Oat (Avena sativa L.) is a crop of significant economic and nutritional importance; however, its yield and quality can be substantially reduced by fungal diseases, including powdery mildew caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. avenae (Bga). The aim of this study was to evaluate the phenotypic resistance of 110 genotypes of Lithuanian oat cultivars to powdery mildew using five pathogen isolates. Based on the results obtained, three genotypes with the highest level of resistance were selected. Among them, one cultivar—Delfin—carries the Pm7 resistance gene, as documented in the literature. The two remaining genotypes were subjected to detailed evaluation using 30 isolates for the purpose of resistance gene postulation, followed by molecular analysis employing STS (Sequence-Tagged Sites) and SCAR (Sequence Characterized Amplified Region) markers, aimed at identifying the presence of the Pm4, Pm5 and Pm7 genes, considered among the most desirable resistance genes against powdery mildew in oat. None of these genes were confirmed in the studied cultivars. The results obtained suggest that the observed resistance may be conferred by other as-yet-unidentified resistance genes. The studied genotypes may therefore represent a novel and valuable source of resistance to powdery mildew, useful in breeding programs aimed at improving disease resistance in oat.

Alfalfa exhibits high adaptability to a range of environmental conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the agro-biological traits of alfalfa and select its most promising cultivars under different contrasting vegetation seasons. The field experiment was carried out at the Institute of Agriculture of Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry. In 2016 and 2018, eleven alfalfa cultivars of different origin were established in the Endocalcari Epigleyic Cambisol. In the seasons of 2017–2018 and 2019–2020, the agro-biological traits of alfalfa cultivars were evaluated during winter; at the height of spring regrowth; before flowering at the three cuts; and during the fresh and dry matter yields; we also examined the development of diseases at the three cuts. The cultivar Birutė from Lithuania was distinguished by its wintering, its plant height at spring regrowth, its height before flowering, and its fresh and dry matter yields. The cultivar Timbale from France was distinguished by its wintering, spring regrowth, and its height before flowering. The cultivar Magnat from Romania was distinguished by its height before flowering and the fact that it was less damaged by downy mildew. The cultivars Jõgeva 118, Juurlu, and Karlu from Estonia were distinguished by their wintering and the fact that they were less damaged by diseases. The cultivar Eugenia from Italy was distinguished by the fresh and dry matter yields and the height before flowering.

A study was carried out at Institute of Agriculture, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry. A total of 37 oat (Avena sativa L.) genotypes, which had been registered, grown or selected in Lithuania over the period 1934-2013 were analysed. Precision field trials were conducted. Conventional technology for oat cultivation was employed. The relationship between oat genotypes and year of registration, growth and selection was calculated. The greatest progress of oat genotypes registered, grown or selected in Lithuania was in the increase of yield (R = 0.73), hectolitre weight (R = 0.53), and plant height decrease (R = -0.57); the highest decrease was found in protein content (R = -0.55). The new cultivars tended to show a higher thousand grain weight, better resistance to lodging, higher starch and lower fat content, lower resistance to crown rust.

Alfalfa (Medicago spp.) plays an important role in a farming system and contributes to stabilization of the ecosystem by improving soil physical, chemical and biological properties. However, the use of alfalfa is limited due to its susceptibility to edaphic conditions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the agro-biological traits of alfalfa under different soil conditions. Field experiments were carried out in two locations with optimised management. Ago-biological traits of 46 alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. and M. varia Marth.) accessions of different geographic origin were assessed in a high productivity Endocalcari Epigleyic Cambisol. Although environmental conditions were favourable for alfalfa development and growth, the tested genotypes significantly differed in agro-biological traits: plant height of regrowth in spring and after cuts and at flowering period as well as seed yield. Cultivars from colder climate countries (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) were the least affected by the downy mildew. In a low productivity acidic Bathygleyic Dystric Glossic Retisol, the pH had a major influence on the distribution of the root system of alfalfa-grass mixture. During the first experimental year, in the naturally highly acidic soil (pH 3.9), where the mineral nutrition was unfavourable, alfalfa produced longer roots, their diameter and mass were larger than in the soil with a pH of 5.0. In the third year of cultivation, in the naturally highly acidic soil only 9.1% of alfalfa plants had survived. A strong correlation (r = 0.873, P < 0.01) was determined between the amount of alfalfa in the dry matter yield and soil acidity.

