the initial wheat genotype.

We analyzed the hexaploid wheat cultivars Saratovskaya 29, Novosibirskaya 67, Skala, Irtyshanka 10, and Tselinnaya 20 and their introgression lines with Triticum timofeevii Zhuk. to elucidate the correlation between dough rheological properties (dough strength) and the contents of overall protein, raw gluten, gliadin, glutenin. The ratio of glutenin and gliadin contents and their increment in the introgression lines in comparison with the parent cultivars were assessed. Dough strength was found to correlate significantly only with glutenin increase. This correlation can be utilized in breeding design.

The paper presents an overview of studies of genetic polymorphism of loci determining bread-making quality among Ukrainian wheat varieties by means of electrophoretic analysis of storage proteins (Gli and Glu) and PCR. The results of analysis of polymorphism in the Gli-A1, Gli-B1, Gli-D1, Glu-A3 loci, as well as the allelic compositions of the Pina-D1 and Pinb-D1 genes, determining grain hardness, and Wx genes, controlling amylose content in the starch of the endosperm, are presented. Comparison of the results obtained with allele-specific primers to the γ gliadin loci and by storage protein electrophoresis shows that the former method can identify some alleles, but the level of polymorphism revealed by this method is lower than that revealed by electrophoresis of storage proteins. Most of the varieties under consideration have PCR alleles characteristic for hard wheat, and only three varieties have alleles specific for soft wheat. Varieties originating from different Ukrainian breeding-centers differ in grain hardness. PCR analysis has not revealed the presence of null alleles of Wx genes in the studied Ukrainian genetic pool but allowed selection of breeding material for further development of low-amylose varieties.

New Internet-resource to support the research in plant biotechnology is presented. This Internet portal contains specialized modules (databases and software) and allows users to combine these modules to solve various tasks as well as it permits the further resource development by addition of new modules. Currently the resource contains the database of external informational sources, the database on promoters for plant transgenesis, the database on translational enhancers for plant transgenesis, and the database WheatPGE to support the experiments in a wheat breeding. The resource is available at ICG www-site (http://bioagrotech.bionet.nsc.ru/).

N.I. Vavilov considered the territory of Afghanistan where one of the initial farming centers was generated to be part of the Middle Asian center of crop origin and diversity. Hexaploid 42-chromosomal wheat with the genome constitution AABBDD was also attributed to that center. Scientific expeditions from different countries surveyed repeatedly the agricultural regions of Afghanistan to collect wild and cultivated plants. The collected material from those regions is preserved at various seed banks. The distribution of Afghani landraces of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) from the Vavilov Institute of Plant Industry and Australian collections depending on elevation above sea level and climatic conditions (humidity/aridity) is discussed. Data about sources of valuable traits for breeding identified among the accessions of Afghani bread wheat are presented. A set of 116 genotypes was analyzed for 13 microsatellite loci to investigate the structure of wheat genetic diversity.

The tribe Triticeae includes important agricultural crops, such as bread wheat, durum wheat, barley, rye, and triticale. Research in the field of reverse genetics and genetic engineering of Triticeae received a new impetus as the CRISPR/Cas genome editing system came into broad use. The review describes and analyzes the data on recent advances in genomic editing of cultivated plants of the tribe Triticeae and tools used in the field. The tools most commonly used for genome editing in Triticeae include the codon-optimized Cas9 gene under the control of the maize ubiquitin gene promoter and guide RNAs under the control of Pol III promoters U6 and U3 in one or more binary vectors. Phosphinothricin and hygromycin resistance genes are used as selectable genes. Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and biolistics are performed to obtain genome-edited plants, and immature embryos are used as explants. Approaches developed to overcome the problem of low regenerative capacity of Triticeae include in planta transformation of shoot apical meristems, transformation of microspores and pollen grains, and the use of haploinductors. Bread wheat and barley were subject to genomic editing in the majority of studies published to date, and durum wheat and triticale were recently used in CRISPR/Cas knockout studies of target genes. Further progress in the development of genome editing of cultivated plants of the tribe Triticeae should be aimed at expanding the range of species and varieties involved and overcoming the problems of low regenerative capacity. This will allow genetic modification of elite varieties, which will be in demand in agricultural production.

The transcription factors of the MYC gene family are an integral part of the MYB + MYC + WD40 regulatory complex required to activate the genes of plant flavonoid biosynthesis. The TaMyc1 gene, which controls the synthesis of flavonoid pigments in the grain pericarp, is known in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L., BBAADD genome, 2n = 6x = 42). In the present work, we identified 10 copies of this gene in the T. aestivum genome, 22 copies in the nearest bread wheat relatives (T. durum, T. urartu, T. monococcum, Aegilops speltoides, Ae. sharonensis, Ae. tauschii). The analysis of genetic similarity of all these genes demonstrated that the MYC gene duplication occurred for the first time in the common diploid ancestor of the Triticeae tribe with the formation of copies in the second and fourth chromosomes. In the members of the Triticum and Aegilops genera, these genes underwent from two to four duplication acts that resulted in the formation of paralogous copies. The orthologs of the MYC genes obtained from ancestral diploid species exist in polyploid species of the Triticum genus (in addition to paralogues). The time of the emergence of individual MYC family members was calculated based on the average speed of accumulation of nucleotide substitutions (k) in the MYC genes (established in this work) and certain number of synonymous substitutions between individual copies.