Relevance and methodology. Lychnis coronaria is a perennial herbaceous plant with high decorative properties, with prolonged flowering in the second or third year of vegetation. The pubescent leaves form beautiful rosettes. The plant is undemanding to the growing conditions. The research material was the varietal population of Lychnis coronaria. The study was carried out in the open ground of the Moscow region (2014- 2021) on experimental plots of the flower crops sector of the FSBSI FSVC.Results. The most aligned form according to decorative features was identified – LC 1-21 with high seed productivity of inflorescences, decorative and winter hardiness. A variety testing and preliminary reproduction of a promising cultivar of Lychnis coronaria was carried out. This variety was transferred to the FSBI "State Export Commission" in 2021 under the name “Malinovy Rassvet”. Such signs as "plant height", "bush diameter", "number of ornamental shoots", "flower diameter" had a low or average variation value, which characterizes this sample as the most aligned. Thus, the cv. “Malinovy Rassvet” of Lychnis coronaria is recommended for cultivation and use for decorative purposes. The leaves and the bright color of the flowers provide a contrast to the perennial borders and flower beds. It looks good both in single and group plantings, as well as in cutting. It is grown as a short-lived perennial. The main advantages of the variety are the color fastness of flowers when burned out in the sun, resistance to diseases and pests, high seed productivity.

Relevance. Abiotic stress, as heat, significantly affect plant and floral organs growth and development, fruit set, productivity, the quality, and survival of crops. Heat injury occurs when plants are exposed to these temperatures for a long period of time. Depending on the intensity and duration of exposure to the high temperatures, photosynthesis, respiration, membrane integrity, water relations and the hormone balance of the plants may affected.Material and methods. In this study used the commercial pepper cultivar “NW Bigarim” (HT37) released in South Korea and accessions “Kobra” (HT1) and “Samchukjaere” (HT7) selected as heat tolerant and susceptible, respectively. Total chlorophyll index and photosynthetic activities measured using a SPAD meter (Konica, Japan) and portable photosynthesis measurement system (LI-6400, LI-COR Bioscience, Lincoln, NE, USA), respectively.Results. To evaluate the positive effects of high temperature regime (40/28°C day/night, 14/10-h light/dark cycle) on the response of photosynthetic parameters in pepper plants with different heat susceptibility, we measured the total chlorophyll content (CHL) and photosynthetic activities such as photosynthesis (Pn), stomatal conductance to H2O (Gs) and transpiration rate (Tr) in a heat-tolerant (HT1) and -susceptible cultivars (HT7) in comparison with released cultivar (HT37) at fruit development stage. Heat-tolerant cultivars showed higher and more stable index of the CHL, Pn, Gs and Tr than those in heat-sensitive cultivars for 14 days of heat treatment (HT) period. However, the initial index of Pn, Gs and Tr showed significant alteration among pepper plants regardless of thermotolerance rate before HT on day 0 and day 7 after recovery at normal treatment condition (NT) except for CHL, meaning that plants response to high temperature regime is different from that in normal condition. These results suggest that constant high rates of Pn, Gs and Tr as well as of CHL in heat stress condition periods confer to avoid from heat injury during reproductive growth stages.

