Relevance. Powdery mildew is one of the most common and harmful diseases of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) in open and protected ground. Moreover, in the closed ground, the harmfulness is higher than in the field. The yield of cucumber, due to the defeat of plants by powdery mildew, decreases by 30-50%, and in some cases by more than 70%. The creation of modern cucumber hybrids is impossible without the constant involvement in the breeding process of new sources of economically useful traits, including resistance to real powdery mildew. It is very important to combine in one line both a high degree of parthenocarpy, and the female type of flowering, and resistance to the most harmful diseases. We tried to solve this problem in our work.Materials and methods. The experience was laid in 2018-2022 in the Odintsovo district of the Moscow region on the basis of the head institution of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution Federal Scientific Vegetable Center (FSBSI FSVC) in the conditions of a spring ground greenhouse of the Block type, on a natural infectious background. On the basis of the laboratory of breeding and seed production of pumpkin crops, 27 collectible and about 50 breeding samples of parthenocarpic cucumber were studied. The article presents an assessment of the resistance to this powdery mildew of 36 of the most aligned and most valuable cucumber breeding samples in terms of a complex of economically useful features. 2-3 families, 6 plants in each, were evaluated for each sample for 2 years. During the entire growing season, the intensity of powdery mildew damage was assessed on a four-point scale and the spread of the disease in %.Results. Among the collection samples of cucumber, on a natural infectious background, two hybrids of the agrofirm BEJO ZADEN B.V. were not affected by powdery mildew: Amur 1801 F1, Artist F1, a hybrid without a name of the agrofirm MONSANTO HOLLAND B.V., conventionally named – Semenis F1 and hybrid Kibria F1 of the agrofirm RIJK ZWAAN. To a small extent, less than one point, they were amazed: Orpheus F1, Merengue F1, Marinda F1, Masha F1, Othello F1, List F1, Adam F1, SV 4097 F1 and Krasotka F1. 11cucumber breeding samples selected in previous years of research on a complex of economically useful signs that were not affected by this disease during 2 years of research were identified. Work will continue to evaluate these lines for resistance to real powdery mildew on an artificial infectious background.

Relevance. The yield of watermelon fruits and seeds depends on many factors, one of which is the phytosanitary condition of the crops. Weather conditions during the growing season at the beginning of flowering contributed to the infection of plants with bacteriosis and Alternaria.Methodology. The experiments were carried out in the central zone of the Krasnodar Territory in the department of vegetable and potato growing of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution "Federal Research Center of Rice" at the seed-growing site of the watermelon variety Nitsa. The work was carried out in accordance with generally accepted guidelines. Results were obtained on the use of fungicides Metabacterin and Plantare on seed crops of the Nitsa watermelon variety.Results and discussion. Double treatment with drugs significantly limited the spread and damage of plants by bacteriosis and alternaria. The phytotoxicity of Plantarel for harmful pathogens was higher than that of Metabacterin, which was reflected in an increase in fruit yield – by 7.8 t/ha, fruit marketability – by 8% and seed yield – by 57 kg/ha more, in comparison with the control option. The effect of treating watermelon plants with Metabacterin on yield indicators is less significant in comparison with Plantarel but higher than in the control variant. 4.2 t/ha more fruits were collected, with a 5% higher yield of marketable fruits and a 5 kg/ha higher seed yield than from watermelon plants without protective measures. The use of drugs contributed to the preservation of a larger number of plants in the variants (compared to the control), and ensured a high accumulation of dry soluble substances in the fruit pulp. Bacteriological and mycological analyzes showed that there are no pathogenic microflora on seeds from fruits from plants treated with Plantarel and Metabacterin. Both drugs have a growth-stimulating effect. Soaking the seeds before sowing in a solution of preparations contributed to the emergence of vigorous shoots three days earlier than when soaking in water.

