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In 2009–2016 in the field experiments resistance to Fusarium head blight of 142 varieties of winter wheat and 53 varieties of spring wheat was evaluated. Wheat heads were inoculated with Fusarium culmorum isolates Due to the large diversity of medium severity of Fusarium head blight in subsequent years, the values of the Fusarium head blight indexes in different years were standardized. With the standardized value, averages for individual varieties were calculated. Among winter wheat varieties, the highest resistance to Fusarium head blight showed resistant check varieties and varieties ‘Fregata’, ‘Olivin’, ‘Petrus’, ‘Turnia’, ‘Nateja’, ‘Piko’ and ‘Dorota’. The most susceptible to Fusarium head blight were varieties: ‘Muszelka’, ‘Rapsodia’, ‘Kris’, ‘Kampana’, ‘Bagou’, ‘Belenus’, ‘Alcazar’, ‘Torrild’, ‘Banderola’ and ‘Forkida’. Among the varieties of spring wheat, the highest resistance to Fusarium head blight also showed resistant check varieties and varieties ‘Pasteur’, ;Jasna’, ‘Histra’, ‘Raweta’, ‘Izera’. The most susceptible were varieties of durum wheat: ‘SMH 87’, and ‘Strongfield’ and bread wheat ‘Banti’, ‘Nawra’, ‘Griwa’, ‘Radocha’, ‘Cytra’ and ‘Helia’.

The effect of pre-chilling on germination capacity of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was investigated. The kernels of five varieties with various Fusarium infection were tested. Germination capacity after 3,5 and 7 days of pre-chilling and without pre-chilling were examined. The analyses were conducted according to procedures in ISTA Rules. The highest germination capacity was obtained after 3 days of pre-chilling, and the lowest in variant without pre-chilling. The share of abnormal seedling and dead seeds was the highest in the variant with 3 days of pre-chilling and the lowest in the variant without pre-chilling.

Modern cereal crops breeding takes place under great pressure of time. Therefore, greenhouses are used to accelerate the breeding process which, in our latitude, requires lighting. The idea of using LEDs in greenhouses is becoming popular in horticulture due to LEDs physical properties, which allow on reduction of electricity consumption and on precise adjustment of the light spectrum to the requirements of cultivated plants. The usage of LED lightings in cereal breeding is a novelty. This article presents results obtained using the LED illuminator, based on white light emitting diodes in comparison to the high pressure sodium lamp (HPS) and a daylight. It has been shown that the LED illuminator can be used as a light source in greenhouses designed for cereals breeding. The seedlings elongation growth and number of days to heading were comparable between plants grown under HPS and LEDs and were greater in acceptable rate than results obtained for plants grown under summer daylight.

A collection of 106 genotypes of winter triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) was evaluated for resistance to Fusarium head blight caused by Fusarium culmorum and for toxin accumulation in grain. The inoculation tests were carried out in two locations. Fusarium head blight indexes (FHBi) describing combined type I and type II of resistance, the percentage of kernels with visible symptoms of Fusarium damage (FDK; type III of resistance) and the level of Fusarium toxins (type V of resistance) were evaluated. The content of the type B trichothecenes: deoxynivalenol (DON) and derivatives, nivalenol (NIV) and zearalenone (ZEN) in grain was analyzed. Moreover, the amount of ergosterol was evaluated to measure the level of Fusarium mycelium in grain. The FHB indexes were similar in both locations and on average amounted to 18.2%. The percentage of FDK varied for individual triticale genotypes. The average FDK was 29.5% (FDK weight) and 37.6% (FDK number). Regarding the FDK of respective genotypes, a significant level of correlation between locations was found. There was a lack of correlation between FHBi and FDK in Poznań, and in Radzików, a very weak, but significant correlation between FHBi and FDK was observed. The content of Fusarium toxins in the grain was very high. The average of DON content for both locations was 8.649 mg/kg. The average content of NIV was also high and amounted to 5.839 mg/kg. The average content of zearalenone was 1.382 mg/kg. High correlation coefficient for DON and FDK was found. Correlation coefficients between ergosterol and FDK, as well as, among ergosterol and sum of type B trichothecenes in grain were significant. The principal component analysis revealed six triticale genotypes combining a high level of resistance of different types.

