Relevance. Powdery mildew is one of the most common and harmful diseases of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) in open and protected ground. Moreover, in the closed ground, the harmfulness is higher than in the field. The yield of cucumber, due to the defeat of plants by powdery mildew, decreases by 30-50%, and in some cases by more than 70%. The creation of modern cucumber hybrids is impossible without the constant involvement in the breeding process of new sources of economically useful traits, including resistance to real powdery mildew. It is very important to combine in one line both a high degree of parthenocarpy, and the female type of flowering, and resistance to the most harmful diseases. We tried to solve this problem in our work.Materials and methods. The experience was laid in 2018-2022 in the Odintsovo district of the Moscow region on the basis of the head institution of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution Federal Scientific Vegetable Center (FSBSI FSVC) in the conditions of a spring ground greenhouse of the Block type, on a natural infectious background. On the basis of the laboratory of breeding and seed production of pumpkin crops, 27 collectible and about 50 breeding samples of parthenocarpic cucumber were studied. The article presents an assessment of the resistance to this powdery mildew of 36 of the most aligned and most valuable cucumber breeding samples in terms of a complex of economically useful features. 2-3 families, 6 plants in each, were evaluated for each sample for 2 years. During the entire growing season, the intensity of powdery mildew damage was assessed on a four-point scale and the spread of the disease in %.Results. Among the collection samples of cucumber, on a natural infectious background, two hybrids of the agrofirm BEJO ZADEN B.V. were not affected by powdery mildew: Amur 1801 F1, Artist F1, a hybrid without a name of the agrofirm MONSANTO HOLLAND B.V., conventionally named – Semenis F1 and hybrid Kibria F1 of the agrofirm RIJK ZWAAN. To a small extent, less than one point, they were amazed: Orpheus F1, Merengue F1, Marinda F1, Masha F1, Othello F1, List F1, Adam F1, SV 4097 F1 and Krasotka F1. 11cucumber breeding samples selected in previous years of research on a complex of economically useful signs that were not affected by this disease during 2 years of research were identified. Work will continue to evaluate these lines for resistance to real powdery mildew on an artificial infectious background.

Relevance. The yield of watermelon fruits and seeds depends on many factors, one of which is the phytosanitary condition of the crops. Weather conditions during the growing season at the beginning of flowering contributed to the infection of plants with bacteriosis and Alternaria.Methodology. The experiments were carried out in the central zone of the Krasnodar Territory in the department of vegetable and potato growing of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution "Federal Research Center of Rice" at the seed-growing site of the watermelon variety Nitsa. The work was carried out in accordance with generally accepted guidelines. Results were obtained on the use of fungicides Metabacterin and Plantare on seed crops of the Nitsa watermelon variety.Results and discussion. Double treatment with drugs significantly limited the spread and damage of plants by bacteriosis and alternaria. The phytotoxicity of Plantarel for harmful pathogens was higher than that of Metabacterin, which was reflected in an increase in fruit yield – by 7.8 t/ha, fruit marketability – by 8% and seed yield – by 57 kg/ha more, in comparison with the control option. The effect of treating watermelon plants with Metabacterin on yield indicators is less significant in comparison with Plantarel but higher than in the control variant. 4.2 t/ha more fruits were collected, with a 5% higher yield of marketable fruits and a 5 kg/ha higher seed yield than from watermelon plants without protective measures. The use of drugs contributed to the preservation of a larger number of plants in the variants (compared to the control), and ensured a high accumulation of dry soluble substances in the fruit pulp. Bacteriological and mycological analyzes showed that there are no pathogenic microflora on seeds from fruits from plants treated with Plantarel and Metabacterin. Both drugs have a growth-stimulating effect. Soaking the seeds before sowing in a solution of preparations contributed to the emergence of vigorous shoots three days earlier than when soaking in water.

