Purpose. To substantiate and develop breeding technologies of soybean cultivation under various weather conditions of the Western Forest-Steppe zone. Methods. Laboratory test, statistical and mathematical analysis. Results. Analysis of the data of yielding increase due to the use of seed inoculation, green manure and spraying of crops with microbial prepa­rations showed that their effect was much dependent on the weather conditions during the year. Based on the analysis of productivity of such early ripening varieties of soybean as ‘Lehenda’, ‘Anzhelika’ and ‘Ksenia’ during 2011–2015, it was found that the influence of agrometeorological conditions during the vegetation period accounted for 47.8%. The results of the analysis of five-year data of productivity of the late soybean variety ‘Heorhina’ indicated that the share of influence of agrometeorological conditions during the vege­tation period on the studied variety was 48.8%. The use of microbial strains of nodule bacteria Bradyrhizobium japonicum 634b, 614A and M-8 against two backgrounds (in case of green manure application and without it) was compared, and microbial culture Hetomik application during the vege­tation period. Conclusion. All biological preparations and green manure considerably increased yield of soybean seeds in moderately humidified and elevated temperature conditions. For soybean growing, the application of green manure, seed inoculation with strains of M-8, 614A and Hetomik spraying of crops was effective. The use of these methods for gro­wing ‘Lehenda’ variety was the most effective. Such varieties as ‘Lehenda’ and ‘Anzhelika’ showed more stable results as compared to others in case of considerable variations of agrometeorological conditions.

Purpose. To investigate rice blast resistance genes polymorphism by using bioinformatic methods. Methods. Global and local nucleotide alignment, phylogenetic analysis, HyPhy test. Results. For Pib gene, numerous single nucleotide substitutions and deletions of 1–3 bp were established. The phylo­geny of this gene has been studied and homologues have been found both in various rice species and in other cereals. These sequences can encode proteins that «recognize» the phytopathogens effectors, and can also be associated with resistance to phytopathogens. The Pi4 gene is characterized by single nucleotide substitutions, insertions and deletions; the number of non-synonymous substitutions exceeds the number of sy­nonymous ones. The Pi54 gene variability is significantly lower than that of the Pi4 and Pib genes. The predominant types of polymorphism were single nucleotide substitutions and small-sized indels. It was found that non-synonymous substitutions in Pi54, Pi4 and Pib genes were in close proximity, sometimes forming clusters, while some coding regions were either superconservative or contained predominantly synonymous substitutions. On philodendrograms, cultivated rice samples were clustered with samples of ancestral wild-growing species. Conclusions. Evolution of the rice blast resistance genes Pi4, Pib and Pi54 is characterized by diversification selection. Considering that tense coevolution and significant rate of adaptation and creation of new pathogen races are typical for a plant and a parasite, these genes are subjected to intensive selection aimed at increasing diversity for obtaining the resistance to new races of the pathogen.

Purpose. To evaluate the stability and plasticity of new varieties of grain sorghum in ecological conditions of the Fores-Steppe and Steppe zone of Ukraine. Methods. Field study, statistical evaluation. Results. It was found that in Ukraine the average yield of grain sorghum in 2015 was 3.72 t/ha and in 2016 – 3.36 t/ha. In field experiments during 2009–2016, ‘Praim’ and ‘Sprynt 2’ hybrids appeared to be significantly better as compared to averaged yields of 3.9 t/ha. Evaluation of yield plasticity in environmental conditions of the Forest-Steppe and Steppe zones showed that the hybrid ‘Praim’ did not differ from the group standard and its index is no more than one. At the same time, the ‘Sprynt 2’ is highly-plastic hybrid and ‘Dniprovskyi 39’ belongs to relatively low-plastic varieties. Conclusions. It was established that, as an average of an experiment, hyb­rids of grain sorghum ‘Praim’ and ‘Sprynt 2’ had a yield of 4,2–4,3 t/ha. According to the analysis of ecological plasticity, ‘Sprynt 2’ can be included with the intensive type and ‘Dniprovskyi 39’ – with relatively low-plastic varieties. It was found that proper selection of varieties and far­ming practices of cultivation is one of the main factors that favors high yields and respectively determine 37% and 34% of the level of grain sorghum productivity.

