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.

Relevance. Increased demand in Russia for common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) varieties of domestic breeding has stimulated the Federal Scientific Vegetable Center of breeding to intensify research on the creation of new asparagus bean varieties of vegetable direction.Materials and methods. Four vegetable bean varieties – Secunda, Lika, Ulyasha, Si Bemol of the laboratory of selection and seed production of vegetable Legume crops of the Federal Scientific Vegetable Center were used as the material for the study. The counts and observations were made according to the Methodology of the State Variety Trial of Agricultural Crops, 1975. The count of productivity was carried out in the technical stage of ripeness by replications. Harvesting was carried out when the biological stage of ripeness was reached. Biochemical studies of plants were carried out in the laboratoryanalytical department of the FSBSI FSVC. The biochemical composition of vegetable bean (green bean) varieties was studied according to the following indicators: determination of the total content of water-soluble antioxidants, ascorbic acid, dry matter, polyphenols, monosaccharides, total sugar content and starch.Results. Evaluation of samples by aggregate factors contributes to the selection of the most promising and high-quality varieties for their introduction into production. As a result of the research of vegetable bean on the main economically valuable features and biochemical composition for the period from 2018 to 2020, the varieties Lika and Ulyasha were selected. They were distinguished by high productivity of beans and seeds. Green bean variety Lika was noted for the highest total content of water-soluble antioxidants, ascorbic acid and the total of sugars content, the green bean variety "lobio" Ulyasha - high content of polyphenols and the total of antioxidants in the alcohol extract. Stable high yield, adaptive potential and high quality of beans, confirmed by the results of biochemical evaluation, allow us to recommend these varieties for consumption by the population as part of the diet and as an alternative to meat and dairy products.

Relevance. When creating tomato varieties and hybrids, much attention is paid not only to the commercial component (yield, appearance and uniform ripening), but also to the taste qualities of the products. Salad tomato varieties with yellow, tangerine, and pink fruits are increasingly in demand. As a rule, these fruits do not store for a long time, so it is necessary to increase their storability and transportability. Fruits of this group of tomatoes have high antioxidant activity, which is due not only to the significant content of water-soluble antioxidants (such as ascorbic acid), but also carotenoids. The preservation of fruit largely depends on the dry matter content.The aim of investigation is to study biochemical parameters of tangerine tomatoes fruits under different ripening conditions.Materials and methods. Plants were grown in the greenhouse of Federal Scientific Vegetable Center. Biochemical characteristics of tomato fruits were studied during harvesting and after laying for storage in the milky ripeness phase according to the following indicators: dry matter, ascorbic acid, total content of water-soluble antioxidants, titratable acidity, monosaccharides, polyphenols and carotenoids.Results. The percentage of dry matter in tangerine tomato fruits does not change during storage, even increases slightly. The dry matter content of fruits from the open field is slightly higher than that of fruits from the greenhouse. The content of sugars and ascorbic acid in fruits with tangerine fruits after laying for ripening decreases slightly. However, the content of these compounds is higher in mature fruits immediately after picking than in fruits after ripening. The total content of antioxidants during ripening decreases, though not significantly (in 1.1-1.7 times).

Relevance. The priority direction in vegetable growing is the scientifically justified use of types and doses of micronutrients that can increase the yield of watermelon fruits and improve their quality. Due to the large number of different types of fertilizers currently appearing on the market, it is necessary to choose the right ones and study them in optimal doses for growing high-quality melon products.Material and methodology. Objects of research: watermelon varieties Meteor, Zemlyanin, Kholodok and preparations: iron chelate, zinc chelate, vegetable Aquarin. Options using these fertilizers for double foliar treatment of plants during the growing season have been studied. The research was carried out during 2019-2021 at the Bykovskaya melon breeding experimental station.Results. During the study, a positive effect of the tested drugs on the quantitative and qualitative indicators of products was established. As a result of foliar treatments of plants in all variants, the yield exceeded the control variant (without treatments). A comparative analysis of biochemical data showed that the dry matter content was at a fairly high level. As a result of the use of zinc chelate in the Meteor and Kholodok cv., the dry matter content increased by 0.4%. A similar increase in the indicator was obtained when using the drug Aquarin vegetable on the Zemlyanin and Kholodok cv. The content of total sugar in the Meteor and Kholodok cv. was higher than the control (without treatments), and in the Zemlyanin cv. it was at the control level. The fructose content in the tested variants of all varieties exceeded the control. As a result of the use of water-soluble fertilizers for plant treatment, the content of ascorbic acid increased in the variants with treatment in the Meteor cv. – by 1-1.5 mg%, in the Zemlyanin cv. – by 0.8-1.1 mg%, in the Kholodok cv. – by 0 .1-0.7 mg% compared to control (without treatments). Nitrate levels in watermelon fruits of different ripening periods did not exceed the maximum permissible concentration (60 mg/kg).