The paper discusses the results of the breeding program for a new generation of paternal components of rye hybrid varieties with full capacity to restore male fertility in the Pampa cytoplasm. Plant material involved S2 and S3 inbred lines, male parents (restorer synthetics), test hybrids and experimental hybrids derived from the current breeding program in Smolice Plant Breeding Ltd. The S2 and S3 inbred lines were developed from new breeding populations including donors of restorer genes with different origins (R-pol, R-tur, R-ir). The inbred lines and the male parents were crossed to the same hard-restoration tester (CMS-Tt) under isolation bags, between isolation walls and in foil tunnels. The level of male fertility of test hybrids was assessed in two growing conditions (foil tunnel, field) by pollen shedding visual scores of plant plots and/or by anther dehiscence visual scores of single plants with a 1–9 scale. The restoration indices (RI%) were calculated according to the formula: RI = % of male fertile (%mf) plants + 1/2% of partially male fertile plants (%pmf). Moreover, frequency of full (IR>70%) and partial (IR=50–70%) restorers was determined among genotype groups from particular stages of the program. In the years 2014–2017, a considerable progress was achieved in the improvement of male fertility restoring ability in the Pampa cytoplasm compared to the previous period (data 2013). Majority of the newly developed inbred lines and created male parents were highly effective in restoration of male fertility in the Pampa cytoplasm. High frequency of full restorers was found in each group of genotypes. Several genotypes were able to restore completely pollen fertility (IR = 100%) of their hybrids with various male sterile lines cultivated in both growing conditions — foil tunnel and field. Very effective restorers directly could be used for creation of Pampa-based rye hybrids with improved male fertility. In addition, the best of them should be also utilized as restoring gene donors in breeding programe of rye hybrids.

The main goal of plant breeder is to submit the new experimental varieties to the registration center. Hodowla Roślin Smolice Sp. z o.o. Grupa IHAR each year submits from a dozen to several dozen of new varieties of maize to registration trials COBORU. Preliminary trials are the highest stage of experiments within HR Smolice. The material consisted 789 new experimental hybrids of maize from HR Smolice (SMH varieties) tested in 2006–2016. 532 of those hybrids were tested for grain and 257 hybrids were tested for whole-plant silage. The experiments were carried out in five localities: Smolice, Dłoń (Wielkopolskie Voivodeship), Radzików (Mazowieckie Voivodeship), Kobierzyce (Dolnośląskie Voivodeship) and Mikulice (Podkarpackie Voivodeship). The average yield of SMH hybrids from 10 years of experimentation was 11.8 t∙ha-1, with an average yield of three standard hybrids 11.4 t∙ha-1. In the case of dry matter content in the grain, SMH varieties obtained on average 73.4% and standard varieties 74.0%. The average dry matter yield of SMH varieties in the silage experiments was 22.4 t∙ha-1 with average yield of standard varieties of 21.7 t∙ha-1. The average dry matter content in total plants at harvest was 35.7% for SMH varieties and 36.7% for standard varieties.

The poppy (Papaver somniferum) is a very sensitive crop, suffering from specific types of abiotic and biotic damage. Herbicides, soil conditions, weather and their combination are frequent causes of abiotic damage. Specific type of herbicide deformation is spiral stem. Damage caused by sequence of registered herbicides is also known. Massive solidification of the soil can cause fat growth of root neck or beet deformation of roots. Seedless capsules as a specific poppy damage that is caused by the influence of stress factors (herbicides, soil conditions, high amount of plant chemicals) at elongation growth phase, followed by inappropriate weather at the blossom time. Atypical biotic damage can be caused by diseases Fusarium sp., Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Botryotinia fuckeliana or bacterial infection. Visual symptoms of fusarial infection (orange colored plant parts or pinkish mycelium) occur only rarely. The often-detected traces of fusariotoxins in the seeds suggest, that the hidden infection of poppy by Fusarium is also possible. Sporadically, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Botryotinia fuckeliana can infect stems and capsules too. Lower intensity of bacterial infection (Erwinia carotovora ssp. carotovora) causes the black colored stem basis and root neck. Verticillium sp. causes similar symptoms and so these infections can confused for each other. If the pest damage is unusual, is questionable, because papaver stem midge (Timaspis papaveris) occurs commonly, but this pest is not too well known. The poppy capsule weevil (Neoglocianus maculaalba) is well known in the warmest growth areas and it is now extending to the colder areas too. Hares and roes cause specific biotic damage, when they eat only the buds in the elongation growth stage

