Relevance. Basil is one of the most popular aromatic plants grown in the world. Various species and forms of Ocimum spp. differ in the nature of growth, color and aromatic composition. The VIR basil collection is represented by 452 accessions of six species from 55 countries. The expansion of the assortment of basil, as well as the identification of competitive adaptive cultivars with high economically valuable traits, determines the need to study and identify promising species and forms of Ocimum spp. The purpose of our work was to study accessions of basil (Ocimum basilicum) from the VIR collection by morphological and phenological traits and to identify accessions that have a complex of economically valuable traits for further use in the breeding.Materials and methods. The studies were carried out at the Federal Research Center N. I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR) at the VIR Pushkin and Pavlovsk Laboratories in 2019-2021 in open ground conditions. The material of the study was 66 accessions of the VIR basil collection of various agrobiological status and ecological and geographical origin. When analyzing the material, phenological observations, biometric measurements and morphological description of plants were carried out. These measurements were carried out in the phase of mass flowering.Results. As a result of the study, the degree of variability of the main phenological and morphological features was revealed. Accessions of basil were selected according to such traits as early maturity, plant height, weight of one plant and cold resistance, which can be used as starting material for breeding. The studied accessions are grouped into 7 varieties of two subspecies (subsp. basilicum and subsp. minimum): var. basilicum, var. glabratum, var. purpurescens, var. majus, var. diforme, var. minimum and var. chamaeleonicum, and their characteristics are given.

The varieties and hybrids of cucumbers cultivated in the Astrakhan region are insufficiently productive and are largely affected by a number of diseases. The introduction of innovative developments into production, in particular, new varieties and hybrids of domestic selection, largely solves the problem of import substitution and food security. The goal is to use promising breeding lines and their offspring as genetic sources and donors when creating new varieties and hybrids for open field conditions in southern Russia.Methods. Experiments were carried out in the fields of Precaspian agrarian federal scientific center of the Russian academy of sciences, according to the methods used in the Astrakhan region. Within three years, 47 collection samples were tested.Results. The article presents the results of studying the 12 most promising ones, distinguished by a complex of valuable economic traits, in particular by yield, amicability of fruit setting, which are of interest for further breeding work. According to the results of the data obtained, we can say that the best were the lines: 13-88RZ, 13-101RZ, Gherkins, KRASTAVAC, Courage, Zina, they can be used to create new varieties and hybrids of cucumber as donors of a predominantly female type of flowering, harmonious yield.

Leek very ancient culture which was widely applied in cookery and as remedy still by ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. Now the leek is widespread in countries of Western Europe and North Africa, in the USA, Canada, Australia. On chemical composition it is one of the most valuable onions representing in fact "the alive table of Mendeleyev". In such countries as Belgium, Holland and France it is one of the main vegetable cultures, and annual production it per capita makes from 4 to 10 kg. In Russia, unfortunately, it is still rare culture though falls into to the most valuable types of an onion on biochemical structure, productivity, resistance to wreckers and diseases. Widespread introduction of a leek in production restrains a number of factors among which lack of early ripening varieties with the increased resistance to extreme environmental conditions, and in this regard – difficulty of receiving high-quality seeds of leek in a midland of Russia to the north of Rostov-on-Don. Therefore, a vital necessity is on the basis of study under various conditions of cooperation a "genotype is an environment" and selection from world collection of sources of economic-valuable signs, creation of productive sorts and hybrids with good resistance to cold, possessing in the conditions of Moscow Suburbs, along with the high productivity and quality of products, by a high adaptivity to the different terms of height winter spending. Results of long-term researches of laboratory of selection of onions cultures (VNIISSOK) on studying, assessment and selection of exemplars of grades of leek from the VIR world collection are presented in article, receiving hybrid combinations and lines, development of methods of selection and creation on this basis of grades and hybrids of leek for not seedling culture in a midland of Russia, possessing high rates of vegetable and seed efficiency, quality of production and winter hardiness.

