Molecular Markers Help with Breeding for Agronomic Traits of Spring Wheat in Kazakhstan and Siberia.

The Kazakhstan-Siberia Network for Spring Wheat Improvement (KASIB) was established in 2000, forming a collaboration between breeding and research programs through biannual yield trials. A core set of 142 genotypes from 15 breeding programs was selected, genotyped for 81 DNA functional markers and phenotyped for 10 agronomic traits at three sites in Kazakhstan (Karabalyk, Shortandy and Shagalaly) and one site in Russia (Omsk) in 2020-2022. The study aim was to identify markers demonstrating significant effects on agronomic traits. The average grain yield of individual trials varied from 118 to 569 g/m2. Grain yield was positively associated with the number of days to heading, plant height, number of grains per spike and 1000-kernel weight. Eight DNA markers demonstrated significant effects. The spring-type allele of the Vrn-A1 gene accelerated heading by two days (5.6%) and was present in 80% of the germplasm. The winter allele of the Vrn-A1 gene significantly increased grain yield by 2.7%. The late allele of the earliness marker per se, TaMOT1-D1, delayed development by 1.9% and increased yield by 4.5%. Translocation of 1B.1R was present in 21.8% of the material, which resulted in a 6.2% yield advantage compared to 1B.1B germplasm and a reduction in stem rust severity from 27.6 to 6.6%. The favorable allele of TaGS-D1 increased both kernel weight and yield by 2-3%. Four markers identified in ICARDA germplasm, ISBW2-GY (Kukri_c3243_1065, 3B), ISBW3-BM (TA004946-0577, 1B), ISBW10-SM2 (BS00076246_51, 5A), ISBW11-GY (wsnp_Ex_c12812_20324622, 4A), showed an improved yield in this study of 3-4%. The study recommends simultaneous validation and use of selected markers in KASIB's network.

Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Capacity of Synthetic Hexaploid Wheats.

In this study, 21 synthetic hexaploid wheat samples were analyzed and compared for phenolic content (the Folin-Ciocalteu method), phenolic compositions, and antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS, and CUPRAC). The aim of the study was to determine the phenolic content and antioxidant activity of synthetic wheat lines developed from Ae. Tauschii, which has a wide genetic diversity, to be used in breeding programs for developing new varieties with better nutritional properties. Bound, free, and total phenolic contents (TPCs) of wheat samples were determined as 145.38-258.55 mg GAE/100 g wheat, 188.19-369.38 mg GAE/100 g wheat, and 333.58-576.93 mg GAE/100 g wheat, respectively. Phenolic compositions were detected by the HPLC system. Gallic acid was found in the highest concentrations in free fractions, whereas gallic, p-coumaric acid, and chlorogenic acid were generally found in the highest concentrations in bound fractions of the synthetic hexaploid wheat samples. The antioxidant activities (AA%) of the wheat samples were evaluated by the DPPH assay. AA% in the free extracts of the synthetic red wheat samples ranged from 33.0% to 40.5%, and AA% values in the bound extracts of the synthetic hexaploid wheat samples varied between 34.4% and 50.6%. ABTS and CUPRAC analyses were also used to measure antioxidant activities. The ABTS values of the free and bound extracts and total ABTS values of the synthetic wheat samples ranged from 27.31 to 123.18, 61.65 to 263.23, and 93.94 to 308.07 mg TE/100 g, respectively. The corresponding CUPRAC values of the synthetic wheats were between 25.78-160.94, 75.35-308.13, and 107.51-364.79 mg TE/100 g. This study revealed that synthetic hexaploid wheat samples are valuable resources for breeding programs for developing new wheat varieties with higher concentrations and better compositions of health-beneficial phytochemicals. The samples w1 (Ukr.-Od. 1530.94/Ae. squarrosa (629)), w18 (Ukr.-Od. 1530.94/Ae. squarrosa (1027)), and w20 (Ukr.-Od. 1530.94/Ae. squarrosa (392)) can be used as a genetic resource in breeding programs to enhance the nutritional quality of wheat.

Utilization of Intermediate Wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium) as an Innovative Ingredient in Bread Making.

Intermediate wheatgrass (IWG; Thinopyrum intermedium), a nutritionally dense and sustainable crop, is a promising novel ingredient in bakery applications. The main aim of this study was to investigate the potential of IWG as a novel ingredient in breadmaking. The second aim was to investigate the characteristics of breads substituted with 15, 30, 45, and 60% IWG flour compared to control bread produced using wheat flour. The gluten content and quality, bread quality, bread staling, yellow pigment, and phenolic and antioxidant properties were determined. Enrichment with IWG flours significantly affected the gluten content and quality and bread characteristics. Increased levels of IWG flour substitution significantly decreased the Zeleny sedimentation and gluten index values and increased the dry and wet gluten contents. The bread yellow pigment content and crumb b* colour value increased with the increasing level of IWG supplementation. IWG addition also had a positive effect on the phenolic and antioxidant properties. Bread with 15% IWG substitution had the highest bread volume (485 mL) and lowest firmness values (654 g-force; g-f) compared to the other breads, including the control (i.e., wheat flour bread). The results indicated that IWG has great potential to be used in bread production as a novel, healthy, and sustainable ingredient.

