Relevance. In modern vegetable growing in the southern and central regions of Russia, new scientific developments are widely used, including the use of new varieties and hybrids, a drip irrigation system, fertigation with soluble fertilizers with microelements. All these agricultural practices make it possible to increase the yield of vegetable crops by several times, as well as to significantly increase the efficiency of applied fertilizers. The purpose of our work was to establish the effectiveness of the use of calculated doses of mineral fertilizers for tomato with the main application and top dressing under drip irrigation.Methodology. Research in 2019-2021 on ordinary heavy loamy chernozem of the experimental field of the Birutchecutskaya Vegetable Experimental Station – branch of FSBSI Federal Scientific Vegetable Center (Rostov Region, Novocherkassk) with a new variety of tomato Krasny banker.Results. It was revealed that without fertilization, the yield of tomatoes was at the level of 32-35 t/ha; the use of the recommended dose of N120P120K120 in the main application increased the yield to 64- 72 t/ha; the use of the estimated dose of mineral fertilizers (for a yield of 100 t/ha) increased the yield of tomatoes to 95 t/ha. The use of three-fold root feeding of plants with drip irrigation increased the yield by 21%, and with foliar feeding – by 2-8%. As a root top dressing for drip irrigation, a solution of microcrystalline water-soluble fertilizer "Master" with a different ratio of nutrients was used, and for foliar top dressing, an organomineral nanofertilizer with growth-stimulating activity "Arksoil KKR" was used. In general, a set of agrochemical practices made it possible to increase the tomato yield under drip irrigation from 33.7 to 102.8 t/ha, more than 3 times, without reducing the dry matter content in fruits and without nitrate contamination of products.

Relevance. Image analysis is an accessible method that can convert qualitative variables to quantitative variables. Computer imaging has been used in seed biology in a variety of ways, including testing emergence rate and identifying them. The paper examines the development in the field of computer image analysis that contribute to a better understanding of seed morphology in terms of their radial heterogeneity parameters: size, shape and color range. The size and shape of the seeds depends on the location of them in the inflorescence. The aim of the work was measuring geometric indicators and analyzing the color characteristics of Allium cristophii seeds in the RGB system, due to the multi-tiered arrangement in the inflorescence.Methods. TThe heterogeneous seeds A. cristophii Trautv were analyzed. From AllRussian Scientific Research Institute of Vegetable Growing biocollection – branch of Federal Scientific Vegetable Center. The morphometric and optical parameters of the seeds were measured by analyzing their images using the VideoTesT-Morphology software.Results. Analysis of Christoph onion seeds heterogeneity showed that the length and width of the seeds from the lower tier were 3.301 and 2.681 mm, from the average – 3.295 and 2.605 mm and from the upper tier – 3.265 and 2.58 mm respectively. The average seed size from the lower tier was 2.99 mm, the average size was 2.95 mm and the lower tier was 2.92 mm. Statistically significant decrease of indicators over all color channels (according to RGB color model) from the lower tier - to the upper tierwas revealed. The tiered arrangement of flowers on the inflorescence is the cause of non-time maturation of Allium seeds. Operational ease, low cost commercial computer technology, and non- destructive seed analysis and sorting highlight the potential of this method for application in a seed laboratory.

