Development, results and prospects of the spring durum wheat breeding in Russia (post-Soviet states)

The article outlines a brief historical background on the introduction to cultivation, distribution and breeding of spring durum wheat in the steppe and forest-steppe regions of Eurasia (the countries of the former USSR: Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan). The approaches and methodology for improving durum wheat during certain scientific selection periods are given. The features of the selection program implementation and the breeding scale expansion during the creation of breeding stations at the beginning of the XX century, after the end of the Great Patriotic War, in the second half of the XX century, and at present are considered. A characteristic according to the main features and properties of varieties created in different periods is given. The achievements of the classical breeding method by comparing old and new varieties are analyzed. The efficiency and rate of wheat selection by periods in different regions of Russia is estimated. The results and methods of breeding for yield, resistance to drought, leaf diseases (Stagonospora nodorum Berk., Septoria tritici (Roeb. et Desm.), Bipolaris sorokiniana (Sacc.) Shoemaker, Pyrenophora tritici repentis (Died.) Drechs., Fusarium sp., Puccinia titicina Eriks., Puccinia graminis Pers. f. sp. tritici Eriks., Blumeria graminis (DC.) f. sp. tritici Em. Marchal), grain pathogens Ustilago tritici (Pers.) Rostr.) and pathogens causing darkening of the corcule and endosperm (Bipolaris sorokiniana (Sacc.) Shoemaker, Alternaria tenuis (Nees et Fr.), Аlternaria triticina (Prasada & Prabhu)), pests (Cephus pygmeus Lens, Osinosoma frit L., Mayetiola destructor (Say)), grain quality (protein content, amount of yellow pigments, dough rheology, sprouting resistance) and end products are presented. The prospects for the molecular marker application for a number of traits in breeding in the near future are given.

[The content of yellow pigments in durum wheat (Titicum durum Desf.) grains: biosynthesis, genetic control, marker selection]

Зерно с высоким содержанием каротиноидных пигментов ценится за ярко-желтый цвет пасты, производимой из него, и провитаминную (витамин А) и антиоксидантную активность пигментов. Цель настоя- щего обзора – обобщение современных знаний о биосинтезе и генетическом контроле накопления пигментов в зерне твердой пшеницы и оценка основных результатов исследований и селекции за последние двадцать лет за рубежом и в России. Признак «концентрация каротиноидных пигментов в зерне» (Ypc) относится к раз- ряду количественных. Тем не менее превалирование сильных аддитивных эффектов генов и высокая насле- дуемость способствовали значительному прогрессу в селекции по этому признаку. Методами молекулярного маркирования локусов количественных признаков (QTL), контролирующих синтез каротиноидных пигментов и значения индекса желтизны (IY), установлено их распределение по всем хромосомам генома твердой пшеницы. Основные генетические локусы, определяющие более 60 % варьирования признака, были картированы в хромосомах 7AL и 7BL. Вклад этих локусов связан с аллельными вариациями, влияющими на активность фермента фитоенсинтетазы (PSY). В других хромосомах были локализованы минорные генетические факторы, из которых наиболее значимы QTL, расположенные в хромосомах 3AS (ассоциирован с геном LCYE-ликопин- ε-циклаза) и 4ВS (аллель Lpx-B1.1c). При этом показано, что аллель Lpx-B1.1c вносит вклад в снижение актив- ности липоксигеназы, окисляющей каротиноиды в процессе изготовления конечных продуктов. Рассмотрены и обсуждены проблемы использования молекулярных маркеров в селекционных программах, нацеленных на увеличение концентрации пигментов в зерне и улучшение цветовых характеристик пасты.

Yield performance and stability of modern breeding stock of spring durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) from Russia and Kazakhstan

Identifcation of adaptive responses of breeding material, developed in different breeding centers, helps to purposefully correct these traits where it is necessary. Thus, 42 modern breeding lines from eight institutions of Russia and Kazakhstan were studied in comparison with the historical standard Bezenchukskaya 139 in trails of 16-17 and 18 KASIB-SDW (Kazakhstan-Siberian net for wheat improvement, spring durum wheat) in 2015–2017. Field experiments and yield measurements in each ecological cite were similar. To solve these tasks of the experiment, two-factor ANOVA, methods for adaptability assessment cluster analysis and principle component method were applied. As a result, it was established that 1) genotype and genotype – environment interaction (overall 15.8–23.5 % of total dispersion) had signifcant effect on yield variability; 2) genotype – environment interactions were of linear nature and had no destabilizing effect; 3) all the genotypes tested can be distributed in three clusters, the frst one for locally adapted varieties, the third for varieties of a wide areal, the second included genotypes with intermediate characteristics; 4) breeding centers of the Federal Altai Scientifc Centre of Agro-Biotechnologies and of the Research Institute of Agriculture of South-East produced predominantly varieties of local importance, the Samara Research Institute of Agriculture – varieties of wide area; 5) a stable trend of increased mean yield compared to historical standard Bezenchukskaya 139 over ecological sites was observed only for Samara varieties; 6) varieties of all the breeding centers had no stable difference from Bezenchukskaya 139 concerning stability and responsiveness, which can be explained by an incomplete breeding process for these parameters and confrms the importance of the KASIB program; 7) a trend of yield increase compared to Bezenchukskaya 139 under testing in defnite local environments had more stable parameters with the largest progress observed in the Altai Research Institute of Agriculture (135.4 and 163.2 % to Bezenchukskaya 139), which can be explained by a high efciency of breeding of locally adapted varieties in the breeding center.