Relevance. Vegetable soybean is a special variety with high added value, consumed fresh and harvested at the stage technical ripeness (R6). Accession-A is one of the promising vegetable soybean materials, studied and identified as a result of work that was carried out jointly with the Federal Scientific Vegetable Center in the Moscow Region (FSVC) and the Agrobiotechnology Department of the Agricultural Technological Institute (ATI) of the RUDN University named after Patrice Lumumba. The use of microorganisms to promote atmospheric nitrogen fixation is a common practice in soybean production.Methodology. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of two microbiological preparations based on Sinorhizobium fredii and Bradyrhizobium jaроniсum in order to identify which microbiological preparation gives the best results in terms of morphological indicators and vegetable soybean yield under the conditions region of the Non-Chernozem zone of the Russian Federation. The object of the study was accession-A of vegetable soybean. Two types of treatment were carried out: B1 – treatment with a preparation with Bradyrhizobium jaronicum (1 l/t of seeds), B2 – treatment with a preparation with Sinorhizobium fredii (1 l/t of seeds). Control without treatment (K).Results. According to statistical analysis of biometric indicators, it was found that treatment with S. fredii (B2) had the highest average values for indicators of stem diameter (11.50 mm), lower pod attachment height (11.19 cm), number of branches (3.40 pcs.) and the number of productive nodes (27.48 pcs.). Preparation B2 improved the structure of the crop, influencing the obtainment of the highest indicators of plant weight (30.47 g), seed weight per plant (15.33 g), weight of 1000 seeds (171.25 g), number of seeds per plant (98.50 pcs.), number of seeds in a bean (2.89 pcs.) and seed yield (3.11 t/ha). The use of microbiological preparations based on B. japonicum and S. fredii gave better results compared to the control treatment.

Relevance. Cercospora leaf spot (Сercospora beticola) is a widespread disease of table beet that reduces the yield of root crops in many beet-growing regions. Annual losses from cercosporosis amount to 30-40%, and in the years of epiphytotic diseases – 50% or more. The fungus has a complex intraspecific structure, includes many pathotypes and races, which should be taken into account when breeding for resistance. The main method of creating resistant forms of table beet to C. beticola is the selection of cercospore-resistant lines in the natural manifestation of the disease and on artificial backgrounds. In open ground conditions, it is not always possible to assess the resistance of table beet to cercosporosis, since cercosporosis is weak in some hot and dry years. Therefore, laboratory assessment methods are important to accelerate the breeding process. The purpose of the research is to carry out an immunological analysis of beet lines in the field and laboratory conditions for the selection of sustainable material.Materials and methods. The assessment of beet variety samples for resistance to cercospora blight was carried out in open ground conditions on the basis of the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Vegetable Growing – branch of the FSBSI Federal Scientific Vegetable Center (Moscow region). In laboratory conditions, artificial infection of separated red beet leaves was carried out. The objects of the study were inbred lines of red beets of the 1st-6th generation.Results and discussion. As a result of evaluation and selection, red beet lines No. 713 and 790 with increased resistance to cercospora blight were identified. It has been established that for practical breeding it is necessary to constantly and strictly select for resistance to cercospora blight. In laboratory conditions, a method of artificial infection of separated leaves has been developed, which allows for a short period of time to carry out a preliminary assessment of a large number of beetroot samples for resistance to cercospora blight.