EXPRESSION OF SYNAPTOFYSIN AND VEGF IN THE SENSOMOTOR CORTEX DURING THE CAROTID ARTERY LIGATION, THE BRAIN ANTIGEN SENSITIZATION AND THEIR COMBINATIONS.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: To study changes of the expression of synaptophysin (Syn) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in neurons of the sensorimotor cortex (SMC) to reveal after unilateral ligation of the carotid artery, sensitization with brain antigen and their combination. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: Experimental animals - Wistar rats (260-290 g). Experimental models: mobilization of the left common carotid artery, ligation of the indicated artery, sensitization with cerebral antigen, combination of sensitization with cerebral antigen and ligation of the carotid artery. Methods: immunohistochemistry, quantitative densitometric assessment. RESULTS: Results: Dyscirculatory disorders of cerebral blood supply during unilateral mobilization or ligation of the common carotid artery, sensitization with cerebral antigen lead in rats to a transient decrease in synaptophysin expression and phase changes in VEGF expression in the SMC from the lesion side. These changes occur in the absence of morphological changes in the cerebral cortex. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The absence of morphological changes in the SMC in the short term (10-30 days) after minor trauma to the common carotid artery (separation from the bed and n.vagus) or its ligation is accompanied by a transient decrease in Syn expression and some increase in VEGF, which may reflect a violation of synaptic function and the general metabolic activity of neurons. Sensitization with a brain antigen, leading to an increase in the level of anti-brain antibodies and immune complexes in the blood of rats, can act as an independent damaging factor for the brain, and also potentiates and prolongs changes caused by impaired blood circulation.

Genetic Characterization of Spring Wheat Germplasm for Macro-, Microelements and Trace Metals.

Wheat as a staple food crop is the main source of micro- and macronutrients for most people of the world and is recognized as an attractive crop for biofortification. This study presents a comprehensive investigation of genomic regions governing grain micro- and macroelements concentrations in a panel of 135 diverse wheat accessions through a genome-wide association study. The genetic diversity panel was genotyped using the genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) method and phenotyped in two environments during 2017−2018. Wide ranges of variation in nutrient element concentrations in grain were detected among the accessions. Based on 33,808 high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), 2997 marker-element associations (MEAs) with −log10(p-value) > 3.5 were identified, representing all three subgenomes of wheat for 15-grain concentration elements. The highest numbers of MEAs were identified for Mg (499), followed by S (399), P (394), Ni (381), Cd (243), Ca (229), Mn (224), Zn (212), Sr (212), Cu (111), Rb (78), Fe (63), Mo (43), K (32) and Co (19). Further, MEAs associated with multiple elements and referred to as pleiotropic SNPs were identified for Mg, P, Cd, Mn, and Zn on chromosomes 1B, 2B, and 6B. Fifty MEAs were subjected to validation using KASIB multilocational trial at six sites in two years using 39 genotypes. Gene annotation of MEAs identified putative candidate genes that potentially encode different types of proteins related to disease, metal transportation, and metabolism. The MEAs identified in the present study could be potential targets for further validation and may be used in marker-assisted breeding to improve nutrient element concentrations in wheat grain.

Variation of Macro- and Microelements, and Trace Metals in Spring Wheat Genetic Resources in Siberia.

