Scientists at the Crimean Federal University are developing a new variety of artichoke

CrimeaPRESS reports:

Scientists of the Crimean Federal University named after. V.I. Vernadsky are engaged in breeding an artichoke variety adapted to the conditions of the foothills of Crimea. Experts have established an experimental site for plant cultivation in the Belogorsk region. This was reported by Associate Professor of the Department of Pharmacy at the Institute of Biochemical Technologies, Ecology and Pharmacy of KFU. V. I. Vernadsky Vladimir Nazarov.

Crimean Federal University has been growing artichokes since 2015. The first experiments were carried out in the Dzhankoy region. Our task was to develop frost-resistant forms for introduction into agriculture in the conditions of the Northern Crimea. Thanks to our work, we were able to establish a research and production site in the village. A small one on the basis of our agro-industrial college, where we soon received the first fruits. After a short break, representatives of SARTAN ESTATE LLC became interested in our work, with whose support we are today carrying out research and experimental work on the introduction of this plant crop into the agriculture of Crimea. It is on the estate’s plantation that our new experimental site was founded— the press service of the university quotes Vladimir Nazarov.

The scientists’ goal is to develop their own mid-season artichoke variety, adapted to the conditions of the foothills of Crimea as a new vegetable crop for the peninsula’s agriculture, as well as a source of medicinal and cosmetic raw materials for the pharmaceutical industry. This year, 300 plants from ten different varieties of artichoke have already been grown in the laboratories of the Crimean Federal University. They were planted on an experimental site, successfully underwent acclimatization, and some have already produced cone inflorescences, which experts tested for organoleptic characteristics.

We have a lot of work to do: create a collection plantation of artichoke varieties, conduct tests for frost resistance, obtain mass clones of frost-resistant specimens for further breeding work, conduct multiple cross-pollinations, repeat tests of offspring for frost resistance, determine their attractiveness as a vegetable crop and a source of medicinal raw materials, patent the resulting variety (or several varieties), as well as obtain planting material of a new variety. With a classical approach, this may take decades, but we plan to use modern biotechnological methods, which will significantly speed up the processnotes Vladimir Nazarov.

According to him, modern methods of microclonal propagation will significantly speed up the work: one cycle when breeding an artichoke variety can take less than one year, and specialists plan to complete the work within five years.

Next year, our colleagues’ plans are to significantly expand the plantation. And we, perhaps, in some sense are ahead of the curve. Students have already arrived to select the most successful samples from the artichokes that we grew in order to prepare seedlings with the desired properties in the laboratory for the next season.says Deputy Director of the Department of Research Activities of KFU. V. I. Vernadsky Vyacheslav Popov.

Students from the Institute of Biochemical Technologies, Ecology and Pharmacy of the Crimean Federal University are actively involved in participating in the scientific experiment. At this stage, they examine the morphological data of grown plants to obtain a new variety: they take measurements of inflorescences and leaves, and determine other characteristics of economic importance. In laboratory conditions, using the collected materials, students will also study some anatomical and morphological characteristics, such as the density of leaf pubescence, the length of the hairs of the pubescence itself, the volume of the bottom of the basket, the length of the hairs of the tuft of flowers.

According to the participants of the scientific project, the work is being carried out with a focus on the economic sector of agriculture of the Republic of Crimea.

We are pioneers in this direction in Crimea, and the Crimean Federal University. V.I. Vernadsky helps us a lot in this. Our estate is interesting both in historical and cultural terms and in farming traditionsemphasizes Vladimir Evdokimenko, General Director of SARTAN ESTATE LLC.

Today, more than 140 varieties of artichoke have been bred. Some of them are used for cooking, the rest are used for the production of medicines.

source: KFU press service (text: Victoria Pavlishchuk, photo: Ilya Gogunsky)

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