Comprehensive agrobiological assessment and analysis of genetic relationships of promising walnut varieties of the Nikitsky Botanical Gardens

Walnut is an important horticultural crop, the production of which ranks second among all nut crops. Despite the significant demand in the domestic market in Russia, the industrial production of walnut fruits in Russia is currently underdeveloped. At the same time, there is a need to update the assortment with new highly productive varieties adapted to local agro-climatic conditions and having high quality nuts that are competitive at the world level. An important issue for the successful implementation of breeding programs is a comprehensive study of the gene pool. In this regard, within the framework of the study, the task was to evaluate promising varieties from the collection of the walnut gene pool of the Nikitsky Botanical Gardens and analyze genetic relationships based on microsatellite genotyping. On the basis of the performed phenotypic assessment, the study sample, which included 31 varieties, was divided into several groups according to the main phenotypic traits, such as frost and drought resistance, the start of the growing season, the ripening period, the weight and type of flowering, the weight of the fruit, and the thickness of the endocarp. Varieties with economically valuable traits that can be recommended as promising as initial parental forms in breeding work for resistance to abiotic stress factors have been identified, as well as varieties with increased productivity and large fruit sizes. Based on the analysis of eight SSR markers (WGA001, WGA376, WGA069, WGA276, WGA009, WGA202, WGA089 and WGA054), an analysis of the level of genetic diversity was performed and genetic relationships were established in the studied sample of varieties. Six (for WGA089) to eleven (for WGA276) alleles per locus have been identified. A total of 70 alleles were identified for the eight DNA markers used, with an average value of 8.75. Analysis of SSR genotyping data using Bayesian analysis established the presence of two main groups of genotypes. Taking into account the fact that all the studied varieties are selections from local seed populations in different regions of the Crimean Peninsula, the revealed level of polymorphism may indirectly reflect the level of genetic diversity of the local walnut populations. Furthermore, the presence of two genetically distant groups indicates the presence of two independently formed pools of the autochthonous gene pool of the species Juglans regia L. on the Crimean Peninsul

Mikroevoluční procesy u vybraných zástupců čeledi Rosaceae

Polyploidization, hybridization and various reproductive strategies significantly contribute to plant evolution and diversity. Their direct influence on plant evolution is especially apparent in the Rosaceae family and is also mirrored in its still partly unclear and reticulate phylogeny. Two model genera were chosen to add a piece of knowledge to the puzzle of polyploidization, hybridization and apomixis in the Rosaceae. The results demonstrate both the creative and destructive force of hybridization and polyploidization, particularly in the genus Prunus. A significant proportion of wild Prunus fruticosa populations under examination underwent hybridization and genetic erosion. Crop-to-wild hybridization with both cultivated sour and sweet cherries has resulted in two morphologically indistinguishable hybrids markedly differing in ploidy level and reproductive potential. On the one hand, a triploid block was manifested in sterile triploid hybrids, but, on the other, partial fertility of tetraploid hybrids allowed repeated backcrossing (i.e. introgression). The crop-to-wild phenomenon has significant consequences for both conservation and agriculture. Polyploidization and hybridization are frequently accompanied by apomixis among the Rosaceae. Apomixis may play a substantial role in the...Polyploidizace, hybridizace a způsob reprodukce významnou měrou ovlivňují evoluci a diverzitu rostoucích rostlin. Přímý vliv těchto mechanismů na vývoj rostlin je zřejmý zejména v čeledi Rosaceae (růžovité) a odráží se také v jejich doposud částečně nejasné a komplikované fylogenezi. K získání dalších poznatků poodhalujících vliv polyploidizace, hybridizace a apomixie na čeleď Rosaceae byly vybrány dvě modelové skupiny druhů. Výsledky předkládané práce ukazují, že hybridizace a polyploidizace má, konkrétně v rodu Prunus, jak konstruktivní tak destruktivní charakter. U významné části studovaných populací plané Prunus fruticosa (třešně křovité) byla prokázána hybridizace a genetická eroze. Jedná se o tzv. "crop-to-wild" křížení planě rostoucích druhů s druhy pěstovanými člověkem. Třešeň křovitá se kříží s oběma příbuznými pěstovanými druhy, třešní i višní, za vzniku dvou morfologicky neodlišitelných hybridů, které se však jednoznačně odlišují ploidií a reprodukčním potenciálem. Vznikají jak sterilní triploidní hybridi (uplatňuje se triploidní blok), tak částečně fertilní tetraploidní kříženci, kteří se mohou dále zpětně křížit a dochází tak k tzv. introgresi. Křížení tohoto planě rostoucího druhu s druhy pěstovanými má tak významné důsledky pro ochranu přírody i samotné zemědělství, resp....Department of BotanyKatedra botanikyPřírodovědecká fakultaFaculty of Scienc

