Relevance. This article shows the research conducted by researchers from the agrotechnical department of the Bykovskaya melon breeding station from 2018 to 2020.Results. The data obtained make it possible to scientifically substantiate the most cost-effective methods and techniques for treating table watermelon plants to increase productivity in the Volgograd Trans-Volga region. Indicators of economic efficiency of production make it possible to compare the results of economic activity and reveal the productivity of the enterprise for this period in connection with an increase in the use of means of production and labor. In modern conditions of development of agricultural production, there is a need to develop new technologies adapted to the new conditions of land use. In connection with the sharp decline in recent years in the use of fertilizers, the problem arose of finding ways to maximize the use of the biological factor. To obtain stable yields, it is necessary to increase the adaptive capabilities of plants to extreme conditions in which gourds are grown in the zone of industrial melon growing in the Volgograd Trans-Volga region. One of them is the use of plant growth regulators and water-soluble fertilizers. One of the advantages of these drugs is their simplicity, variety of methods of their application and low cost. According to the cost-effectiveness data, it can be seen that the foliar treatment of table watermelon plants was the best option. In the first experiment, the Fitozont regulator, in the second, the water-soluble fertilizer Khakafos with one and a half norm (0.9), in the third experiment, the best results were shown by the variant with foliar treatment with a growth regulator in combination with the water-soluble fertilizer Vigor Forte + Agrovin Profi at a dosage of (0.05+0.5).

Relevance. The article highlights the issues of growing medicinal and essential oil crops, the seeds shortage and the problem of chemical polymorphism of raw materials. As a possible way to solve this problem is considered a wide introduction of seedling technologies for medicinal and essential oil crops. An analysis was carried out and information was systematized on individual elements of the technological process.Purpose. To analyze and explore the possibilities for the introduction of seedling technologies in medicinal plant growing, taking into account the experience at other branches of plant growing, primarily vegetable growing.Methods. Information obtained from literary sources was systematized by individual elements of the technological process, presented in a logical sequence and analyzed for applicability in medicinal plant production.Results. The result of the literary sources analysis, the personal experience of researchers on the use of the seedling method for medicinal, and essential oil crops growing, they showed the prospect the seedlings technology for generatively and vegetatively propagated plants. Thanks to modern growth regulators and fertilizers, it is possible to intensify the process of seedling production, and specifically to increase the germination and energy of seed germination, rooting of cuttings, shorten the period from sowing (planting cuttings) to planting in the ground and get cassette seedlings with a well-developed root system. The mechanization of the sowing and planting processes can significantly reduce the costs of these operations, a longer interval for planting allows you to prepare the field with the highest quality and successfully fight weeds by mechanical means. The technique used for these operations in commercial vegetable growing is suitable for medicinal and essential oil crops without further modification. Conclusion. The widespread introduction of the seedling method can be the best solution to the problem of lack of seeds, difficulties of direct sowing in the ground and a long germination phase, care after planting and weed control in the first period, and will also allow obtaining raw materials with a stable biochemical composition.

Relevance. Currently, greenhouse complexes use water for irrigation from open surface sources (ponds, lakes, rivers) and underground water from wells, adding a return (drainage) solution to it. At the same time, water from both open sources and drainage solution often becomes a source of emergence and spread of phytopathogenic infection in greenhouses, which brings economically significant crop losses. In this regard, the need to develop guaranteed methods and methods for the disinfection of drainage water and water from open sources is relevant. One of the methods of water disinfection is the use of ultraviolet irradiation, but for the effective use of irradiation, it is necessary to ensure the minimum effective UV dose. This UV dose is typical for each pathogen.Results. Work was carried out to experimentally establish doses of UV irradiation that allow complete inactivation of vegetative cells and spores of bacteria and fungi (Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Pythium debaryanum, Fusarium oxysporum, Verticillium dahliae, Phoma destructiva) in a solution prepared on the basis of distilled water. A dose of UV irradiation of 40 mJ/cm2 ensured complete inactivation of the bacterial pathogen, and a dose of 60 mJ/cm2 showed complete inactivation of the pathogens of the studied fungal infections.