Western Siberia is one of the major spring wheat regions of Russia, cultivating over 7 Mha. The objective of the study was to evaluate the variation of macro- and microelements, and of trace metals in four distinct groups of genetic resources: primary synthetics from CIMMYT (37 entries), primary synthetics from Japan (8), US hard red spring wheat cultivars (14), and material from the Kazakhstan-Siberian Network on Spring Wheat Improvement (KASIB) (74). The experiment was conducted at Omsk State Agrarian University, using a random complete block design with four replicates in 2017 and 2018. Concentrations of 15 elements were included in the analysis: macroelements, Ca, K, Mg, P, and S; microelements, Fe, Cu, Mn, and Zn; toxic trace elements, Cd, Co, Ni; and trace elements, Mo, Rb, and Sr. Protein content was found to be positively correlated with the concentrations of 11 of the elements in one or both years. Multiple regression was used to adjust the concentration of each element, based on significant correlations with agronomic traits and macroelements. All 15 elements were evaluated for their suitability for genetic enhancement, considering phenotypic variation, their share of the genetic component in this variation, as well as the dependence of the element concentration on other traits. Three trace elements (Sr, Mo, and Co) were identified as traits that were relatively easy to enhance through breeding. These were followed by Ca, Cd, Rb, and K. The important biofortification elements Mn and Zn were among the traits that were difficult to enhance genetically. The CIMMYT and Japanese synthetics had significantly higher concentrations of K and Sr, compared to the local check. The Japanese synthetics also had the highest concentrations of Ca, S, Cd, and Mo. The US cultivars had concentrations of Ca as high as the Japanese synthetics, and the highest concentrations of Mg and Fe. KASIB's germplasm had near-average values for most elements. Superior germplasm, with high macro- and microelement concentrations and low trace-element concentrations, was found in all groups of material included.

Marker-Trait Associations for Enhancing Agronomic Performance, Disease Resistance, and Grain Quality in Synthetic and Bread Wheat Accessions in Western Siberia.

Exploiting genetically diverse lines to identify genes for improving crop performance is needed to ensure global food security. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted using 46,268 SNP markers on a diverse panel of 143 hexaploid bread and synthetic wheat to identify potential genes/genomic regions controlling agronomic performance (yield and 26 yield-related traits), disease resistance, and grain quality traits. From phenotypic evaluation, we found large genetic variation among the 35 traits and recommended five lines having a high yield, better quality, and multiple disease resistance for direct use in a breeding program. From a GWAS, we identified a total of 243 significant marker-trait associations (MTAs) for 35 traits that explained up to 25% of the phenotypic variance. Of these, 120 MTAs have not been reported in the literature and are potentially novel MTAs. In silico gene annotation analysis identified 116 MTAs within genes and of which, 21 MTAs were annotated as a missense variant. Furthermore, we were able to identify 23 co-located multi-trait MTAs that were also phenotypically correlated to each other, showing the possibility of simultaneous improvement of these traits. Additionally, most of the co-located MTAs were within genes. We have provided genomic fingerprinting for significant markers with favorable and unfavorable alleles in the diverse set of lines for developing elite breeding lines from useful trait-integration. The results from this study provided a further understanding of genetically complex traits and would facilitate the use of diverse wheat accessions for improving multiple traits in an elite wheat breeding program.

Genetic diversity and population structure analysis of synthetic and bread wheat accessions in Western Siberia.

Recurrent selection and intercrossing between best of the best parents in each generation of breeding cycle resulted in a narrower genetic diversity in elite wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) germplasm. Therefore, we investigated diverse source of 143 synthetic and bread wheat accessions for identifying potentially rich genetic resources for improving the genetic diversity in wheat. This study identified 47,526 genotyping-by-sequencing-derived SNP markers that were nearly evenly distributed across three genomes of wheat. The population structure analysis identified three distinct clusters (Japan synthetics, CIMMYT synthetics, and bread wheat) of wheat genotypes on the basis of type and geographical origin of wheat accessions. Population differentiation using analysis of molecular variance indicated 21% of the total genetic variance among subgroups and the remainder within subgroups. This study also identified that the Japan synthetic group was the most divergent group compared with other subgroups. The genetic diversity comparisons between synthetic and bread wheat lines showed that the gene diversity of synthetic wheat was 33% higher than bread wheat accessions, indicating the potential use of these lines for broadening the genetic diversity of modern wheat cultivars. The results from this study will be helpful in further understanding genomic features of wheat and facilitate their use in wheat breeding programs.

Primary hexaploid synthetics: Novel sources of wheat disease resistance.

Climate change is leading to increased occurrence of and yield losses to wheat diseases. Managing these diseases by introducing new, effective and diverse resistance genes into cultivars represents an important component of sustainable wheat production. In 2016 and 2017 a set of primary hexaploid synthetic wheat was studied under high disease pressure: powdery mildew, leaf and stem rust in Omsk; Septoria tritici and S. nodorum in Moscow. A total of 28 synthetics (19 CIMMYT synthetics and 9 Japanese synthetics) were selected as having combined resistance to at least two diseases in both years of testing. Two synthetics (entries 13 and 18) originating from crosses between winter durum wheat Ukrainka odesskaya-1530.94 and various Aegilopes taushii accessions, and four synthetics (entries 20, 21, 23 and 24) from cross between Canadian durum wheat Langdon and Ae. taushii were resistant to all four pathogens. Pathological and molecular markers evaluation of resistance suggests presence of new genes and diverse types of resistance. The novel genetic sources of disease resistance identified in this study can be successfully utilized in wheat breeding.