The study of the effectiveness of soft wheat seeds pre-sowing treatment with a continuous semiconductor laser (the wavelength of λ = 637 nm, the power density (Wp) of 2, 4, 8 W/m2, the duration of exposure of 5, 30, 60 seconds) is presented in the work. The maximal increase in the wheat yield, as well as in the growth of most morphometric indicators of its productivity, was recorded in the experimental variant during pre-sowing seed treatment with the laser with a maximum power density of 8 W/m2 and with the longest exposure time of 60 seconds. In addition, when seeds were irradiated with a laser with a maximum power density of 8 W/m2, a decrease in the development of a complex of especially dangerous pathogens (helminthosporiosis root rot, septoria-pyrenophorous spotting, yellow rust) was observed. In general, with an increase in the power density of laser radiation and in the time of its exposure to seeds, the growth of the maximum number of morphometric indicators of wheat productivity and a decrease in the intensity of disease affect were revealed.

This study explores the effectiveness of protein hydrolysates derived from by-products of farm animal processing. In previous research, we utilized protein hydrolysates with amino acids rich in glycine and with peptides of molecular weight ranging from 200 to 1000 Da. Subsequently, we modified the production process, resulting in a new hydrolysate from by-products of meat, chicken, and fish processing, with a molecular weight of 700,000 Da. During the period 2021–2022, we conducted a comparative analysis of protein hydrolysates of diverse nature, both independently and as components of multifunctional compositions with acrylic hydrogel. This analysis focused on their impact on productivity metrics and plant disease severity. Our experimental approach involved pre-soaking wheat seeds in the new protein hydrolysate before sowing while introducing acrylic hydrogel into the soil at rates of 6 g/m2 or 60 kg/ha. This regimen led to a remarkable increase in wheat yield (73.3% higher than the control group). The improvement was attributed to a boost in the field germination of wheat seeds by 21.9%, an elevation in plant height by 17.0%, an increment in the number of spikelets per spike by 7.8%, an enlargement of the pre-flag leaf area by 36.0%, and a reduction in the incidence of critical diseases such as brown rust (21.7%), yellow rust (28.3%), and root rot (5.6%). Our findings underscore the influence of hydrolysate molecular weight and the composition of acrylic hydrogels on their efficacy. Furthermore, these factors contribute to the economic viability of their application in wheat cultivation.

Работа посвящена биологическому обоснованию применения альтернативного инновационного физического способа предпосевной обработки семян с использованием электрического поля переменного высокого напряжения (ЭППН) для повышения продуктивности и устойчивости к особо опасным болезням мягкой пшеницы (Triticum aestivum L.), полбы (Triticum dicoccon (Schrank) Schuebl. subsp. nudicoccon Kobyl. et Smekal.) и тритикале (Triticosecale Wittm. exA. Camus). Семена обрабатывались ЭППН (напряженность Е = 0,5 кВ cм–1, длительность экспозиции – t = 20, 40, 60 сек) на оригинальной лабораторной установке, затем подвергались отлежке в течение четырех суток и на пятые сутки высевались в полевых условиях. Наибольшая продуктивность одного растения, а также потенциальная урожайность мягкой пшеницы и тритикале были зарегистрированы в вариантах опыта при обработке семян в ЭППН с минимальной длительностью экспозиции (t = 20 сек). Напротив, у полбы максимальный рост продуктивности был отмечен в варианте при обработке семян в ЭППН с наибольшей длительностью экспозиции (t = 60 сек). С увеличением длительности обработки семян в ЭППН прослеживалась тенденция к усилению поражения зерновых культур в период вегетации возбудителями септориоза (факультативным сапротрофом), гельминтоспориозной корневой гнили (факультативным паразитом) и снижению пораженности возбудителем желтой ржавчины (облигатным паразитом). Оптимальное время экспозиции семян в ЭППН зависело от биологических особенностей зерновой культуры и типа патогенеза, формируемого при поражении растений возбудителями болезней. Предложенный способ предпосевной обработки семян зерновых культур в ЭППН может быть успешно использован на производстве для повышения урожайности и устойчивости растений к особо опасным болезням.

