All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Soybean

Abstract Sugar beet production demands sustainable intensification approaches to enhance both yield and quality. This study examined the effects of foliar nano-ammonium nitrate (NH 4 NO 3 ) applications on five sugar beet cultivars – JAMPOL, BTS 9830, DEL 1135, ASEEL and Raspoly – over two growing seasons in Egypt’s Nile Delta, using a split-plot randomized complete block design. Three nano-NH 4 NO 3 concentrations (0, 50 and 100 ppm) were sprayed twice each season to assess impacts on growth, yield and quality parameters. The results indicated limited influence of treatments on primary yield metrics; taproot yields remained unaffected across all cultivars and seasons. Nonetheless, the 50 ppm treatment preserved optimal sugar quality, with sucrose content reaching 19.4 %, compared to 18 % in the controls. Carotenoid levels increased by 12 % under the 100 ppm treatment, reflecting enhanced nutritional quality. Among cultivars, ASEEL yielded the best results with taproot outputs of 34 t/ha and sugar yields of 6.1 t/ha under optimal conditions, demonstrating significant cultivar-dependent variation. Multivariate analysis revealed distinct response patterns among cultivars and treatments, with three-way interactions (Season × Cultivar × Nanoparticle) affecting several traits. Clustering identified four trait groups and three treatment clusters, highlighting sugar beet’s complex response to nanoparticles. Economic analysis shows limited benefits, with no significant increase in taproot yield, despite a rise in secondary metabolites. While nano-NH 4 NO 3 can modify biochemical parameters, the lack of yield improvements casts doubt on its economic feasibility. Cultivar choice primarily influences sugar beet performance, with environmental conditions also affecting treatment efficacy.

The effect of herbicides (active ingredients cycloxydim and bentazone) and a natural product (based on seaweed extract) on the biochemical composition of soybean seeds and the productivity of the plants were investigated. Seeds and plants of mid-season soybean cv. Nevesta developed by Russian Research Institute of Soybean were studied. The experiments were conducted on the experimental field of Russian Research Institute of Soybean, Sadovoe village (Tambov District, Amur Region) in 20212023. The test plot was 11.25 m2, there were four replicates, the arrangement of samples was randomized. The treatment of soybean crops was carried out in the phase of first triple leaf with herbicides: Bison (a. i. bentazone) at a dose of 1.5 L/ha and Stratos Ultra (a. i. cycloxydim) at a dose of 1 L/ha; and BioAlgo bioproduct at a dose of 5 ml/ha. It was found that the combined use of BioAlgo and herbicides had a positive effect on formation of soybean plant productivity. The survival rate increased by 3 % in the variant where vegetative plants were treated with herbicides and bioproduct compared to the control, and by 6 % compared to herbicidal treatment. The number of beans per plant increased by 3.8 beans (LSD05 = 3.4), number of seeds per plant increased by 10.1 seeds (LSD05 = 7.2) and seed weight per plant increased by 1.66 g (LSD05 = 1.33) in the variant with the treatment of vegetative plants compared with the control. At the same time, soybean yield in the variants ranged from 2.15 (treatment of vegetative plants with herbicides) and 2.79 t/ha (treatment of vegetative plants with bioproduct and herbicides), in the control this indicator was 2.10 t/ha. The content of total protein and fat in Nevesta soybean seeds increased by 2.32 and 1.07 %, respectively, compared to the control.

The wild soybean Glycine soja Sieb. et Zucc. is an ancestor of the cultivated soybean Glycine max (L.) Merr. and a source of many valuable genes missing in the G. max genome, including genes that determine stress resistance to adverse environmental factors. Biochemical parameters (protein, oil, ascorbic acid, carotene, higher fatty acids, and specific activities and multiple forms of enzymes of the oxidoreductase and hydrolase classes) were studied in five G. soja accessions from the collection of the All-Russian Institute of Soybean (КА-1413, КА-342, КBl-29, КBl-24, and Kеl-72). The accessions provide unique natural gene banks. Wild seeds were collected in three districts (Arkharinskii, Blagoveshchensk, and Belogorskii) of Amur Oblast. Based on superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), ribonuclease (RNase), acid phosphatase, esterase, and amylase (AML) activities and biochemical parameters of seeds, the G. soja accession KA-1413 was found to have higher contents of protein, oleic acid, and linolenic acid; a lower polyphenol oxidase specific activity; and higher activities of SODs, esterases, and RNases. The accession KA-1413 was therefore recommended to use as a source of dominant genes in breeding to increase the adaptive potential of new soybean varieties. A higher heterogeneity of multiple forms was observed for SOD, AML, RNase, and esterase, which can provide markers of adaptation to environmental conditions.

