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.

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.

Vegetable root plants is a valuable, essential components of a balanced diet person. The basis of the modern methodology of breeding work on root crops is to meet the requirements of the market, so the breeders are faced with the task of creating varieties and hybrids of root crops with an attractive appearance and a sufficiently high nutritional value, suitable for new technologies of cultivation and processing. The regular meeting of the methodical Commission of the edible plants in the FSBSI Federal Scientific Vegetable Center in the framework of the international scientific-practical conference "Methodology of selection and seed growing of vegetable root plants." The conference was attended by scientists, breeders, seed growers, experts from Russia and CIS countries. The participants of the conference exchanged information on the achievements, development and application of various methodological approaches in the selection and seed production of vegetable root plants, contributing to the creation and introduction of domestic competitive varieties and hybrids, which will solve the problem of import substitution. The need to create a new source material on the basis of the collections of recent years for breeding on technology, alignment of the external parameters of varieties and hybrids of all vegetable root plants, as well as to improve the methods of seed production, especially for the reproduction of seeds of higher categories and lines of hybrids. The changed scientific and technological conditions of conducting the selection and seed-growing process require improving the efficiency of breeding development, the complexity of selection and genetic research, the use of biotechnological methods, MAS technologies, phytotrons, greenhouses and other facilities to accelerate the selection process.

The vegetable production is one of the main factors for food security, as vegetables play an important role in the structure of nutrition. The Federal Scientific Vegetable Center creates competitive varieties and hybrids of vegetable crops that meet market requirements to meet the needs of domestic producers and thereby contributes to food security. As a result of national breeding program, the varieties and hybrids adapted to different growing conditions, with resistance to local races of pathogens, temperature stresses, and ground frosts were developed to provide the sustainable production of vegetables with high nutritional and medicinal qualities. The varieties and hybrids F1 of white head cabbage that have been created for the last 5 years are distinguished from foreign ones by taste qualities, appropriate pickling characteristics with increased sugar, and decreased cellulose contents. The local onion varieties combine long shelf life, early maturing, well bulb formation, high dry matter content (18-20%) and ability to form the bulb for one year. Breeders have developed bee-pollinated and parthenocarpic hybrids of cucumber well adapted to local growing conditions and suitable for open field cultivation in different regions of Russia. Parthenocarpic heterotic hybrids of the multi-propose use, corresponding to the modern variety model with high productivity, early-ripening, bunch ovary disposition, resistance to abiotic stresses, and most harmful diseases. The carrot and red beet varieties with high nutritional qualities, long shelf-life, ecological plasticity that are widely used for seed production have been created. The varieties of Solanaceae crops have been developed to cultivate in Non Chernozem zone, Far East, Western Siberia, the Middle Belt of Russia and the south of Russia, are also suitable for different greenhouse complexes located in different light zones of the Russia. Wide application of varieties produced through national vegetable breeding programs can provide the population with our own products of high quality.

Relevance. The creation of new varieties and hybrids of sweet pepper adapted to the conditions of the Astrakhan region will increase yields, product quality and competitiveness. The analysis of the inheritance of valuable traits in F1 hybrids will also expand the base of the pepper gene pool and create new promising varieties and hybrids that meet the requirements of the modern market and consumers. The purpose of the study was to study the collection and breeding material for the creation of F1 sweet pepper hybrids with a combination of new economically valuable ones in the Astrakhan region.Methodology. The work was carried out in the Astrakhan region, Kamyzyaksky district in the VNIIOOB branch of the "PAFSC RAS" according to accepted methods and technologies. During 2021-2023, 82 collection samples and 420 breeding lines were studied, with a total area of 0.42 ha.The objects of research were 4 varieties and 1 line of sweet pepper.Results. In the collection and breeding nurseries, promising samples were selected, according to which hybridization was carried out. When studying the hybrids obtained, four hybrid combinations are of breeding interest: Cuboid red x Sprinter, Sprinter x Gift of Moldova, Sprinter x Flight, Flight x Sprinter. Inheritance was studied according to the characteristics: the type of bush, the shape of the fruit, color in the technical and biological degree of maturity, wall thickness and insemination of fruits. We studied the parental forms and inheritance of sweet pepper traits in F1 hybrids of four crossing combinations. Description and selection of combinations Cube-shaped red × Sprinter and Sprinter × Podarok Moldovan, exceeding the standard in yield by 5.7-7.3 tonnes/ha, which are of interest for further breeding work. It was determined that in the obtained hybrid combinations, the morphological characteristics of plants were inherited mainly by overdomination of the Sprinter variety.Conclusion. The research results can be applied in practice when creating the starting material for future varieties and hybrids of sweet pepper, and the resulting hybrids will complement the range of existing varieties and hybrids of sweet pepper.