Relevance. The use of modern biotechnological methods in breeding, namely the doubled haploid technology and marker-assisted selection, can significantly reduce the time for creating pure lines with valuable properties. Fusarium wilt is one of the economically important diseases of white cabbage. Therefore, the development of a MAS method for selecting doubled haploids resistant to fusarium wilt would allow fast selection of resistant pure lines. Moreover, the resistance testing can be done at any plant developmental stage.Materials and methods. The response of hybrids Gertsoginya F1, Poisk 2018 F1 (resistant samples, the originator – the Agrofirm “Poisk”) and Slava 1305 (susceptible sample, the originator – Federal Scientific Vegetable Center) towards Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. conglutinans infection was determined by evaluating their growth on the inoculated soil. To test the efficiency of the FocBNUf/r marker to the polymorphic region of the FocBo1 gene, the markers were tested on resistant and susceptible genotypes. Then the markers were applied to analyze 60 doubled haploids of 12 different genotypes.Results. It was demonstrated that the FocBNUf/r marker effectively differentiated resistant and susceptible samples. Doubled haploids were obtained from 12 different breeding samples for FocBNUf/r marker-based selection of fusarium wilt resistant plants. PCR testing of doubled haploids for fusarium resistance allowed us to select 6.7-100% of plants with the fusarium resistance gene in a homozygous state in 8 genotypes. 4 genotypes of doubled haploids that did not carry the resistance gene were eliminated from the breeding program.Conclusion. The FocBNUf/r marker effectively identified resistant and susceptible samples, as well as differentiates homozygous and heterozygous plants. FocBNUf/r marker was used to select resistant doubled haploids of white cabbage at the seedling stage. Thus, it was possible not only to accelerate the production of pure lines by obtaining doubled haploids, but also to accelerate the selection of valuable samples carrying the gene of resistance to fusarium, which makes it possible to avoid the labor-intensive selection of resistant lines on inoculated soil.

Relevance. The selection for productivity and stability on different stages in the breeding process includes an assessment of the adaptive capacity and genotypes ecological stability. Therefore breeding for the resistance to abiotic environmental factors is closely connected with the adaptive breeding, which has received special attention in recent years.Methodology. The work was carried out at the “A.L. Mazlumov All-Russian Research Institute of Sugar Beet and Sugar” in 2011-2020. Male-sterile forms of sugar beet were crossed with fertile diploid multi-seeded pollinators (ARRISBS selections) by topcross method. The resulting hybrids were assessed for yield, sugar content and sugar collection according by standard methods used at the “A.L. Mazlumov ARRISBS”. It is carried out the annual work, including selection of the best and rejection of the worst options for the studied characteristics. An assessment was made of lines and hybrid combinations of sugar beet for the resistance to a complex of unfavorable natural and climatic factors based on the characteristics of yield, sugar content and seed productivity.Results. The results of improving selections over ten years show an increase in the weight of the root crop and the sugar content for the original single-seeded and multi-seeded materials. Single-seeded (MS-2113, MS-Perla) and multi-seeded (OP-15465, OP-15676, OP-15202) lines with high combining ability in terms of yield and sugar content of root crops were identified. An increase in the resulting parameter - sugar collection - was noted by 2020 (to 8,8-9,0 t/ha), illustrating the positive dynamics of the breeding process of sugar beet for plants of the first life year. An increase in the weight of 1000 seeds (to 13,4-13,9 g) and separate fruiting (to 98-99%) was shown during the breeding process for plants of the second life year.Conclusion. The studied hybrid combinations have a wide reaction rate to a complex of natural climatic factors: elevated temperatures in combination with high and low humidity.

Relevance. Using artificial intelligence (AI) systems is of particular importance in the transformation of modern Russian vegetable growing.Methods. Using the monographic method, the world and Russian practice of developing and using artificial intelligence systems is considered using the example of: CropX, John Deere, IBM Watson, AgEagle Aerial Systems, Blue River Technology, Farmwise, Taranis, Naiad Irrigation, Sustainable Agriculture Technology (SAT), Leader Technology, AgroCalypso, AgroVzglyad group of companies, Russian technologies and systems, Rostec Artificial Intelligence Competence Center, AgroBot, Kaluga Astra, Agrosystems, RosAgro, SAFMAR, AgriCo management company, Sadko agrofirm, AgroEco, AgroInvest and others.Results, A list of problems with the use of AI in vegetable growing is identified, such as: high initial costs of implementing AI; lack of qualified personnel with the necessary knowledge in the field of IT and agronomy; high probability of technical failures, leading to losses in productivity and increased costs; difficulty of integration with existing automation systems; information security of databases; difficulty of data preparation; legal and ethical risks; lack of necessary infrastructure; unfavorable climatic conditions for the operation of AI; resistance to innovations on the part of personnel. Despite the identified problems, the prospects for using AI in vegetable growing in Russia will allow: optimizing agronomic processes; improving the quality of forecasting and monitoring; increasing the level of automation; improving the quality of data processing; improving resource manageability; increasing the level of adaptation of production to market needs; increasing adaptation to storage conditions and supply chain logistics, increasing the level of information content of technological processes.Conclusion. Expanding the practice of using AI will increase the efficiency and sustainability of vegetable growing in the strategic perspective.

