Мета. Визначити особливості будови та забарвлення листкової пластинки, кори гілок; габітус крони; лінійні характеристики рослин; особливості квітування та плодоношення Liquidambar styraciflua L. і його культиварів. Надати рекомендації для їх використання в озелененні. Методи. Об’єктами досліджень стали культивари L. styraciflua, що ростуть у дендропарках, парках, скверах, садових центрах, розсадниках та на озеленених територіях в межах України. Рослини оцінювали за комплексною шкалою, представленою чотирма ступенями декоративності дерев і чагарників (дуже висока, висока, посередня, низька). У процесі досліджень послуговувалися методами спостережень, аналізу, порівняння, узагальнення даних, фотофіксації, а також описово­таксаційним. Результати. Здійснено комплексне оцінювання декоративності культиварів L. styraciflua (‘Worplesdon’, ‘Gum Ball’, ‘Rotundiloba’, ‘Albomarginata Manon’, ‘Oakville Highlight’, ‘Slender Silhouette’, ‘Fastigiatа’, ‘Pasquali’, ‘Stared’, ‘Thea’, ‘Aurea’, ‘Golden Treasure’, ‘Variegata’, ‘Golden Sun’, ‘Stella’, ‘Stella Rossa’) проти видових рослин. За результатами досліджень складено таблицю, що допоможе з вибором рослин ландшафтним архітекторам, працівникам розсадників і садових центрів, ботанікам та екологам, студентам і працівникам лісогосподарських та ботанічних установ. Надано рекомендації щодо використання культиварів L. styraciflua у ландшафтному будівництві. Висновки. За ступенем декоративності переважну більшість культиварів L. styraciflua – 13 – зараховано до І групи (дуже висока, 65–90 балів). Їх рекомендують для використання в озелененні міст і присадибних ділянок, створення різних за призначенням ландшафтних об’єктів. До ІІ групи (висока декоративність, 51–64 бали) належать два культивари, до ІІІ (посередня декоративність, 41–50 балів) – лише один. | Purpose. To determine the structure, and color of the leaf, the bark of the branches, the habit of the crown, the linear characteristics of the plants, the features of flowering and fruiting of Liquidambar styraciflua L. and its cultivars. Provide recommendations for their use in landscaping. Methods. The subjects of the research were cultivars of L. styraciflua, which were found in arboretums, parks, squares, garden centers, nurseries and in green areas throughout Ukraine. The plants were evaluated according to a complex scale of ornamental value of woody plants, which includes four levels of ornamental value of trees and shrubs: very high, high, medium and low. The methods of observation, analysis, comparison, data summarization, photo­fixation and descriptive­taxation method were used. Results. A comprehensive assessment of the decorative effect of L. styraciflua cultivars (‘Worplesdon’, ‘Gum Ball’, ‘Rotundiloba’, ‘Albomarginata Manon’, ‘Oakville Highlight’, ‘Slender Silhouette’, ‘Fastigiatа’, ‘Pasquali’, ‘Stared’, ‘Thea’, ‘Aurea’, ‘Golden Treasure’, ‘Variegata’, ‘Golden Sun’, ‘Stella’, ‘Stella Rossa’) against species plants was carried out. Based on the results of the research, a table was compiled to help landscape architects, nursery and garden center workers, botanists and ecologists, students and staff of forestry and botanical institutions in the selection of plants. Recommendations are given for the use of L. styraciflua cultivars in landscaping. Conclusions. According to the degree of ornamentality, the vast majo­rity of L. styraciflua cultivars (13) belong to group I (very high, 65–90 points). They are recommended for use in urban and domestic landscaping and for the creation of various landscape objects. Group II (high ornamental value, 51–64 points) contains two cultivars, and group III (moderate ornamental value, 41–50 points) contains only one cultivar.