Sustainable Fruit Growing

Fruit production has faced many challenges in recent years as society seeks to increase fruit consumption while increasing safety and reducing the harmful effects of intensive farming practices (e.g., pesticides and fertilizers). In the last 50 years, the population has more than doubled and is expected to grow to 9 billion people by 2050. Per capita consumption of fruit is also increasing during this time and the global fruit industry is facing a major challenge to produce enough fruit in quantity and quality. The need for sustainable production of nutritious food is critical for human and environmental health.This book provides some answers to people who are increasingly concerned about the sustainability of fruit production and the fruit industry as a whole

THE GENETICS OF CHILLING REQUIREMENT IN APRICOT (\u3ci\u3ePRUNUS ARMENIACA\u3ci\u3e L.)

Commercial production of apricot is severely affected by sensitivity to climatic conditions, an adaptive feature essential for cycling between vegetative or floral growth and dormancy. Yield losses are due to either late winter or early spring frosts or inhibited vegetative or floral growth caused by unfulfilled chilling requirement (CR). Studies in this dissertation developed the first high-density apricot linkage map; followed by a comparative mapping strategy to validate conservation of synteny, genome collinearity and stable quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controlling CR and bud break between apricot and peach; and ultimately attempt to identify key candidate genes following a linkage disequilibrium-based association mapping approach to fine map the major CR QTL genomic regions. Following a two-way pseudotestcross mapping strategy, two high-density apricot maps were constructed using a total of 43 SSR (Simple Sequence Repeats) and 994 AFLP (Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism) markers that span an average of 502.6 cM with an average marker interval of 0.81 cM. Twelve putative CR QTLs were detected using composite interval mapping, a simultaneous multiple regression fit and an additive-by-additive epistatic interaction model without dominance. An average of 62.3% ± 6.3% of the total phenotypic variance was explained. We report QTLs corresponding to map positions of differentially expressed transcripts and suggest candidate genes controlling CR. A majority of the QTLs were shown to be stable between both Prunus species, as well as similar trends in their QTL effects, with the allele for increasing the trait value mostly originating from the high chill parents. The denser apricot maps, due to more AFLP marker polymorphisms, provide a higher resolution to delineate QTLs to smaller genomic intervals, as well as splitting each of some of the peach QTLs into two. The comparative QTL mapping strategy presented here reveals the transferability of genetic information between two Prunus species, the characterization of stable QTLs, the utility of the maps to consolidate each other and to further validate previously identified CR QTL loci as a major controlling factor driving floral bud break. The LD-based association mapping was limited to marker dense genomic regions within and around previously detected major QTLs on linkage group (LG) 1 and 7. LD decayed below the centimorgan scale, indicating insufficient marker density averaged at 0.44 and 1.58 cM on LG1 and 7, respectively. Denser marker regions averaged at 0.1 and 0.7 cM on LG1 and 7, respectively, revealed significant LD estimates above the baseline threshold. We report significant marker-trait associations and underlying genes the markers were derived from. Our results demonstrate that an LD-based association mapping can be used for validating QTLs, fine mapping and detecting CGs in Prunu