Relevance. In terms of the richness of colors, shapes and sizes of inflorescences and relative unpretentiousness during cultivation, as well as the duration of flowering of a dahlia, the cultural has no equal. Basically, this flower crop is grown in the open field and used for landscaping areas. Dahlias, due to their decorative properties, are a promising crop for cutting. But the growth in the volume of industrial cultivation of cut dahlias has long been constrained by two negative factors - the low life expectancy of cut flowers, and the fact that not all varieties of cultivated dahlias are suitable for cultivation in greenhouses. Therefore, the search for varieties that meet the aforementioned properties is an especially urgent task.Material and methods. The material for the study was 10 varieties of Dahlia × cultorum Dutch selection. They belong to different groups of dahlias – spherical: Souvenir d'Eté, The Voice, Jowey Winnie; decorative – Orion, Café au Lait, Fleurel, Karma Choc and pompom dahlias: Little William, Cornel Bronze, Petra's Wedding, All tubers were planted in phytotron beds. Phenological observations of plants were carried out according to the Methodology of State Variety Testing of Ornamental Crops. During the growing season, the following indicators were determined: the onset of phenological phases of development, the dynamics of plant growth, the number and size of inflorescences, the length of the peduncle, the duration of flowering.Results. It was found that all the studied varieties of cultural dahlias have a high decorative effect and are suitable for growing for cutting in greenhouse conditions. Growing plants in a phytotron allows you to get a high-quality cut almost two months ahead of time, as well as have a longer and more abundant flowering. It was found that the Café au Lait cultivar is not entirely suitable for cut cultivation in greenhouses or requires the development of cultivation technology that is individual for this cultivar. It was found that the Fleurel variety surpasses other studied varieties in terms of decorativeness, inflorescence size, peduncle length, onset time and flowering duration. A significant disadvantage of the variety is its high growth and fragility of the peduncles. The most popular cut varieties were Fleurel, Petra's Wedding, Jowey Winnie and Little William. It was found that the studied varieties of cultural dahlias were distinguished not only by high decorativeness, but also by high durability in a vase from 5 to 7 days.

The varieties and hybrids of cucumbers cultivated in the Astrakhan region are insufficiently productive and are largely affected by a number of diseases. The introduction of innovative developments into production, in particular, new varieties and hybrids of domestic selection, largely solves the problem of import substitution and food security. The goal is to use promising breeding lines and their offspring as genetic sources and donors when creating new varieties and hybrids for open field conditions in southern Russia.Methods. Experiments were carried out in the fields of Precaspian agrarian federal scientific center of the Russian academy of sciences, according to the methods used in the Astrakhan region. Within three years, 47 collection samples were tested.Results. The article presents the results of studying the 12 most promising ones, distinguished by a complex of valuable economic traits, in particular by yield, amicability of fruit setting, which are of interest for further breeding work. According to the results of the data obtained, we can say that the best were the lines: 13-88RZ, 13-101RZ, Gherkins, KRASTAVAC, Courage, Zina, they can be used to create new varieties and hybrids of cucumber as donors of a predominantly female type of flowering, harmonious yield.

Relevance. The soil and climatic conditions of the Lower Trans-Volga region are considered favorable for melon growing and make it possible to obtain high-quality products. The purpose of the research was to create new competitive varieties and hybrids of melon and pumpkin.Materials and methods. The object of the research is new varieties of melon and butternut pumpkin created at the Bykovskaya melon breeding experimental station. Melon cultivar Osen and pumpkin cv. Zhemchuzhina were used as standards. The methods of creation are intervarietal hybridization, individual and mass selection. During the growing season, appropriate observations and counts were carried out.Results. As a result of many years of breeding work at the Bykovskaya cucurbits selection experimental station, a melon cultivar 251 and a pumpkin cultivar 509 have been created. both producers and consumers. Therefore, the obtained varieties were evaluated for taste, yield, resistance to biological and abiofactors of the environment, dry matter content, fruit size, fruit and pulp color. During the comparative assessment of the accessions, it was determined that the new varieties of melon and pumpkin exceed the standards in terms of the main economically valuable traits. The average yield during the study, in the melon cultivar 251, exceeded the standard by 47.8%. In the pumpkin cultivar, the average yield for three years of research exceeded the standard by 69.6%. In terms of taste, the new melon variety was at the level of the standard, the cv. Osen. A variety of butternut pumpkin exceeded the standard in all quality indicators. The susceptibility to powdery mildew in the melon cultivar varied depending on the year of research. The melon sample showed resistance to anthracnose higher than the standard by 16.4 and 18.6%, over the years of study. In the pumpkin cultivar, resistance to powdery mildew and anthracnose was higher than the standard, on average by 34.9% to powdery mildew and by 28.6% to anthracnose. Thus, new varieties of melon and pumpkin meet the modern requirements of the industrial melon industry, are resistant to environmental stress factors, common diseases, and have economically valuable traits.