The vegetable production is one of the main factors for food security, as vegetables play an important role in the structure of nutrition. The Federal Scientific Vegetable Center creates competitive varieties and hybrids of vegetable crops that meet market requirements to meet the needs of domestic producers and thereby contributes to food security. As a result of national breeding program, the varieties and hybrids adapted to different growing conditions, with resistance to local races of pathogens, temperature stresses, and ground frosts were developed to provide the sustainable production of vegetables with high nutritional and medicinal qualities. The varieties and hybrids F1 of white head cabbage that have been created for the last 5 years are distinguished from foreign ones by taste qualities, appropriate pickling characteristics with increased sugar, and decreased cellulose contents. The local onion varieties combine long shelf life, early maturing, well bulb formation, high dry matter content (18-20%) and ability to form the bulb for one year. Breeders have developed bee-pollinated and parthenocarpic hybrids of cucumber well adapted to local growing conditions and suitable for open field cultivation in different regions of Russia. Parthenocarpic heterotic hybrids of the multi-propose use, corresponding to the modern variety model with high productivity, early-ripening, bunch ovary disposition, resistance to abiotic stresses, and most harmful diseases. The carrot and red beet varieties with high nutritional qualities, long shelf-life, ecological plasticity that are widely used for seed production have been created. The varieties of Solanaceae crops have been developed to cultivate in Non Chernozem zone, Far East, Western Siberia, the Middle Belt of Russia and the south of Russia, are also suitable for different greenhouse complexes located in different light zones of the Russia. Wide application of varieties produced through national vegetable breeding programs can provide the population with our own products of high quality.

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. 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 and methods. Losses of agricultural crops are associated not only with the development of diseases during the growing season, but also during post-harvest storage. Garlic is a popular vegetable and aromatic crop in world. Significant losses in garlic yield during cultivation and storage are associated with fungal pathogens, the most harmful of which are representatives of the genus Fusarium. In the Moscow region, the defeat of garlic by Fusarium occurs annually, but with varying intensity. At the Federal Scientific Vegetable Center (FSVC), it was shown that rot and wilting of garlic plants is caused by a complex of pathogenic fungi, including mainly different species of Fusarium. At the same time, the ratio of Fusarium species in the pathogenic complex changes from year to year, new Fusarium species and their races are registered. The aim of this study was to identify fungal phytopathogens causing dry rot of garlic cloves during post-harvest storage. To carry out the work, garlic bulbs of cultivars Dubkovsky and Strelets were taken from the FSVC storage.Results. As a result of visual examination, cloves with symptoms of dry rot were identified. The diseased cloves tissues were plated on potato dextrose agar to obtain fungal colonies. Analysis of the morphological and cultural characteristics of fungal isolates, as well as the nucleotide sequences of four DNA regions (ITS spacers, genes EF1α, RPB1, and RPB2) showed that the causative agent of dry rot of garlic cloves is the pathogenic fungus Fusarium proliferatum. In addition, in the field, identification was carried out based on the analysis of the sequences of spacers ITS and the EF1αgene of phytopathogenic fungi inhabiting the root zone of garlic plants. As a result, two species of fungi of the genus Fusarium (F. proliferatum and F. oxysporum f. sp. cepae), as well as the species Rhizoctonia solani, Volutella rosea, and Ceratobasidium sp. were found in the root zone of garlic cultivars.

Relevance Currently, the first place goes to the creation of new high-yielding varieties and hybrids F1 crops that meet the requirements of modern industrial technologies. Heterosis hybrids have high yield, marketability, equalization, friendly yield and resistance to disease. Methods When developing new varieties and hybrids of radish suitable for mechanized harvesting, attention should be paid to the strength of the attachment of the leaf outlet and its upright position, the uniformity of immersion in the soil and the easy pull-out of root crops. Studies were performed in a protected (heated film greenhouse) and open ground in All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Vegetable Growing – Branch of the FSBSI Federal Scientific Vegetable Center. Results The results of breeding work with European radish are presented. According to the results of expert evaluation, the state register of breeding achievements included two varieties of European summer radish – Bianca, Sirius and one hybrid of European winter radish – Tsyganskiy Baron F1. The new varieties are distinguished by uniformity in shape, length, diameter of the root crop, compact leaf rosette, form a root crop in a short and long daylight, recommended for cultivation under film shelters and in the open ground (early spring and summer sowing time). As a result of repeated inbreeding, inbred lines of European winter radish (brought to the seventh generation) were created, characterized by high equalization of the root crop, with strict self-compatibility. These lines were included in the process of creating heterosis hybrids. Evaluation of the obtained hybrids was carried out in the open ground. A hybrid of radish European winter Tsyganskiy Baron F1 – medium-ripe, flat-rounded root, black, weighing 220-260 g. Perspective hybrid in relation to the standard has a more aligned form of the root, with a rich black color and smooth surface. Tsyganskiy Baron F1 on the above indicators exceeds the standard night, resistant to stressful conditions.