Purpose. To assess the demand for sorghum seed material and sufficiency of domestic seeds. Results. The analysis of the State register for the period of 2002–2012 showed that there was the tendency not only towards increasing quantity of sorghum crops in general but their substitution by hybrids of foreign breeding. During the period from 2002 to 2017, 72 sorghum varieties were entered on the State register in total, among them only 12 varieties were of domestic breeding, the rest 60 was presented by foreign breeding institutions. Investigation results allowed to determine that the production of base and prebase seeds of sorghum in 2010 amounted to 1,3 t, in 2016 was 43 t. During the same period the production of sugar sorghum increased from 0,2 to 12,0 t, grass sorghum – from 4,0 to 83 t. In 2017, requirements of acreage of such crops as grass sorghum and broomcorn were completely satisfied by the amount of grown seeds. At the same time, the need for seeds of sorghum and sugar sorghum can not be covered completely at the expense of domestic varieties reproduction. In 2017, general demand for sorghum seeds was 400,5 t, among which only 42,0 t was of domestic production. The rest demand for seeds will be met at the expense of import of foreign breeding seeds into the country to be grown and prepared for sowing abroad. Conclusions. In the Register of plant varieties suitable for dissemination in Ukraine, there are 72 sorghum varieties among them only 12 varieties were of domestic breeding, that is 17%, as compared to 83% of recommended great sorghum varieties of foreign breeding. In Ukraine, the area occupied by sorghum cultivation was 22,8 thou ha in 2005, up to 2017 it increased to 89,0 thou ha, and accordingly the demand for seeds run up from 102,6 to 400,5 t. The area occupied by the sugar sorghum in 2005 amounted to only 2,6 thou ha, in 2017 – 20,0 thou ha, that accordingly determined increase of demand for seed material from 13,0 to 99,9 t. In 2017, the part of the area where domestic hybrids of sorghum are growing was 10%, hybrids of sugar sorghum – 12%, that was indicative of very poor situation with domestic varieties dissemination.

Purpose. To evaluate and select hybrids, varieties of the parental nursery of the breeding process, biotechnological lines and wild species of potato for physiological parameters of drought resistance. Methods. Physiological and biochemical, selection ones, statistical data processing. Results. The data is given concerning the evaluation of the water retaining and water regeneration capacity of potato leaves of promising hybrids of competitive and ecological test, varieties of the parental nursery, biotechnological lines and wild species and their integral indicator of drought resistance. The studied samples were grown in the nurseries of field selection crop rotation. Accordingly, the initial material with the highest drought resistance value has been defined. Among the evaluated material, eight hybrids of the competitive and ecological test have been selected (drought resistance coefficient was ranging from 59.4% to 84.8%) and five biotechnological lines of ‘Hlazurna’ and ‘Dorohin’ varieties (drought resistance coefficient was in the range of 55.5% to 67.5%). As for wild species, almost half of the samples (47.8%) were characterized by a high coefficient of drought resistance (from 55 to 78%). Selected samples with high values of drought resistance were recommended to use as a source and drought resistance donors when creating new potato varieties. Conclusions. The initial potato material (hybrids, varieties, biotechnological lines and wild species) with high values of drought resistance (55.0–84.8%) has been selected. These samples are recommended to use in the breeding process when creating new drought resistance potato varieties.

Purpose. To study biological characteristics of growth and development of middle-early soybean varieties and create a model of phenotype productivity. Methods. Special and gene­ral techniques for studies. Results. Optimal productivity of plants is forming merely at the expense of efficient ratio of all the elements of their structure. It often happens that in case of underdevelopment of one of the structure components yield to some extent can be offset by better development of other elements. Eight indicators were defined which make the largest contribution to the productivity trait of a variety: seed weight per plant, total number of branches, number of nodes per plant, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per plant, number of flowers, plant height, 1000 kernel weight. The first four indicators provided most of the total contribution to a trait of seed weight per plant. Model building was based on hierarchy of productivity traits display in ontogenesis and compliance of their development in organogenesis. The model consists of two modules of traits – resulting and some componental showing phenotypic realization of the genetic formula. It was found that the plant height significantly influence the number of nodes per plant (r = 0,76), and the number of pods per plant (r = 0,43) depends on this trait. In addition, correlation based on the research was obtained between the number of flowers per plant and plant height (r = 0,35), and number of nodes (r = 0,76). It was established that the number of flowers per plant determines the development of pods on the plant so it is quite strongly correlated with this trait (r = 0,99). Conclusions. It was determined that the number of pods per plant and the number of seeds per plant have a very strong correlation (r = 0,96). Besides, such trait as the number of seeds per plant has a strong relationship with the seed weight per plant (r = 0,79).

