To the centenary of the birth of outstanding evolutionist Dmitri Konstantinovich Belyaev

This paper is a tribute to outstanding evolutionary biologist Dmitri Konstantinovich Belyaev in connection with the forthcoming centenary of his birth. His work on variation-related mechanisms in animal domestication made this process much faster. Belyaev is at length described as a person, as a scientist and as the organizer of the Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences. The author had for many years worked as Belyaev’s Deputy for Science, and, when Dmitri Konstantinovich passed away, had for 22 years headed the Institute of Cytology and Genetics. Belyaev’s life was not easy: he was a priest’s son and an “enemy of the people”’s brother. He was in the battlefield all through the Great Patriotic War and became a man of steel. His struggle for the restoration of genetics in the country, his commitment to setting up and maintaining relationships between masters and followers and many more other aspects of his life are considered. The global importance of the “master – follower” paradigm as a basis of the continuity of generations is underlined and re-underlined, for this is a very special point in the scientific community, especially when new schools of science emerge

From the Editor

From the Editor

Transgenic plants as genetic models for studying functions of plant genes

Transgenic plants are widely used for the investigation of functions of particular genes as well as for reconstruction of complex gene networks controlling plant morphology, biochemistry, and physiology during different development stages and in response to various external stimuli. Gene engineering instruments for the design of transgenic plants with either elevated or suppressed expression of target genes are discussed. Genetic constructs for protein synthesis or antisense RNA/self-complementary double-stranded RNA transcription are described. Transgenic plants with elevated or decreased levels of expression of S-like ribonucleases and decreased expression of the proline dehydrogenase gene are considered as examples. It was believed that S-like RNase functions concern mainly phosphate remobilization from senescent organs. However, expression patterns of some genes coding for S-like RNases were similar to some pathogen-responsive genes (both local and systemic induction after wounding or pathogen inoculation). In addition, some pathogenesis-related proteins (PR-4 family) possess RNase activity and can inhibit growth of pathogenic fungi. Investigation of transgenic plants revealed that high ribonuclease activity in apoplast correlated with increased resistance against tobacco mosaic virus. Thus, S-like RNases may have a new function as a part of the plant basal antiviral defense mechanism. Another set of transgenic plants bears an antisense suppressor of the proline dehydrogenase gene (PDH) constructed with an Arabidopsis target gene segment. Tobacco, maize and sunflower plants with this heterologous suppressor were characterized with a moderate decrease in PDH activity and a mild (1.5–3-fold) increase in the proline content under normal conditions. It was also found that these plants were more tolerant to various abiotic stresses (drought, NaCl, cold, toxic heavy metals), which may result from the protective proline effect early in exposure to stress, preventing the cellular gene expression machinery from damage by stress-generated free radicals

Crop genes modified using CRISPR/Cas system

The CRISPR/Cas system is the most promising among genome editing tools. It can provide the development of modified nontransgenic plants with the possibility of simultaneous multiple targeted mutations. The purpose of this review is to analyze published papers describing the utilization of the CRISPR/Cas system for crop gene modification in order to assess the potential of this technology as a new plant breeding technique. The search for “CRISPR & crop name” within article titles, abstracts and keywords in the Scopus database was carried out for 45 crops. Among a total of 206 search results, only 88 have been recognized as original articles describing editing crop genes with the CRISPR/Cas system. A total of 145 target genes of 15 crops are described in these 88 articles, including rice with the largest number of genes modified (78 genes). In these studies, the ability to get transgene-free modified plants was widely demonstrated. However, in most cases research was aimed at the approbation of the technology or was to elucidate target gene function, while modification of just 37 target genes was related with crop improvement. We present here a catalogue of these genes. In most of these cases, modifications resulted in knockout of the genes such as negative growth and development regulators or negative regulators of plant resistance. In most cases, the phenotype of modified plants was assessed, and the presence of desired changes was shown. However, since the estimated number of “negative regulators” is limited in plant genomes, the CRISPR-directed gene knockout has a restricted potential for crop improvement. Intensive application of the CRISPR/Cas system for more complicate modifications such as replacement of defect alleles by functional ones or insertion of a desired gene is required (so far reports about such modifications are very rare in crops). In addition, to provide a basis for broad practical application of CRISPR/Cas-based genome editing, more cultivars of crop species should be involved in ongoing studies. Just a few genotypes of crop species have been used for gene modifications thus far. Nevertheless, in spite of the restrictions mentioned, essential success has been achieved over a short period (3.5 years since the first publications on CRISPR/Cas application in plants)

