Biotechnological approaches for accelerated breeding of root crops

Relevance. The relevance of accelerating root crop breeding is dictated by two global challenges: the need to ensure food security for a growing population in conditions of limited resources and the inability of classical methods, characterized by their duration and complexity, to respond promptly to them. The inte gration of biotechnologies into the breeding process makes it possible to dramatically accelerate the achievement of breeding goals. Materials and Methods. Prospective cultivars of vegetable root crops selected by the Federal Scientific Vegetable Center were used as plant material. Buds were selected from donor plants grown both in a polycarbonate greenhouse and in a climate chamber from vernalized root crops. The research used generally accepted methods of in vitro cell and tissue cultivation according to protocols developed at the Federal Scientific Vegetable Center for the culture of unpollinated ovules, culture of isolated microspores in vitro, embryo rescue technology, and clonal micropropagation of root crops. Results. The efficiency of obtaining lines of doubled haploids (DH-lines) using cultures of isolated microspores and pollinated ovules in vitro is shown, and the possibilities of using microclonal reproduction and "embryo rescue" technologies in the breeding process are considered. For beetroot, the yield of up to 25 embryoids has been achieved, and for carrot, up to 55 embryoids per 100 in vitro unpollinated ovules introduced into culture. By the use of a culture of isolated microspores from representatives of Brassicaceae family for radishes, the maximum efficiency of the technology was 8 embryoids per Petri dish, 53 embryoids for turnips, 161 embryoids for carrots, and 20 embryoids for parsnips. Interspecific hybrids between white cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.) and keel-resistant daikon (Raphanus sativus L.), as well as interspecific hybrids from crossing white cabbage with turnips (♀ B. oleraceae L.× ♂ B. rapa), were obtained using the "embryo rescue" technology. The method of clonal micropropagation has been optimized for radishes, beets and carrots, including for lines with male sterility. The practical result of the research was the creation and registration of new varieties and DH-lines: Sonata table carrots, radishes (Zhegalov, Venya, Persey), and obtaining a patent for invention No. 2807444 "Microspore isolation method for obtaining doubled haploids of the Brassicaceae family in microspore culture in vitro." Conclusion. The paper presents the results of the application of modern biotechnological methods in vitro to accelerate the breeding process of vegetable root crops of the Amaranthaceae Juss family. (red beet), Apiaceae Lindl. (carrots, parsnips), Brassicaceae Burn. (radish, daikon, turnip). The time frame for the creation of varieties and hybrids of root crops can be significantly reduced by introducing biotechnological methods into the breeding process with the close cooperation of biotechnologists and breeders.