The phenomenon of cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS), consisting in the inability to produce functional pollen due to mutations in mitochondrial genome, has been described in more than 150 plant species. With the discovery of nuclear fertility restorer (Rf) genes capable of suppressing the CMS phenotype, it became possible to use the CMS-Rf genetic systems as the basis for practical utilization of heterosis effect in various crops. Seed production of sunflower hybrids all over the world is based on the extensive use of the PET1 CMS combined with the Rf1 gene. At the same time, data on Rf1 localization, sequence, and molecular basis for the CMS PET1 type restoration of fertility remain unknown. Searching for candidate genes of the Rf1 gene has great fundamental and practical value. Therefore, in this study, association mapping of fertility restorer gene for CMS PET1 in sunflower was performed. The genome-wide association study (GWAS) results made it possible to isolate a segment 7.72 Mb in length on chromosome 13, in which 21 candidates for Rf1 fertility restorer gene were identified, including 20 pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR)family genes and one Probable aldehyde dehydrogenase gene. The results will serve as a basis for further study of the genetic nature and molecular mechanisms of pollen fertility restoration in sunflower, as well as for further intensification of sunflower breeding.

Sunflower and rapeseed are among the most important sources of vegetable oil for food and industry. The main components of vegetable oil are triglycerides (TAGs) (about 97%). Ultra- performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS) profiling of TAGs in sunflower and rapeseed has been performed and the TAG profiles obtained for these species have been compared. It has been identified that 34 TAGs are shared by sunflower and rapeseed. It was demonstrated that TAGs 52:2, 52:5, 52:6, 54:3; 54:4, 54:7, 56:3, 56:4, and 56:5 had the highest variability levels between sunflower and rapeseed with the higher presence in rapeseed. TAGs 50:2, 52:3, 52:4, 54:5, and 54:6 also showed high variability, but were the most abundant in sunflower. Moreover, the differences in TAG composition between the winter-type and spring-type rapeseed have been revealed, which may be associated with freezing tolerance. It was shown that winter-type rapeseed seeds contain TAGs with a lower degree of saturation, while in spring-type rapeseed highly saturated lipids are the most abundant. These findings may give new insights into the cold resistance mechanisms in plants the understanding of which is especially important in terms of global climate changes.

According to FAOSTAT, in 2018-2019 rice was planted in 118 countries on an area of 167 million hectares, the annual grain production in the world is about 782 million tons. Rice is the most popular cereal in the diet of the Russian consumer. Rice growing is a small but rather important branch of the agro-industrial complex of the Russian Federation. The main rice producers in the world are China (over 214 million tons), India (over 172 million tons), Indonesia (83 million tons), Bangladesh (56 million tons), Vietnam (44 million tons), Thailand (32 million tons) and Myanmar (25 million tons). In the Russian Federation, rice is grown in three federal districts, in nine subjects: in the Southern Federal District - the Republic of Adygea, Kalmykia, Krasnodar, Astrakhan and Rostov Regions; North Caucasian Federal District - Republics of Dagestan and Chechen; Far Eastern Federal District - Primorsky Territory and the Jewish Autonomous Region. Scientific support of the rice-growing industry in the Russian Federation is carried out by the Federal Scientific Rice Centre.

Oilseed crops are one of the most important sources of vegetable oils for food and industry. Nutritional and technical properties of vegetable oil are primarily determined by its fatty acid (FA) composition. The content and composition of FAs in plants are commonly determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GS-MS) or gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID) techniques. In the present work, we applied ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) technique to FA profiling of sunflower and rapeseed seeds and compared this method with the GC-FID technique. GC-FID detected 11 FAs in sunflower and 13 FAs in rapeseed, while UPLC-MS appeared to be more sensitive, detecting about 2.5 times higher numbers of FAs in both plants. In addition to even-chain FAs, UPLC-MS was able to detect odd-chain FAs. The longest FA detected using GC-FID was an FA with 24 carbon atoms, whereas UPLC-MS could reveal the presence of longer FAs with the tails of up to 28 carbon atoms. Based on our results, we may conclude that UPLC-MS has great potential to be used for the assessment of FA profiles of oil crops.

Relevance. The purpose of this work is to create new discrete competitive tomato genotypes based on modern biotechnological approaches with increased resistance to the tobacco mosaic virus, economically valuable traits and adapted to the soil and climatic conditions of cultivation in the southern regions of the Russian Federation.Methods. At the first stage of the study, SSR markers taken from literature sources were tested [1;2] and PCR conditions were optimized for the identification of target Tm genes (Tm2a, Tm22, providing resistance to tobacco mosaic virus at the tissue level) in the breeding material available in the department of vegetable and potato growing.Results. Two informative molecular markers Tms 37 and UMD 2060 were selected, which reveal the allelic difference between resistant and susceptible samples. Hybridization of FMS tomato lines with samples having the desired genes of interest in the genotype for obtaining tomato lines resistant to TMV was carried out. Seeds of paternal forms - donors of target genes were obtained for their further use in breeding work. The scientific novelty lies in the study of the discrete genetic material of Solanumlycopersicum, used in the breeding process, and preserving its functions in a new genetic environment.

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Publicly supported collections of cultivated germplasm are one of the key sources of new genes for crop improvement. VNIIMK is the leading organization in oil and essential oil crop breeding and seed growing in the Russian Federation with more than a century-long history. Sunflower varieties created by V.S. Pustovoit at VNIIMK became the basis for the development of the modern sunflower varieties worldwide. In the present study, 186 sunflower lines from the VNIIMK collection were characterized based on their genotype and general morphological and phenological economically-important traits. Additionally, for 99 sunflower lines fatty acid content, seed oil content, seed husk content, 100-seed weight, and seed number in the head were determined. Sequencing of RAD-libraries and the subsequent analysis have identified 65,553 variants including SNPs and indels. LD analysis revealed substantial variability across the genome. The longest LD blocks (>5,000 Kb) were found in the linkage groups 1, 5, and 17. The analysis revealed significant genetic and phenotypic diversity of the VNIIMK sunflower collection. Novel significant associations with linolenic acid content in the seeds were found on LGs 8, 9, and 17.

In order to develop rice breeding material of a functional direction, technological and biochemical grain quality traits of varieties bred by the Federal Scientific Rice Centre (Rubin, Mars, Mavr, Gagat, Yuzhnaya noch) with a colored grain pericarp, high content of anthocyanins and intended for functional nutrition were studied. The varieties were grown in the valley agrolandscape zone of Krasnodar region (Russia) in 2017–2019. The studied rice varieties are included in the State Register of Protected Breeding Achievements. The grain size by weight of 1000 absolutely dry grains (weight of 1000 a.d.g.) was determined according to GOST 10842-89, fracturing on a DSZ-3 diaphanoscope, protein content was measured using an Infralum FT-10 device. The determination of amylose was carried out colorimetrically using the amylose-iodine reaction according to Juliano. The varieties have a medium-sized caryopsis (21.5-27.0 g of 1000 grains); of them, the variety Yuzhnaya noch is characterized by the smallest grain. The variety Mars belongs to the low amylose group, varieties Mavr, Rubin and Gagat to the medium amylose group, Yuzhnaya noch to the waxy group. In terms of protein content in grain, all varieties are classified as medium protein. The maximum grain fracture was in variety Mavr in the range of 19-25% and the minimum in Mars and Gagat, respectively 2-5 and 2-6%. Variations in grain size indicators, amylose and protein content of varieties are weak in all varieties of special purpose, which testified to their high stability under growing conditions.