The influence of multifunctional complexes capable of causing a growth-stimulating effect on plants and inhibiting the development of a wide range of diseases on the Leningradka 6 spring soft wheat cultivar (k-64900) was investigated. In the research, it was found that the application of multifunctional complexes based on the Bacillus subtilis bacterial strains and 0.1% chitosan salicylate in wheat cultivation led to a significant decrease in the incidence of plant diseases: yellow and brown rust, powdery mildew, root rot and caused an increase in morphometric productivity indicators. This tendency was associated with a significant influence of multifunctional complexes on the increase in the number of primary and nodal roots; the length of nodal roots; productive bushiness; the number of spikelets per spike; the grains weight per spike. However, the effectiveness of protective and stimulating wheat treatments depended on the complex of natural and climatic factors of wheat vegetation seasons.

In order to develop new biopreparations, the influence of the Bacillus velezensis new natural strain on the soft wheat productivity and resistance to helminthosporiosis root rot, rust species, powdery mildew and septoria-pyrenophorous spotting was studied. When the pre–sowing wheat seeds treatment with the strain was carried out, a significant increase in most morphometric productivity indicators, including those characterizing the spike structure, in comparison with the action of the biopreparation “Naturost” was revealed (at P > 0.05–71.4

The studies were carried out in 2017-2022 in order to identify natural and climatic factors that can influence the effectiveness of B. subtilis strains in relation to morphometric indicators and soft wheat productivity, the diseases development. The responsiveness of Leningradka 6, k-64900 spring wheat to the microbiological preparation Vitaplan, SP (titer of viable cells ×1011 CFU/g) and cultural liquid (CL) of the B. subtilis VKM B-2604D and B. subtilis VKM B-2605D (at a ratio of 1:1 with the titer of viable cells ×1010 CFU/ml). In the field conditions of the North- West of the Russian Federation, wheat seeds were treated before sowing and plants were sprayed three times during the growing season. The effectiveness of bacterial strains in relation to productivity and especially dangerous wheat diseases depended more on the indicators of moisture availability of the growing season. This was confirmed by the results of multidimensional scaling, correlation, factor analysis of indicators. In the variant «Vitaplan, SP» in F1, high positive factor loads were revealed for the precipitation amount in June, July, August, HTC in July, relative humidity in June (0.73…0.93), plant phase, plant height, area of ag and pre-flag leaves, vegetative part weight (0.71…0.80), and when using CL «B. subtilis VKM V-2604D + B. subtilis VKM B-2605D» - for the precipitation amount in June, August, HTC in July and August (0.71…0.88), productive bushiness, root weight, spike length, spikelets number per spike, grains number, spike grain weight, biological, potential yield (0.71…0.85). The B. subtilis strains application allowed to increase biological and potential yields by 32.5± 7.2 % and 24.3±7.0 %, and to reduce the intensity of diseases development (root rot - by 11.7 ± 1.6 %; powdery mildew, brown and yellow rust - by 7.6 ± 0.7 %), however, the effectiveness of bacterial strains significantly depended on the climatic factors of wheat growing season.

The effectiveness of the associative rhizobacteria influence on the intensity of the soft wheat and triticale diseases’ development was studied. According to the experimental scheme, seeds were soaked and plants were sprayed twice with a working fluid, containing rhizobacteria strains of Bacillus subtilis 124-11, Sphingomonas sp. K1B and Pseudomonas fluorescens SPB2137 (titer 108-109 cl/ml), and other variants with combined treatment with a liquid organomineral composition Batr Gum were used. In the control plants were treated with water and Batr Gum (by 10 ml/l of water). The biopreparations influence on the diseases development was investigated using generally accepted accounting scales and additional phytopathological indicators. The Bacillus subtilis strain 124-11, had the maximal effectiveness against yellow and brown rust of wheat, and Sphingomonas sp. K1B - against triticale rusts. In particular, the treatment of the local cultivar Leningradskaya 6 with Bacillus subtilis 124-11 led to a decrease in the development of yellow rust by 12 %, the pustules number by 47 %, the strip length by 41 %, the pustule area by 39 %; the brown rust development by 9 %, the pustules number by 50 %, the pustule area the by 40 %. After the Dua, k-828 cultivar treatment with the Sphingomonas sp. K1B strain, a decrease in the plants affection by brown rust was observed by 13 %, the pustules number decreased by 59 %, the pustule area by 52 %. A significant decrease in the powdery mildew development on soft wheat and a decrease in the number of spots with plaque were recorded when using the Sphingomonas sp. K1B strain on cultivars: Leningradskaya 6 - by 12 % (79.4 %), Ajeeba - 19 % (72.5 %), Trizo - 13 % (87.2 %), Sudarynya - 3 % (60 %). On the soft wheat cultivar Sudarynya and triticale cultivars Aist Kharkovskiy and Dua, a decrease in helminthosporiotic root rot was revealed when using associative rhizobacteria; the maximal decrease in the disease development (by 32 %) was noted when using the strain Sphingomonas sp. K1B. When bacterial strains were used combined with the organomineral fertilizer Batr Gum, the development of powdery mildew and yellow rust was much slower than when they were used separately, while the greatest effectiveness against these diseases (by 31 % and 91 %) was revealed in the «Batr Gum + Pseudomonas fluorescens SPB2137» experimental variant.