The dependence of yield of winter wheat lines on frost resistance and winter hardiness was studied. Frost resistance of 159 winter wheat lines was investigated in the frost laboratory in Plant Breeding Station at Smolice. Winter hardiness was investigated in field experiments in the 2015/2016 year, with 2 levels of agricultural technology: A2 — full and A1-simplified. Field tests were conducted in 10 locations in different soil and climatic conditions. Winter wheat objects proved to be strongly differentiated in terms of frost resistance and winter hardiness: from 0% to 89% of surviving plants in chambers and in the field conditions: from score 1 (100% dead) to 8 (90% living seedlings). There was a positive correlation between winter hardiness and frost resistance (r = 0.582), and between grain yield and winter hardiness A2 (r = 0.810), and A1 (r = 0.766). There was no significant effect of winter hardiness and frost resistance on the yield under conditions suitable for good overwintering. There was a tendency for lower yielding varieties with high winter hardiness and frost resistance. Indirect evaluation of frost resistance can successfully replace a direct assessment of the field winter hardiness.

Drought is an important limiting factor for crop yield improvement. Therefore, there is a need for more emphasis on selection of breeding material suited for conditions with frequent water deficits. In 2013–2015 field experiments were conducted for selected spring wheat genotypes from CIMMYT (with increased tolerance to drought stress) and varieties from the Polish register: Harendra, Hewilla, Izera, Ostka Smolicka, Torridon, Trappe and Tybalt. Based on the results obtained from the experiments, the mean yield of the years and the phenotypic correlation coefficients between the yield and the functional characteristics were calculated. Negative correlation of yield with heading time was observed. Also negative correlations with yields were found for protein and gluten content and sedimentation. The 2-year average for the yield ranged from 69.7 dt / ha to 107.3 dt / ha. Several lines from CIMMYT yielded at the level of domestic varieties. The CIMMYT lines were characterized by a higher weight of 1000 grains, more favorable initial technological evaluation and a better resistance to fungal diseases.

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of inoculation with Fusarium fungi on the content of beta-sitosterol in wheat grain. Thirty varieties of winter wheat cultivated under the same agronomic and climatic conditions were tested in two experimental variants. The first of these was a control trial growing without interference, while the second variant was an inoculation experiment with fungal spores of the genus Fusarium. Beta-sitosterol, the most important among the endogenous sterols of plants, was analyzed after microwave assisted saponification and pentane extraction with UPLC with DAD detector. Based on the results of the chemical analyzes, significant differences in sterol contents between control and inoculated samples as well as between varieties were found. The mean concentration of beta-sitosterol in the control samples was 433.51 mg/kg, whereas in the inoculated samples it was significantly lower and was 340.88 mg/kg. This study clearly indicates that the mechanism of metabolism of plant sterols presented in the literature for the other microorganisms is similar to that of Fusarium species.

