On March 12th , a doctor of agricultural Sciences, professor, the main scientific reseacher of laboratory of vegetable breeding and seed production of table root crops of Federal State Budgetary Research Institution Federal Vegetable Science Center, Margarita Ivanovna Fedorova celebrates her 85th birth anniversaru and the 60th anniversaru of her labor, scientific and pedagogical activity.

Increasing the competitiveness of the agro-industrial complex is inextricably linked with the development of science that ensures the development of innovative methods, the introduction of new knowledge and achievements of agricultural science in production. In order to provide scientific support to the vegetable-growing industry in 2017, the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution “Federal Scientific Vegetable Center” was founded. The main directions and tasks of the Center are presented in the article. Brief results of research work for the current year are given: 47 new varieties and hybrids have been created; more than 200 gene sources and 30 donors of especially valuable features were allocated, 28 patents for selection achievements, inventions and utility models were obtained. The publication activity of the center for 2017 is 159 publications in the RINC system, as well as 22 articles in the journals included in the Web of Science, Scopus and RSCI databases. Citation of FSBSI FSVC articles on the RINC database -1075.

April 12 is Cosmonautics Day, International Day of Human Space Flight. This is a memorable date dedicated to the flight of the first cosmonaut of the planet, Yuri Alekseevich Gagarin, who became a symbol of the earthlings' dream come true. The All-Russian Research Institute of Vegetable Breeding and Seed Production (Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution Federal Scientific Vegetable Center (FSBSI FSVC)), like a number of other academic institutions, from the beginning of space exploration, got involved in the work to solve the problem of developing food for astronauts and continues research to this day. In the embodiment of the ideas of K.E. Tsiolkovsky and S.P. Korolev on the creation of space greenhouses received a number of significant achievements in the Federal Scientific Vegetable Center, Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, Institute of Biochemical Physics N.M. Emanuel, SSC RF IBMP RAS and others. Varieties of vegetable crops have been created, tested and recommended for weightlessness conditions: radish, Chinese cabbage, dill, lettuce and other rapidly maturing plants. The variety of Chinese Vesnyanka cabbage has successfully passed biotechnical tests on the ground model of the Phytocycle-SD space conveyor greenhouse, during which good production and biochemical parameters were obtained. Russian scientists are conducting research on developing a technology for cultivating various vegetable plants under space flight conditions – in closed ecosystems (synergotrons), which can serve as the basis of life support systems during space flights, at space stations or in space habitats, where some conditions specific for ISS. Studies have been carried out to study tomato plants grown from seeds that have been under space flight conditions for a long time. As a result of the study, a statistically significant increase in the levels of ascorbic acid, polyphenols and carotenoids, the total antioxidant activity of tomato fruits compared to plants grown from control seeds (ground control) was found.

At the Primorskaya vegetable experimental station – branch of the Federal state budgetary scientific institution «Federal scientific vegetable center», selection and introduction into production of a new legume crop for Russia – adzuki cowpea. The varieties Asia (for universal cultivation) and Far East (for horticultural vegetable growing) were created and included in the State Register of the Russian Federation. Promising specimens have been created, which, in terms of their biological and economic indicators, are not inferior to the varieties Asia and Far East. Primary seed production of new varieties is underway and their introduction into farms and garden vegetable growing. The grain yield of cowpea-adzuki universal samples ranged from 3.15 t/ha (Asia variety, standard) to 2.77 t/ha (sample POOS 31-15). The highest grain productivity was observed in the standard (Asia - 22.5 g/plant) and in sample POOS 44-15 (20.8 g/plant). The Asia variety and the promising sample POOS 31-15 (20.2 pieces/plant) produce the most beans per plant. It was noted that the Dalnevostochnaya variety has the greatest resistance to cracking of beans during their ripening (7.2 points). Samples for universal cultivation have above average resistance to bean cracking (5.8-6.5 points). The plant height of promising samples is quite favorable for combine harvesting: 64 (POOS 31-15) – 71 (POOS 39-15) cm. Due to the fact that the flowering of cowpea-adzuki is extended, the ripening of beans is rarely 100%. For promising samples, this indicator is high and amounts to 95.5% (POOS 44-15) - 99.8% (POOS 31-15), which fully complies with the ATT requirements (more than 90%). The creation of varieties of a new vegetable crop for Russia will improve the economics of agricultural production in the difficult climatic conditions of the Far Eastern Federal District.

