Sergey Valentinovich Asbaganov

Creation of self-fertile and highly winter-hardy varieties of fruit crops for regions with risky farming, such as Siberia, is a priority task. The native species Sorbus sibirica is characterized by cross-pollination and periodic fruiting, which makes the search for sources of apomixis relevant. The aim of the work was to study the ability of self-fertility in representatives of the hybridogenic genus Sorbocotoneaster and assess its potential for rowan breeding. We studied natural and artificial allopolyploid forms of Sorbocotoneaster with different genome compositions (SSCC, SSSC, SSC, SCC), as well as the parental species S.sibirica (2n = 2x, SS) and C.melanocarpus (2n = 4x, CCCC). The fruit set was studied under different pollination conditions: autonomous apomixis (without pollination), self-pollination, open pollination, cross-pollination with mountain ash pollen and foreign pollen. The clonality of the seed progeny was confirmed by electrophoresis of cotyledon storage proteins. It was shown that the allotetraploid form of Sorbocotoneaster (SRCT-JAK-1501, 2n = 4x, SSCC genome) has obligate autonomous apomixis, demonstrating fruit set at the level of 27.7% without pollination. With self-pollination and pseudogamous pollination, the fruit set reached 54 – 55%. Complete homogeneity of the electrophoretic spectra of proteins and the morphology of the seed progeny confirmed their clonal origin. Tetraploid hybrids with the SSSC genome also showed high fertility, while triploid genotypes (2n = 3x) were low-fertile. Thus, Sorbocotoneaster pozdnjakovii is a unique source of obligate apomixis, high winter hardiness and self-fertility. Incorporating Sorbocotoneaster into rowan breeding programs will allow creating genotypes with a guaranteed stable yield regardless of weather conditions during the flowering period, which is critically important for horticulture in the extreme conditions of Siberia.

This study focuses on the investigation of lipophilic metabolites found in various organs of Sorbus aucuparia subsp. sibirica (leaves, exocarp, and seeds) using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The research aims to identify inter-organ differences in metabolic profiles and expand the understanding of the species’ metabolic plasticity. In leaf extracts, 72 compounds were identified, including saturated, unsaturated, and hydroxy-substituted fatty acids, alcohols, alkanes, and steroids. In the exocarp and seeds, 39 and 50 compounds belonging to the same classes were identified. Key compounds included linolenic acid, palmitic acid, and nonacosan-10-ol (ginnol), which plays a vital role in the protective functions of epicuticular waxes and demonstrates promising antibacterial and antioxidant properties. Principal component analysis (PCA) confirmed the presence of inter-organ differences, particularly pronounced in leaves, where local chemotypes were identified. These findings highlight the complex adaptive mechanisms and high metabolic plasticity of S. aucuparia subsp. sibirica. The results offer potential applications in pharmacognosy, chemotaxonomy, and the standardization of plant-derived raw materials.

Bird cherry is the most frost-resistant species of all stone fruit crops. Bird cherry fruits are a valuable source of medicinal raw materials. Not so long ago, bird cherry was introduced into the industrial culture of horticulture. There are currently 12 varieties recommended for food use in the State Register of Breeding Achievements of the Russian Federation. Bird cherry fruits are edible, used in the native state and in the form of flour when baking pies and other confectionery products. Bird cherry (fruits) refers to a pharmacopoeia and food plant. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the products of processing of bird cherry and to study the biochemical composition of the isolated forms of bird cherry. The article presents data on the biochemical composition and the results of a technological assessment of the quality of processed bird cherry fruits. The content of sugars, acids, anthocyanins, pectin substances and catechins in the fruits of 14 forms of bird cherry hybrids was determined. Differences in the content of biochemical parameters depending on the form have been established. Bird cherry fruits are characterized by a high sugar content from 36.13 to 53.67% of the raw weight and phenolic compounds. According to the content of catechins, selected forms No. 14-2-37 were identified, and according to the number of anthocyanins, hybrid No. 13-4-45. The fruits of most hybrids showed an increased content of tannins – from 1.62 to 3.39% of the raw weight. The tasting evaluation of compotes revealed the best forms of bird cherry for use in processing (No. 14-2-30, No. 13-4-45, No. 3-7-16). The tasting evaluation of compotes revealed the best forms of cherry for use in processing (No. 14-2-30, No. 13-4-45, No. 3-7-16). The increased content of tannins in bird cherry fruits (on average 2.5%) confirms the expediency of their use in the canning and pharmaceutical industries. According to the chemical composition of fruits, hybrids and varieties of common bird cherry and Virgin bird cherry are promising for introduction into culture in the south of Western Siberia.