Relevance. Cercospora leaf spot (Сercospora beticola) is a widespread disease of table beet that reduces the yield of root crops in many beet-growing regions. Annual losses from cercosporosis amount to 30-40%, and in the years of epiphytotic diseases – 50% or more. The fungus has a complex intraspecific structure, includes many pathotypes and races, which should be taken into account when breeding for resistance. The main method of creating resistant forms of table beet to C. beticola is the selection of cercospore-resistant lines in the natural manifestation of the disease and on artificial backgrounds. In open ground conditions, it is not always possible to assess the resistance of table beet to cercosporosis, since cercosporosis is weak in some hot and dry years. Therefore, laboratory assessment methods are important to accelerate the breeding process. The purpose of the research is to carry out an immunological analysis of beet lines in the field and laboratory conditions for the selection of sustainable material.Materials and methods. The assessment of beet variety samples for resistance to cercospora blight was carried out in open ground conditions on the basis of the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Vegetable Growing – branch of the FSBSI Federal Scientific Vegetable Center (Moscow region). In laboratory conditions, artificial infection of separated red beet leaves was carried out. The objects of the study were inbred lines of red beets of the 1st-6th generation.Results and discussion. As a result of evaluation and selection, red beet lines No. 713 and 790 with increased resistance to cercospora blight were identified. It has been established that for practical breeding it is necessary to constantly and strictly select for resistance to cercospora blight. In laboratory conditions, a method of artificial infection of separated leaves has been developed, which allows for a short period of time to carry out a preliminary assessment of a large number of beetroot samples for resistance to cercospora blight.

Relevance. Vegetable soybean is a special variety with high added value, consumed fresh and harvested at the stage technical ripeness (R6). Accession-A is one of the promising vegetable soybean materials, studied and identified as a result of work that was carried out jointly with the Federal Scientific Vegetable Center in the Moscow Region (FSVC) and the Agrobiotechnology Department of the Agricultural Technological Institute (ATI) of the RUDN University named after Patrice Lumumba. The use of microorganisms to promote atmospheric nitrogen fixation is a common practice in soybean production.Methodology. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of two microbiological preparations based on Sinorhizobium fredii and Bradyrhizobium jaроniсum in order to identify which microbiological preparation gives the best results in terms of morphological indicators and vegetable soybean yield under the conditions region of the Non-Chernozem zone of the Russian Federation. The object of the study was accession-A of vegetable soybean. Two types of treatment were carried out: B1 – treatment with a preparation with Bradyrhizobium jaronicum (1 l/t of seeds), B2 – treatment with a preparation with Sinorhizobium fredii (1 l/t of seeds). Control without treatment (K).Results. According to statistical analysis of biometric indicators, it was found that treatment with S. fredii (B2) had the highest average values for indicators of stem diameter (11.50 mm), lower pod attachment height (11.19 cm), number of branches (3.40 pcs.) and the number of productive nodes (27.48 pcs.). Preparation B2 improved the structure of the crop, influencing the obtainment of the highest indicators of plant weight (30.47 g), seed weight per plant (15.33 g), weight of 1000 seeds (171.25 g), number of seeds per plant (98.50 pcs.), number of seeds in a bean (2.89 pcs.) and seed yield (3.11 t/ha). The use of microbiological preparations based on B. japonicum and S. fredii gave better results compared to the control treatment.

Relevance. The use of modern biotechnological methods in breeding, namely the doubled haploid technology and marker-assisted selection, can significantly reduce the time for creating pure lines with valuable properties. Fusarium wilt is one of the economically important diseases of white cabbage. Therefore, the development of a MAS method for selecting doubled haploids resistant to fusarium wilt would allow fast selection of resistant pure lines. Moreover, the resistance testing can be done at any plant developmental stage.Materials and methods. The response of hybrids Gertsoginya F1, Poisk 2018 F1 (resistant samples, the originator – the Agrofirm “Poisk”) and Slava 1305 (susceptible sample, the originator – Federal Scientific Vegetable Center) towards Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. conglutinans infection was determined by evaluating their growth on the inoculated soil. To test the efficiency of the FocBNUf/r marker to the polymorphic region of the FocBo1 gene, the markers were tested on resistant and susceptible genotypes. Then the markers were applied to analyze 60 doubled haploids of 12 different genotypes.Results. It was demonstrated that the FocBNUf/r marker effectively differentiated resistant and susceptible samples. Doubled haploids were obtained from 12 different breeding samples for FocBNUf/r marker-based selection of fusarium wilt resistant plants. PCR testing of doubled haploids for fusarium resistance allowed us to select 6.7-100% of plants with the fusarium resistance gene in a homozygous state in 8 genotypes. 4 genotypes of doubled haploids that did not carry the resistance gene were eliminated from the breeding program.Conclusion. The FocBNUf/r marker effectively identified resistant and susceptible samples, as well as differentiates homozygous and heterozygous plants. FocBNUf/r marker was used to select resistant doubled haploids of white cabbage at the seedling stage. Thus, it was possible not only to accelerate the production of pure lines by obtaining doubled haploids, but also to accelerate the selection of valuable samples carrying the gene of resistance to fusarium, which makes it possible to avoid the labor-intensive selection of resistant lines on inoculated soil.

