ECOLOGICAL-GENETIC ANALYSIS OF SECALE CEREALE L. CULTIVARS GROWN IN CIS-URALS

Ecological and genetic analysis of winter rye (Secale cereale L.) cultivars cultivated in the Cis-Ural region for infection with barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) and wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) is presented in this study. The relevance of this research stems from the growing impact of viral infections on grain crop productivity and the need to identify resistant genotypes in the context of climate change and increasing phytosanitary pressure on agrocenoses. The aim of this work was to assess the prevalence of Barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) and Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) in winter rye crops in the Cis-Urals region. To achieve this, we used reverse transcription followed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The objects of study comprised eight domestically bred cultivars grown in the Cis-Ural region. It was established that BYDV is the dominant pathogen, detected in the majority of the studied cultivars, whereas WSMV exhibits a lower incidence rate. Significant inter-cultivar differences in infection rates were revealed, indirectly indicating genetically determined resistance. Certain cultivars demonstrated reduced susceptibility, positioning them as promising source material for further breeding. The scientific novelty of the work lies in obtaining new data on the prevalence of viral infections in rye within the Cis-Ural region using highly sensitive diagnostic methods. Practical significance of the research is attributed to the potential application of the results in developing phytosanitary monitoring strategies and selecting resistant cultivars. Future research prospects involve expanding the range of analyzed pathogens and investigating the molecular mechanisms of plant resistance.