Purpose. Analysis of the allelic state of Ppd-1 genes, which control sensitivity to photoperiod, in varieties and lines of bread winter wheat, and comparison of the results obtained with field observations on the duration of periods before heading and flowering, whose originators were the Nosivska Breeding and Research Station of the V. M. Remeslo Myronivka Institute of Wheat National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine and Poltava State Agrarian Academy of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. Methods. The following methods were used in the work: DNA extraction, allele-specific PCR, agarose and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, analysis of variance. Results. It was revealed that ‘Yuvivata 60’ variety has a recessive Ppd-1 genotype and belongs to the III haplotype by a combination of mutations in the structure of Ppd-D1 gene. Line ‘L41/95’ was heterogeneous by alleles of Ppd-D1 gene, which corresponded to the presence of haplotypes III and VII. All other tested cultivars and lines were characterized by alleles Ppd-A1b, Ppd-B1b and Ppd-D1a, and assigned to haplotype VII. According to the results of statistical data processing, the duration of the period from May, 1 to heading was the smallest for the variety ‘Donskaya polukarlikovaya’ in the conditions of both the Forest-Steppe and Polissia-Forest-Steppe regions of Ukraine, the longest – in the varieties ‘Yuvivata 60’, ‘Myronivska 61’ and ‘L41/95’. The differences between these groups were significant and amounted to 10 days. Conclusions. A breeding material with a high adaptive ability for growing conditions in Polissia-Forest-Steppe zone was studied by the allelic state of the Ppd-1 genes. A low level of polymorphism in the studied varieties and lines was revealed by the alleles of Ppd-1 genes [12.5% – Ppd-D1b (²²²), 12.5% – Ppd-D1à/b (²²²/VII), 75% – Ppd-D1a (VII)], that agrees with the hypothesis that breeders gave a greater preference for the photoperiod-insensitive wheat genotype under Ukrainian conditions. The genotypes with the dominant Ppd-D1a (VII) gene almost completely dominate in the south of Ukraine. At the same time, in northern latitudes, weather conditions negate the advantages of the genotypes with Ppd-D1a gene

Purpose. To analyze the variety diversity of the Itoh peony group in the collection of the M. M. Hryshko National Botanical Garden National Botanical Garden National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and determine its biological features in the new conditions of introduction. Methods. Introduction studies, phenological observations, morphometry, statistical processing of results. Results. The cultivars diversity of the Itoh peony group of the M. M. Hrysh­ko National Botanical Garden National Botanical Garden National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine collection was analyzed. The ornamental properties of the cultivars were described. Features of their growth and development under conditions of introduction were studied. It was revealed that the duration of vegetation of plants of Ito group varieties is 218–225 days. It was determined that plant growth begins on March 23 – April 2, flowering on May 19–28. The budding of plants was observed in the first decade of May and lasts 16–20 days. It was revealed that in the conditions of introduction ‘Morning Lilac’ and ‘Sonoma Apricot’ bloom first (May 19–20), ‘Viking Full Moon’, ‘Yankee Doodle Dandy’, ‘Yellow Waterlily’ bloom later (May 28). The height of generative shoots of plants in flowe­ring phase ranged from 60 to90 cm. Plants go dormant in winter, having formed generative shoots that successfully winter. Reproduction of plants occurs both due to the buds that form on the lower part of the stem, and the buds that form on the rhizome. The shoot-forming ability and flowering productivity are 6.0±2.5 – 19.5±4.0 shoots and 4.5±1.5 – 16.0±3.0 generative shoots per plant, respectively. Cultivars ‘First Arrival’, ‘Sonoma Apricot’, ‘Hillary’, ‘Bartzella’, ‘Morning Lilac’, ‘Lollipop’, ‘Old Rose Dandy’ are highly productive. Conclusions. The collection of peonies of the M. M. Hryshko National Botanical Garden National Botanical Garden National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine has been expanded by Itoh Group cultivars. The R. Anderson’s breeds of 1980–1990 are more fully represented. An analysis of the ornamental features of the varieties showed that the hybrids with a semi-double flower shape of a yellow color dominate the collection. Cultivars retain all their ornamental and economic characteristics under conditions of introduction. The Itoh group varieties of the collection can be material for developing technologies for their cultivation and propagation, can be a source of replenishment and expansion of regional botanical gardens collections, planting material for gardening and landscaping, and also perform an educational and cognitive function.