Introduction. The relevance of the work is due to the need to find ways to preserve the nutrient composition of vitamins and other necessary raw materials to create finished food products that can diversify the diet of astronauts, taking into account their habitat.   Goal – Comparison of methods for dehydrating plant materials and creating finished food products with a certain degree of dehydration, recommended for feeding astronauts. These methods were used to produce so-called “frips” from fresh fruits and berries; this is a type of snack that is also widely used and developed in modern industry.   Objects and methods of research. The objects of the study were several types of fruits and berries of various varieties (minimum 2) during dehydration by several types of drying.   Results. Dehydration using the LTVD (low temperature vacuum drying) method makes it possible to obtain finished products with a given final moisture content, and the product can be made from multi-component raw materials. The duration of the dehydration process using the LTVD method compared to the VFD (vacuum freeze drying) method is reduced by approximately 10-20 % depending on the product, while due to the absence of preliminary freezing, the specific energy costs for drying a food object can presumably be reduced by 15-25 %. Quality indicators of the finished dry product The product dried using the presented methods is comparable, the content of vitamins and microelements is at almost the same level, therefore, when choosing the type of drying, we can recommend the LTVD method as less energy-consuming. The yield of marketable products in the production of frips ranges from 15.0 to 19.5 % by weight of the initial raw materials, which meets the requirements for economic efficiency of production.

Relevance. For the production of pharmaceutical products from raw materials of Echinacea purpurea L., it is necessary to have a sufficient amount of high-quality seeds when planting production areas with high yields of aboveground mass.Methods. On Echinacea purpurea of the second year of vegetation in order to increase herbage yield and seed productivity, tests of organomineral fertilizer EcoFus (1.5 l/ha) with microfertilizers (Siliplant (0.5 l/ha) or Cytovit (1.0 l/ha). As a standard, we used double foliar feeding with Siliplant (0.5 l/ha). The above-ground mass was mowed in the third ten days of August. On seed plantations we tested: in the early growth phase EcoFus (1.5 l/ha), in the stemming phase – growth regulators Epin-extra (0.06 l/ha), Agat-25K (0.04 l/ha) and their tank mixtures. Seed collection was carried out in mid-September.Results. Double spraying with complex – EcoFus with microfertilizers, promoted activation of growth processes, and it resulted in 22-26% increase of above-ground mass yield, 5-7% increase of phenylpropanoids in it, their collection per hectare increased within 28-35%. A more effective complex was revealed: EcoFus (1.5 l/ha) with Siliplant (0.5 l/ha), which allowed to increase yield and collection of active substances by 26 and 35% in comparison with the control, and in comparison with the reference (Siliplant 0.5 l/ha) – by 11 and 15%, respectively. In order to increase seed productivity of Echinacea purpurea, spraying with EcoFus at the beginning of vegetation of plants and EcoFus complex with bioregulators Agat and Epin-extra in the phase of stemming was applied. Foliar fertilization with these tank mixtures resulted in earlier flowering of plants (by 2-4 days), increased the number of inflorescences by 9-10%, inflorescences with seeds by 14-15% and seed weight of one inflorescence by 12- 14%. Activation of generative processes of Echinacea purpurea had a positive effect on seed yield and their quality: yield increased by 21-25%, weight of 1000 pieces by 7-8% and their germination by 2-3%.