Relevance. When growing cucumbers in a greenhouse not equipped with additional lighting, especially in winter, there is a shortage of solar energy. To obtain high yields of cucumber at this time, it is necessary to select the most resistant to low light hybrids. The selection of genotypes resistant to this trait is a very important stage in the selection of cucumber for winter-spring turnover.The purpose of the study: search for an easy-to-use method for early diagnosis of cucumber resistance to insufficient illumination.Methods. The research was carried out at the variety testing site in the Gavrish Breeding Center (Krymsk city) of the Scientific Research Institute of Vegetable Crop Breeding, in winter-spring turnover conditions, in greenhouses not equipped with artificial lighting. Seedlings were planted in a permanent place in the greenhouse during the period of the lowest arrival of solar radiation in the year on December 21. The measurement of the height of the main stem was carried out on 31 days after planting the plants in a permanent place.Results. Measuring the height of the main stem before fruiting showed a significant variation of this trait in different cucumber hybrids. Further study of the correlation of the height of the main stem and yield revealed their high dependence. This fact suggests that a fairly simple measurable parameter has been found for evaluating different cucumber genotypes on the basis of resistance to low light. Regression analysis made it possible to divide the variability of the studied genotypes by yield into a dependent part of the height of the main stem and an additional one, which makes up to 30% of the yield increase. Further analysis of the high-yielding group has a high breeding value.

Relevance. Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill is one of the most important protein- oilseed crops in world arable farming. An acute shortage of both food and feed protein is felt in many world’s countries. In this regard, the expansion of soybean seed production is relevant and is dictated by the need for import substitution of both food and feed soybean products.Materials and methods. In the research we studied the influence of two ecologically different cultivation zones: Priobskaya and Prialtaiskaya on the formation of plants density and seed yield of soybean. Three varieties Altom, Gratsia and Pripyat were taken as the objects of the research.Results. On average, over the years of research in full seedlings stage from 60 germinating seeds per square meter (600 thousand pieces/ha), in our experiment, about 56 plants were obtained per 1 m2 or 560 thousand plants per 1 hectare. This means that, on average, 93% of sown seeds give seedlings in field conditions. For harvesting after exposure of soybean crops to numerous biotic and abiotic factors, on average, there are about 52 plants per 1 m² or 520 thousand plants per 1 hectare, that is, 88% of the sown germinating seeds are saved for harvesting and give a yield. The maximum influence on the variability of plant density is exerted by vegetation conditions (years) – 37%. On average, over the years of the study, the maximum yield under Topchikha conditions was obtained in 2019 – 1.9 t/ha – in a year that was distinguished by not hot weather with sufficient rainfall during the growing season. Varieties Gratsia and Pripyat in Smolenskoye conditions significantly exceeded the standard in terms of yield in 2018 and 2020. On average, over the years of research, the Gratsia variety showed itself as more stable with Cv=11.3% in Topchikha conditions and Cv=9.8% in Smolenskoye conditions.

