Pumpkin crops are an important segment in the structure of cultivated vegetable crops. Their selection is mainly aimed at precocity, increased resistance to adverse climatic factors and the most harmful diseases (true and downy mildew, olive, angular and brown spots, anthracnose, viruses and other diseases). The article presents the main directions of selection work on cucumber, squash, zucchini and pumpkin in the FSBSI "Federal Scientific Vegetable Center". A network of branches of FSBSI "FSVC" engaged in the creation of new varieties, with specified parameters, for the above crops is presented. The features of breeding work on pumpkin crops in various regions of the Russian Federation are shown.

Relevance. Increased demand in Russia for common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) varieties of domestic breeding has stimulated the Federal Scientific Vegetable Center of breeding to intensify research on the creation of new asparagus bean varieties of vegetable direction.Materials and methods. Four vegetable bean varieties – Secunda, Lika, Ulyasha, Si Bemol of the laboratory of selection and seed production of vegetable Legume crops of the Federal Scientific Vegetable Center were used as the material for the study. The counts and observations were made according to the Methodology of the State Variety Trial of Agricultural Crops, 1975. The count of productivity was carried out in the technical stage of ripeness by replications. Harvesting was carried out when the biological stage of ripeness was reached. Biochemical studies of plants were carried out in the laboratoryanalytical department of the FSBSI FSVC. The biochemical composition of vegetable bean (green bean) varieties was studied according to the following indicators: determination of the total content of water-soluble antioxidants, ascorbic acid, dry matter, polyphenols, monosaccharides, total sugar content and starch.Results. Evaluation of samples by aggregate factors contributes to the selection of the most promising and high-quality varieties for their introduction into production. As a result of the research of vegetable bean on the main economically valuable features and biochemical composition for the period from 2018 to 2020, the varieties Lika and Ulyasha were selected. They were distinguished by high productivity of beans and seeds. Green bean variety Lika was noted for the highest total content of water-soluble antioxidants, ascorbic acid and the total of sugars content, the green bean variety "lobio" Ulyasha - high content of polyphenols and the total of antioxidants in the alcohol extract. Stable high yield, adaptive potential and high quality of beans, confirmed by the results of biochemical evaluation, allow us to recommend these varieties for consumption by the population as part of the diet and as an alternative to meat and dairy products.

The results of ecological variety testing of table carrot samples in soil and climatic conditions of the south of the Rostov region are presented. The experiments were laid in the period 2020 and 2021 in the fields of the Biryuchekut OSOS branch of the FSBI FNCO in the city of Novocherkassk, Rostov region. 12 samples of carrot plants from the first year of life were studied. The most productive samples were Marlinka – 59.7 t/ha Aksinya – 55.3 t/ha and Abaco F1 standard – 51.9 t/ha. The marketability of root crops was higher in the samples of Shantane 2461-82%, Aksinya – 78.9%, Boyar – 74.2% and Primorskaya 22-72.9%. The conducted research makes a great contribution to the process of selecting the source material for the creation of new varieties and hybrids of table carrots. The isolated samples can be recommended for commercial cultivation in the Rostov region and used in breeding work as a starting material.

Relevance. When creating tomato varieties and hybrids, much attention is paid not only to the commercial component (yield, appearance and uniform ripening), but also to the taste qualities of the products. Salad tomato varieties with yellow, tangerine, and pink fruits are increasingly in demand. As a rule, these fruits do not store for a long time, so it is necessary to increase their storability and transportability. Fruits of this group of tomatoes have high antioxidant activity, which is due not only to the significant content of water-soluble antioxidants (such as ascorbic acid), but also carotenoids. The preservation of fruit largely depends on the dry matter content.The aim of investigation is to study biochemical parameters of tangerine tomatoes fruits under different ripening conditions.Materials and methods. Plants were grown in the greenhouse of Federal Scientific Vegetable Center. Biochemical characteristics of tomato fruits were studied during harvesting and after laying for storage in the milky ripeness phase according to the following indicators: dry matter, ascorbic acid, total content of water-soluble antioxidants, titratable acidity, monosaccharides, polyphenols and carotenoids.Results. The percentage of dry matter in tangerine tomato fruits does not change during storage, even increases slightly. The dry matter content of fruits from the open field is slightly higher than that of fruits from the greenhouse. The content of sugars and ascorbic acid in fruits with tangerine fruits after laying for ripening decreases slightly. However, the content of these compounds is higher in mature fruits immediately after picking than in fruits after ripening. The total content of antioxidants during ripening decreases, though not significantly (in 1.1-1.7 times).