On the anniversary of Academician Lyubov Vladimirovna Khotyleva

March 12, 2023 is the anniversary of Lyubov Vladimirovna Khotyleva, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) of Belarus, one of the world’s largest specialists in the field of genetics of agricultural plants. She published more than 400 scientific works, received 18 copyright certificates for varieties and inventions. Lyubov V. Khotyleva directed the Institute of Genetics and Cytology of the NAS of Belarus for almost a quarter of a century, raised several generations of scientists. Under her leadership, six Doctors and 43 Candidates of Sciences defended their theses. In different years, Lyubov Vladimirovna was the Vice-President of the N.I. Vavilov All-Union Society of Geneticists and Breeders, the President of the Belarus Society of Geneticists and Breeders, was a member of the presidium of the Higher Attestation Commission (VAK) of Belarus and VAK of Russia, was an Academician-Secretary of the Biological Department of the NAS of Belarus. L.V. Khotyleva carries out important scientific and organizational work as one of the prominent experts in the field of plant genetics, member of the editorial boards of several specialized periodicals

Symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legumes as a genetic and selection trait

The results of long-term studies on legume symbiogenetics and breeding are summarized by the example of pea Pisum sativum L. A collection of symbiotic mutants was developed by chemical and radiational mutagenesis of pea varieties and genetically characterized. Various sym genes were recognized. From the large set, supernodulating (proved to be recessive) and dominant hypernodulating types of symbiotic mutants were chosen for breeding programs. Varieties differed dramatically in hypernodulation degree. Aiming at nitrogen fixation intensification, accessions bearing recessive genes for supernodulation (nod4) and dominant genes for hypernodulation (Nod5) were selected. The recurrent method of symbiotic mutants utilization in pea breeding for nitrogen fixation intensification was developed. The best results were obtained by combining two sym genes in one pea genotype: the dominant hypernodulation gene Nod5 and the recessive supernodulation gene nod4. A set of recurrent lines tagged with both these genes was raised to use in breeding programs as donors of intense nitrogen fixation combined with good performance. In addition, they are good preceding crops. After their harvesting, soil accumulates large amounts of nitrogen-rich root and bacterial biomass. The nitrogen is preserved for years, whereas mineral nitrogen is rapidly washed out with precipitation. Endemic pea accessions originated from various regions can be successful starting material in breeding for nitrogen fixation intensification, accessions from Egypt and Syria having provided best results. Nodulation and nitrogen fixation intensities were assessed in seven cultivars derived from three promising pea lines raised at the Siberian Research Institute of Plant Breeding and Selection

Ribonuclease activity as a new prospective disease resistance marker in potato

Disease resistance is an important characteristic for each variety of potato, and the search for pathogen resistance markers is one of the primary tasks of plant breeding. Higher plants possess a wide spectrum of enzymes catalyzing the hydrolysis of nucleic acids; it is believed that protection against pathogens is the most probable function of the enzymes. RNases are actively involved in several immune systems of higher plants, for example, systemic acquired resistance (SAR) and genetic silencing, hence RNase activity in plant leaves, as a relatively easily measured parameter, can serve as a good marker for the selection of pathogen resistant varieties. We have analyzed sixteen varieties of potatoes permitted for use on the territory of the Russian Federation and tested the correlation of the level of variety­specifc ribonuclease (RNase) activity with such economically valuable traits as maturity and resistance to viruses, late blight and common scab. In general, the level of RNase activity was variety­specifc, which was confrmed by very small values of average squared error for the majority of tested varieties. We have detected a statistically signifcant positive correlation of RNase activity in potato leaves with increased resistance of varieties to phytopathogenic viruses, a negative correlation with resistance to scab and an absence of a signifcant connection with maturity and resistance to late blight, regardless of the organ affected by the oomycete. Thus, the level of RNase activity in potato leaves can be used as a selective marker for resistance to viruses, while varieties with increased RNase activity should be avoided when selecting resistance to scab