Purpose. To establish the biochemical composition of the above ground part of Serratula coronata L. (Crowned saw-wort) for introduction in Central Polissia of Ukraine. Methods. The object of research was the plants of S. coronata from the collection of the Botanical garden of Zhytomyr National Agroecological University. Plant raw material was evaluated in the flowering phase in the biochemical laboratory of the Department of Cultural Flora of the M. M. Hryshko National Botanic Gardens of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine according to the relevant methods during 2014–2016. Results. The results of the study of phytochemical features of S. coronata under conditions of introduction in the Central Polissia of Ukraine in the flowering phase are given. Quantitative content of raw material in dry matter, total sugars, carotene, ascorbic acid, tannins, fats, free acids, macroelements of phosphorus, calcium and trace elements of iron, copper, zinc, manganese was revealed. Conclusions. The biochemical composition of the above ground part of S. coronata was determined for the first time in the conditions of introduction in Central Polissia of Ukraine. The peculiarities of the dependence of the content of biochemical compounds and macroelements on age characteristics of plants were determined. Plants of S. coronata of the third year of life were distinguished by the highest content of ascorbic acid, carotene and dry matter; two-year – organic acids, phosphorus, ash, common sugars; the fourth year of life – the content of oil and calcium. Significant amounts of vitamin C and iron were found in the raw material. The obtained results testify to the prospect of further study of the pharmacological properties of S. coronata in order to obtain new food products, bio-additives and phytopreparations enriched with biologically active substances and essential for human life.

Purpose. To investigate special aspects of accumulation of inorganic elements including heavy metals in seeds of white and black mustard to be grown for obtaining drugs. Methods. Field experiments, microwave digestion, ICP-MS and statistical analysis. Results. The content of inorganic elements including heavy metals was determined in the seeds of white and black mustard grown in Kiev Oblast. It was revealed that during the growing season plants of white mustard were able to accumulate such elements as aluminum, barium, strontium, zinc in seeds in concentrations that exceed their content in black mustard seeds, while compounds of calcium, cesium, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium in a greater degree were accumulated in black mustard seeds. Conclusions. As legal and regulatory documents for important chemical elements don’t contain the maximum permissible limits of their content in medicinal plants, it would make sense to launch a comprehensive research with the involvement of specia­lists of relevant profiles in order to establish such a gradation. Plants of white and black mustard in Kiev Oblast have accumulated high levels of such metals as Ba, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Sr, Zn that exceed the known limits of accumulation, indicating a partial contamination of soils in the region. Consequently, these plants can be used for phytoremediation of soils. Considering the fact that in the pharmaceutical practice refined mustard seed oil is used, revealed alterations of metal accumulation in seeds will not affect the quality of the final drugs. According to the research results, white and black mustard is promising for cultivation in Kiev Oblast with a view to obtain raw material that can be processed into drugs.

Purpose. Finding ways to activate the germination of sugar beet seeds, obtaining even and synchronous sprouts when applying fertilizer compositions with nanoscale elements. Methods. Vegetation and laboratory. The seeds of sugar beet were sown in prepared utensils with soil in accordance with the requirements of the methods for vegetation experiments. Fertilizers were introduced in the form of solutions with different ratios according to six microstages. Results. At 01 microstage on the BBCH scale (130 hours after sowing), an increase in the mass of beet fruits in all variants was observed - in the control variant by 9.78%; in the application of nanofertilizers - 20,4-23,7%. The diameter of the fruit varied similarly to changes in mass: in the control variant, the diameter change was 4.95%; in variants with application of nanofertilizers — 9.56-13.9%. Changes in the rate of sprout organs formation and their linear dimensions were noted in the various fertilization schemes. The length of the embryonic root at 05 microstage with uniform introduction of high norms of zinc and phosphorus, after 40 hours after sowing, was 0.540-2.671 mm. For other fertilizer combinations, the appearance of the germ root was noted only 44 hours after sowing. In 60 hours after sowing (07 microstage on the BBCH scale) there was a complete exit of cotyledons from the socket of the cluster with the introduction of nano chelate microfertilizers and only the beginning of the exit of cotyledons in the control variant. Due to the intensive processes of swelling and germination, the growth of the primary root of the sugar beet was accelerated. Conclusions. Uniform provision of seeds with zinc and especially phosphorus on the background of basic complex fertilizer with nanoscale elements contributed to the activation of seed germination and the intense formation of synchronously developed shoots. On average, the opening of the pericarp lid and the appearance of the root accelerated for 4 hours; 6 hours earlier there was an exit of cotyledons. With the introduction of nano chelate fertilizers, root growth and elongation of the hypocotyl at the first microstages of sugar beet sprouting were accelerated twice, due to which the sugar beet sprouts appeared 4-6 hours earlier. Nano chelate microfertilizers, promoting even and synchronous germination, development of sugar beet seedlings ensured synchronous emergence of seedlings and formation of predetermined sowing density without further reduction of plants.