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.

Scientific relevance. Currently, in the protected ground, the main areas are occupied by parthenocarpic hybrids of cucumber of foreign origin. Therefore, the selection of domestic cucumber hybrids of the parthenocarpic type is very relevant.Material and conditions. The experience was laid in 2018-2022 in the Odintsovo district of the Moscow region in the conditions of a spring film ground greenhouse of the "Block" type on the basis of the head institution of the FSBSI FSVC. Agrotechnics of cultivation is generally accepted for the conditions of spring film greenhouses. In breeding nurseries where there were no bees, the degree of parthenocarpy was determined as the ratio of the fruit set to the number of female flowers formed on the plant, as a percentage. The records were carried out from the 5th to the 20th node inclusive, only on plants of the female type of flowering. On the basis of the laboratory of breeding and seed production of pumpkin crops, 27 collectible and more than 50 breeding samples of parthenocarpic cucumber were studied.Results. During three years of research, 7 hybrids of cucumber of the parthenocarpic type of foreign breeding were selected based on the sum of economically useful traits.These hybrids were distinguished by a high degree of parthenocarpy. With their participation, as a result of multiple selections and self-pollination, more than 50 breeding lines were created. Analysis of the obtained material showed that the degree of manifestation of parthenocarpy on the plant (the arithmetic mean between the indicators of parthenocarpy on the main and lateral shoots) in the best half of the samples in 2021 was in the range of 30-50%, whereas in 2022 it already reached 50-70%. The parthenocarpy severity coefficient above 70% was noted only in 2022 in 4% of samples. About half of the samples showed a fairly low parthenocarpy: in 2021 no more than 30%, and in 2022 no more than 50%. Most of them were rejected. The parthenocarpy of the best breeding samples in 2022, compared with 2021, increased by an average of 17.7%. Breeding lines obtained even from the same collection sample often differed greatly, sometimes by 4 times, in the degree of parthenocarpy. The families of the most stable parthenocarpy samples had differences on this basis in 2021 only 3-6%, and in 2022 – 10-11%. Families with the greatest severity of this trait were selected annually. It can be concluded that the degree of parthenocarpy in cucumber strongly depends on both the genotype of the sample and the growing conditions. 3 breeding lines were selected, characterized by high indicators of the degree of manifestation of parthenocarpy in 2021 (61.5-70.5%) and the stability of the manifestation of this trait by families and years.

The results of evaluating the effectiveness of the plant growth regulator Atonic Plus on potatoes as a stimulator of development, immunomodulator and protectant of the negative effects of pesticides in the crop protection system in the agro-climatic conditions of the Central region of the Russian Federation (Moscow region) are presented.In the extreme weather conditions of the growing season of 2010, the growth regulator Atonic Plus effectively demonstrated its qualities in the form of the formation of adaptability and anti-stress resistance in potato plants, providing an increase in yield relative to control by 1.8-7.1% and the quality of tubers is not only compared to the control, but also relative to the reference version. The combined use of a growth regulator with a fungicide contributed to an increase in the yield of standard potatoes in early and mid-late potato varieties by 2-2.5 times compared with the control.

