Purpose. Develop a simplified method for estimating the color of flour and pasta using Adobe Photo Shop® software. Methods. The research material was grain of varieties and selection lines of wheat species Triticum durum, T. dicoccum, T. timopheevii bred in the Рlant Production Institute nd. a. V. Ya. Yuryev and samples of the National Center for Genetic Resources of Plants of Ukraine, 2018–2020 harvest. Batch of flour and pieces of dough were scanned using EPSON Scanner 010 F. Color was evaluated using Adobe PhotoShop®. The level of carotenoids was determined by spectrophotometric method. Results. Visual assessments of flour and pasta color, presented by different researchers, differ significantly (up to 2–3 points on a 9-point scale). At the same time, the use of the developed method of express color evaluation of flour and pasta samples in Adobe PhotoShop® with the color evaluation system L*a*b*, used in modern reflectometers, allows to obtain data in numerical value and provides high accuracy. In the case of the developed me­thod, correlations were established between the content of carotenoids and the index b* of flour (r = 0.41 / ≤ 0.05) and pasta (r = 0.60 / p ≤ 0.001) and allowed to select the best in flour color selection lines 10-56, 10-65, 14-153, sample T. durum var. falcatomelanopus, in pasta color – lines 10-56, 10-65, 11-29, 12-3. Conclusions. The developed method provides high accuracy and can be used to evaluate the color of pasta and wheat flour, simplifies the evaluation of test samples, standardizes the parameters of agricultural products and avoids subjective judgment. The established weak correlation between the carotenoid content and the b* value of flour indicates the effect on the color of flour not only orange but also yellow and red pigments, and the ave­rage correlation between the carotenoid content and the b* value of pasta indicates the influence of the products of polyphenols oxidation reactions of wheat grain. The best in color flour and pasta lines were selected for breeding work to increase the content of carotenoid pigments in grain.

Purpose. To define statistical methods and tools (application packages) for creating the decision support system (DSS) for qualifying examination of plant varieties suitable for dissemination (VSD) in the context of data processing tasks. To substantiate the selection of software for proces­sing statistical data relative to field and laboratory investigations that are included into the qualifying examination for VSD. Methods. Analytical one based on the comparison of methods of descriptive and multivariate statistics and tools of intellectual analysis of data obtained during qualifying examination for VSD. Comparative analysis of software tools for processing statistical data in order to prepare proposals for the final decision on plant variety application. Decomposition of tasks was carried out which were included into the decision support system for qualifying examination of varieties-candidates for VSD. Results. Statistical package SPSS, analysis package included in MS Excel and programe language R was compared for the following criteria: interface usability, functionality, quality of calculation result presentation, visibility of graphical information, software cost. The both packages were widely used in the world for statistical data processing, they have similar functions for statistics calculation. Conclusion. Tasks of VSD were separated and recommended to tackle using investigated tools. Programe language R was a product recommended to use as a tool. The main advantage of R as compared to the package IBM SPSS Statistics is the fact that R is an open source software.

Purpose. Determine the ecological plasticity and productivity of F1 sunflower hybrids created on the basis of maternal and parental lines, selected according to an accelerated selection system of lines resistant to herbicides (imidazoline and sulfonylurea groups) and broomrape (Orobanche cumana Wallr.). Methods. Statistical analysis of F1 sunflower hybrids was carried out using the methods of variation statistics, regression and analysis of variance using the Microsoft Office Excel 2016 application package. Molecular biological, biotechnological and classical selection methods were used for the accelerated system of line selection. Thus, for the purpose of targeted selection of sunflower sterility fixers, we used HRG01 molecular SCAR marker to identify the gene for the restoration of pollen fertility (Rf1). To accelerate the creation of parental lines resistant to tribenuron-methyl, we used a culture of immature embryos in vitro. Results. The results of testing of F1 sunflower hybrids at Kyiv, Chernihiv, Cherkasy (Uman and Shpolianskyi districts), Khmelnytskyi, Kharkiv, Kherson and Odesa regions. The hybrids were created on the basis of selected lines, chosen according to an accelerated selection system for herbicide-resistant lines (imidazoline (IMI-hybrids) and sulfonylurea (SU-hybrids) groups) and broomrape (Orobanche cumana Wall). The standards for comparison with hybrids were: for IMI hybrids – hybrids ‘NK Neoma’ (Syngenta) and ‘ES Genesis’ (Euralis), and for SU-hybrids – ‘SY Sumiko’ (Syngenta) and ‘P64LE25’ (Pioneer). As a result, it was found that among SU-hybrids, UA 2/106 had a 3.9% higher yield when compared to the standards (‘SY Sumiko’ and ‘P64LE25’). And for IMI-hybrids it was found that hybrids UA 1/67, UA 1/66, UA 1/84 have the same yield of 2.76 t/ha as the ‘NK Neoma’ standard. IMI hybrids UA 1/92, UA 1/102 have the same yield of 2.91 t/ha as ‘ES Genesis’. Conclusions. F1 hybrids were created on the basis of the original breeding material selected due to the accelerated system of sunflower lines selection. The hybrids were analyzed according to the yield indicator. The most productive among the tested SU-hybrids was UA 2/106 hybrid, among the IMI hybrids – UA 1/67, UA 1/66, UA 1/84, UA 1/92 and UA 1/102.