Relevance. When using precision seeders, seeds that are uniform in weight and size are needed. The maximum uniformity of the seeds can be achieved by by pelleting. Thanks to the coating, small chicory seeds increase their size by 8 times or more. In this case, the composition of the shell can include various plant protection products against pathogens, growth stimulants, micronutrient fertilizers. It is advisable to seed the seeds with their initial germination of at least 95%.Material and methods. The article presents the results of a study conducted at the Rostov Vegetable Experimental Station for chicory – a branch of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution Federal Scientific Vegetable Center, where seeds with fillers were used for sowing root chicory: Maxim fungicide, treater Prestige, Isabion – liquid organic and mineral fertilizer, Agrogel.Results. As a result, a positive effect of pelleting on the sowing quality of seeds was revealed (germination energy and field germination are higher than in the control, 2% and 0.6%, respectively, and laboratory germination at the control level), effectiveness against root rot during the growing season and during winter storage time, increase in crop root crops yield by more than 30% and ensuring net profit in comparison with the control by 21.4 thousand rubles / ha. At the same time, the level of profitability is increasing by 26%.

In recent years, in the agricultural sector there is a tendency to increase the production of crop products. However, its quality is still not high enough. To improve the situation in the vegetable growing industry, an important place is given to improving breeding and seed production, since the variety and high-quality seeds are the main elements of modern crop cultivation zonal technologies. At the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution “Federal Scientific Vegetable Center” (FSBSI FSVC), vegetable crop breeding has been put on the innovative path of development, where modern methods are used along with classical ones: molecular markers on the main of economical important plant determinants, accelerated creation of homogeneous lines using the methods of doubled haploids and biotechnology of functional products for healthy nutrition. As a result of purposeful selection work, domestic varieties and hybrids of vegetable crops with fundamentally new qualities were created. The geographical location of the branches of the Center allows you to create breeding achievements for all potential regions of vegetable growing. In 2019, 36 varieties and hybrids of vegetables and melon crops were created, including cabbage, carrot, tomato, onion, onion Shallot, perennial onion, garlic, peas, bean, cowpea, pumpkin, cucumber, sugar corn, green vegetables culture, spicy-flavouring plant and floral crops. In order to provide the industry with pure-grade quality seed material and increase the productivity of crops due to the full use of the potential of the variety in the FSBSI FSVC, constant work is carried out in primary seed production. Zonal cultivation technologies have been developed that will allow growing domestic products in different soil and climatic conditions of the country. Wide introduction of achievements of the Russian vegetable growing science in agricultural production is capable to provide the population of the Russian Federation with high-quality, domestic production.

Over the years, breeders around the world have made significant changes to the architecture of plants of vegetable pea varieties. The changes made were aimed at increasing, first of all, the yield. New varieties should have an optimal combination of plant height, the number of productive nodes and increased resistance to lodging. Having achieved certain results, breeders find ways to improve the culture, further improving its economically valuable features. The article highlights the priority directions in the selection of vegetable peas in the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution «Federal Scientific Vegetable Center»(FSBSI FSVC), which are directly related to modern market requirements, and considers the specific factors encountered in breeding work, in the production sector and seed practice. Within the framework of import substitution and the achievement of food security of the country, the scientists of the center are intensively working to create new generation varieties: highly productive (by increasing the number of beans at the node and the number of seeds in the bean), suitable for mechanized harvesting (by obtaining appropriate morphotypes with increased stem strength or modified leaf shape) and with high quality indicators of green peas. There is also a constant selection for resistance to abiotic and biotic environmental factors that have been changing in recent years, both in the country and around the world. The article presents the main achievements obtained thanks to the experience and knowledge of the leading breeders of the center, specialists in seed production and production, as well as specialists in the field of plant immunity. Thus, selectively valuable forms with high productivity (up to 30 beans and more than 150 seeds per plant) were obtained, a variety with high resistance to lodging due to the strength of the stem was obtained. Work is underway to create varieties with high quality green peas and resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses.