Background: The search for environmentally friendly biological approaches to increase the productivity and resistance to phytopathogens of wheat is an urgent task for agriculture. For this purpose, the effect of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria on yield and disease development of soft wheat was studied. Methods: Two soft wheat varieties (Trizo and Sudarynya) were inoculated with Bacillus subtilis 124-11, Pseudomonas fluorescens SPB2137 and Sphingomonas sp. K1B under field conditions during 2017-2021 years. Wheat development was monitored at different stages using a set of indicators characterizing morphological traits and yield structure. Susceptibility of plants to root rot pathogens and leaf diseases (brown and yellow wheat rust, powdery mildew, septoria-pyrenophorous spotting) was analyzed using a number of phytopathological indicators. Result: The maximal increase in yield by 1,14 g plant-1 and 0,87 g plant-1 was revealed after treatments with B. subtilis 124-11 and Ps. fluorescens SPB2137. The minimal ecological variation in wheat productivity elements was observed when B. subtilis 124-11 was used. The bacteria reduced plant damage caused by helminthosporiotic root rot, leaf-stem infections, yellow and brown rust and septoria-pyrenophorous spotting. The effects of bacteria on wheat growth and biocontrol of phytopathogens significantly varied depending on meteorological conditions and plant cultivar.

On 25 varieties of soft wheat, the effectiveness of the use of protein hydrolysate obtained from by-products of meat raw materials by deep processing using microconcentrations of chemical reagents was determined for foliar feeding and reducing the intensity of diseases. In field conditions, an increase in wheat yield was found in 72% of wheat varieties, in relation to control samples. A significant increase in the indicator was detected in samples Siberian 21, k-66269 ‒ by 143.1% (2017); Tulaykovskaya 108, k-65452 ‒ by 103.0% (2017); Ural cuckoo, k-66267 ‒ by 87.9% (2017); Amur krasnokoloska, k-32095 ‒ by 69.9% (2018–2019); Krasnoufimskaya 110, k-65478 ‒ by 59.2% (2018–2019). A significant increase in the increase in the vegetative mass of soft wheat was detected in varieties Leningradskaya 97, k-62935 – by 41.9% and k-32666 – by 39.1%. The increase in yield and disease resistance of wheat varieties was different. The increase in the values of the studied parameters after treatment with protein hydrolysate was associated with a change in the morphological characteristics of plants and the structure of the crop. Treatment with protein hydrolysate, which stimulates plant growth, helped to reduce the development of wheat diseases. The tendency of a statistically significant decrease in the intensity of root rot development at P <0.05 was revealed in the maximum number of wheat varieties (44%). In the Ural Cuckoo variety, k-66267, the development of root rot was not detected (in the control – 50%) and symptoms of the pathogenesis of powdery mildew in the Tyumenochka variety, k-66271 (in the control 11%). The Tulaykovskaya 108, k-65452 variety showed a decrease in the development of septoria-pyrenophorous spotting by 36.0% and an increase in total nitrogen in wheat leaves by 199.8% in relation to control samples. Foliar spraying of plants with a protein growth stimulator caused an increase in total nitrogen in wheat leaves in 92% of samples by an average of 84.6%.