Relevance. The selection of genotypes with high adaptive properties for the conditions of the Tyumen region allows us to contribute to the development of a regional strategy for breeding and genetic work, selection and cultivation of varieties in connection with changing weather and climatic conditions.Material and methodology. The research was carried out over a three-year period (2020-2022) in the northern forest-steppe zone of the Tyumen region. Intervarietal hybridization (4x4 scheme), evaluation of the obtained material according to morphological (4 pcs.), biological (1 pc.), adaptive indicators (2 pcs.) was carried out using generally accepted methods. The objects of study were 12 combinations of fiber flax, first obtained in the region.Results. Significant differences (p<0.05*) were determined between hybrid populations of fiber flax in the influence of genotype, environment, and genotype-environment interaction on the degree of implementation of the studied traits. Correlation relationships have been identified that determine the fiber content in the stem (r=0.79-0.91*, growing season, plant height, inflorescence length, softness, camber), the number and weight of seeds per plant (r=0.79-0 ,91*, inflorescence length, number, size and crackability of the capsule). Based on the results of individual selection in the third hybrid generation (F3), early ripening (4 pieces), tall (n=4), with the maximum number of bolls (n=4) and the number of seeds in them (n=7), fiber content (n =4) in the stem of the combination.Conclusions. Hybrid combinations of fiber flax with high levels of stable properties (G1, G3, G9, G10, G11), productivity criteria (G1, G2, G4, G7, G8, G9, G11, G12) can be valuable in breeding work.

Relevance. Today special attention is paid to potato anthocyanins as components of functional food. Increasing interest is generated by research on the use of anthocyanins for the benefit of animals and people in addition to their significant role in the life of plants.   The research goal was to identify the quantitative and qualitative composition of anthocyanins in the tubers of valuable potato hybrids of Primorsky selection.   Five promising potato hybrids (Solanum tuberosum L.) belonging to different groups of maturity and involved in the comparative variety testing by FSBSI “FSC of Agricultural Biotechnology named after A. K. Chaiki” were used as the research object.   The research was carried out under the conditions of field and laboratory experiments in Primorsky kray, Russia, in 2018-2023. The anthocyanins were divided by the method of high-performance liquid chromatography. The anthocyanins were identified by the method of second-order mass spectrometry.   Results. The research evaluated the potato hybrids for the content of anthocyanins in the tissues of the tubers – skin and flesh. The following specimens were determined to have a high content of anthocyanins both in the skin and flesh: Pri-15-12-14 (petunidin-3-arabinoside: 310.0 and 91.1 mg/kg; cyanidin-3-glucoside: 149.8 and 39.8 mg/kg) and Pri-14-52-2 (petunidin-3-arabinoside: 360.0 and 143.0 mg/kg; cyanidin-3-glucoside: 80.4 and 81.2 mg/kg). The selected specimens were characterized by purple and blue-purple skin. Genotypes Pri-14-52-2 and Pri-15-12-14 had tuber flesh with purple pigmentation. Hybrids Pri-15-12-14 and Pri-14-52-2 had the highest total content of anthocyanins in the flesh – 130.9 and 224.2 mg/kg, respectively. The conducted research identified eight different anthocyanins in the tubers of the studied potato specimens: delphinidin-3-glucoside, delphinidin-3-ramnosil-5-glucoside, petunidin-3-glucoside, malvidin-3-glucoside, cyanidin-3-glucoside, cyanidin-3-ramnosil-5-glucoside, pelargonidin-3-glucoside, and petunidin-3-arabinoside. The tubers with pink and red skin were determined to contain pelargonidin-3-glucoside. Petunidin-3-glucoside and cyanidin-3-glucoside colored tuber skin purple. The selected group of specimens might be recommended for use as functional food and in goal-oriented breeding.