Purpose. To study the effect of weather conditions on grain quality in soft spring wheat lines that are undergoing competitive variety trial. To identify indices to be least affected by weather conditions. To investigate the correlation dependence between grain quality indices in the years with contrasting weather conditions and conduct the analysis of variance. Methods. Parameters of grain and flour quality of bread spring wheat lines were determined using conventional methods at the laboratory of grain quality of V. M. Remeslo Myronivka Institute of Wheat, NAAS of Ukraine, protein content in flour was measured with the use of the SPECTRAN 119M device. Results. Contrasting weather conditions were considered including arid ones (2013) – that had negative effect on 1000 kernel weight, but at the same time positively influenced the averaged grain quality indices; with excess humidity (2014) – they resulted in decreasing of all technological indices; optimal ones (2015) – allowed to obtain maximum indices of grain and flour quality. Paired coefficients of correlation between different para­meters of grain and flour quality were calculated. The most number of strong and medium correlations was found in a dry year (33.3%), the smallest one – in a wet year (13.0%). Such indices as flour strength, dough dilution and protein content depended on the conditions of the growing year least of all. Grain-unit response was the most considerable to the humid conditions of the year. The analysis of variance showed that climatic conditions had significant effect on the quality indices of grain and flour. At the same time, an important genotypic component was revealed in indices of dough resilience (63%), bread volume and rating (61 and 53% respectively), the flour strength (42%), crude gluten quality (33%), bread porosity (30%). With climate variations, the genotypic conditionality of the content of protein and especially crude gluten was expressed insignificantly. Conclusions. When creating high quality cultivars, plant breeders should be guided by such indices as flour strength, dough resilience, gluten quality, bread volume and rating as only they are more genetically determined

Purpose. Determination of optimum dozes of foliar fee­ding for each cultivar that will provide the highest output of standard rootstocks. Methods. Field, analytical and statistical ones. Results. The author presents the results of study of the hazelnut plant foliar feeding in the mother plantation for vegetative propagation with applying different carba­mide concentration combined with 0.1% potassium sulfate (1.50.4 m) in case of horizontal method of growing. Biometric indices of hazelnut layers were analyzed; the influence of each factor on their height and diameter was determined. The rootstocks output per 1 linear meter for each cultivar as well as optimum foliar feeding doze was defined (0.5% carbamide with 0.1% potassium sulfate). Conclusions. The highest output of standard rootstocks in the mother plantation for horizontal vegetative propagation was achieved when applying the foliar feeding with 0.5% carbamide combined with 0.1% potassium sulfate, particularly (thousand rootstocks per 1 ha) for the cultivars: ‘Sviatkovyi’ – 66.7, ‘Dolynskyi’ – 62.1 and ‘Darunok Yunnatam’ – 50.7. For ‘Koronchatyi’ cultivar, the use of 3% carbamide was the most efficient.

Purpose. Determining prospects of introducing Callistephus chinensis cultivars of foreign breeding for further cultivation under conditions of the Central Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine. Methods. Field, laboratory, analytical and statistical ones. Results. Ten C. сhinensis cultivars of theGerman breeding were tested under conditions of the Central Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine. Biomorphological traits of the varieties of five sort types were identified, and their comparative analysis was conducted. Seasonal dynamics of growth and development of cultivars in the growing area was studied. Conclusions. Cultivars with short and mean duration phases of development can be grown under conditions of the Central Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine by direct sowing that does not affect their seed productivity and sowing quality of seeds. Seeds of late cultivars can reach complete maturity only in case of seedling use. C. chinensis cultivars of the German breeding have successfully passed the initial test for suitability to introduction into the studied area.

The author presents the characteristies of the best stone fruit crops cultivars of the Donets’k breeding which are high adapted to the climatic conditions of the Donbass and Ukrasne’s northern regions and have marketable fruits.

The study results for many years (1972- 2006) of pear gene pool in the All- Russian Research Institute of Horticultural Breeding are given. The cultivars and selections have been singled out for wide dissemination and use in breeding.

Advantages of heterotic hybrids of the winter rape in the competitive and in the production testing proven. While certain advantages in the productivity of cultivar of the Czech selection of Odila above the domestic cultivar of Dangal got in the competitive testing in the production testing confirmed. It is established that the greatest productivity in the production testing was had hybrids Vsesvit F1t Zapalnyj Fb G-3 Fi and G-4 Fi, which are characterized the stable and yearly high productivity and combine the productivity with adaptability to the environmental conditions of area of Forest- steppe of Ukraine.

The fruit of apple scab immune hybrids, obtained from the targeted crossings for suitability for juice production, were estimated. The most perspective hybrids were selected. They are not inferior to the world juice cultivars in the basic technological characters (juice output), and even surpass them in a number of these characters (the content of SDS and P-active catechols in juice).