Relevance. Tomato pink-fruit cultivars and hybrids are of interest for fresh consumption. The biochemical parameters are influenced by the varietal factor and by the growing conditions. It is known that mature tomatoes record low storability. The softening of the fruit is caused by ethylene produced in the ripening fruit. Then pectinase enzymes are synthesized in the fruit tissues, under the action of which the cell walls of the fruit soften. Breeders are creating tomato cultivars whose fruits could be stored for a long time without losing their tasty.   The aim of the investigation was to study the biochemical parameters of pink-colored tomato fruits under different ripening conditions.   Materials and methods. The plants were grown on the experimental fields of the Laboratory for Breeding and Seed Production of Solanaceae crops. In the Analytical Department, the biochemical composition of pink tomato fruits was studied during harvesting from the field and after laying for storage in the milky ripeness phase according to the following indicators: dry matter, ascorbic acid, total content of water-soluble antioxidants, titratable acidity, monosaccharides, polyphenols and carotenoids.   Results. The breeding accession F4 (Lotos x Z6) showed maximum dry matter and monosaccharide content both after storage and in mature fruits. The same sample as F5 (Lotos x Z6) showed the highest ascorbic acid content after storage. Other parameters before and after storage in these samples were comparable. Whereas, breeding accession F6 (Z6 x Lotos) stood out in terms of maximum content of sum of antioxidants in alcoholic extract and content of water-soluble antioxidants after storage.

Relevance. The main direction of breeding melon Bikovskaya cucurbits breeding experimental station – branch of the FSBSI FSVC is the creation of varieties with valuable economic characteristics, especially with resistance to bioand abiotic environmental factors. To meet the needs of commodity producers and the population, varieties are needed not only with high yields, but also attractive appearance, good taste qualities. Very important: the rich color of the bark background, the proportional shape of the fruit and the sweet juicy pulp.Materials and methods. The research was carried out in 2020–2022 at the Bikovskaya cucurbits breeding experimental station – branch of the FSBSI FSVC. The object of research is melon varieties created over the past five years. The Osen variety was used as a standard. The main method of selection work with melon is intervarietal hybridization followed by individual selection.Results. Melon varieties were evaluated according to valuable economic characteristics, 6 best varieties were identified in comparison with the standard. In terms of yield, 2 varieties were distinguished (16.3 t/ha and 17.3 t/ha); in terms of dry matter content, 2 varieties (19%); in terms of large-fruited 1 variety (6.0 kg); in terms of the bright color of the bark background, 1 sample (bright yellow).

The priority direction in melon breeding is the creation of new competitively capable varieties that combine resistance to adverse environmental factors with valuable economic characteristics.Materials and methods. The object of the study is melon varieties 599 and 595. The purpose of this study is to study the influence of weather conditions on the yield and biochemical composition of the studied melon varieties in the conditions of the Volgograd Volga region. The research was carried out at the Bykovskaya melon breeding experimental station for three years according to the developed methods, the Osen variety was used as a standard.Results. The article presents the results of the influence of weather conditions on yield, fruit weight, and also presents an analysis of the biochemical composition of melon fruits. A complete description of the studied melon varieties is given. In terms of yield, the high indicators for cultivars 599 and 595 were in 2020 with the totals of average monthly active temperatures of 114°C and precipitation totals of 178 mm, and amounted to 19.0 t/ha and 21.3 t/ha. According to the content of dry matter in the fruit juice, according to the results of studies, it was seen that with the greatest amount of moisture, the indicators were higher in 2018 with a precipitation rate of 296 mm in cultivars 599 – 13.6%, in 595 – 13.2%, than in 2019 with a norm of 272.6 mm 599 – 12.0% in 595 – 11.6%. Thus, we can conclude that these melon varieties meet the modern requirements of the industrial melon industry.