Abilities to restore male fertility in the Pampa cytoplasm were studied for numerous rye genotypes in the years 2013–2016. Plant material involved S2 and S3 inbred lines, male parents (restorer synthetics) and their test hybrids derived from the current breeding program in Smolice Plant Breeding Ltd. The S2 and S3 inbred lines were developed from new breeding populations including donors of restorer genes with different origins (R-pol, R-pop, R-tur). The inbred lines and the male parents were crossed to the same hard-restoration tester (CMS-Tt) under isolation bags, between isolation walls and in foil tunnels. The level of male fertility of tested hybrids was assessed in two growing conditions (foil tunnel, field) by pollen shedding visual scores of plant plots and/or by anther dehiscence visual scores of single plants with a 1–9 scale. The restoration indices (RI%) were calculated according to the formula: RI = % of male fertile (%mf) plants + 1/2% of partially male fertile plants (%pmf). In the years 2013–2016, a considerable progress was achieved in the improvement of male fertility restoring ability in the Pampa cytoplasm compared to the previous period 2009–2013. Majority of the newly developed inbred lines and created male parents were highly effective in restoration of male fertility in the Pampa cytoplasm. High frequency of effective restorers (IR>70%) and full restorers was found in each group of genotypes. Several genotypes with different origins were able to restore completely pollen fertility (IR = 100%) of their test hybrids cultivated in both growing conditions — foil tunnel and field. Very effective restorers directly could be used for creation of Pampa-based rye hybrids with improved male fertility. In addition, the best of them should be also utilized as restoring gene donors in breeding programe of rye hybrids.

Leaf rust caused by fungus Puccinia hordei has a great economic importance. Bulbous barley grass (Hordeum bulbosum L.), is the member of the secondary barley genepool. In the presented study, 26 recombinant lines obtained from crosses of barley cultivars of H. vulgare and H. bulbosum were tested with 8 differential isolates of leaf rust. Based on screening tests it was concluded that resistance to leaf rust was present in 22 from total 26 recombinant lines. Outstanding resistance to leaf rust was identified in 7 lines. These lines showed resistance reaction 0 for inoculation with all isolates used. However, based on resistance reaction we concluded that 9 lines may have had more than one resistance gene because they expressed different resistance reactions. For 2 lines we postulated presence of one or more resistance genes expressed as resistance reaction 2. In addition, expression of resistance reaction 2 is showing also a possibility for the presence in these lines of some level of partial resistance. Barley cultivars used as parents showed lack of resistance. It confirms that resistance loci present in tested recombinant lines originated from H. bulbosum parents. Based on results it may be concluded that leaf rust resistance identified in recombinant lines may represent new unique type of resistance. Hybrid lines with identified resistance to leaf rust originating from H. bulbosum can be used in breeding programmes to provide farmers with cultivars with highly effective resistance to this disease.

The objective of the study was to assess the yielding stability of potato cultivars in Poland using post-registration experiments. The trials of 9 medium early potato cultivars were set up in three locations on light soils during three growing seasons. Analysis demonstrated a significant cultivar × year interaction and cultivar × environment interaction, environments being combinations of years and locations. By contrast, there was no cultivar × location interaction. Analysis of the structure of cultivar × year interaction and cultivar × environment interaction was performed. It was found that cv Tajfun did not interact with the environment. Ametyst, which is an intensive and predictable cultivar, produced yields which were higher than the environmental mean.

Pyramiding of the resistance genes against P. infestans enhances effectiveness and durability of resistance used in potato breeding programs. The aim of presented study was to combine two broad-spectrum resistance genes against P. infestans. The resistance donors cultivar Bzura (possessing R2-like gene) and potato clone 04-IX-21 (possessing Rpi-phu1 gene) were crossed, and unselected progeny was developed. The resistance of progeny clones was tested in three consecutive years in detached leaflet tests with the use of three groups of isolates different in terms of virulence profiles. Based on the results of phenotypical tests, a group of progeny clones combining both resistance genes were selected. Since phenotypical tests are very laborious and time-consuming, authors proposed selection of such clones with the use of DNA markers specific for these genes. Results of genotyping were fully consistent with phenotypic tests, which confirms that proposed DNA markers can be used for selection of resistant clones in breeding programs.

The aim of research was to explain mode of inheritance of the alfalfa spontaneous mutation that causes the formation of inflorescence on the stem top of the forms with long racemes, thus leading to termination of the plant growth. The inheritance of this character was studied in S1 and S2 progenies obtained by selfing a mutant plant, as well as in F1, F2 and F3 generations of hybrids obtained by crossing indeterminate plants with S2 mutant progenies. The analysis of segregation in the selfed progenies of the mutant plants and in F1 – F3 progenies of the hybrids showed that the determinate growth character is controlled by a single gene in the configuration of four recessive alleles ti ti ti ti (ti — top inflorescence).

