Relevance. Medicinal properties of celery (Apium graveolens L.) are connected to the most extent to high antioxidant status of plants.Material, methods and results. Comparative evaluation of polyphenols, ascorbic acid, flavonoids and photosynthetic pygments by leafy, stalk and root celery types, grown in similar conditions on experimental fields of Federal Scientific Center of Vegetable Production revealed several peculiarities, typical to each form. Antioxidant activity (AOA) of seeds, leaves and petioles composed a ratio: 2.7:1.74:1 for leafy form, 2.88:1.99:1 for stalk form, while root celery AOA of seeds, leaves, roots and petioles was characterized by a ratio 3.66:2.78:1.42:1. With practically no differences in leaves ascorbic acid content between different celery forms leaves:petioles ratio for ascorbic acid reached (5.31-5.57):1 for leafy and stalk forms whereas vitamin C distribution between leaves, roots and petioles of root celery was characterized by a ratio 8.1:1.1:1. Phenolics seeds:leaves:roots:petioles accumulation ratio for root celery was equal to 1.77: 1.77: 1.33:1, whereas leaves/petioles distribution of phenolicss in stalk andleafy forms reached 1.86:1 and 1.64:1 accordingly. Polyphenols content in seeds of leafy celery was 1.4-1.5 times lower than in leaves, contrary to stalk and root celery with equal concentrations of phenolics in seeds and leaves. Leaves/petioles ratio of flavonoids was the highest for Elixir (2.87) and Atlant culivars (2.41). Root and leafy celery Samuray cv demonstrated 1.54-1.71 appropriate values. The highest chlorophyll a and b content was typical for root celery. Celery antioxidant system was characterized by positive correlations between ascorbic acid, flavonoids, phenolics, zinc and total AOA and also between the AOA ratio seeds/petioles and leaves/petioles (r=+0.99; P<0.001) and a negative correlation between chlorophyll and phenolics and flavonoids accumulation levels. High nutritional significance of root celery leaves was estimated.

As a result of monitoring of causative agents of diseases of vegetable crops and studying of its species specification, the genus and species of fungi and bacteria, were found. Previously unknown in the Central region of Russia pathogens of carrot were identified: Sclerotinia nevales, Gleocladium roseum, Verticillium spp, Trichotecium roseum, Streptomyces scabies, F. nivale, F. chlamidosporum, F. equiseti, F. proliferatum, Chaetomium spp., Erysiphe umbelliferum, Erwinia carotovora. Main causative agents of diseases  of carrot during storage were also described: Alternaria infectoria, A. alternatа, A. arborescens, A. radicina, A. cheiranthi, A. corotiincultae, A. cinerariae, Embellisia spp., Nimbia spp., Cladosporium spp. It was found new pathogen for onion (Aspergillus niger), garlic (Fusarium semitectum, F. subglutinans, F. proliferatum, F.avenacium), red beet (Typhula ishikariensis), and radish (Drechslera Bondartseva).

Contributions of main factors and their interaction effects on development of the allelopathic activity of seeds have been shown. The specificity of distribution of factor influence portion has been revealed depending on extract concentration.

Relevance. Evaluation of nutritional value of seeds of agricultural crops is considered to be highly significant for revealing new sources of antioxidants for humans.Material. The aim of the present investigation was antioxidant status and selenium accumulation levels by chicory seeds (13 cultivars) and comparison of the results with antioxidants status of seeds of other root vegetables: celery (5 cultivars), parsley (2 cultivars), parsnip (3 cultivars) and carrot (7 cultivars).Results. Among agricultural crops studied chicory was characterized by 3-4 higher levels of selenium accumulation by seeds and relatively low total antioxidant activity and polyphenol content. Anomalously high protein content in chicory seeds may explain the efficiency of selenium accumulation while relatively low antioxidant activity may be connected with lower levels of essential oil. Direct correlations between polyphenol content and total antioxidant activity were demonstrated for carrot (r=+0.924; P<0.01) and chicory (r= 0.803; P<0.01) seeds.