Purpose. To study the expression of gus and gfp genes in callus explants of amphidiploid spelt wheat (Triticum spelta L.) after Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation. Methods. Winter spelt wheat of ‘Europa’ variety was chosen for transformation. Calli obtained from mature embryos were used as explants. Callus pre-cultivation was carried out on MS nutrient medium (Murashige–Skoog) supplemented with 2 mg/L 2.4-D (2.4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) and 10 mg/L silver nitrate. For genetic transformation, Agrobacterium tumefaciens Conn., strain GV3101 and a genetic construct with reporter genes beta-glucuronidase (GUS) and green fluorescent protein (GFP) were used. Calli were transformed by inoculation with agrobacteria and vacuum infiltration. Then they were co-cultured on MS medium with 2 mg/L 2.4-D and 10 mg/L AgNO3, but without antibiotics. The expression of the gus gene was checked by histochemical and the gfp gene by visual analysis (fluorescence of the GFP protein in UV light). Gfp and gus gene expression levels were evaluated using ImajeJ software. The integration of the gfp and gus genes into the spelt genome was verified by PCR. Results. Genetic transformation of spelt callus explants by inoculation in a nutrient medium with agrobacteria and vacuum infiltration occurred at different frequencies. The level of expression of the gus gene during vacuum infiltration was 4.66 ± 0.74%, with inoculation – 4.00 ± 0.91%; and the gfp gene with vacuum infiltration – 3.66 ± 0.74%, with inoculation – 4.66 ± 1.39%. The level of expression of the gfp gene was higher when using inoculation with agrobacteria, and the gus gene was higher during vacuum infiltration. Using PCR analysis, the integration of the gfp and gus genes into the callus of spelt genome was confirmed. The length of the PCR product with primers for the gus gene was 240 bp, and 717 bp for the gfp gene. Conclusions. The use of vacuum infiltration and inoculation methods for spelt genetic transformation gave different results. The frequency of genetic transformation ranged from 3.66 to 4.66%. Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation of amphidiploid spelt wheat allows us to study the expression of gus and gfp reporter genes using callus explants derived from mature embryos

Purpose of this study was to develop the main components of a model of an adaptive information system for predicting crop productivity. Methods. To conduct research on the establishment of the basic structural elements of an adaptive information model for predicting the productivity of basic crops used the method of constructing dynamic models. Results. A detailed analysis of conceptual approaches to the construction of mathematical agricultural models is carried out and the main advantages and disadvantages of modern analogues are established. It is determined that the adaptive information model is based solely on the needs of the plant and actually on the need to provide these needs with available resources in order to obtain consistently high yields with high quality indicators. The hardware and software complex must have a feedback relationship between its basic structural elements, because it significantly improves the accuracy of predicting plant productivity. Data based on the operation of certain mechanisms or indicators of weather conditions and their forecasts are used for decision making, however, if they are substantially changed, decisions about individual technology elements are reviewed. The software should be related to the economic part and should take into account market conditions and forecast data when making recommendations. In the case of low purchase prices for products, we recommend that certain agrotechnical operations (say vegetation feeding) be applied or not, in the case of significant change in growing conditions - when the application of these agro-measures will be ineffective due to the negative effects of drought, etc. Conclusions. Adaptive information system for forecasting productivity in the technological process of growing crops is formed on the basis of a model consisting of three modules of characteristics – the resultant and two components. At each subsequent stage of implementation of the model, the resulting feature becomes component, with the maximum contribution to the resulting feature of the next module.

Purpose. Development of scientific and applied foundations for the introduction, selection and use of plants of the species of the genus Physalis L. to ensure food security in Ukraine. Methods. Subject of study – plants of the genus Physalis. The study was conducted in 2014–2018. on the introduction plots of the department of cultural flora of the M. M. Hryshko National Botanical Garden, NAS of Ukraine (NBG). The work used general scientific and special methods: field, introduction, biological and morphological; laboratory (chemical, biochemical), statistical (methods of analysis of variance and statistical estimation of average data using Microsoft Excel (2010). Results. The features of ontomorphogenesis were established, the biological and morphological parameters of plants of the species of the genus Physalis L. were investigated under conditions of introduction in the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe Ukraine. It was found that the content of dry matter in plant fruits varied from 10 to 18.34%, sugars – from 39.34 to 67.97%, tannins – 1.57 to 3.35% and carotene – from 0.200 to 0.583%, ascorbic acid – from 123.91 to 284.95 mg/100 g, depending on the species, varietal and shape characteristics. Conclusions. It was found that the introduced plant species of the genus Physalis in conditions of culture have four age periods and 10 developmental states: seeds (se), sprouts (p), juvenile (j), immature (im), virginal (v), generative (g), subsenilny (ss) and senile (se). Ph. ixocarpa ‘Likhtaryk’ of the NBG selection was distinguished among the studied introduced species in terms of biological and morphological parameters and biochemical composition. The obtained data can be used for further research and determining the prospects for the introduction of these introduced species into a wide culture