**4. The estimation method of ecological flexibility and stability of the varieties on the content of photosynthetic pigment groups**

To evaluate the ecological flexibility and stability of studied pigment apparatus variety cultures, we identified the genotype-environmental effects level of significance and the correlation between the studied characteristics that have changed over the years in the target points. In addition, we have assessed the environmental effects on the value of the trait in the two schemes: the variety *x* year and variety *x* points. Of all the currently existing methods of evaluation, we chose a method proposed by Eberhart and Russell [29]. It allows us to estimate the ductility coefficient of linear regression (*bi* ) using the mean square (variance) deviations from linear regression (*Si* 2 ). This method allows the selection of genotypes by the total of their response to limiting environmental factors. When assessing the flexibility coefficient of the linear regression, the accuracy of this deviation from 1 should be taken into account, i.e., from the average set of grades. If the score is above 1, this indicates a significant increase in the quantitative trait under the influence of improved growing conditions; if *bi* is less than 1, varieties show better results in unfavorable conditions. If the values of *bi* were not significantly deviated from 1, the variety will exactly follow the change of the environmental conditions. The genotype with negative regression on the environment is flexible; the most valuable genotypes have *bi* greater than 1. It should be established that the smaller the dispersion value of the deviation from the regression, the more stable are the characteristics.

### **4.1. Evaluation of the ecological flexibility and stability of grades of** *Actinidia deliciosa* **according to the characteristics of the pigment system**

In recent years the interest of breeders in the environmental adaptability of varieties has been repeatedly noted. It is recognized that intensive technologies have more stable and flexible (with high yield potential) cultivars, but they may have a low stability of yield under adverse conditions.

Extensive technology is proposed to use stable, but not as flexible, varieties. Because the goal of the breeder is the creation of varieties, fully realizing their potential in the specific conditions of cultivation, we talk about the need for compliance with selection of the technology level for agricultural production.

In this situation, knowledge of the response to abiotic factors of the main physical characteristics, especially, is closely related to the provision of assimilative capacity, and allows the prediction of expected properties. We defined ecological flexibility characteristics, such as the amount of chlorophylls and carotenoids, depending on varietal facilities of plants of *A. deliciosa* (**Tables 8** and **9**). The analysis of the varieties in the parameters of ecological flexibility of both groups of photosynthetic pigments showed that the varieties, the change of photosynthetic capacity that most fully corresponds to the change in temperature conditions, are types of Monty and the accumulation of carotenoids and Bruno. The linear regression coefficient of the variety Allison suggests a significant increase in the pigments only under the influence of the improvement of thermal conditions of cultivation.

carotenoid content is noted. With further tightening of the manifestations of drought, the synthesis of carotenoids increases sharply, reaching a maximum level of 0.921 mg/g wet weight. As in the previously described cultures, there are varietal differences in the content of photo-

Gustav Malet 1.73 ± 0.37 25.4 0.81 ± 0.08 30.7 Arlequin 1.56 ± 0.24 19.9 0.76 ± 0.09 26.0 Eva Rathke 1.78 ± 0.51 20.3 0.82 ± 0.15 24.4 Mont Blanc 1.65 ± 0.29 25.7 0.79 ± 0.07 27.5

46 Photosynthesis - From Its Evolution to Future Improvements in Photosynthetic Efficiency Using Nanomaterials

**Х ± Sх V, % Х ± Sх V, %**

However, as the table shows, the amount of chlorophylls and carotenoids, slightly different weigela varieties, and low values of the coefficients of variation (30%) indicate low variability

To evaluate the ecological flexibility and stability of studied pigment apparatus variety cultures, we identified the genotype-environmental effects level of significance and the correlation between the studied characteristics that have changed over the years in the target points. In addition, we have assessed the environmental effects on the value of the trait in the two schemes: the variety *x* year and variety *x* points. Of all the currently existing methods of evaluation, we chose a method proposed by Eberhart and Russell [29]. It allows us to estimate the ductility coefficient of

method allows the selection of genotypes by the total of their response to limiting environmental factors. When assessing the flexibility coefficient of the linear regression, the accuracy of this deviation from 1 should be taken into account, i.e., from the average set of grades. If the score is above 1, this indicates a significant increase in the quantitative trait under the influence of improved

the environmental conditions. The genotype with negative regression on the environment is flex-

the dispersion value of the deviation from the regression, the more stable are the characteristics.

In recent years the interest of breeders in the environmental adaptability of varieties has been repeatedly noted. It is recognized that intensive technologies have more stable and

**4.1. Evaluation of the ecological flexibility and stability of grades of** *Actinidia* 

*deliciosa* **according to the characteristics of the pigment system**

) using the mean square (variance) deviations from linear regression (*Si*

were not significantly deviated from 1, the variety will exactly follow the change of

is less than 1, varieties show better results in unfavorable conditions. If

greater than 1. It should be established that the smaller

2 ). This

synthetic pigments, and therefore in the capacity of the pigment system (**Table 7**).

**Table 7.** Pigment apparatus characterization of different weigela varieties (mg/g), average over 3 years.

**Varieties Sum of chlorophyll Carotenoids**

*LSD (P ≤ 0.05) 0.45 0.31*

of the characteristic that can be used in the diagnosis of culture on this indicator [21].

**4. The estimation method of ecological flexibility and stability of the**

**varieties on the content of photosynthetic pigment groups**

linear regression (*bi*

growing conditions; if *bi*

ible; the most valuable genotypes have *bi*

the values of *bi*

The factor of illumination parameter such as the magnitude of accumulation within chlorophylls (*a* + *b*) (responsible for synthetic processes) is more adapted to the condition of cultivation in the variety Hayward, while the cultivar Monty shows high ecological flexibility in


Annotation: *r*\* —correlation coefficient; *bi* \* —coefficient of linear regression; *Si* 2\*—variance of the deviations from the linear regression.

