Most important publications

Ruņǵis, D., Leino, M.W., Lepse, L. et al. (2021). Genetic characterization of European potato onion (Allium cepa var Aggregatum G. Don) collections. Genet Resour Crop Evol 68, 657–665. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-020-01014-2 (Q2, CiteScore 4.1), 9 citations
The genetic diversity and relationship between and within European potato onion collections was evaluated by using molecular markers with aim to assess genetic diversity, duplication of genotypes and relationships among and between Nordic, Baltic, Czech and Croatian potato onion collections. It was concluded that the found genetic relationships suggest historical movement of potato onion germplasm in North-Eastern Europe. The results, in conjunction with other passport and characterization data, can assist in the development of potato onion core collections

J.Carrillo-Reche, T. Le Noc, D. F. van Apeldoorn, S. D. Juventia, A. Westhoek, S. Shanmugam, H. L. Kristensen, M. Hondebrink, S. J. Himanen, P. Kivijärvi, L. Lepse, S. Dane, W.A.H. Rossing. Finding guidelines for cabbage intercropping systems design as a first step in a meta-analysis relay for vegetables. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, Volume 354, 2023, 108564, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2023.108564 (Q1, CiteScore 11.7), 4 citations
In this study the meta-analysis was performed, focusing on cabbage (Brassica oleracea ssp.) and the delivery of the provisioning services Productivity, Product Quality (grade and pest injury in cabbage products), and Yield Stability across different companion species, spatio-temporal configurations, and management practices. It was found that intercropping reduced cabbage productivity (−7% on average, P < 0.05) but also pest injury (−48%, P < 0.001) relative to sole cabbage systems. Cabbage grade on the contrary was not significantly improved by intercropping (+1%, P = 0.71). Effects on yield stability varied widely. Cabbage growers and agricultural advisors can use these guidelines when designing intercrop systems specific to their needs.

Zeipiņa, S., Vågen, I. M., & Lepse, L. (2022). Possibility of Vegetable Soybean Cultivation in North Europe. Horticulturae, 8(7), 593. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8070593 (Q1, CiteScore 3.5), 7 citations
This study shows that vegetable soybean is a crop with potential for successful cultivation at higher latitudes, such as the Nordic–Baltic region in North Europe, with yield levels comparable to other regions of the world. We observed that hydrothermal conditions had the most significant impact on soybean plant development. Sowing or planting as early as possible is a key to obtaining sufficient yield levels.

Feldmane, D., Dēķena, D. & Cirša, E. Frost Tolerance of Flower Buds, Self-Pollination and Fruit Quality Traits in Local Sour Cherries of Latvia. Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. Section B. Natural, Exact, and Applied Sciences., 2022, Sciendo, vol. 76 no. 4, pp. 469-476. https://doi.org/10.2478/prolas-2022-0072 (Q4, CiteScore 0.7)
In this paper, we investigated the variability of flower bud frost tolerance, self-pollination and fruit quality in Latvian local sour cherries – cultivars and clones. The data were analysed for 29 accessions and clustered according to properties listed above. The most promising accessions for fresh consumption, fruit processing and pollination (tolerant to spring frosts) were selected and recommended. 

Feldmane, D., Druva-Lūsīte, I., Pole, V. et al. Rhizophagus irregularis MUCL 41,833 Association with Green Cuttings of Prunus sp. Rootstocks. J Plant Growth Regul 40, 533–540 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-020-10116-1 (Q1, CiteScore 8.4), 2 citations
Novel information on successful green cutting colonization by  arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for the species-associations that had not been studied before.

Strautiņa, S., Kalniņa, I., Kaufmane, E., Sudars, K., Namatēvs, I., Nikulins, A., Edelmers, E. 2023. RaspberrySet: Dataset of Annotated Raspberry Images for Object Detection Data, 2023, 8(5), 86. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9942550  (Q2, CiteScore 4.3), 1 citation
In this paper, we present a deep neural network (DNN) model for quince and raspberry detection on RGB images. The trained DNN model is based on YOLOv5 architecture and it has 7 berry classes related to the berry development stage. YOLOv5 provides sufficiently good performance and precision trade-off. It is useful in the process of quince and raspberry phenotyping for the agriculture experts, where the yield and berry size parameters have to be estimated. Using our DNN model we have shown that it is possible to achieve a mean Average Precision close to 80.9 % and in some cases (Average Precision) close to 95 % for some classes.The developed raspberry and quince detector is freely available at the GIT repository .