Traditionally, the oat crop (Avena sativa) has been neglected in a number of respects, cultivated in cropping areas not optimal for wheat, barley or maize. In recent years the interest in oats has increased, particularly because of its dietary benefits and therapeutic potential for human health. The uniqueness and advantages of naked oats over other popular cereals, due to its potentially valuable nutritional composition, have been well studied and reported, opening new market niches for oats. Despite the well-documented benefits, the status of the oat crop is still fragile, due to many reasons. The area cultivated for the oat crop is much less compared with other cereals, and therefore commercial efforts in oat breeding are less. Oat groat yield is lower than other cereals such as wheat and the nutritious uniqueness has not been reflected in agreeable market prices. The same price still exists for both naked and conventional/covered oats in the world grain market. The absence of visible market competitiveness, and some of the oat biological drawbacks, including low grain yield, keeps the oat crop as a lower profitability minor crop. This review is intended to analyse and summarise main achievements and challenges in oat genetics, agronomy and phytopathology to find possible ways of oat improvement and future perspectives for oat breeding.

Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is very productive in the first two years of harvest but afterwards it tends to thin out dramatically and finally die. In Lithuania, the main disease causing this problem is Sclerotinia crown and root rot (Sclerotinia trifoliorum Eriks.). The present study was aimed to determine red clover resistance to Sclerotinia crown and root rot in the laboratory and field conditions. Investigations were carried out at Institute of Agriculture, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry. Resistance of red clover varieties and breeding lines to Sclerotinia crown and root rot was investigated in 2012-2014 in the field under natural and artificial infection conditions. Diploid (43: 20 varieties, 20 breeding lines, 2 wild ecotypes and 1 semiwild ecotype) and tetraploid (41: 24 varieties and 17 breeding lines) red clover was investigated. In the laboratory experiment, red clover seeds were treated with oxalic acid which is the main toxin of Sclerotinia spp. This experiment enabled us to evaluate seedling resistance to Sclerotinia crown and root rot. The same varieties and breeding lines as in the field experiment were investigated. The seedlings were treated with 0, 5, 7.5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 mM oxalic acid concentrations. The most resistant varieties were found to be 'Kaive', 'Kvarta', 'Arimaidiai', 'Skriveru tetra', 'Van', 'Ostro', 'Radviliai' and 'Jogeva 433', and breeding lines Nos. 2102, 1582, 2190, 2087 and 2739. The most sensitive varieties were 'Sara', 'Sabtoron', 'Britta', 'Triton' and 'Astra', and breeding lines Nos. 2297, 2268, 2093, 2296, 2300 and 2298.

Tyrimai buvo vykdyti Lietuvos žemdirbystės institute 2002–2003 m. Imidokloprido ir pencikurono veikliųjų medžiagų mišinys, panaudotas bulvių beicavimui normomis nuo 105 + 112,5 g t–1 iki 186,2 + 199,5 g t–1, iš esmės mažina bulvių gumbų derliaus pažeidimą spragšiais, kai dirvos užkrėstumas spragšiais – 34 vnt. m–2, o esant labai dideliam (96 vnt. m–2) dirvos užkrėstumui – preparatai yra efektyvūs panaudoti tik didesnėmis (140 + 150 – 186,2 + 199,5 g t–1) normomis. Imidokloprido ir pencikurono veikliųjų medžiagų mišinys, panaudotas bulvių beicavimui visomis tirtomis normomis, iš esmės mažina amarų ir kolorado vabalų kiekį ant bulvių kerų. Beicų normos neturi esminės įtakos amarų skaičiui ant lapų, kolorado vabalais apniktų kerų skaičiui ir kolorado vabalų kiekiui ant kero. Benomilas bei imidokloprido ir pencikurono mišinys efektyviai mažina bulvių pažeidimą šašais.