Relevance. One of the most common diseases of potatoes and other nightshade family species is late blight caused by a pathogenic oomycete of the Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary. At least 100 species of phytophthora have been described in nature, affecting a wide range of plant species. The phytophthora population is heterogeneous and is represented by races, as well as different types of mating. This leads to a rapid adaptation of the pathogen and the emergence of new, more aggressive, and resistant races. Phytophthora is a parasite, the damage from which cannot be avoided within the organic farming framework. Therefore, it is particularly important to know the pathogenesis and racial composition of phytophthora in each individual region of Solanaceae cultivation.Research methodology. Differentiation and collection of material from the natural population were carried out using potato varieties with known R-genes in the genome. Isolation and introduction into the culture were carried out from leaves with the dampening chambers method, followed by cultivation on nutrient media. The pathogen was identified by microscopic analysis. Culture filtrates were obtained on the liquid nutritious medium, followed by liquid filtration and autoclaving. Phytotoxic activity was determined by the effect on the seedlings of the nightshade, grass, and pea families by the standard method. Molecular genetic analysis of the isolates was carried out by ISSR analysis; the primer, amplification mixture, and temperature profile of the reaction were selected according to the literature data; the calculation of genetic characteristics was carried out using POPGENE software packages.Results. Samples of seven Phytophthora infestans isolates were collected and introduced into culture. As a result of in vitro cultivation, morphological differences were revealed, expressed in the structure and color of the mycelium, the shape of the colonies, the nature of sporulation, the color of the reverse, and the medium under the colonies. The genetic differences of the natural phytophthora material introduced into the culture, collected from potato varieties with single resistance genes (R1, R3, R4), were revealed. Differences in the phytotoxic activity of the studied isolates' cultural filtrates were revealed. The isolated isolates demonstrate differentiation at the phenotypic, genetic and physiological levels, which allows us to speak about their belonging to races.

Relevance. The south of Russia occupies about 45% of the country's vegetable area and produces annually more than 5.7 million tons of vegetables or 48.9% of gross vegetable harvest in the country. The analysis of the state of open-ground vegetable growing in the south of Russia is given, taking into account the dynamics of acreage, yield, and gross harvest. The article presents a forecast of the development of openground vegetable growing in the south of Russia in the medium term, taking into account the organizational and legal changes in the industry.Materials and results. The purpose of the research. Analysis of the state of open-ground vegetable growing in the south of Russia and identification of factors hindering the further development of the industry. The role of innovations introduced into production, variety exchange and variety renewal in increasing the gross yield of vegetables are shown. The reasons of the shortfall in productivity in 10 of 15 subjects of districts below the level of the average district values are given. The article highlights the reasoned judgments about the need to enlarge vegetable farms, expand the range of vegetable crops grown, as well as the need for a widespread transition to organic vegetable growing. The paper uses the official materials of the Federal State Statistics Service (FSSS), reports of agricultural departments of the subjects of two districts, the analysis of which was carried out by the author and comments on them were made.

Relevance. Production of functional food with high levels of antioxidant status and selenium is essential for human protection against viral and cardiovascular diseases as well as cancer.Methods. Evaluation of the efficiency in foliar sodium selenate biofortification (25. 50 and 75 mg Se/L) was achieved on three chervil genotypes.Results. Intervarietal differences in biofortification level was demonstrated: from 15.5 to 31.1 for 25 mg Se/L dose; from 36.9 to 64.6 for 50 mg Se/L dose; and from 72.9 to 130 for 75 mg Se/L dose. At the chosen doses, selenium supply did not affect significantly the yield, antioxidant properties and photosynthetic content of chervil. Total antioxidant activity was in the range from 30 to 42 mg GAE/g d.w., phenolics content from 9 to 13 mg GAE/g d.w, flavonoids from 5 to 12 mg-eq quercetin/g d.w., ascorbic acid from 33 to 66 mg/100 g fresh w. High levels of carotene were a typical feature of Se fortified and non-fortified chervil. A direct correlation was recorded between phenolics content and total antioxidant activity (r=+0.954, P<0.01), and between water soluble compounds and nitrates accumulation (r=+0.920, P<0.01). Biofortification with selenium did not affect significantly the mineral content of plants. Consumption of 100 g of fresh chervil leaves, fortified with selenium, provides from 50 to 75% of the adequate selenium consumption level and from 16 to 20% of potassium. Taking into account that both selenium and potassium normalize heart activity, the new functional food product may be recommended for prophylactics and treatment of cardiovascular diseases and for the human selenium status optimization.