Purpose. To establish the reasons of submitting not highly decorative lilac hybrids to state variety testing so that unpromising varieties and look-alikes can be sometimes included in the world collection, and focus on solving this situation. Methods. Analytical approach. Results. It was established why and how unoriginal hybrids were submitted to state variety testing that for several reasons can allow them to obtain the status of variety. Conclusions. In order to prevent obtaining the status of variety by some low decorative lilac hybrids, it is necessary that both a breeder and testing stations employer should use known presentable collections of identified varieties for evaluation of real value of a new hybrid. In Ukraine, there is such a collection at N. N. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine where more than 130 varieties and 21 species of the genus Syringa occupies the area of 2.35 ha. It is desirable to compare not only with the check variety that the breeder selected for his hybrid among such, but, if it is possible, with all varieties in the collection close to it by decorative effect. The problem is that the author of a hybrid, sometimes ignorantly or for some other reason, selects a check variety for his hybrid that is not the most decorative one among such, against which a candidate for variety status will be more attractive during its evaluation. In such a case, the breeder should change a check variety that permits to estimate really the decorative effect of a submitted hybrid.

Мета. Дослідити вплив грибних хвороб на продуктивність різних за стійкістю сортів пшениці озимої з використанням штучних інфекційних фонів. Методи. Польовий – оцінка стійкості сортозразків до грибних хвороб на інфекційних фонах. Лабораторний – структурний аналіз сортозразків. Математико-статистичний – оцінка результатів досліджень і аналіз кореляційних зв’язків між отриманими даними. Результати. Грибні хвороби, як найпоширеніші та шкідливі, уражують різні органи рослин та спричиняють недобір урожаю, погіршують товарну та насіннєву якість зерна. Наведено результати польових експериментальних досліджень за 2012–2017 рр. із вивчення впливу грибних хвороб на показники врожайності пшениці озимої. Встановлено, що ураження пшениці озимої септоріозом (Septoria tritici Rob.) та борошнис­тою росою (Erysiphe graminis DS. f. sp. tritici) негативно впливало на довжину колоса, кількість зерен у ньому, масу зерна з колоса та масу 1000 зерен. Однак, у досліджуваних сортозразків показники продуктивності змінювалися по-різному. Най­толерантнiшими проти грибних хвороб були високопродуктивні сорти пшениці озимої ‘Смуглянка’ та ‘Новокиївська’. У стійкого проти септоріозу сорту ‘Смуглянка’, за 75%-го ступеня ураження, зниження показників продуктивності становило від 1,4 до 12,2%, тоді як у сприйнятливого сортозразка ‘УК 1731’ – від 6,2 до 16,7%. Аналогічний стан спостерігався і на стійкому проти борошнистої роси сорті ‘Новокиївська’. Висновки. Відібрані два толерантні високопродуктивні сорти пшениці озимої ‘Смуглянка’ та ‘Новокиївська’ (стійкість 7–6 балів) можуть протистояти ураженню септоріозом і борошнистою росою без втрати продуктивності, а також бути перспективним джерелом стійкості проти цих хвороб та становити інтерес для подальшої селекційної роботи в Україні.