2012–2013 m. Lietuvos agrarinių ir miškų mokslų centre, Žemdirbystės instituto žolių selekcijos sėjomainoje, buvo tiriamos 84 raudonųjų dobilų įvairios kilmės veislių, selekcinių linijų ir laukinių ar pusiau laukinių ekotipų atsparumas grybinėms ligoms. Tyrimas atliktas lauko sąlygomis esant natūraliai miltligės (Erysiphe trifolii), antraknozės (Kabatiella caulivora) ir rūdžių (Uromyces trifolii) infekcijai. Ištyrus veisles ir selekcines linijas, nustatyta, kad pagal ploidiškumą antraknozei atspariausios diploidinės selekcinės linijos 2091, 2106, 2088, tetraploidinės – 2281, 2293 ir veislės ‘Vulkan’, ‘Divaja’, ‘Sadūnai’; jautriausia diploidinė selekcinė linija – 2093 ir tetraploidinė veislė – ‘Varte’. Miltligė raudonųjų dobilų veislėse ir selekcinėse linijose išplito tik sėjos metais (2012), o rūdys – tik antraisiais – 2013 m. Miltligė ir rūdys pagal ploidiškumą labiau pažeidžia diploidinius dobilus nei tetraploidinius. Ligos nespėjo smarkiai pažeisti žolinio pasėlio, nes buvo pjaunama žolė. Tačiau sėkliniame pasėlyje ligos plito iki visiškos augalo brandos, buvo didesnis ligų intensyvumas.

A study on the variation of species diversity and sex ratio of thrips in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was conducted at the Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture (currently - Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry). Assessments of thrips abundance were carried out from the beginning of tillering (growth stage (GS) 21) until complete maturity (GS 89). Thirteen thrips species belonging to the three families were identified: 10 thrips species belonged to Thripidae, 2 to Phlaeothripidae and 1 to Aeolothripidae families. In terms of the feeding group, one species (Aeolothrips intermedius) belonged to zoophagous, the rest of the species were phytophagous. Frankliniella intonsa, E tenuicornis, Haplothrips aculeatus and Limothrips denticornis were the earliest thrips species identified on winter wheat in spring. The dominating species were L. denticornis (41.3%), H. aculeatus (25.8%) and F tenuicornis (20.5%). An average sex ratio of L. denticornis was 84.7%, and of H aculeatus - 68.2%, and of F. tenuicornis -71.1% and of F. intonsa -60.9%.

Advanced oat breeding lines were investigated in 2009-2011 at the Institute of Agriculture of Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry. The highest grain yield (4.10 t ha-1) and fat content (4.41%) was in 2009 and the highest protein and starch content (12.54% and 51.4%) was in 2011. Every year the yield of oat line LIA 1526-9 was higher or similar to the standard variety yield. The breeding line LIA 1526-9 also gave good results for fat, protein and starch yield. Every year fat, protein and starch content of naked line 1579-1 was higher in comparison with standard variety Mina DS: respectively, 7.39%, 12.6%, and 61.7% (standard variety 6.49%, 12.3%, and 55.7%) in 2009, 6.27%, 15.1%, and 60.7% (standard variety 5.06%, 11.5%, and 52.8%) in 2010 and 6.24%, 15.1%, and 63.6% (standard variety 5.66%, 14.0%, and 58.4%) in 2011. Significantly higher yields of fat, protein and starch per hectare were obtained in 2009 and reached 176, 454, and 1910 kg ha-1. Fat, protein and starch yields per ha of naked oat breeding lines were not higher than those of hulled oat breeding lines because of their low grain yield.