Research staff All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Vegetable Growing – Branch of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution Federal Scientific Vegetable Center in collaboration with Russian state agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev agricultural Academy conducted research (2014-2016) on the effect of fertilizers and plant growth regulators on changes in the quality of onions of the Pervenets F1, Bennito F1 hybrids and Poisk 012 F1 during storage. As a result of research, the greatest effect was obtained from the complex application of N90P90K90 in combination with trace elements (tenso-cocktail) and a growth regulator Zircon. This system allowed to obtain high biochemical parameters of onions. At the end of the 7 months of storage (October-may), the highest dry matter and sugar content and the minimum nitrate content was observed in Pervenets F1 onions, as well as in hybrid Bennito F1. In the latematuring hybrid onions Poisk 012 F1 at the end of storage, the dry matter content decreased to 6,8-7,3%, sugars to 3,6-4,1%, vitamin "C" to 3,2-4,9 mg%, and nitrates increased to 92,1 mg/kg, which led to a decrease in product quality and large losses of onions from diseases and natural losses (up to 48-59%). The main reason for these losses was the lack of maturity of bulbs,low solids and sugars during harvest. It is obvious that for long-term storage it is necessary to use bulbs with a dry matter content of at least 10%. It was found out that feeding of onions during the beginning of the formation of food organizations with potassium nitrate, treatment with a growth regulator of Zircon and a complex of microelements of tenso-cocktail contributes to better preservation of the quality of onions.

Three varieties of onions have been created and included in the State Register of the Russian Federation for the first time in the Far East at Primorskaya Vegetable experimental station – Branch of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution “Federal Scientific Vegetable Center” (PVES - Branch of the FSBSI FSVC). Dmitrich: Medium. The bulb is cross-elliptical, weighing 55-70 g. Dry scales are brown, their number is 2-3, juicy scales are white with a greenish tinge. The neck of a medium-sized, two- or threepart. It have semi-acute taste. Trading yields 162-177 kg/ha. Maximum yield of 270 kg/ha (Khabarovsk region). Ivashka: Medium. The bulb is round, weighing 50-60 g, dry scales are pink, their number is 2-3, juicy scales with a pinkish tinge. It have semi-acute taste. Rocket: Medium. The bulb is wide elliptical, weighing 50-60 g. Dry brown scales, their number 2-3, juicy scales are white. It have semi-acute taste. The method of hybridization created a promising variety Antey, which is transferred to the state variety testing: early (vegetation period when sowing seeds in the soil 105-115 days). The bulb is round (index 0.9-1.1), the color of juicy scales is white. Aging before cleaning – up to 95%, keeping the storage 180 days – up to 92%. It have semi-acute taste, the dry matter content of 9.5-11.0%. Relatively resistant to bacterial rots of the bulb. For today the basic line of grades, optimally suitable for agroclimatic conditions of region which will be used for further selection with use of modern molecular-genetic methods together with scientists of Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy and Japanese Partners in the RNF project.

Relevance. Inbreeding is the most widespread method of obtaining starting breeding material and plays a central role in heterosis breeding programs of most crops. Beetroot inbred lines possessing economically valuable characteristics require constant maintenance via self-pollination. However, self-pollination leads to depression of a number of traits. Thorough theoretical studies and practical developments are needed to preserve valuable beetroot lines. We aimed to study the root and leaf rosette variability resulting from beetroot self-pollination. We also investigated the inheritance of monogermity in beetroots.Materials and methods. Experimental work was carried out at the All-Russian Research Institute of Vegetable Growing – branch of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution "Federal Scientific Vegetable Center" (FSBSI FSVC), 2011-202], Moscow Region. The object of the study was inbred beetroot lines originated from beetroots of foreign selection. The research data were obtained via field observations and measurements.Results. It has been experimentally shown that the constant signs of self-pollinated beet lines of 1 year of life are the position and height of the leaf rosette. Stabilization and maintenance of separate fertility at a high level is carried out by selection. A negative correlation was noted between the signs of the degree of separateness and the height of the leaf rosette of the plant, the proportion of the neck of the root crop in its diameter, the mass of the root crop and the proportion of the root crop in the biomass of the plant in the offspring of the fourth generation of the inbreeding. The decrease in the productivity of the seed plant occurs at the beginning of the process of creating self-pollinated lines – in the first generation.