Purpose. To reveal the frequency and intensity of callus formation and organogenesis, the effectiveness of microclonal reproduction of various species of the genus Linum L. (Linaceae) in vitro. Methods. For in vitro induction of callus formation and organogenesis, hypocotyl segments of species Linum usitatissimum L. convar. elongatum and convar. usitatissimum, L. tenue Desf., L. bienne Mill., L. corymbulosum Pchb., L. nervosum Waldst. & Kit., L. flavum L., L. campanulatum L., L. perenne L., L. austriacum L., L. grandiflorum Desf., L. strictum L. were cultivated on Murashige and Skoog medium supplementedwith 0.05 mg/l 1-naphthylacetic acid and 1.0 mg/l 6-benzyl aminopurine at 22–24 °C, relative humidity of 60–80%,with 16 hours photoperiod (2500 flux). For microclonal reproduction Murashige and Skoog, White, Gamborg and Eveleigh media and their modifications were used. The measurement results were interpreted by the arithmetic mean, standard error for the sample mean, the leastsignificantdifference and ranked. Results. Different species of the genus Linum to a large extend are capable of forming callus and regenerating shoots under the specified cultivation conditions. The frequency of callus formation for the studied samples on the 35th day of cultivation varied within 81.25–100%, the mass of callus from one explant – 0.21–1.64 g, the frequency of organogenesis – 12.50–100%, the number of shoots – 1.8–7.6 pcs. and the height of the shoots was 0.82–2.12 cm. The following species: L. usitatissimum convar. elongatum, L. tenue, L. bienne and L. strictum were distinguished by a high intensity of callus formation. Intensive organogenesis was pecular to L. tenue, L. bienne, L. flavum, L. austriacum and L. grandiflorum. The efficiency of somaclone obtaining was quite low in L. nervosum and L. campanulatum. In total, for the microclonal reproduction of species of the genus Linum Murashige and Skoog, Gamborg and Eveleighmedia supplementedwith 12.5 g/l glucose were optimal. At the final stages of microclonal propagation, before transferring microclones in vivo, it is advisable to use White medium, which contributes to a high frequency of rhizogenesis. Varieties of L. usitatissimum convar. elongatum and convar. usitatissimum had diffe­rent responses to in vitro culture. Conclusions. The frequency and intensity of callus formation and organogenesis, the effectiveness of microclonal reproduction depended on the genotype of a particular species; therefore it is advisable to select the composition of the nutrient medium and growth regulators for each of them. Some species of the genus Linum have not yet been studied in vitro, so the obtained results allow expanding the scope of their use in practice, in particular in breeding as a new source material with somaclonal variation, interspecific crosses, and ornamental floriculture.