Relevance. Black currant (Ribes nigrum L.) occupies an important place in amateur gardening of the Komi Republic as an economically valuable crop. There is no doubt that it is possible and necessary to develop berry growing in the Komi Republic, to meet the needs of the population in multivitamin products through local production of berries. The purpose of the paper was to study the economically useful traits of varieties cultivated in the North in the conditions of the middle subzone of the taiga. Winter hardiness, phenological phases, productivity, large-fruitedness (berry weight), biochemical composition of berries were analyzed.Methodology. The results of the study of six varieties of black currant in 2020–2022 are presented. Plants are nine to ten years old. The research was carried out according to the "Program and methodology for the study of variety of fruit, berry and nut crops" (1999). Currants are planted in rows according to the scheme 4 x 1.5.Results. As a result of the research, it was revealed that the studied varieties of black currant are promising for cultivation in the middle subzone of the taiga. In all studied varieties, vegetation was observed in the second-third decade of April. The beginning of flowering was observed in the middle of the second – the end of the third decade of May, 25–39 days after the beginning of the growing season. The beginning of fruit ripening was noted in the first-second decades of July, 48-52 days after the start of the flowering. Mass ripening of berries was noted in the middle of the second – the end of the third decade of July, and the middle of the second-first decade of August for “Lazy” variety. During the study period, the vegetation of black currant ended in the second decade of October, with the onset of temperatures below 5°C. The duration of the vegetation period over the years of research was above the norm and equaled 169-185 days. The productivity of black currant varieties was 1.16-1.79 kg per bush. All varieties are characterized by large fruits (berries) weighing 1.02-1.66 g. A biochemical analysis of frozen berries of blackcurrant varieties for 2021-2022 was carried out regarding the content of ascorbic acid, sugars, acidity, solids. The maximum content of ascorbic acid was noted in “Vologda” variety – 97.68 mg%. The highest sugar-acid index was in “Bagira” variety – 3.5. All the varieties have a high content of dry matter in berries: 18.04-20.38%. Overall, the varieties of black currant under study suit for cultivation in the middle subzone of the taiga.

Relevance. In the vegetable market, cucumber is in stable demand. It also occupies one of the leading places in the structure of sown areas after root crops, cabbage, and tomato. In addition to high yields, modern varieties (hybrids) of cucumber, are characterized by good marketability of green cukes and transportability. The stable demand for green cukes among the population, as well as their high economically valuable characteristics, ensure constant interest in this crop both at large and small farms, which supply a significant part of the market with the fresh produce in spring and summer. Local peasant farms grow cabbages, root vegetables, onions, and watermelons, but very few of those cultivate cucumbers. Those are mainly grown in spring greenhouses. This imbalance is explained by the lack of cucumber varieties and hybrids adapted to local conditions.The purpose of this study is the assessment of a collection of parthenocarpic F1 cucumber hybrids and identification of highly productive varieties suitable for growing in polycarbonate greenhouses suitable in the spring-summer rotation in the south of the Amur Region. The object of the study were 11 F1 cucumber hybrids of domestic and foreign selection.Results. According to the results of studying the collection of parthenocarpic hybrids of cucumber grown in spring/summer polycarbonate greenhouses in the south of the Amur Region, marketable green cukes are formed on day 44-54 after germination. The hybrids Amur F1, Artist F1, Director F1, Componist RZ F1, Bjorn F1, Gunnar F1, and Cedric F1 are characterized by high productive facility. They have formed 9.0–13.0 kg/m2 of marketable green cukes. According to the test panel score, the hybrids Bettina F1, Pasalimo F1, and Gunnar F1, have the best gustatory quality (4,8-5,0 points).

Relevance. The article describes zones with one or another predominant type of melioration depending on the territorial location of the reclaimed lands, a brief classification of channels is given according to design features, cross-sectional shape, throughput capacity and technical and operational characteristics. Channels are the main elements of reclamation systems. Ensuring high-quality operation of channels with the required bandwidth guarantees the efficient operation of the entire reclamation system. Characteristic canal deformations that occur during operation are given, as well as factors affecting the throughput of canals, such as the appearance of sediment, silting and grass vegetation, the growth of shrubs and small trees. The article presents sewer cleaning machines used on canals of reclamation systems during cleaning and restoration work, describes their design features for cleaning canals of various types and cross sections. Canal cleaners are described, which, according to the mode of operation, are both intermittent and continuous machines, which most effectively and efficiently clean the bottom and slopes of channels of various reclamation systems. The article also provides an explanation of the increase in the efficiency of canal cleaning and the subsequent high-quality work of the reclamation system in the case of using various complexes of sewer cleaning machines, including a variety of machines with different working bodies, sizes and quantities. The choice of the number of machines is directly related to technical and economic indicators: the use of a large number of machines may not be economically feasible, and the use of a minimum number of machines will not provide the re-quired cleaning. Thus, it is important to choose the optimal number of machines of various sizes that form a separate complex.