Relevance. Agroforestry systems are believed to provide a multitude of ecological services. It is thought that agroforestry enhances resilience to the impacts of climate change and aids in adaptation by supporting diverse land use practices, sustainable lifestyles, and income streams, as well as increasing productivity in both forests and agriculture, and reducing weather-related losses in production.Results and Discussion. The aim of this review was to present genuine evidence on the role of agroforestry in ecosystem conservation and mitigation of climate change impacts. Compared to monocropping and open cereal-based agriculture, agroforestry has made a more significant contribution to ecosystem conservation and in reducing carbon dioxide emissions. However, it has been found that agroforestry contributes less to carbon sequestration than natural forests. Carbon sequestration through above-ground and underground biomass, carbon emission reduction from deforestation, and microclimate adjustment are key measures for mitigating climate change. Agroforestry systems provide essential ecosystem services, such as food, fuel wood, fodder, income, and improved soil production, which enable communities to cope better with the impacts of climate change. Therefore, agroforestry must be given significant attention if it is to play a crucial role in ecosystem management.

Relevance. Fertigation is the application of fertilizers, in which nutrients are dissolved in water for irrigation. This method is relevant when growing eggplant in the Rostov region, allowing effective use of fertilizers, since nutrients enter directly into the roots of plants, which eliminates their loss to evaporation or weathering. During fertigation, there is no need to carry out separate procedures for fertilization and irrigation, operations are combined into one, which reduces time and costs. The Rostov region is characterized by variable climatic conditions, including drought and strong winds. Fertigation ensures uniform and constant nutrition of plants, allowing them to better adapt to weather conditions, and can help increase yields by optimizing plant growth and development conditions.Material and methodology. In the conditions of the Rostov region, on ordinary heavy loamy chernozems, studies were conducted on the cultivation of eggplant on different backgrounds of the main application of mineral fertilizers in calculated doses before planting and using root fertilizing with complex fertilizers with trace elements with irrigation (fertigation), as well as leaf fertilizing with organomineral fertilizer Arksoil during the growing season.Results. It was revealed that mineral fertilizers and top dressing accelerated the growth and development of plants, and in the best case, the increase in indicators was 2 times higher compared with the control, while the height of the main stem, the number of lateral shoots and the number of ovaries on the plant, as well as the average weight of the fruit, significantly increased, which ensured an increase in plant productivity. The combined use of basic fertilizer and complex soluble fertilizers in the drip irrigation system has significantly increased plant productivity and increased yields to 77.82 t/ha. The application of high doses of fertilizers in combination with fertigation with water-soluble fertilizers did not actually affect the quality of fruits. The content of dry matter and nitrates remained at an optimal level.

Relevance. Due to climate change on the planet, it is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain high yields of melons and melons in rain-fed conditions. Therefore, it is necessary to develop modern methods of growing them. Accordingly, the use of new water-soluble fertilizers for the cultivation of melon in hot climates is a relevant work at the moment.Material and methodology. Objects of research: medium-ripening melon variety GP 599f and watersoluble fertilizers Lignohumate, Energen Extra, Zinc Sulfate. We have carefully studied options using these fertilizers for double foliar treatment of plants during the growing season.Results. As a result of studying new types of water-soluble fertilizers on increasing the vegetative mass of plants, yield and biochemical parameters of the variety sample, a positive effect was revealed. As a result of a comparative analysis of data on plant development after double treatment with the studied preparations, an increase in canes in all variants was noted in relation to the control by 4.3-18.7%. When calculating the yield in all studied options, an increase in these indicators was noted in relation to the option without treatments. After treating the plants with new types of fertilizers, the yield was 13.4-15.9 t/ha. The average fetal weight varied from 1.7 kg. up to 1.8 kg with maximum values in the Lignohumate and Energen Extra options. An analysis of the comparison of the biochemical composition of fruits showed that new types of fertilizers did not affect the taste and purity of the products. The dry matter content was noted to be 0.8-1% higher than the control variant. Nitrate levels in fruits did not exceed the maximum permissible concentration (90 mg/kg) and amounted to 24-28 mg/kg.