Varieties of Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis (L.) Verdc. draw breeders’ attention due to their valuable properties, form variation, particularly, among long asparagus beans. The climatic condition of South Far-East is favorable for the cultivation of cowpea. Introduction of the species expands the range of cultivated crops in the region. The aim of the study was to comparatively investigate the modern and local old accessions of cowpea in the field condition of Primoriye and also to select accessions studied suitable for cultivation in this region. Field experiments were carried out at Far-Eastern Experimental Station (VIR), Vladivostok in 2012-2015. Forty accessions of different breeding periods of time from VIR plant collection were assessed. Local varieties included into collection in 1920-1930, varieties selected in 1950-1980 and modern varieties developed after 2010 were significantly different by the morphometric characteristics such as length and width of leaf, bean length and weight, seed productivity per plant, period duration – from shoots to bean-filling and from shoots to bean-ripening. The productivity of green beans depended on different morphobiological traits. For varieties bred in 1950-1980, the correlation between seed and green bean productivity and the number of beans was observed. The yield of green beans was connected with bean length and width and the duration of vegetative period in modern varieties. The varieties bred in 1950-1980 were distinguished by their simultaneous maturation and early ripening, along with the balanced number of pods per plant and seed productivity. Modern varieties essentially exceeded the previously bred cultivars in pod length, yield capacity and duration of harvesting period. Local old varieties were distinguished by broad genetic variation, and were very important as a source of valuable traits. As a result of the study the varieties suitable for cultivation in Primoriye region have been identified to meet all customers’ requirements. For small production and farming ‘Yin Jiang Yi Hao’, ‘Zi San Chi’, ‘Zi San Chi’, ‘Yu Yan San Chi Lv’, ‘Xue Long Yi Hao’, ‘Zao Chun’, ‘Xin Jang’, ‘Zao Chun Jiang Dou’ were recommended, while the accessions ‘k-818’ and ‘k-797’ from China, ‘s. Tan Kim’ from Vietnam were regarded for industrial proposes: cannery and deep freezing.

The results of study of 62 tomato accessions from the world collection of VIR in the open ground are presented. The promising samples from different groups of ripeness were selected for several valuable agronomic characters.

Garlic is one of the most ancient plants which the person turned to himself on advantage. The larger need for production of garlic for consumption and as raw materials for manufacture of medicinal preparations and, at last, just for use by the population as remedy for many diseases and for the preventive purposes led to the fact that bulk production of garlic in the world makes 24,836 million tons, and the area under garlic reached 1,465 million hectares. n Russia the area under garlic on all categories of farms is 28,4 thousand hectares, and production – 256,406 thousand tons. From factors influencing on the increase production of garlic, one of basic is a sort. Selection of garlic includes improvement of local grades, creation new high-yield, steady against diseases and to wreckers of grades, with the increased content of sugars, essential oils and biologically the active materials. Results of long-term researches by laboratory selection of onions cultures (VNIISSOK) on studying, assessment and selection exemplars grades of garlic winter, collected from different regions of Russia and the CIS countries, on a complex of signs are presented in article (winter hardiness, efficiency, to quality of production, resistance to wreckers and diseases).

