In modern concept of healthy food the products of functional destination play a main role to neutralize the influences of unfavorable environments and unbalanced diet. The Jerusalem artichoke is a promising raw material to produce prebiotic and dietary food. Owing to increased content of biologically active substances (polyphenols, vitamins, pectin and mineral compounds) the Jerusalem artichoke is recognized as valuable product for human’s diet. Among other root-tuber vegetables the Jerusalem artichoke is distinguished by its high content of inulin that is regarded as an effective remedy to treat diabetes, atherosclerosis, obesity and different intoxications. On October 29, Ministry Council of Union State of Russia and Belarus accepted a program ‘Innovation and Improvement of Production in Potato and Jerusalem Artichoke’ aimed to develop high-yielding varieties and up-to-dated technology for production and post-harvesting processing, regarding to the biological features, namely the high contents of inulin, pectin, oligosaccharides in tubers and foliage. In Kaluga oblast, in the frame of program realization, an Innovative Agro-industrial Complex, ‘KiT’ is now under construction, where Jerusalem artichoke tubers and foliage are processed into inulin, fructose-oligosaccharides, fructose-glucose syrup, dietary and prebiotic puree, juice-contented drinks according to technology standards enable to preserve all valuable biologically active components. It allows manufacturing valuable biologically active products and ingredients, such as ‘live’ puree and juices.

The possible ways of development of seed production of pea in Russia and increasing of competitive growth of domestic pea varieties suitable for processing industry are represented in the article.

Relevance. The use of biological preparations in agricultural technology of agricultural crops contributes to the preservation of agrophytocenosis, reduces environmental pollution and has a positive effect on the growth and development of the plants themselves. In this regard, the determination of the effectiveness of the use of biological products in the presowing treatment of common bean seeds is relevant and timely.Materials and methods. In our study, we studied the effect of presowing treatment of common bean seeds with biological products: Polydon Bio Profi, Polydon Amino Mix, Polydon Aminomix, Alfastim on germination energy, germination, seed sprout size, number of roots and length of the root system. Three varieties were taken as objects of study: Athlete, Omichka, Sirenevaya.Results. A different effect of preparations on the time of seed germination was revealed. The average germination time in options 1-4 was higher than the control values for all varieties, i.e. drugs slowed down germination. The seeds of the tested varieties responded positively to treatment with Alfastim (option 5): the average germination time in Fizkulturnitsa and Sirenevaya decreased by 8.5 and 9.8%, in the Omichka variety by 45%, compared with the control. Among the tested varieties, it is necessary to single out the Sirenevaya variety, which has the highest germination energy (ES) from 90% to 100% and seed germination (VS) from 98-100% in all treatment options. The most effective treatment of the Omichka variety was in option 2 (EP-90%, germination rate 90%), the values exceeded the control by 5%. For all options, the germination energy of the Fizkulturnitsa variety ranged from 72 to 90%, germination from 73 to 93%. A positive effect of drugs on the germination of seeds of this variety was established. The defeat of bean seeds by mold fungi was noted. Seed damage is mild to moderate. Seed damage by mold fungi in the variants using Polydon Bio Profi was absent, or it was weak up to 3.3% for all tested varieties. Morphobiometric indicators of seedlings and their root system in all varieties developed more effectively on variants with the use of Polydon Bio Profi and Alfastim preparations, and their mixtures

A brief description  of weather  conditions  in 2012 is shown in the areas of pea production.  The reaction  of pea varieties of VNIIS, SOK breeding   at growing  in  different  regions   of  Russia  and Belarus is described.  The results of the meetings and the work, shops  with the leaders  of a number of canning plants are summa, rized.

In the process of improving crop varieties, an essential role belongs to the fruit quality, which is expressed by biological and nutritional value of raw material used in fresh or processed condition, Plant disease resistance, high productivity, good morphological and other agricultural features are also important. We have presented the results of technical evaluation of five varieties of pumpkin (Maslicinaia 75, Gleisdorfer olkurbis, frown Prince F1) are grown in the Republic of Moldova. The chemical, physical and technical indexes of fresh pumpkin depending on the variety were investigated. According to the results the variety of products obtained from processing pumpkin (nectars, marinades, candied fruits, pumpkin seed oil) was selected.

Depending on the genotype of monoecious plants Cucurbitaceae family may have different gender expressions: predominantly female, mixed and predominantlymale type of flowering. However, the degree of sexual differentiation can be changedunder the influence of abiotic and endogenous factors. Among the chemicals that affect the level of female flowering in pumpkin crops, preparations based on 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid (Ethephon or Etrelle) are the most promising for hybrid seed production. Study of plant response of squash Cucurbita pepo var. giromontina with varying sex expressions on the treatments with Etrelle revealed common conformities and specificities of preparation action in the condition of Krasnodar region. It is shown the use of treatment once is not effective even if the high concentration range, 500-1100 mg/L, was taken. On gender switch was effectively influenced successive plant treatments with Etrelle at stages of 3-5 true leaves in a wide concentration range from 250 to 700 mg /L., where the restraining was that the start of male flower blossoming was 14-25 days after female flower blossoming. K69 line with predominantly female flowering was more responsive to the variation of concentration and frequency of treatments whereas the line K49 with male flowering was less responsive to the frequency of treatments. It is shown that in the range of effective concentrations, Etrelle may have phytotoxic effects on the growth and development of squash plants at the time of restraining flowering of male flowers. It is important to  ake that into account when choosing a regime of preparation treatments for chemical castration of maternal forms in hybrid seed production of this crop.