Zelmene K., Kārkliņa K., Ikase L., Lācis G., 2022. Inheritance of apple (Malus × domestica (L.) Borkh) resistance against apple scab (Venturia inaequalis (Cooke) Wint.) in hybrid breeding material obtained by gene pyramiding. Horticulturae, 8, 9, 772. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8090772 (Q1, CiteScore 3.5), 11 citations
This publication presents a study analysing the inheritance patterns and gene interactions of the Rvi5 and Rvi6 apple scab resistance genes using field hardiness and resistance gene marker data in a breeding population. The findings are crucial for multi-gene resistance breeding in apples, aiding in parent plant selection and predicting hybrid material outcomes for enhanced scab resistance.

G.Lācis, K.Kārkliņa, T.Bartulsons, E.Kaufmane. 2024. Intergeneric Transfer of Simple Sequence Repeat Molecular Markers for the Study of Chaenomeles as Fruit Crop Breeding Material.  Horticulturae, MDPI.  , 10, 1233. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10111233 (Q1, CiteScore 3.5)
Chaenomeles is an emerging fruit crop with no previously available specific molecular markers. This publication details the development of a set of SSR-based molecular markers using the intergeneric transfer method, laying the groundwork for genetic research in Japanese quince.

D. Segliņa, I. Krasnova, A. Grygier, E. Radziejewska-Kubzdela, M. Rudzińska, P. Górnaś (2021) Unique bioactive molecule composition of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) oils obtained from the peel, pulp, and seeds via physical “solvent-free” approaches.  The Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society (JAOCS), 98(10), pp. 1009–1020 https://aocs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/aocs.12524 (Q2, CiteScore 4.1), 10 citations
Processing sea buckthorn berries into juice produces by-products suitable for oil extraction. In this study, “green” technologies for the extraction of different oil types (pulp, seed and peel oil) were tested; the obtained results of the profiles of triacylglycerols, fatty acids, tocopherols, tocotrienols, carotenoids, sterols, and phenolic compounds in oil samples expands knowledge for application in the food and pharmaceutical industries).

Baškirovs, G., Dukurs, K., Soliven, A., Górnaś, P. Evaluation of RPLC stationary phases for tocopherol and tocotrienol positional isomer separation: Method development and profiling. Talanta, 2024, 277, 126360. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2024.126360 (Q1, CiteScore 12.3), 2 citations
Tocopherols and tocotrienols are important bioactive compounds, yet their positional isomers are often misidentified. This publication explores alternative stationary phases, detailing a method development for separation of these tocochromanols, facilitating precise analysis in various plant materials.).

Górnaś, P., Symoniuk, E., Soliven, S. Reversed phase HPLC with UHPLC benefits for the determination of tocochromanols in the seeds of edible fruits in the Rosaceae family. Food Chemistry, 2024, 460, 140789, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.140789 (Q1, CiteScore 16.3), 2 citations
The development of rapid, robust analytical methods is imperative for modern workflows for species, genotype, and by-product selection. This study demonstrates an optimized RP-HPLC method with UHPLC benefits (< 7 min) for determining tocochromanols in the seeds of thirteen species of edible fruits in the Rosaceae family.)

Moročko-Bičevska I., Fatehi J., Sokolova O. (2019) Reassessment of Paragnomonia (Sydowiellaceae, Diaporthales) and typification of Paragnomonia fragariae, the cause of strawberry root rot and petiole blight. Fungal Biology, 123: 791-803. (Q1, CiteScore 5.8), 3 citations

Zuļģe N., Stalažs A., Moročko-Bičevska I., Namniece S., Drevinska K., Konavko D. (2022) Gooseberry vein banding associated virus on Ribes in Latvia: Occurrence, host plants and vectors. Plant Pathology, 71: 1910-1920. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppa.13620. (Q1, CiteScore 5.6), 1 citation

Zuļģe N., Gospodaryk A., Moročko-Bičevska I. (2023) Genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of apple chlorotic leaf spot virus isolates from Malus, Pyrus and Prunus hosts in Latvia. Plant Pathology, 72: 900-911. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppa.13712 (Q1, CiteScore 5.6), 1 citation

Lāce B., Drevinska K., Kārkliņa K., Jundzis M., Moročko-Bičevska I. (2023) Gymnosporangium species occurring on Juniperus and Pyrus in Latvia and evidence for Gymnosporangium clavariiforme infecting European pear (Pyrus communis). European Journal of Plant Pathology, 166: 123-146. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-023-02650-x (Q2, CiteScore 4.2)