The article considers microevolutionary relationships of Elymus species common in the Southern Urals. The objectives were to trace genetic links between E. uralensis and E. viridiglumis described from closely located habitats and to assess the possibility of introgression of E. uralensis with E. mutabilis and E. caninus during joint growth. ISSR DNA analysis was used to identify genotypes. The use of six ISSR primers showed the presence of multiple reticulate microevolutions in mixed populations of Elymus species in the Southern Urals. This process is based on periodic spontaneous hybridization with subsequent interspecific introgression. According to the specificity of ISSR profiles, the endemic species E. uralensis showed no relationship with the Siberian group of E. komarovii – E. transbaicalensis – E. margaritae species. The objective was to identify reproductive compatibility between the species E. uralensis, E. viridiglumis, E. mutabilis, and E. caninus of the Southern Urals, to trace the dynamics of seed fertility and recombination of diagnostic traits in hybrids in the F1–F3 generations. In seven crossbreeding combinations, F1 hybrids were created that produced full grains. This fact indicates the absence of strict reproductive isolation of E. uralensis from other species growing together with it. Modeling the introgression process under experimental conditions showed the possibility of stabilizing the seed fertility of hybrids in subsequent generations. As a result of hybridization, a set of recombinant morphotypes was formed that combined trait of different species. Based on the analysis of hybrid segregation by marker traits, it is possible to assume the origin of the species E. uralensis and E. viridiglumis of the Southern Urals with the participation of local ancestral biotypes E. caninus and E. mutabilis.

In Siberian decorative gardening, random bird cherry seedlings are used. To date, bird cherry has not been widely distributed in Russia due to the high height of the bush and insufficient fruit weight. Meanwhile, plants with different decorative characteristics are found inside each species. Obtaining decorative varieties gives us the opportunity to have highly decorative plants with known characteristics in urban plantings. The research was carried out in 2010—2023 at the introduction plot of the Laboratory for Food Plants Introduction of the CSBS SB RAS (Novosibirsk). Our research has shown the wide intraspecific variability of these species in many decorative features and the prospects for creating new highly decorative varieties based on them through intraspecific breeding and interspecific hybridization. Special attention is paid to samples with a restrained kind of crown growth. Three samples were identified: ‘Rozovaya Mechta’, the selected form ‘14-6-53’ and the selected form of the common bird cherry for further work in breeding with the involvement of these forms with traits of stunting, compactness and abundance of fruiting.

We represent a comparative analysis of GBSS1 gene fragment sequences for a number of species related to Elymus caninus: Elymus prokudinii, Elymus viridiglumis, Elymus goloskokovii, as well as a number of morphologically deviating biotypes, inhabiting Russia and Kazakhstan. Microevolutionary relationships between species were assessed from dendrograms derived from sequences of exons and introns. In all taxa, the St subgenome was represented by St₂ variants, rather typical of the North American ancestral line of Pseudoroegneria spicata than of the Asian line descending from Pseudoroegneria strigosa. All putative relatives of E. caninus had H₁ subgenome variants linked around the Asian diploid carrier of the H genome from Hordeum jubatum and were divided into two subclades. One of them (H_1‐1) contained most of the closely related E. caninus clones, including Elymus uralensis. Another subclade (H_1‐2) consisted of five variants phylogenetically related to Elymus mutabilis. We have also studied reproductive relationships between species E. goloskokovii, E. prokudinii, and E. viridiglumis and the degree of their integration into the E. caninus complex. Biotypes included in sexual hybridization formed a single recombination gene pool, within which slight differences in reproductive compatibility were observed. A comprehensive study of microevolutionary differentiation of taxa showed the expediency of taxonomic revision. The species mentioned should probably be relegated to the infraspecific rank within E. caninus s. l.