Purpose. To investigate the varietal characteristics of the hemp plants for improving the quality indices of the soil they grow in, determine the amount of inorganic elements in the soil, level of their accumulation in plant stalkі and seeds. Methods. Field and spectrometric methods were basic. The results were processed using conventional methods in agriculture, crop growing and statistics. Variants of the experiment were as follows: varieties ‘Hliana’, ‘Hlesiia’: 1) soils; 2) stalks; 3) seeds. Schemes of experiments included: a) technical maturity of plants, row spacing 45 cm; b) tech­nical maturity of plants, row spacing 15 cm; c) biological maturity of plants, row spacing 45 cm; d) biological maturity of plants, row spacing 15 cm. Results. The amount of the accumulation of alkaline earth metals and their compounds by seeds and stalks of hemp plants depending on their content in vegetation soils was determined. It was found that stalks of the ‘Hlesiia’ plant accumulated strontium (Sr) and its compounds far less than that of ‘Hliana’, whereas in the seeds of the ‘Hlesiia’ variety the content of this chemical element was higher comparing with the previous variety by 70 and 78%, respectively. The difference in the accumulation of barium (Ba) compounds in seeds of hemp plants was not significant, while the tissues of the plant stalks of the ‘Hlia­na’ variety accumulated its compounds significantly more as compared to the ‘Hlesiia’ variety. The degree of influence of the variety, feeding area and the maturity stage on the processes of magnesium compounds (Mg) accumulation by plants was not revealed. Plants of the ‘Hlesiia’ variety accumulated far less calcium (Ca) and its compounds in the stalk tissues as compared to the plants of the ‘Hliana’ variety: in variants of the technical maturity stage of plants with row spacing 45 cm (a) and d – plants of narrow-row sowing (15 cm) in the biological maturity stage 30,94 and 15,95 mg/kg more in the presence in soil and in variants of the technical maturity stage of plants of narrow-row sowing (15 cm) and in the biological maturity stage with broad-sowing (45 cm) 34.54 and 24.19 mg/kg less in the presence in soil. Conclusions. The indices of accumulation of alkaline earth metals by hemp plants were significantly affected by the concentration of compounds of a certain chemical element in the arable layer, the level of energy (light) obtained by plants during vegetation, the varietal features of hemp, the stages of organogenesis of hemp plants and the specificity of their aboveground parts – stalks to accumulate these chemical elements as well as cumulate them by seeds. The varietal dependence as for accumulation of heavy metals by hemp plants tissues and seeds was established. In order to obtain environmentally friendly products, it is necessary to take into account the varietal features of plants concerning the ability to absorb and accumulate the relevant chemical elements and their compounds in the process of hemp culti­vation.

Purpose. To define morphological peculiarities of the different types of shoots of switch grass (Panicum virgatum L.) in the context of introduction in the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe and Polissia zones of Ukraine. Methods. Morpho-physiological and ontogenetic analysis, morphometric technique, statistical evaluation. Results. It was found that P. virgatum plants were producing the following types of shoots: vegetative-generative short or long rhizomatous ones (they appeared as in the underground part of a maternal shoot in «the area of shortened internodes» and in the base of its aboveground part); vegetative underground and aboveground ones (they are forming both in the axils of scales of the underground part of a maternal shoot and in the axils of cauline leaves); generative aboveground shoots (borne in the axil of cauline leaves). Morphological parameters and features of morphogenesis of reproduction, resting and secondary buds have been described. Conclusions. During flowering phase of maternal shoot, P. virgatum reproduction buds were on the organogenesis phase I–II, their bursting occured after maternal shoot has flowered. The correlation of internodes length, leave blades and sheaths has been established. The maximum values of the above parameters were observed in the middle part of the prefloral zone of the stem. In the context of introduction, panicle earing came in the third decade of July, flowering began in the first decade of August. It was revealed that complete flowers are bloomed faster than the staminate ones.

Purpose. To study biological characteristics of growth and development of middle-early soybean varieties and create a model of phenotype productivity. Methods. Special and gene­ral techniques for studies. Results. Optimal productivity of plants is forming merely at the expense of efficient ratio of all the elements of their structure. It often happens that in case of underdevelopment of one of the structure components yield to some extent can be offset by better development of other elements. Eight indicators were defined which make the largest contribution to the productivity trait of a variety: seed weight per plant, total number of branches, number of nodes per plant, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per plant, number of flowers, plant height, 1000 kernel weight. The first four indicators provided most of the total contribution to a trait of seed weight per plant. Model building was based on hierarchy of productivity traits display in ontogenesis and compliance of their development in organogenesis. The model consists of two modules of traits – resulting and some componental showing phenotypic realization of the genetic formula. It was found that the plant height significantly influence the number of nodes per plant (r = 0,76), and the number of pods per plant (r = 0,43) depends on this trait. In addition, correlation based on the research was obtained between the number of flowers per plant and plant height (r = 0,35), and number of nodes (r = 0,76). It was established that the number of flowers per plant determines the development of pods on the plant so it is quite strongly correlated with this trait (r = 0,99). Conclusions. It was determined that the number of pods per plant and the number of seeds per plant have a very strong correlation (r = 0,96). Besides, such trait as the number of seeds per plant has a strong relationship with the seed weight per plant (r = 0,79).