Purpose. To study the effect of weather conditions on grain quality in soft spring wheat lines that are undergoing competitive variety trial. To identify indices to be least affected by weather conditions. To investigate the correlation dependence between grain quality indices in the years with contrasting weather conditions and conduct the analysis of variance. Methods. Parameters of grain and flour quality of bread spring wheat lines were determined using conventional methods at the laboratory of grain quality of V. M. Remeslo Myronivka Institute of Wheat, NAAS of Ukraine, protein content in flour was measured with the use of the SPECTRAN 119M device. Results. Contrasting weather conditions were considered including arid ones (2013) – that had negative effect on 1000 kernel weight, but at the same time positively influenced the averaged grain quality indices; with excess humidity (2014) – they resulted in decreasing of all technological indices; optimal ones (2015) – allowed to obtain maximum indices of grain and flour quality. Paired coefficients of correlation between different para­meters of grain and flour quality were calculated. The most number of strong and medium correlations was found in a dry year (33.3%), the smallest one – in a wet year (13.0%). Such indices as flour strength, dough dilution and protein content depended on the conditions of the growing year least of all. Grain-unit response was the most considerable to the humid conditions of the year. The analysis of variance showed that climatic conditions had significant effect on the quality indices of grain and flour. At the same time, an important genotypic component was revealed in indices of dough resilience (63%), bread volume and rating (61 and 53% respectively), the flour strength (42%), crude gluten quality (33%), bread porosity (30%). With climate variations, the genotypic conditionality of the content of protein and especially crude gluten was expressed insignificantly. Conclusions. When creating high quality cultivars, plant breeders should be guided by such indices as flour strength, dough resilience, gluten quality, bread volume and rating as only they are more genetically determined

Мета. Виявити закономірності рівня прояву та взаємозв’язку між урожайністю, елементами структури врожаю і морфологічними ознаками ячменю ярого дворядного підвиду в Центральному Лісостепу України. Виділити нові генетичні джерела для селекції. Методи. Польові дослідження, дисперсійний, кореляційний та кластерний аналіз. Результати. У процесі дослідження 30 генотипів ячменю ярого різного еколого-географічного походження у контрастні за метеорологічними показниками 2012–2014 рр. в умовах Центрального Лісостепу України виявлено значні відмінності за рівнем прояву врожайності, елементів структури врожаю та морфологічних ознак. Виділено зразки з підвищеною врожайністю [‘Козван’ (‘Маяк’) (UKR), ‘AC Kings’ (CAN), ‘Сяйво’ (UKR), ‘PД-1’ (UKR), ‘Аргумент’ (UKR), ‘B 1215’ (USA)] та елементами структури врожаю. За результатами кластерного аналізу проведено групування зразків за рівнем прояву досліджених ознак. Деякі виділені за врожайністю генотипи розмістили у різних групах, що вказує на можливість планомірного генетичного поліпшення рослин під час створення нового вихідного матеріалу, залучаючи їх до схрещувань. Виявлено достовірний зв’язок урожайності з продуктивним кущінням (r = 0,67–0,72), урожайності з масою зерна з рослини (r = 0,73–0,77). Маса зерна з рослини в усі роки достовірно корелювала з продуктивною кущистістю (r = 0,62–0,80). В умовах посушливого 2013 р. спостерігалось підвищення зв’язку врожайності з іншими морфологічними ознаками та елементами структури врожаю, зокрема з висотою рослин (до r = 0,52), довжиною верхнього міжвузля (r = 0,52), масою зерна з головного колоса (r = 0,39). Зазначено зростання зв’язку врожайності з масою 1000 зерен у 2013 та 2014 рр., порівняно з 2012 р., на тлі зниження рівня прояву ознаки. Висновки. Виділені генотипи з підвищеним рівнем прояву селекційно-цінних ознак доцільно використовувати як генетичні джерела під час створення нового вихідного матеріалу. Для підвищення формотворчого процесу за продуктивністю в потомствах гібридних комбінацій як компоненти схрещування необхідно добирати високопродуктивні генотипи з різних кластерів. В умовах Центрального Лісостепу України у формуванні врожайності ячменю ярого дворядного підвиду дуже значну роль відіграє продуктивне кущіння. Водночас, для забезпечення високого рівня продуктивності індивідуальних рослин та агроценозу в цілому бічні стебла мають бути розвинені синхронно з головним стеблом і характеризуватись збалансованою кількістю зерен у колосі та їх крупністю.