Relevance. Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestrisis a widespread bacterial pathogen that causes a black rot disease of Brassicaceae plants. It is distributed across all territories with cultivated brassica crops and has high economic significance. One of the known Xanthomonas pathogenicity factor is TAL-effectors. These proteins penetrate in plant nucleus and change expression of some host genes in order to promote infection. For some Xanthomonas species TAL-effectors are a key of bacteria success, however for Xcc their role is still remain obscure as well as TALE occurrence among Xcc belonged to different races and originated from different regions. The goal of our study was examination of TALE distribution among Xcc isolates collected in Russia.Methods. Sample of the Xcc isolates mainly collected in Moscow region and Krasnodar krai was used for TALE search. Bacterial total DNA was isolated using CTAB method. Four primer pairs were used for TALE genes detection by amplification conservative regions.Results. Among 50 isolates only 4 isolates possessed TALE were revealed. Low-frequency occurrence of TALE among Russian isolates can reflect Xcc population features in Moscow region and Krasnodar krai as well as genotype features of cultivated plant hosts.

Relevance. A crucial condition for maintaining the vital potential of plants is their ability to with-stand adverse environmental conditions. The aim of the work was to study the effect of the drug "Epin-extra" on strengthening the resistance of Fragaria х ananassa Duch. plants for spring frosts.Methods. The objects: strawberry garden Queen and Harvest CGL. With the onset of active growth in the spring period non-root treatments of strawberry plants with were carried out with a solution of the Epin-extra growth regulator containing 24-epibrassinolide. During budding phase, the plants were exposed to negative temperatures in a controlled environment chamber (-3oC) "Espec" PSL-2KPH (Japan). The functioning of the antioxidant defense system and the activity of lipid peroxidation processes in membranes lipids (POL) based on the accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA) were carried out in the leaves of strawberry varieties.Results. It was shown that the non-root treatment of strawberry varieties with the Epin-extra preparation contributed to a decrease in the processes of peroxidation of cell membranes. The content of malondialdehyde (MDA) was 10,2% lower by the Tsaritsa variety, and the variety the Urozhainaya CGL by 30,1% compared to the control. The amount of the amino acid proline in the Tsaritsa variety was 13,6 % higher compained to the control, and in the Urozhainaya CGL variety by 12,4%. Treatment with Epin-extra contributed to an increase in the amount of sugars in the leaf tissue of both varieties.

Relevance. Crop productivity is determined by genotype, environmental effects and their interactions. Comprehensive evaluation of crop varieties based on their adaptability, plasticity and stability makes it possible to select the most promising varieties, high-yielding and adapted to many environmental conditions to improve productivity.Materials and Methods. Fourteen common bean varieties were tested in a randomized complete block design with three replications during two years (2022 and 2023) in the experimental field “Michurintsev Garden” of Novosibirsk State Agrarian University. Productivity traits were taken into account: number and weight of beans per plant, weight of 1000 seeds, yield. The purpose of the work was to evaluate bean samples for adaptive capacity and ecological stability in the conditions of the forest-steppe Priobie.Results. The article provides an assessment of the adaptability and stability of bean varieties in order to identify varieties with high productivity and adapted to climatic and farming conditions in the Siberian region. The results of the tests showed that the highest average net yields of Rubin, Krasnopestraya, Zolotistaya and Muhranula varieties were in the range of 0.41-0.64 kg/m2. Analysis of genotype-environment interaction (GxE) according to the mathematical model of Eberhart and Russel shows that varieties Rubin, Krasnopestraya, Zolotistaya and Muhranula have high indices of general adaptability and breeding value of genotype, Among them, varieties Rubin and Zolotistaya have stable productivity and high adaptability to environmental conditions.