Preko šest decenija posvećene izvrsnosti oplemenjivanju lucerke: od pionirskih početaka do genomske ere

Oplemeljivanje lucerke u Institutu za ratarstvo i povrtarstvo u Novom Sadu započeto je posle Drugog svetskog rata, korišćenjem autohtonih populacija, primenom masovne selekcije, kao najstarije metode. Osnovu uspešnog oplemenjivanja lucerke čini bogata genetska kolekcija, koja je prikupljana, ne samo od autohtonih populacija iz zemlje, već i razmenom materijala sa domaćim i svetskim naučno-istraživačkim institucijama i gen bankama, kao i kroz učešće istraživača u međunarodnim projektima. Oplemenjivanje lucerke u Institutu traje neprekidno više od šest decenija, kroz nekoliko ciklusa, primenom različitih oplemenjivačkih metoda, što je rezultiralo sa 22 sorte priznate u Srbiji i 9 sorti registrovanih u inostranstvu (EU, Belorusija, Ukrajina, Turska, Maroko). Iz globalne perspektive, kraj 20. i početak 21. veka obeležilo je uvođenje novog koncepta oplemenjivanja lucerke - semihibridno oplemenjivanje, kao jedan od načina da se poveća prinos krme lucerke, a farmeri u narednim godinama mogu očekivati nove, visokoprinosne i visokokvalitetne sorte lucerke. Savremene metoda biotehnologije –molekularni markeri, koji su značajni sa aspekta povećanja efikasnosti oplemenjivanja lucerke, takođe se intenzivno primenjuju u oplemenjivačkom radu. Poslednjih godina, Institut se intenzivnije bavi oplemenjivačkim strategijama vezanim za uvođenje genetičke osnove otpornosti na kisela zemljišta/Al tolerantnost korišćenjem populacija diploidne lucerke (M. lessingii Fisch. & C.A.Mey. ex Kar.), što predstavlja prvi pokušaj povećanja tolerantnosti lucerke na kisela zemljišta. U oplemenjivanju lucerke istraživanja su usmerena ka stvaranju sorti visoke produkcije nadzemne biomase, kao i proučavanje dugovečnosti – trajnosti sorti. Ispitivanje kvaliteta, posebno hranljive vrednosti i svarljivosti krme, kao i povećanje nivoa otpornosti na ekonomski značajne bolesti i poleganje lucerke, jedan su od pravaca rada na oplemenjivanju lucerke u Institutu.
Breeding of alfalfa at the Institute of Field and Vegetables in Novi Sad began after the World War II, using autochthonous populations, and mass selection, as the oldest breeding method. The basis of successful alfalfa breeding is a rich genetic collection, which was collected not only from indigenous populations, but also by the exchange of genotypes with domestic and foreign research institutions and gene banks, as well as through the participation of researchers in international projects. Alfalfa breeding at the Institute has been going on continuously for more than six decades, through several cycles, using different breeding methods, which resulted in the development of 22 alfalfa cultivars in scribed in Serbia and 9 cultivars released abroad (EU, Belarus, Ukraine, Turkey, Morocco). From a global perspective, the end of the 20 th and the beginning of the 21 st century was marked by the introduction of a new concept of alfalfa breeding - semi-hybrid breeding, as one of the ways to increase the alfalfa biomass yield, and feed producers can expect the release of new, high- yielding and high-quality cultivars in the coming years. Modern methods of biotechnology - molecular markers, which are significant from the aspect of increasing the efficiency of alfalfa breeding, are also intensively applied in breeding work. In recent years, the Institute has been more intensively dealing with breeding strategies related to the introduction of the genetic basis of acid soil resistance/Al tolerance using diploid alfalfa (M. caerulea) populations, which represents the first attempt to increase alfalfa tolerance to acid soils. In alfalfa breeding, research is directed towards the creation of cultivars with high production of biomass, as well as the study of the durability of the varieties. Testing the quality, especially the nutritional value and digestibility of forage, as well as increasing the level of resistance to economically significant diseases and alfalfa lodging, are o