The activity of abscission zone (AZ) determines the separation of organs from plant body. In L. luteus floral AZ develops at the base of the pedicel. Changes observed at the cellular level are correlated with fluctuations in BLADE-ON-PETIOLE (LlBOP) expression. The mRNA content of this gene is regulated by phytohormonal stimulators of flower separation — ethylene (ET) and abscisic acid (ABA) — suggesting that LlBOP is involved not only in the AZ differentiation, but also further stages of its functioning. Abscisic acid causing an accumulation of transcripts of genes, encoding ethylene biosynthesis enzymes (synthase and oxidase of 1-aminocyclopropano-1carboxylic acid, ACC), and at the same time increasing the level of ethylene precursor, indirectly regulates the time of flower separation in L. luteus.

In years 2012–2015 we studied the possibility of using selected species and hybrids of willow for biological reclamation of soilless lands of post-flotation lime covering the post-exploitation area of “Jeziórko” Sulfur Mine enriched with sewage sludge. Covering of sulfur bore-hole post-exploitation area with post-flotation lime and fertilization with sewage sludge created the conditions for willow vegetation and soil formation. Tested species and hybrids of willow showed differences in survival (rooting rate of plantings) and plant height, indicating the possibility for the use of some forms to biological reclamation of the area. In terms of survival and vigor of growth, osier willow IBL-8 and almond willow proved to be most suitable for planting on the land. Introduction to the reclamation of willows along with the brought sewage sludge influenced the rapid growth of organic carbon (TOC) in the lime soil, as well as assimilable phosphorus, but potassium and magnesium increase was smaller. We found too high content of calcium, slight exceeding of potassium content and too low magnesium in the plant material (shoots) collected from the willow plants. The contents of all of heavy metals in the experimental soil did not exceed acceptable levels, while the content of Fe, Mn, Cd and Zn in the shoots of willow exceeded the acceptable limit values.

During the SSD (Single Seed Descent) process of cereal breeding unripe kernels are often collected to shorten breeding cycles. Present studies were undertaken to check whether the germination of kernels harvested on the 23rd day after pollination from plants grown in a greenhouse is influenced: 1) by different light spectra used during cereal cultivation in the greenhouse and 2) by different single light bands used during seed drying. The materials for studies consisted of 2 spring wheat cultivars: Harenda and Tybalt. The plants were grown in a shadowed greenhouse with controlled temperature (22 ± 3°C) and humidity (80% ± 5%) and illuminated by HPS lamp (control) and two types of LED illuminators: based on blue and red LEDs and based on white LEDs. The ears were harvested on 23rd day after flowering, according to the methodology used in field experiments. The threshed kernels were placed under monochromatic light sources (blue, green and red), dried for a period of 10 days at 25°C and then germinated. The germination index (GI), the total number of germinated kernels and the number of kernels that did not germinate and became infected by fungal diseases during the experiment, were counted. It was found that lightening of seeds during drying improved the germination index and total number of germinated seeds. The green light induced the most uniform germination (≥ 70%) independently from the light used during wheat growth, while the blue light (Royal Blue) improved germination of seeds taken from plants cultivated under LED illuminator based on blue and red diodes. Obtained results confirmed that it was possible to find LED illuminator better than standard HPS lamp for cereal cultivation and that lightening of the kernels during drying improved their germination. Standardization of procedures would be needed.

Resistance to Fusarium head blight of wheat breeding lines was tested under field conditions in IHAR-PIB Radzików and IGR PAN Poznań (experimental field in Cerekwica). Heads were inoculated with isolates of Fusarium culmorum. Resistance to Fusarium head blight (resistance type I + II) of most of the lines from the collection of resistant forms was confirmed. High correlation coefficients (0.775–0.613) of FHB indexes for the genotypes tested in 2014–2016 were found. There was no significant relationship between resistance type I and type II. These resistances poorly correlated with the FHB indexes in field experiments, higher correlation coefficients were found for FHB indexes vs average resistance of both types. The tested lines showed varied resistance to the Fusarium kernel damage (type III). The FHB index significantly correlated with kernel damage. Fusarium head blight caused a reduction in yield of grain from head (type IV). A significant correlation of FHB index and kernel damage to grain yield reduction was found. Lines combining the types of resistance I + II, III and IV were identified. The tested lines showed varied resistance to the accumulation of Fusarium toxins (trichothecenes B and zearalenone) in the grain (type V). Wheat lines showing resistance of type V were identified. FHB index, Fusarium kernel damage and ergosterol content (measure of mycelium content in the grain) correlated highly significantly with the contents of the trichothecenes B in the grain. Correlation of FHB index, kernel damage and ergosterol content was weaker for zearalenone. Lines combining increased resistance of all studied types were identified.

