The heterogeneity of grain quality can lead to limited predictability of qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the wheat yield, especially with an increase in the importance of drought and salinity caused by climate change. This study was undertaken with the aim of creating basic tools for phenotyping and assessing the sensitivity of genotypes to salt effects at the level of some wheat kernel attributes. The study considers 36 variants of the experiment, including four wheat cultivars—Zolotaya, Ulyanovskaya 105, Orenburgskaya 10, Orenburgskaya 23; three treatment variants—control (without salt) and two salts exposure (NaCl at a concentration of 1.1 g L−1 and Na2SO4 at a concentration of 0.4 g L−1); as well as three options for the arrangement of kernels in a simple spikelet—left, middle, and right. It has been established that the salt exposure had a positive effect on the percentage of kernel fulfilling in the cultivars Zolotaya, Ulyanovskaya 105, and Orenburgskaya 23 compared to control. The kernels of the Orenburgskaya 10 variety matured better in the experiment with Na2SO4 exposure, while the control variant and NaCl gave the same effect. When exposed to NaCl, significantly greater values of weight, transverse section area, and transverse section perimeter of the kernel were noted in the cv Zolotaya and Ulyanovskaya 105. Cv Orenburgskaya 10 responded positively to the use of Na2SO4. This salt caused an increase in the area, length, and width of the kernel. The fluctuating asymmetry of the left, middle, and right kernels in the spikelet was calculated. In the cv Orenburgskaya 23 the salts affected only the kernel perimeter among parameters examined. The indicators of the general (fluctuating) asymmetry were lower in the experiments with the use of salts, i.e., kernels were more symmetrical than in the control variant, both for the cultivar as a whole and when compared taking into account the kernel location in spikelet. However, this result was unexpected, since salt stress inhibited a number of morphological parameters: the number and average length of embryonic, adventitious, and nodal roots, flag leaf area, plant height, dry biomass accumulation, and plant productivity indicators. The study showed that low concentrations of salts can positively affect the fulfilling of kernels (the absence of a cavity inside the kernel) and the symmetry of the left and right sides of the kernel.

Wheat is one of the most important crops in the world, providing food for most of the world’s population. Wheat seeds are a popular model object for many experiments to evaluate various factors that improve germination or protect against various adverse stressful effects. Based on the high significance of increasing the productivity of this cereal crop and the applicability of this object, a detailed statistical evaluation of wheat grain (kernel) morphometry was carried out to assess the asymmetry of parameters of this ideal model. Depending on the location of the kernels in the spikelet of a wheat spike, there was a significant asymmetry between the right and left cheeks of the kernels located closer or further from the center of the spikelet. The expressiveness of asymmetry, and consequently, the kernel deformation was higher in the lower kernels of the spikelet. The degree of symmetry; that is, the similarity of the two halves (cheeks) and the kernel as a whole, was higher in kernels located higher in the spikelet. It seems that the reason for this phenomenon lies in the mechanical nature of kernel deformation. The ultrastructure of A-type and B-type starch grains in the central part of the kernel had significant differences between the upper and lower kernels, which indicated in favor of a high probability of differences by the composition and quality of kernels of the same variety when assessed separately. Uniform development of kernels and smaller differences between them may reveal more valuable genotypes in the future, provided their steady reproduction under adverse conditions of a changing climate.

The Tsumi apple tree is a valuable crop due to the presence of a gene for resistance to powdery mildew, abundant annual fruiting and a special decorative effect during flowering and fruiting. Its breeding potential has been little studied; therefore, it is necessary to study the morphometric characteristics of a flower and a fruit and establish connections between them. The collection of flowers and fruits of the Tsumi apple tree was carried out in the laboratory of cultivated plants of the Tsytsin Main Botanical Garden in 2021. The coefficients of variation and correlation according to Spearman were determined. It was found that the polymorphism of flower traits is at a very low level (from 4.4% to 14.2%). The number of flowers per inflorescence varies within 15.9%, which corresponds to the average level of polymorphism, as well as in the weight of the fruit (17.3%) and in the weight of seeds (19.5%). Variations in the length of the peduncle, the number of seeds, the length of the fruit, and the diameter of the fruit are at a very low level (6.9-13.6%). A significant number of reliable inverse (negative) correlations were found between signs of moderate strength (0.5 <r <0.6): a strong relationship between fruit weight and anther length (r = -0.73), fruit length and filament length (r = -0.71). A strong positive relationship was found between the following traits: fruit weight and fruit diameter (r = 0.79), seed weight. Keywords: POLYMORPHISM, FLOWER, CRABAPPLES, SORBOMALUS, MALUS ZUMI, TSUMI APPLE TREE, VARIABILITY, MORPHOLOGY