The article presents a literature review on fasciation in pumpkin crops. In almost all pumpkin crops, you can find such a phenomenon as fasciation. However, it is more common in cucumbers and pumpkins than in melons and watermelons. Fasciation (or crystallization) is a change that can occur in the morphology of plant organs and usually includes expansion of the apical meristem of the shoot, flattening of the stem and changes in the arrangement of leaves. In pumpkin crops, the fasciated organs are often whips, flowers and fruits. A number of authors divide fasciations into inherited and non-inherited. The first are caused by internal reasons. The second is the effect of external factors, such as insect damage, injury, weather conditions. According to literature data, fasciation is caused by 1-2 recessive genes with incomplete manifestation and variable expression, which depends on a number of factors, including environmental conditions. The opp gene may have a pleiotropic effect on fasciation and leaf arrangement. In Federal Scientific Vegetable Center in spring film greenhouses, among the selection and collection samples of cucumber, fasciated plants ranged from 0 to 1.9%, depending on the genotype of the studied samples and the year of research (growing conditions). According to literature data, fasciation is more often observed in short-fruited, but it can also be detected in long-fruited forms of cucumber. Fused fruits are more likely to appear on cucumber hybrids with a large number of ovaries in the node. It should be noted, that highly fasciated plants are usually less productive, and most fasciated fruits are often classified as non-standard and rejected. Regular culling by breeders of fasciated samples and plants, within individual samples, will allow to create varieties less prone to fasciation. And compliance with the recommended varietal agrotechnics, improvement of the ecological situation will help to significantly reduce the number of fasciated plants and fruits and improve the marketability of products.

The yield of vegetable peas in the conditions of the Omsk region is largely limited to the defeat of plants by a complex of diseases and damage by phytophages. The aim of the research was to study the collection of pea vegetable samples in Western Siberia and to identify among them the most resistant to Ascochyta. The object of research was 70 samples of vegetable peas from the collections of the Federal Scientific Vegetable Center,  Odintsovo, Federal Research Centre All-Russian institute of plant genetic resources on the name  of  N.I.  Vavilov (VIR), St.  Petersburg,  as  well  as obtained in the framework of cooperation with foreign breeding institutions. The experiments were conducted in the forest-steppe  zone of  the  Omsk region in 2014-2017.  As  a result of the experiments, it was established that the defeat of  peas by  Ascochyta occurs  annually, but  with  different intensity, depending on weather conditions. The maximum resistance of plants was observed in 2016 under conditions of severe drought (5.8 points on average), the minimum – in 2015 with moderately humid and warm weather (3.9 points on average). Late sowing contributes to a greater damage to plants by Ascochyta and reduced productivity. The relationship between resistance to Ascochyta and conditions characterizing heat and moisture supply is strong negative in the initial period of plant growth: with the CGT (r = -0.98 0.13), the amount of precipitation (r = -0.86 0.35), air temperature (r =  -0,67  0,24); strong positive in the second half of the growing season: with SCC (r = 0.82 0.33), amount of precipitation  (r  =  0.68  0.35).  Most  of  the  samples during  the research retained a high (29%) and medium (48%) resistance to  Ascochyta. As a result of  the collection's assessment, samples  of  vegetable peas  resistant  (7-8  points)  to  the pathogen were distinguished: B-1295  (к-8907,  Bashkiria), Chinese (PRC), Terrace 888 (k-9376, Ukraine). These samples  can  be  recommended  as  sources  of  resistance to Ascochyta for the selection of  vegetable peas in Western Siberia.