Bread-making quality traits are very important parameters in wheat improvement. Gluten regulates viscoelastic properties of dough i.e. elasticity and extensibility. We examined high molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GS) and ω-gliadins from breeding stocks and cultivars of winter and spring wheat, provided by three Polish breeding companies: HR Danko, HR Smolice and HR Strzelce. Proteins were separated on polyacrylamide gels using SDS-PAGE and A-PAGE methods. Among examined objects the most frequently represented (about 45%) subunit was Glu- B1(7+9). Subunits Glu-D1(5+10) and Glu-D1(2+12) were represented equally in all pools. The results provide the information about HMW-GS and ω-gliadins frequencies and diversity of the breeding lines in breeding companies.

Fusarium head blight (FHB), caused by the fungal plant pathogen Fusarium is one of the main biotic stresses in cereals, including barley. Spike infection occurs during and just after flowering, and may result in yield loss, both quantitative and qualitative. Moreover, the accumulation of the mycotoxins in the infected grain is harmful to humans and animals. The aim of the study was to examine the variation in the resistance to FHB of SSD lines of spring barley. The evaluation of susceptibility of the investigated lines to FHB was carried out in two variants: under natural conditions and after inoculation with Fusarium. The proportions of infected spikelets in the spike and infected spikes on the plot were observed, and kernels of the harvested samples were visually scored to determine Fusarium-damaged kernel proportion. The deoxynivalenol content (DON) in grains was assessed by a quantitative immunoenzymatic assay. It was found that an increase of grain infection did not always result in the increased DON accumulation. In addition, the study has allowed identifying barley lines without any visual symptoms of FHB on spikes, which grain showed DON content.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the variability of measured traits by the characteristics of the studied lines and varieties of spring barley. The research material was the lines of spring barley cultivated in the HR Smolice Breeding company, branch Bąków. These objects were tested in 2 series of experiments in 6 localities (Bąków, Nagradowice, Polanowice, Radzików, Smolice and Strzelce). Field and laboratory results were the basis for statistical analyses. The analysis of variance in crosshierarchical model was used for the analysis of the diversity of the studied material in terms of yield, plant height, susceptibility to lodging and diseases. The BWLUE estimators were used to evaluate the effects of the studied varieties and families. The self-organizing Kohonen neural network was used to develop the multi-character characteristics of the studied lines and varieties. The one-way analysis of variance for the yields obtained in the two series of experiments allowed us to conclude that in both series there were differences in the average yields obtained at each location. There was also a significant difference in average yields for the examined lines and varieties. Interaction between lines and varieties and locations was also statistically significant.

Winter triticale is one of the most widely cultivated cereals in Poland (1 302 thousand hectares in 2015). Its yield increases, while the observed yield variation between vegetation seasons is also increasing. Due to the limitation of improvement of crop yields of triticale by agrotechnical methods, cultivar selection and shape of the yield response of the cultivar to varying growing conditions is becoming increasingly important. The aim of the study was to evaluate the stability and adaptation of the main winter triticale cultivars grown between years 1992 and 2016 on farms in Poland. The data from survey investigation were used for the study. The stability analysis was based on the mixed ANOVA model of Scheffé-Caliński and the Caliński-Kaczmarek joint regression model. The following measures were used to assess the adaptation of varieties: the superiority of yielding i-th cultivar Pi, the measure of the yield advantage of the i-th cultivar Ri (the so-called Eskridge measure) and the Kang YSi measure.