To study the remobilization rate affected by growth regulators in wheat a field experiment was carried out in the south of Iran over 2017-2019 with a split-split plot design and three iterations in completely randomized blocks. The main plots were two irrigation regimes (full irrigation and irrigation interruption at the grain-filling stage), two wheat cultivars (Chamran 2 and Durum Karkheh cv.s) were as sub plots, and four growth regulators (control (no growth regulator), salicylic acid, jasmonic acid, and cytokinin) placed in sub-sub plots. Results revealed the significant impact of the triple interaction on grain yield. The highest grain yield (4803 kg/Ha) was observed for Chamran 2 cv. treated with complete irrigation and salicylic acid. Although grain yield declined by 15.5% in the Karkheh cv. with irrigation interruption at the grain-filling stage and non-administration of growth regulators, treatment with salicylic acid managed to attenuate the adverse impact of drought stress in grain yield. The highest current photosynthesis and its contribution were observed in cultivars treated with complete irrigation. Moreover, irrigation regimen and growth regulators each had significant impacts on proline, catalase enzyme, and stomatal conductance. Overall, results suggested that using salicylic acid in Chamran 2 cv. would be advisable to increase growth and grain yield and reduce decline under stress.

The development of classical methods of soaking and growing seeds to the method of hydropriming and its further improvement based on the introduction of new knowledge and integrated approaches are shown. Priming is a controlled hydration of seeds (saturation with a limited amount of water), which causes the activation of metabolism, the initiation of germination (preventing the appearance of a root) and ensuring the subsequent reversibility of this process (by drying) while maintaining a stimulating effect. P.A. Genkel, who presented a thorough theoretical justification and detailed experimental confirmation of the effectiveness of pre-sowing soaking and subsequent drying (often multiple times) to increase drought and salt tolerance of plants. For a complex of methods for influencing seeds with water and osmotic solutions, W. Heidecker proposed the term priming, which is widely used in the English language, but at first did not take root in Russian literature. The characteristic of the internal reasons for the decrease in the viability of seeds, associated primarily with the aging process, during which the depletion of nutrient reserves, the accumulation of growth inhibitors, mutagens, reactive oxygen species and other harmful substances, the denaturation of proteins and nucleic acids, the oxidation of unsaturated lipids and external (abiotic and biotic), and their interactions. The article provides information about agents and methods, technical solutions and priming techniques. The role of water, conditions, factors, parameters, fundamental morpho-anatomical, physiological and biochemical substantiation of the germination process are described. The shortcomings of priming and ways to overcome them are outlined on the basis of an in-depth study of the metabolic processes occurring in the process of priming and subsequent germination in order to understand the mechanisms for increasing the sowing and productive properties of seeds. The necessity of maximizing the practice of applying priming, especially in difficult environmental conditions, was noted.

Currently, pectins are widely used in the food, pharmaceutical industry, medicine and other industries due to the ability to form gels of various strengths, to show therapeutic and preventive properties. Cucurbita maxima pumpkin is considered as a source of natural and inexpensive pectin, as well as a functional food product for use in food and pharmaceutical preparations. The aim of the study was to identify the features of the accumulation of pectin substances in the most economically significant species of pumpkin C. maxima from the VIR collection. It was found that the studied varieties differ significantly in the amount of pectin substances. The content of pectins in the conditions of the North-West of Russia varied in the range from 0.59 to 4.24% (for absolutely dry matter). The content of soluble pectins was in the range of 0.24-1.36%. The level of protopectin accumulation, depending on the genotype and conditions of the growing season, was 0.35-3.37%. Sources of high content of soluble pectin and protopectin in pumpkin fruits have been identified for their further use in breeding, food and pharmaceutical industries.

This paper analyzes the literature data on the practical use of plants of the genus Filipendula as a nutritional component and a promising source of biologically active substances. For immunomodulatory action, the flowers and leaves of the meadowsweet are mainly used, which have demonstrated a significant effect in numerous in vitro and in vivo models. Among the diseases in which the immunomodulatory properties of plants of the genus Filipendula are found the most application are inflammatory processes of the upper respiratory tract, a number of inflammatory disorders of the skin, as well as a diaphoretic and antispasmodic, in bronchial asthma, etc. An analysis of the literature data allows us to conclude that these plants have a beneficial effect on human health, both individually and as a component of food, due to their unique phytochemical profiles.