Relevance. An important place in the extensive assortment of ether-oil cultures belongs to the common yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.), phytopreparations produced on its basis are widely used in the treatment of inflammatory processes, the normalization of the gastrointestinal tract.Methodology. To provide the pharmaceutical industry with this type of medicinal raw materials, it is necessary to create adapted technologies, where an important link will be the development of techniques for adapting the culture to unstable weather conditions.Results. The studies were carried out in the conditions of the North Caucasus branch of VILAR (West Ciscaucasia) in 2019-2021, by conducting small-scale experiments. The indicators of growth and development of yarrow of the II-V years of vegetation, the yield of raw materials, the content of essential oil and its collection per hectare under unstable weather conditions were studied. It was found that with sufficient moisture supply and a comfortable level of air temperatures in 2021, a high yield of medicinal raw materials of this crop is observed. At the same time, low water supply and high temperatures in 2020 had a negative impact on plant development, a drop in yield of 1.35-1.65 t/ha was established, which led to losses in the collection of essential oil per hectare by 3.23-4.32 kg/ha. A decrease in the degree of negative impact of drought on yarrow plants of the II-IV years of vegetation was achieved through the use of silicon-containing microfertilization Siliplant. Double treatment with this drug contributed to a decrease in the yield of raw materials to 5-6% and the collection of essential oil per hectare to 5-7%. in the control – 21-24% and 22-24%, respectively. Despite the high yield of raw materials in the III-III years of yarrow vegetation, the use of Siliplant allows collecting ether-oil raw materials for 4 years. Thus, the inclusion of Siliplant microfertilization in cultivation technology allows plants to adapt to hydrothermal stress conditions and makes it possible to obtain stable yields of raw materials with a high collection of essential oil per hectare, regardless of weather conditions.

Relevance. Common buckwheat is one of the most important cereal and melliferous crops being in demand both in Russia and overseas. Despite the fact that buckwheat has lower sus- ceptibility to infectious diseases in comparisons with other grain and cereal crops, research on its pathogens is a topical issue considering a high disease rate for this crop in Primorsky krai. Materials and methods. The study on pathogenic composition was conducted in selective crop rotations of FSBSI “FSC of Agricultural Biotechnology of the Far East named after A.K. Chaiki” at the territory of Ussuriysky district in Primorsky krai. Indeterminate (Izumrud, Pri 7, Bashkirskaya krasnostebel’naya) and determinate (Dikul) buckwheat varieties were used for the study. Fungi were isolated from rhizoplane using water washing technique, from soil and rhizosphere via the dilution method, from leaves and root systems by accumulation in a moist chamber with subsequent transfer of culture onto selective medium. Fungal isolates were cul- tivated on toxigenic medium (Myro) to determine their phytotoxicity. Phytopathogenic activity of living cultures was evaluated on potato sucrose agar according to the modified method of Chelkowski and Manka . All experiments were conducted in accordance with established methods.Results. Culture filtrates of F. avenaceum and F. graminearum isolates, obtained from different anatomical parts of common buckwheat, were characterized by low toxicity, and culture filtrates of F. oxysporum isolate were highly toxic. Phytotoxicity of pathogens manifested itself not only in decrease in laboratory germination ability of buckwheat seeds, but also in inhibition of buckwheat sprout development. It proved that metabolites exerted a prolonged effect on sensitive plants. F.avenaceum, F. oxysporum and F. graminearum have pronounced phy- topathogenic and aggressive properties in relation to buckwheat and test-plants in the laboratory conditions. The sum total of their studied phytotoxic properties is convincing enough to consider them potentially hazardous to buckwheat for wilt disease development.

Carrot is one of the main vegetable crops due to its high yield and long-term preservation during winter storage. In the Amur Region, the vegetable crop zoning is underdeveloped. As a result, the assortment of recognized varieties and hybrids of carrot has long been outdated and is not replenished with new items. As part of the research work of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education "BGPU" at its agrobiological station, the specialists perform testing and assessment of various vegetable crops, including carrot. The purpose of the study is to identify high-yielding varieties of garden carrots suitable for cultivating in the agricultural and climatic conditions of the south of the Amur Region. The field trial was performed in accordance with the methods developed by B.A. Dospekhov (1985) and the state variety testing of agricultural crops described in "Vegetable and Cucurbit Crops, Potato, and Fodder Root Crops" (1956). The researchers applied agricultural technology that is commonly used in the region. Fifteen carrot samples of foreign selection were the object of the study. The hybrid F1 Abaco that had been grown at the agrobiological station for a long time was set as a standard. The vegetative period of the studied varieties under the regional conditions is 92-110 days. Nanco F1 and Sylvano F1 showed high yields, producing 41.0 and 47.0 tons of marketable roots per ha, with an average root weight of 110.1 and 120.9 g, respectively. The marketability of harvested root crops was 89.0% for Nanco F1 and 94.0% for Sylvano F1. We recommend vegetable growers in the region to establish a cultivation conveyor for garden carrots using the mid-early Presto F1 hybrid for sale in an early bunch and high-yielding F1 hybrids Nanco and Sylvano for fall use.