Relevance. Development of valuable sterile lines of sweet pepper using nuclear-cytoplasmic male sterility is associated with the search for stable sterility maintainers in collection material.Material and methods. The purpose of the research is to optimize the identification of the desired genotypes and accelerate the development of sterile lines using artificial climate chambers. The research material was a sterile line msTol55, which under the conditions of a film greenhouse showed partial fertility at the beginning or at the end of the growing season. The place of cultivation is artificial climate chamber, a film spring greenhouse.50-day-old seedlings were planted in pots on 10.01, the period of growing plants in the chamber - until 20.04, then the adult plants were transplanted into a spring film greenhouse. According to the traditional technology, the cassette seedlings of the same line were planted in the greenhouse on 15.04. The number of tested plants is 16-20 pcs. Growing mode in the chamber: 12 hours were illuminated with DRLV lamps, while the temperature was at the level of 26-28°C, from 20.00 to 8.00 the lamps were not illuminated, the temperature was 14-15°C. The actual sterility / fertility of the flowers was determined by the level of contamination of the fruits at the beginning of their formation.Results. The maintained temperature regime for growing in an artificial climate chamber made it possible to identify sterile (30%) and partially fertile plants (70%) in the first 2 weeks of flowering. When adult plants were transplanted into a spring greenhouse, the number of sterile plants increased to 56%. When growing the line msTol55 in a spring greenhouse using the usual technology, partial setting of seeded and little seeded fruits on 60% of the plants was observed from the third decade of May to the second decade of July, then all plants set only non-seeded fruits. Based on the results obtained, it is advisable to identify the breeding material for the Rf gene in the ACC, since the proposed growing regime serves as a provocative background and allows for more effective control over the manifestation of sterility.

The results of the research work carried out during the period 2015-2017 are outlined. on the practical selection of pumpkin in the conditions of the Volgograd Transvolga. The results of studying the assortment of pumpkin varieties of domestic and foreign breeding in collection nurseries are presented. The most promising samples adapted to local soil and climatic conditions have high productivity (Sviteny, Chino, Marina di Chioggia, Silber Bell (USA), Kham (Laos), image (Spain), Local (Kazakhstan), Gribovskaya winter, Teshchenka , Zucchini Malchugan, and the quality of the fruit: (Chino, Chirimen nankin (Japan), Cachi JNTA (Argentina), Mantova Uyghur (Kazakhstan), Duchess, Vega F1, Sweetie, Pampushka, Green Warted Habbard (USA). A new hybrid material was obtained, an estimation of its productivity of consumer achestv, stability to bio- and abiotic factors. accessions selected promising superior standards major ecological and morphological and economically valuable traits. The characteristics of the best selected hybrid combinations are given in comparison with the standards. The most productive are hybrid combinations: Marina di Chioggia x Zorka, Zorka x Sweet banana, Silber Bell x Elegant, Sweet x Elegant, Local (Kirghizia) x Zorka, zucchini Mountain Anchor. The yield of these samples exceeds the standards by 13.3-92.2%. The quality of the fruit is distinguished by the hybrids: Marina di Chioggia x Zorka, Zorka x Marina di Chioggia, Pampushka x Elegant, Zorka x Sweet banana, Silber Bell x Elegant, Zaslavia x POOS6-07, Zorka x Oreshek, Altair x Elegant. The content of dry substances in the fruits of these samples is 2.0-8.8% higher than the standards.

Melon crops have long been non-traditional crops in the Amur region, being grown in small quantities in household plots, while the climatic conditions of Southern Priamurie are favorable for their large-scale cultivation. The results of the study of 10 samples of watermelon and 4 samples of melons of domestic selection in the conditions of the southern zone of Amurskaya Oblast are presented. According to the evaluation of the collection, 7 samples of watermelon are selected: Start, Graal F1, Fronder, Vektor, Skorik, Rapid, Foton, and 2 samples of melon: Alisa F1 and Lolita. They are characterized by sufficiently early ripeness, high and stable yield of marketable fruits of good taste. These varieties and hybrids are promising for cultivation in the south of Amurskaya Oblast. The characteristics of these varieties are summarized and recommendations for their cultivation are offered.