Relevance. Microorganisms that stimulate plant growth (PGPB), including rhizobia, improve plant productivity through various physiological, molecular and biochemical effects. Of the above factors, the role of vitamins has been studied to a lesser extent. For assessing the ability of rhizobia to produce vitamins В9 и В12, Sinorhizobium fredii strains were selected, which represent a homogeneous group and had good and abundant biomass growth on various nutrient media. Methods. The cultural and physiological properties of the strains were studied using generally accepted laboratory microbiological methods. Passages of collection strains of rhizobia and the study of various properties of these bacteria were carried out on nutrient media MDA and MRS, and on production nutrient media RM and TY produced by HIMEDIA company (India). Determination of the sensitivity of S. fredii strains to antibiotics was carried out using the disc diffusion method. The content of vitamins B9 and B12 in the bacterial mass of rhizobia was determined by the chemiluminescent immune method with the use of paramagnetic particles, and by applying immunochemical Access systems, on the chemiluminescence analyzer Access2. Results. It was found that the studied strains S. fredii have good or abundant growth of bacterial mass on nutrient media MRS, MDA, RM and TY. They are catalase-positive, have high and medium resistance to antibiotics. The highest concentration of vitamin B9 in biomass was synthesized by strains SB-39 (75.0 pg/ml), BB-49 (66.6 pg/ml) and TB-488 (48.9 pg/ml), and vitamin B12 — by strains BB-49 and SB-39 (1500 pg/ml).

In increasing soybean production, an important role is given to reducing indirect losses from grain crushing, which adversely affect the quality of seeds, especially when harvesting and processing crops. The impossibility of achieving the optimal mode of operation of the combine at soybean harvesting is due to the peculiarity of the physical and mechanical properties of soybeans. The purpose of the research is to increase the efficiency of the soybean grain harvesting technology based on the development of adapting devices to the combine to obtain the maximum yield of the first fraction of high-quality seeds, followed by their use in sowing without part-time processing (except for pre-sowing etching). The studies were carried out using the modernized Yenisei-1200 combine during the harvesting period 2021-2022 on the experimental field of the Federal State Budgetary Institution of the Federal Research Center of the All-Russian Research Institute of Soybeans. Modernization of the combine makes it possible to collect 60% of high-quality soybean seeds with a low content of weed impurity in a separate section of its bunker. Ripened soybean seeds are soaked in soft modes of operation of the first threshing drum, a separate collection of which increases field germination and biological yield of the first seed fraction. Application of sieves of upper sieve mill of combine harvester cleaning with increased length of blinds petals up to 70 mm together with increased air flow ensures purity of seeds of the first fraction at the level of the first class of sowing standard. Mechanical damage to soybean seeds of the first fraction, which is 4.2%, does not exceed the established standard for crushing and microdepositing combines (5%). The use of seeds of the first fraction in sowing without additional processing reduces the indirect losses of soybeans and, accordingly, the costs of seed production.Ripened soybean seeds are soaked in soft modes of operation of the first threshing drum, a separate collection of which increases field germination and biological yield of the first seed fraction. Application of sieves of upper sieve mill of combine harvester cleaning with increased length of louver petals up to 70 mm together with increased air flow ensures purity of seeds of the first fraction at the level of the first class of sowing standard. Mechanical damage to soybean seeds of the first fraction, which make 4.2%, does not exceed the established standard for crushing and micro damage combines (5%). Using the seeds of the first fraction in sowing without working, reduces indirect losses of soybeans and, accordingly, the costs of seed production.