The article gives a historical overview of expeditionary surveys of the Republic of Kazakhstan territory by the VIR employees with the aim of collecting local vegetable and melon crops from the first expedition in 1925 and to present days. A total of 13 expeditions of VIR were carried out across Kazakhstan, including cooperative surveys with employees of the Kazakh Research Institute of Potato and Vegetable Growing. The role of Vavilov and his associates in the formation of the Institute's collections, the continuity of ideas and traditions in the scientific work with plant genetic resources are emphasized. The analysis of the dynamics of receipt of expeditionary samples in the collection of VIR is given. The current state and significance of local vegetable resources of vegetable and melon crops of Kazakhstan for breeding use in the Russian Federation is shown. The botanical status of the collected seed material is reflected and the results of long-term comprehensive ecological and geographical study of the collection at VIR stations are presented. Genetic sources of valuable traits are identified in various directions of breeding in cabbage, tomato, carrot, radish, radish, watermelon, melon and pumpkin for use in breeding programs. It is emphasized that the creation of highly productive varieties and plant hybrids that combine high quality with resistance to a complex of biotic and abiotic factors can be successful in breeding with the wide use of wild species, semi-cultural and primitive forms and local varieties with a high degree of adaptation . Taking into account the exclusion of local varieties from production by highly productive varieties, the role of preserving their variability in gene banks is growing. Long-term international scientific cooperation contributes to the solution of the tasks of mobilizing plant resources by conducting expedition collections, conservation and rational use of plant genetic resources.

The vegetable marrow and pumpkin are valuable vegetable crops thanks to high food and dietary qualities of fruits. Russia is on the third place in the world on gross yield of these crops, but on productivity takes the 11th place among the European countries. The state register of breeding achievements permitted for utilization in the territory of the Russian Federation for 2016, contains 152 varieties and a hybrids of vegetable marrows and the 138 pumpkins. But there are not enough varieties of a wide area, there are practically no ultra early varieties, there are not enough pumpkin varieties with a bush habitus of plants. The collection of pumpkins and vegetable marrows which is a source of valuable genotypes for the solution of actual tasks of breeding contains 2641 accessions from 99 countries of the world and wins the first place in the number of accessions among world genebanks. The greatest part of a collection (more than 1500 accessions) is constituted by advanced varieties, the second part of a collection (more than one thousand accessions) – local forms of pumpkins. Not large collection, about 50 accessions, but quite significant for its scientific and breeding values consists of hybrids, self-pollinated lines and donors of valuable traits. As a result of long-term evaluation of breeding accessions the germplasm collection that includes sources of valuable traits has been created. Genetic collection of pumpkin includes accessions with such traits as resistance to a virus mosaic, a naked seeds, bush habitus plants, spaghetti like fruit, parthenocarpy.

The article marked the stages of formation and studying of the VIR's collection of vegetable and melon crops. The structure of the collection and its significance for breeding is shown. The most important genetic resources of economically important traits are given.

The results of the research work carried out during the period 2015-2017 are outlined. on the practical selection of pumpkin in the conditions of the Volgograd Transvolga. The results of studying the assortment of pumpkin varieties of domestic and foreign breeding in collection nurseries are presented. The most promising samples adapted to local soil and climatic conditions have high productivity (Sviteny, Chino, Marina di Chioggia, Silber Bell (USA), Kham (Laos), image (Spain), Local (Kazakhstan), Gribovskaya winter, Teshchenka , Zucchini Malchugan, and the quality of the fruit: (Chino, Chirimen nankin (Japan), Cachi JNTA (Argentina), Mantova Uyghur (Kazakhstan), Duchess, Vega F1, Sweetie, Pampushka, Green Warted Habbard (USA). A new hybrid material was obtained, an estimation of its productivity of consumer achestv, stability to bio- and abiotic factors. accessions selected promising superior standards major ecological and morphological and economically valuable traits. The characteristics of the best selected hybrid combinations are given in comparison with the standards. The most productive are hybrid combinations: Marina di Chioggia x Zorka, Zorka x Sweet banana, Silber Bell x Elegant, Sweet x Elegant, Local (Kirghizia) x Zorka, zucchini Mountain Anchor. The yield of these samples exceeds the standards by 13.3-92.2%. The quality of the fruit is distinguished by the hybrids: Marina di Chioggia x Zorka, Zorka x Marina di Chioggia, Pampushka x Elegant, Zorka x Sweet banana, Silber Bell x Elegant, Zaslavia x POOS6-07, Zorka x Oreshek, Altair x Elegant. The content of dry substances in the fruits of these samples is 2.0-8.8% higher than the standards.