The protective effect of two chitosan complexes with biologically active substances was studied on wheat for the period 2016–2020. Chitosan I included a 0.1% chitosan solution of Chitosan mM 100 kDa and Chitosan mM 50 kDa (1 : 1), succinic acid, glutamic acid, and 0.025% salicylic acid. Chitosan II included a 0.1% chitosan solution, Chitosan mM 50kDa, succinic acid, glutamic acid, 0.0015% indolylacetic acid, and 0.1% chitosan salicylate mM 60 kDa containing 25% ion-bound fragments of salicylic acid. The complexes Chitosan I and Chitosan II significantly reduced wheat damage by brown rust and septoria–pyrenophorous spotting, and a decrease in the development of powdery mildew was noted in the Chitosan I variant. Chitosan salicylate (0.1%) reduced the degree of root-rot damage to wheat by 79% and yellow rust by 29.1%; suppressed the development of powdery mildew; increased the yield by 32.8%; and caused a 55.6% increase in indices of wheat growth, development, productivity, and yield. The complexes Chitosan I and Chitosan II had a positive impact on 11.1 and 27.8% of the wheat productivity indices.

Surveys have been performed in order to analyze the phenotypic variation in wheat for brown rust resistance, to identify the factors causing the causative agent spread, to adjust the parameter values for assessing the quantitative relationships between the pathogen–host–environment system variables, and to build the imitation model for disease pathogenesis. The highest-level resistance to the disease was typical for the tall wheat plant varieties exhibiting the vertical (less than 15°), deflection (15°–45°), and horizontal (46°–90°) flag-leaf angle patterns; the thick, wax-coating layers (nine scores); the leaf trichome-type indument density of 941.7 ± 63.8 per 1 cm 2 ; and the trichome length of 2.2 ± 0.1 mm. The proposed system of meteopathology forecast models for the brown rust progression was based on the revealed correlations between the pustule numbers, the agent pustule area, the meteorological factors, and the solar activity. The factor model describing the conjugation of the brown rust progression with the spread and effects of the agents causing the mixed infection of leaves has been built based on phytometrics of crop plants, production capacity, meteorological factors, and solar activities with the use of the Leningradskaya-6 cultivar. It can provide the opportunity to carry out a system analysis of changes in the indicated parameter values relative to the environmental factors. Thus, it was revealed based on the model that the brown rust progression rate is increased with increasing the June precipitation amount relative to the number of temperature degrees above 10°C in May. In addition, the increased rates of wheat flag-leaf damage caused by septoria and powdery mildew tend to limit the progression of brown rust. The imitation model for the wheat brown rust progression is based on the solving system of delay differential equations (DDE) with numerical routines from the DIFSUBDEL software package. The model may be used to create modern expert systems for plant disease forecasting and diagnosing.

The high-quality grain use when sowing is a necessary condition for obtaining a high yield. Along with the standard tests regulated by the ISTA (International Seed Testing Association), there are promising introscopic techniques for the seed material quality controlling methods of microfocus radiography and gas discharge visualization (electrophotography). The effect of structural and functional characteristics of the seeding material on the wheat productivity and diseases resistance was studied out on the experimental field of the Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources. Ten accessions of soft wheat with the ‘parametric passport’ (including more than thirty optical parameters, including gas discharge images, morphoand densitometric analysis of X-ray patterns) were used as an experimental seeding material. Unviable wheat seeds, in comparison with healthy ones, were characterized mainly by a smaller area, form coefficient, standard deviation of three-dimensional fractality by isoline, entropy by isoline, higher brightness and standard deviation of the isoline radius of the gas discharge images. Morphoand densitometric indices of unviable seeds differed in reduced values of the circle factor, roundness, minimum and maximum average brightness, but in greater elongation and optical density of the X-ray patterns projection. The intensity of wheat affection by diseases has varied depending on the structural and functional characteristics of seeds. It was noted, that the brown rust development decreased with an increase in the entropy by isoline, the contour irregularity and the average radius of the isoline.

Received: January 31st, 2021 ; Accepted: October 5th, 2021 ; Published: October 19th, 2021 ; Correspondence: kleon9@yandex.ru

The modern concept of resource-saving technology for the cultivation of agricultural crops, including wheat, is based on the use of growth-stimulating biologically active substances and beneficial microorganisms. Studies aimed at the development of polyfunctional compositions that reduce the harmfulness of pathogens and have a positive effect on the production process are especially promising. The paper provides data on the biological substantiation of the use of polyfunctional complexes based on B. subtilis strains and chitosan salicylate to protect wheat from diseases and increase yields. Polyfunctional complexes “Vitaplan, KZh + 0.1% chitosan salicylate” (submerged cultivation, composition) optimize the physiological state of wheat plants; significantly increase its productivity and disease resistance. It was shown that the combined use of Vitaplan, KZh and 0.1% chitosan salicylate increased wheat productivity and the biological efficiency of the polyfunctional complex against wheat yellow rust. The use of the complex did not have a significant effect on the indicators characterizing the growth of the vegetative mass of plants, but had a positive effect on the structure of wheat yield.