Relevance One of the priority directions of selection is the creation of varieties that are most adapted to local conditions with high productivity. Methods The object of study – varieties and hybrids of pumpkin of three Botanical species: Cucurbita maxima, Cucurbita moschata and Cucurbita pepo. The purpose of the work is the creation and introduction into production of high-yielding varieties of pumpkin with high quality fruits, resistant to bio-and abiotic conditions of the lower Volga region. Research objectives: the study of varietal diversity and identification of genetic sources adapted to the conditions of the region; artificial hybridization, evaluation of the obtained source material on the main economic and valuable features, selection of the best hybrid combinations and testing them in comparison with the best zoned varieties. Results The collection identified genetic sources of productivity: Chino, Sviten, Kham, Creen Warted Habbard, Zukat, Arina, Madam; the quality of the fruit: Sorme poire, Burgess Buttercup Wintes, Malishka, Duchess, Konfetka. Using the selected genetic sources in crossbreeding, new hybrid combinations were obtained, after testing of which the source material for breeding was formed in the hybrid nursery. The table shows the characteristics of the best hybrid populations of pumpkin species S. maxima, S. moschata. The best zoned varieties of table pumpkin created in recent years. Izyashnaya – medium-ripe, shortleaved, high-yielding (17.0-26.0 t/ha), with high quality fruits (12.0-16.0% solids); Izobilie – yield (18.0-25.0 t/ha), drought-resistant; Romantika – medium-ripe, resistant to powdery mildew, yielding (16.0-20.0 t/ha), high quality fruits (10.0-15.0% dry-VA, 60.4 mg% carotene).

Potatoes is the most important food crop, one of the main crops grown throughout the world. A way to improve the profitability of the potato industry is processing. The processing production requires special varieties of potatoes. Tests were carried out by the department of vegetable breeding «Agrarian scientific center of republic of Dagestan» in 2017-2018 with the purpose of study the effect of soil-climatic conditions of Dagestan highlands on dry matter and starch content in potato tubers for production of processed potato products. Processing of potatoes is one of the methods to increase profitability of industry. One of the quality indexes of the use of potato varieties for their processing is high level of dry matter and starch. As a result of the research, the following varieties were identified: high-yielding are Impala, Irbit, Zhukovsky Ranniy, Manifesto, Matushka, Nevsky, Primabella, Rosara, Silvana, Spiridon and Udacha; high dry matter content are Alena, Vektor, Dzhokonda, Desiree, Matushka, Nart, Primabella and Rossi; high in starch: Desiree - 23%, Vector and Primabella - 22.2% each. The results of the present investigation revealed that climate of the mountainous areas of Dagestan republic promotes the increase of dry matter and starch content in potato tubers by 3-4%.

In recent years, interest in mountain savory is increasing and this is due to the rich biochemical composition, useful properties and decorative qualities of this plant. The materials were sortopopulyatsiya savory mountain. The study was conducted in the open ground in Moscow region (2012-2018) on experimental plots of the laboratory green, spicy taste and floral crops of FSBSI FSVC. The work on improving the source material by applying individual selection, the most aligned with economically valuable traits form ЧГ32-12 with high potential productivity of inflorescences and green mass, decorative, flavour and hardiness. Conducted testing and pre-multiplication of promising accessions, which was transferred into the "GOSSORTKOMISSIA" in 2018 called “Bobrik”. The yield of green increased in vegetation years in the first year of vegetation was 0,650 kg/m2, in the second – 3.0 kg/m2, and in the third year reached 5.4 kg/m2. Indicator sign "plant height" increased over the years of vegetation (11.4 cm, 25.5 cm and 40.2 cm, respectively). The values of the sign "number of shoots" in the first year of vegetation was 11.6 PCs., in the second year – sharply increased (255.1 PCs.), in the third year – reached its maximum (787.3). The accumulation of dry matter in the years of vegetation increased: the first year contained 20.08%; the second year – 26.95%; and the third year of vegetation – 29.71%. The content of ascorbic acid in the flowering phase in the second year of vegetation increased compared to the first year (8.21 mg/% and 5.87 mg (%). The amount of water-soluble antioxidants in the second year of the growing season has increased almost two times in comparison with the first year (to 22.7 mg/g and AAE 42.39 mg/g of AAE), in the third year there is a decrease in rate – 28.6 mg/g of AAE. Thus, the green of the mountain variety "Bobrik" is a source of biologically active substances, such as ascorbic acid and carotenoids, so the culture can be recommended for the use of young shoots and leaves in fresh and dry form, as a seasoning for salads, sauces, marinades, meat and fish dishes, as well as spicy and aromatic additives for the preparation of drinks.