In this paper, a hypothetical method for locating SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) on the example of the ribonuclease gene WIN was proposed. Ribonuclease comprises an enzyme that participates in defence reactions against fungal infections in soybeans, as well as other protective responses to biotic stress. Its belonging to the RNA-ases group determines the specific properties, namely the ability to degrade foreign nucleic acids. This ability provides for a general nonspecific immune response of the plant to the invasion of antigenic structures. Modern biotechnology calls for the development of molecular methods and approaches that will increase the resistance of a culture or accelerate the processes of its adaptation in the field. This problem can be solved by using technologies of SNP artificial induction in those parts of the genome that encode proteins capable of acting in protective reactions against biotic stress. In the study, 5 single-nucleotide polymorphisms were proposed using bioinformatic analysis. Since the localisation and detection of SNPs comprise a challenging task due to the presence of a single nucleotide change, in the biotechnological practice, predictive analysis is carried out in order to localise the potential sequence of occurring single-nucleotide polymorphism. Following the identification of the hypothetical SNP location, they can be further detected using complex molecular methods, such as real-time PCR or local sequencing. This technology can become a powerful tool for breeding soybean varieties having predetermined properties. Such theoretical and predictive models will allow for a quicker response to the dynamic environment under manmade load on plants.

Abstract—Wild soybean Glycine soja Sieb. Zucc., the wild ancestor of the cultivated soybean Glycine max (L.) Merr., is the source of many valuable genes missing in the genotype of cultivated soybean, including stress resistance to adverse environmental factors. The biochemical parameters (protein, oil, ascorbic acid, carotene, higher fatty acids, specific activity and multiple forms of enzymes of the oxidoreductase and hydrolase classes) of five forms of wild soybeans from the collection of the All-Russian Research Institute of Soybean, which are unique natural gene banks, were studied. The wild seeds were collected for in three districts of the Amur Region (Arkharinsky, Blagoveshchensk, Belogorsky) and grown on the crop rotation field. The obtained results of enzymatic activity (superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, ribonuclease, acid phosphatase, esterase and amylase) and biochemical parameters of the studied seeds of wild soybean forms allowed us to identify the form KA-1413 with high biochemical parameters (protein, oleic and linolenic acids), a low specific polyphenol oxidase activity, and an increased activity of superoxide dismutases, esterases and ribonucleases. Thus, the wild soybean form KA-1413 can be recommended as a source of dominant genes, which will help to increase the adaptive potential of new soybean varieties. The increased heterogeneity of multiple forms of SOD, AML, RNase and esterase in wild soybean seeds can be used as adaptation markers to environmental conditions.

Abstract Host plant-derived semiochemicals are becoming the most promising attractants to lure corn borers to traps in the field. Following success with the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis), a two-component blend bisexual lure (phenylacetaldehyde and 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethanol) of the host plant odor was tested in wind tunnel and field trapping experiments on the Asian corn borer (Ostrinia furnacalis) (ACB). To be able to compare the lure's performance with synthetic pheromone, a new route for the sex pheromone components (Z)-12-tetradecenyl acetate and (E)-12-tetradecenyl acetate was also developed, and the biological activity of the products was confirmed. The bisexual lure attracted both males and females of ACB in laboratory wind tunnel, and also in the field. Field trapping results indicated that traps with the bisexual lure attracted somewhat more ACB (both sexes) than pheromone baited traps, but this indication needs further confirmation. Traps baited with the bisexual lure may offer a new tool for monitoring ACB for practical purposes.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are becoming widespread in modern agriculture for data collection and measuring instruments for solving agriculture tasks such as field surveys and crop monitoring. Multispectral sensors and obtained spectral images make it possible to conduct an in-depth and high-precision analysis of the crops and fields. This study used vegetation indices (VIs) to determine vegetation status and chlorophyll activity in soybean plants. The authors' objective was to determine the difference in soybean vegetation between standard fertilizer and nitrogen controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) applications. This study aimed to make a correlation between soybean productivity (yield, grain mass, and plant height) of two soybean varieties and two indices normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and normalized difference red edge (NDRE), depending on the applied fertilizers. The research was carried out in an experimental field of the All-Russia Scientific Research Institute of Soybean, Amur Region, Russia. The analysis showed a significant increase in soybean development and a positive relation with vegetation indices on plots using N CRFs.