In the research, long-term data characterizing the wheat productivity and degree of its affection by diseases were compared with the natural and climatic factors of the NorthWestern region of the Russian Federation. The comparative analysis of the protein growth stimulant (PGS) and organomineral fertilizers’ influence on productivity, yield structure, and disease resistance of the VIR soft wheat was carried out. The greatest influence on the potential (estimated) wheat yield growth was exerted by the preparations “Zerebra agro” and “Edagum”. Foliar spraying with the protein growth stimulant resulted in an increase in wheat yield by 31.5% compared to the control. After applying the protein stimulant, a decrease in the degree of wheat powdery mildew development by 15.7% was revealed compared with the control. Organo-mineral fertilizers had insignificant effects on the disease development. The “Zerebra agro” preparation had high biological effectiveness against wheat leaf diseases (brown rust, powdery mildew).

The influence of Bacillus subtilis strains and chitosan complexes on the soft wheat productivity and its infection with disease agents was determined in order to develop new preparative forms of polyfunctional biopreparations. The prospects of using polyfunctional preparations, combined the beneficial properties of microorganism strains as pathogen antagonists and chitosan as plant disease resistance activator has been shown the study. Their effectiveness has been convincingly demonstrated in protecting wheat from root rot, in increasing yields and improving grain quality Plants treated with complex preparation containing bacterial culture liquid (“Vitaplan, CL”) or its concentrate (“Vitaplan, CCL”) and Chitosan II had the best adaptive potential to agro-ecological environmental factors. At the same time, the «Vitaplan, CCL and Chitosan II» complex had the most pronounced protective properties. In the case of “Vitaplan, CL and Chitosan II» treatments, plants had the highest values of wheat potential (biological) yield. It was shown that the vegetative index NDVI, determined by the results of spectrometric analysis, can be used as an integral parameter of the biological effectiveness of polyfunctional biopreparations. The maximum value of NDVI was revealed in the case of “Vitaplan, CL and Chitosan II”

A new plant growth stimulant was developed according to the technology engineered by the scientists of ITMO and SPBGAU Universities. The biological effectiveness of the preparation was assessed by measuring 20 wheat productivity parameters and 16 parameters of various types of pathogenesis formed during the progress of root rot caused by Helminthosporium , different types of rust, powdery mildew, and wheat leaf blotch. Application of the stimulant promoted a potential yield increase in 64% of samples (statistically significant at P < 0.05 in 28% of samples). Among the essential parameters of the yield formula, the preparation exerted the most remarkable action on spike length, the number of spikelets per spike, number of grains per spike, and weight of grains in one spike. Foliar spraying of plants with the protein growth stimulant promoted an increase in total nitrogen content of wheat leaves by an average of 84.6% in 92% of samples. Wheat grains exhibited better characteristics with the application of the protein stimulant compared to the control according to the results of microfocus X-ray radiography and optical analysis. The use of the protein growth stimulant delayed the progress rate of Helminthosporium root rot by an average of 60%, powdery mildew by 5% (based on the number of spots and their area by 36 and 52%, respectively), brown rust by 2.9% (based on the number of pustules per leaf by 76.8% and pustule area by 79.7%), and wheat leaf blotch by 15.9% compared with the control. The stimulant effectiveness has been found to depend strongly on wheat variety. Thus, the prospects of using the new, effective plant-growth stimulant to increase wheat productivity and protect against diseases have been shown experimentally. Further research is necessary due to the heterogeneity of outcomes in experiment variations.

2 Университет ИТМО 191002, Россия, Санкт-Петербург, ул.Ломоносова, 9 3 Всероссийский институт генетических ресурсов растений им.Н.И.Вавилова (ВИР) 190000, Россия, Санкт-Петербург, ул.Большая Морская, 42-