AUTECOLOGICAL AND GREENHOUSE STUDY OF WILD AND CULTIVATED HASKAP (Lonicera caerulea L.) IN SASKATCHEWAN

Haskap (Lonicera caerulea) is a new crop for much of the world including Canada. This study investigated Haskap’s autecological conditions in three habitats in Saskatchewan and utilized some of that information to design greenhouse experiments to better understand environmental and soil interactions for this crop. The hypothesis of this study was that environmental factors associated with the growth of wild Haskap and greenhouse studies with the cultivar ‘Tundra’ could improve the production practices of cultivated Haskap. This thesis may be the first study to investigate L.c. autecology, pH levels in hydroponics and greenhouse fruit production. Average in situ shoot growth of L.c. ssp. villosa varied significantly among the study areas. The site with peat/organic soil had greater macronutrient levels and greater shoot growth compared to the two sites with forest Luvisol soil. The site with organic soil had soil temperatures with a daily average of 4.0-12.9°C, air temperatures 8.1-19.4°C, relative humidity 58.6-91.3% and rainfall averages of 80 mm during May to July. Seven L.c. subspecies and the cultivar ‘Tundra’ were grown hydroponically in pH levels ranging from 5 to 9. Dry weights of leaves, stems and roots were measured. The influence of pH on growth was significant for all genotypes with each genotype having the highest dry weights at pH 6 and the lowest at pH 9. Subspecies stenantha and ‘Tundra’ had significantly greater growth than the other genotypes. Two-year-old ‘Tundra’ seedlings fertilized with a higher rate of N, P, K (1762.5, 334.5 and 403.5 mg/kg respectively) was significantly higher with a total dry weight of 38.27 g per plant compared to the 24.11 g per plant of the control. It was demonstrated that ‘Tundra’ and Japanese originated seedlings could produce fruit in a winter and spring greenhouse. Compared to field studies, ‘Tundra’ fruit was a bit smaller in size, but soluble solids and acidity levels were similar. Lower temperatures and use of bumble bees as pollinators were factors contributing to the success in greenhouse production

Sustainable agriculture and rural development in terms of the republic of Serbia strategic goals realization within the Danube region. Achieving regional competitiveness

International Scientific Conference „SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN TERMS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA STRATEGIC GOALS REALIZATION WITHIN THE DANUBE REGION -achieving regional competitiveness“, which was held in period 5-7th December 2013 in Topola, the Republic of Serbia, through number of presented papers mainly provides an overview of results of scientific research on the integrated and interdisciplinary project no. III 46006 „SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN TERMS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA STRATEGIC GOALS REALIZATION WITHIN THE DANUBE REGION“. International Scientific Conference „SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN TERMS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA STRATEGIC GOALS REALIZATION WITHIN THE DANUBE REGION - achieving regional competitiveness“, gathered number of scientific workers and experts from many countries. Besides the authors from Serbia in Thematic Proceedings are also presented the papers of authors from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Romania, Russia, Moldova, Slovakia, Ukraine, Germany, the Netherlands, Japan and Austria. After all 92 papers were positively reviewed by the reviewers and presented on the International Scientific Conference, they were published in the Thematic Proceedings. Proceedings publisher was Institute of Agricultural Economics Belgrade, together with 34 eminent scientific-educational institutions from Serbia and abroad. In the Plenary Section were presented 3 papers which gave significant contributions to International Scientific Conference. Rest of the papers are systematized in 3 thematic sections: IKNOWLEDGE ECONOMY AND HUMAN CAPITAL IN THE FUNCTION OF IMPROVING REGIONAL COMPETITIVENESS (45 papers); II BIOREGIONALISM AND PERMACULTURE AS A CONCEPTS OF CONSERVATION OF ECOLOGICAL SPECIFICITIES OF RURAL AREAS (27 papers); III THE CONSTRUCTION OF AGRO-REGIONAL IDENTITY THROUGH INSTITUTIONAL REFORM (17 papers)