Determination of chemotypes and of their role in the polymorphism of populations is an important field in the research on secondary metabolites of plants. In the present study, by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, the composition of bark extracts from rowan S. aucuparia subsp. sibirica was determined for 16 trees growing within Akademgorodok of Novosibirsk, with bark samples collected both in winter and summer. Among 101 fully or partially identified metabolites, there are alkanes, alkenes, linear alcohols, fatty acids and their derivatives, phenols and their derivatives, prunasin and its parent and derivative compounds, polyprenes and their derivatives, cyclic diterpenes, and phytosterols. These compounds were grouped according to their biosynthesis pathways. Cluster analysis revealed two groups among the bark samples collected in winter and three groups among bark samples collected in summer. The key determinants of this clustering are the biosynthesis of metabolites via the cyanogenic pathway (especially potentially toxic prunasin) and their formation via the phytosterol pathway (especially potentially pharmacologically useful lupeol). It follows from the results that the presence of chemotypes having sharply different profiles of metabolites in a population from a small geographic area invalidates the practice of general sampling to obtain averaged data when a population is described. From the standpoint of possible industrial use or plant selection based on metabolomic data, it is possible to select specific sets of samples containing a minimal amount of potentially toxic compounds and the largest amount of potentially useful substances.

To optimize protocol for obtaining hairy roots of Nitraria schoberi L. with high antiviral activities, factors such as four strain types of Agrobacterium rhizogenes (A4, ATCC15834, R-1601, 8196), two explant types, namely cotyledonous and primary leaves of seedlings, and different cultivation durations (30 and 90 d) were studied. The formation of hairy roots was observed after 2 to 4 wk of incubation, depending on the type of explant and the strain of A. rhizogenes used. The maximum transformation frequency (85.7%) was observed in the cotyledons genetically modified with the strain ATCC15834. The transgenic nature of hairy roots was revealed by PCR with primers to the Agrobacterium oncogenes rolB and rolC. The absence of contamination of the culture by A. rhizogenes was confirmed by primers to the virC and virD1 genes. Phytochemical analysis showed that accumulation of individual metabolites in the line samples exceeded their levels in the native Nitraria roots. Catechin content in the cultures of long-term cultivation (90 d) was found 1.4 to 2.2 times higher than the same samples of short cultivation (30 d) and 4.8 to 10.8 times higher in comparison with the native roots. The most productive in terms of catechin level were hairy roots of long-term cultivation obtained during the transformation of primary leaves of N. schoberi seedlings with ATCC15834 strain. These data were consistent with the highest antiviral activities against influenza viruses of A (H5N1) and A (H3N2) subtypes with neutralization indexes 6.5 to 6.75 log10, and selectivity index values were in the range 15.4 to 16.4.

The most serious problem of intergeneric and interspecific hybridization is related to overcoming the reproductive isolation of different species. We assessed the efficiency of reproduction under in vitro conditions and the ex vitro growth capacity of interspecific hybrids of Vaccinium uliginosum × (V. corymbosum × V. angustifolium). The percentage of seed germination in in vitro culture was 88% for V. uliginosum, form No. 8 × (V. corymbosum × V. angustifolium), SC5-8, while it was 42% for V. uliginosum, form No. 8 × (V. corymbosum × V. angustifolium), ‘Northcountry’. The analysis of mean value showed that the multiplication rate increased and the shoot height decreased as the 2-isopentenyl adenine (2iP) concentration was increased in the nutrient medium of the studied hybrids. The maximum rate was achieved using 15 μM 2iP. A detailed analysis of the hybrids indicated that the hybrid variant reliably affected growth and development indicators. Inter simple sequence repeat analysis demonstrated that all analyzed hybrids inherited DNA fragments of the parent plants in various combinations, confirming their hybrid nature. Thus, the use of in vitro methods for the propagation and further selection of genotypes is demonstrated as being an effective approach for developing interspecific hybrids of V. uliginosum × (V. corymbosum × V. angustifolium).