**Table 8.** Evaluation of the ecological flexibility and stability of varieties of *Actinidia deliciosa*, the sum of chlorophylls.


Annotation: *r*\* —correlation coefficient; *bi* \* —coefficient of linear regression; *Si* 2\*—variance of the deviations from the linear regression.

**Table 9.** Evaluation of the ecological flexibility and stability of grades *Actinidia deliciosa* on the amount of carotenoids.

relation to accumulation of carotenoids, which is promising for the adaptability of plants of this variety. This is indicated by a high value of coefficient of linear regression, several times higher than 1. Weak responsiveness to changing humidity was observed in the accumulation of pigments in the variety Allison.

Plants of the variety President reveal the highest value of the coefficient in the linear regression in relation to temperature factor and relative to the amount of precipitation. At the same time, less flexible is the grade Cherkesskiy-2; physiological indices have become quite stable

Photosynthetic Pigments of Subtropical Plants http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.75193 49

Thus, based on indicators of adaptability, it is recommended to grade President as the most sustainable and ecologically flexible. However, for maximum effect, it requires good agronomic conditions as well, and the culture as a whole, judging by the linear regression coef-

In this chapter we showed the features of the dynamics of accumulation of photosynthetic pigments in subtropical cultures and revealed the dependence of this process on the main factors of the region. It was revealed that the dynamics of pigment accumulation in subtropical plants within the conditions of Russia's damp subtropics is a complex process, which

Comparing the pigment composition of different cultures used in our studies, we concluded that the greatest number of green pigments were inherent in the leaves of plants of hazelnut (2.40 mg/g) and tea (2.05 mg/g). The least amount of chlorophyll was observed in the leaves of hydrangea (1.01 mg/g), which is a characteristic feature of these cultures. At the same time, hazelnut and tea plants have lesser amounts of carotenoids (0.49–0.52 mg/g) compared to

We also revealed a different pattern of accumulation of chlorophylls and carotenoids of sprouts and physiologically mature tea leaves: the content of photosynthetic pigments in sprouts showed no significant change during the growing season, because the pigment apparatus of leaves is very sensitive to any changes in growing conditions. In addition, the content

In the study of the pigment apparatus of *A. deliciosa*, it was established that the dynamic nature of accumulation of chlorophylls (*a* + *b*) and carotenoids was responsive to hydrother-

Studies of the pigment apparatus of the hazelnut leaves showed some regularities associated with relative resistance to water stress, which is manifested in the somewhat different nature

It is established that the dynamics of carotenoids in hydrangea are associated with an adaptive mechanism of protection against stress, subject to slightly different laws, compared to the previously discussed cultures. This is connected to the period of vegetation of hydrangea that

However, we showed that all subtropical plants noted an increased accumulation of carotenoids. The high content of carotenoids in summer (June–July) is caused by water stress, evidenced by

of pigments in leaves is 2.0–3.8 times higher than their number in sprouts.

over the years, as evidenced by the degree of stability (variance).

ficients significantly greater unit.

**5. Conclusion**

depends on their species.

other studied crops.

mal growth conditions.

of the accumulation of carotenoids.

starts earlier than other cultures (February–March).

Analysis of the obtained values of dispersion indicates a low stability of the capacity of the pigment system in almost all studied varieties, which confirms the variability and flexibility characteristics under the influence of abiotic factors (**Tables 8** and **9**).

In general, given our studies on the power of the pigment system and the data found in **Tables 8** and **9**, it can be concluded that a significant unstable response to changing agroclimatic conditions shows varieties such as Allison, Bruno, and Hayward (control), as indicated (in general, according to both tables), with highest mean square (variance) deviations from the regression line. This allows them to be classified as fragile varieties. In the variety Monty, the dispersion factor in the accumulation of chlorophylls is a minimum for all abiotic factors (*Si* <sup>2</sup> = 42.8; 7982.6; 173.0), indicating stability of the trait, while a factor in the accumulation of carotenoids is rather flexible (*Si* <sup>2</sup> = 126.02; 126.02; 230.69).

The results of the evaluation of ecological flexibility and stability of grades of *A. deliciosa* on the basic parameters of the power of pigment-based systems analysis model showed complete adherence to the changing conditions of varieties such as Ellison, Hayward (control), and Bruno, which indicates that their instability to the effects of abiotic factors and confirmed the prospectively of this sort, like Monty, are sufficiently adaptive to stress conditions of the vegetation period.

#### **4.2. Evaluation of the ecological flexibility and stability of hazelnut varieties (***Corylus pontica* **C. Koch) in the content of carotenoids**

Considering the adaptation of the pigment apparatus of plants, including hazelnut, to stress conditions of vegetation, it is possible to show the adaptation of individual plants in ontogenesis and the adaptation of varieties in general. Plants with broad ecological flexibility are better able to adapt to a changing environment. The calculation of ecological flexibility of culture on the content of carotenoids showed a coefficient of linear regression greater than 1, indicating a high flexibility of culture in relation to hydrothermal factors (see **Table 10**).


**Table 10.** The parameters of ecological flexibility experienced with hazelnuts.

Plants of the variety President reveal the highest value of the coefficient in the linear regression in relation to temperature factor and relative to the amount of precipitation. At the same time, less flexible is the grade Cherkesskiy-2; physiological indices have become quite stable over the years, as evidenced by the degree of stability (variance).

Thus, based on indicators of adaptability, it is recommended to grade President as the most sustainable and ecologically flexible. However, for maximum effect, it requires good agronomic conditions as well, and the culture as a whole, judging by the linear regression coefficients significantly greater unit.
