Relevance. The article highlights the issues of growing medicinal and essential oil crops, the seeds shortage and the problem of chemical polymorphism of raw materials. As a possible way to solve this problem is considered a wide introduction of seedling technologies for medicinal and essential oil crops. An analysis was carried out and information was systematized on individual elements of the technological process.Purpose. To analyze and explore the possibilities for the introduction of seedling technologies in medicinal plant growing, taking into account the experience at other branches of plant growing, primarily vegetable growing.Methods. Information obtained from literary sources was systematized by individual elements of the technological process, presented in a logical sequence and analyzed for applicability in medicinal plant production.Results. The result of the literary sources analysis, the personal experience of researchers on the use of the seedling method for medicinal, and essential oil crops growing, they showed the prospect the seedlings technology for generatively and vegetatively propagated plants. Thanks to modern growth regulators and fertilizers, it is possible to intensify the process of seedling production, and specifically to increase the germination and energy of seed germination, rooting of cuttings, shorten the period from sowing (planting cuttings) to planting in the ground and get cassette seedlings with a well-developed root system. The mechanization of the sowing and planting processes can significantly reduce the costs of these operations, a longer interval for planting allows you to prepare the field with the highest quality and successfully fight weeds by mechanical means. The technique used for these operations in commercial vegetable growing is suitable for medicinal and essential oil crops without further modification. Conclusion. The widespread introduction of the seedling method can be the best solution to the problem of lack of seeds, difficulties of direct sowing in the ground and a long germination phase, care after planting and weed control in the first period, and will also allow obtaining raw materials with a stable biochemical composition.

Relevance. In onion breeding, quickly obtain aligned material is an urgent target for create parent forms of heterosis hybrids. Using classical methods with helping of backcrosses, this is achieved in 10-12 years. Using the technology of doubled haploids, it is possible to reduce these terms several times, and also to avoid the manifestation of inbred depression when obtaining lines by self-pollination. At the same time, the most effective in the production of haploids is the use of whole flower buds as an explant, unlike ovules and ovaries, the production of which is more time-consuming and labor-intensive.Methods. The doubled onion haploids were obtained by the method of ovule culture on the basis of the biotechnology laboratory of the Gavrish Breeding Center using the technology that based on the methodological recommendations of Monakhos S.G. et al., 2014. DH–onion plants with a developed root system and leaf apparatus were planted in the open ground and grown according to the technology generally accepted for the zone at the sites of the Gavrish breeding center, Krymsk, Krasnodar Territory. The obtained commercial bulbs were evaluated according to the RTG/46/2 method.Results. It was obtain doubled haploids, which were tested for ploidness by flow cytometry. 40 digaploid onion plants have been created. As a result of further development after transplantation into the open ground, storage, springization and selection, 3 uterine bulbs were obtained for further reproduction and inclusion in the breeding process.

Scientific relevance. Currently, in the protected ground, the main areas are occupied by parthenocarpic hybrids of cucumber of foreign origin. Therefore, the selection of domestic cucumber hybrids of the parthenocarpic type is very relevant.Material and conditions. The experience was laid in 2018-2022 in the Odintsovo district of the Moscow region in the conditions of a spring film ground greenhouse of the "Block" type on the basis of the head institution of the FSBSI FSVC. Agrotechnics of cultivation is generally accepted for the conditions of spring film greenhouses. In breeding nurseries where there were no bees, the degree of parthenocarpy was determined as the ratio of the fruit set to the number of female flowers formed on the plant, as a percentage. The records were carried out from the 5th to the 20th node inclusive, only on plants of the female type of flowering. On the basis of the laboratory of breeding and seed production of pumpkin crops, 27 collectible and more than 50 breeding samples of parthenocarpic cucumber were studied.Results. During three years of research, 7 hybrids of cucumber of the parthenocarpic type of foreign breeding were selected based on the sum of economically useful traits.These hybrids were distinguished by a high degree of parthenocarpy. With their participation, as a result of multiple selections and self-pollination, more than 50 breeding lines were created. Analysis of the obtained material showed that the degree of manifestation of parthenocarpy on the plant (the arithmetic mean between the indicators of parthenocarpy on the main and lateral shoots) in the best half of the samples in 2021 was in the range of 30-50%, whereas in 2022 it already reached 50-70%. The parthenocarpy severity coefficient above 70% was noted only in 2022 in 4% of samples. About half of the samples showed a fairly low parthenocarpy: in 2021 no more than 30%, and in 2022 no more than 50%. Most of them were rejected. The parthenocarpy of the best breeding samples in 2022, compared with 2021, increased by an average of 17.7%. Breeding lines obtained even from the same collection sample often differed greatly, sometimes by 4 times, in the degree of parthenocarpy. The families of the most stable parthenocarpy samples had differences on this basis in 2021 only 3-6%, and in 2022 – 10-11%. Families with the greatest severity of this trait were selected annually. It can be concluded that the degree of parthenocarpy in cucumber strongly depends on both the genotype of the sample and the growing conditions. 3 breeding lines were selected, characterized by high indicators of the degree of manifestation of parthenocarpy in 2021 (61.5-70.5%) and the stability of the manifestation of this trait by families and years.

Relevance. Basil is one of the most popular aromatic plants grown in the world. Various species and forms of Ocimum spp. differ in the nature of growth, color and aromatic composition. The VIR basil collection is represented by 452 accessions of six species from 55 countries. The expansion of the assortment of basil, as well as the identification of competitive adaptive cultivars with high economically valuable traits, determines the need to study and identify promising species and forms of Ocimum spp. The purpose of our work was to study accessions of basil (Ocimum basilicum) from the VIR collection by morphological and phenological traits and to identify accessions that have a complex of economically valuable traits for further use in the breeding.Materials and methods. The studies were carried out at the Federal Research Center N. I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR) at the VIR Pushkin and Pavlovsk Laboratories in 2019-2021 in open ground conditions. The material of the study was 66 accessions of the VIR basil collection of various agrobiological status and ecological and geographical origin. When analyzing the material, phenological observations, biometric measurements and morphological description of plants were carried out. These measurements were carried out in the phase of mass flowering.Results. As a result of the study, the degree of variability of the main phenological and morphological features was revealed. Accessions of basil were selected according to such traits as early maturity, plant height, weight of one plant and cold resistance, which can be used as starting material for breeding. The studied accessions are grouped into 7 varieties of two subspecies (subsp. basilicum and subsp. minimum): var. basilicum, var. glabratum, var. purpurescens, var. majus, var. diforme, var. minimum and var. chamaeleonicum, and their characteristics are given.

Relevance. An important place in the extensive assortment of ether-oil cultures belongs to the common yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.), phytopreparations produced on its basis are widely used in the treatment of inflammatory processes, the normalization of the gastrointestinal tract.Methodology. To provide the pharmaceutical industry with this type of medicinal raw materials, it is necessary to create adapted technologies, where an important link will be the development of techniques for adapting the culture to unstable weather conditions.Results. The studies were carried out in the conditions of the North Caucasus branch of VILAR (West Ciscaucasia) in 2019-2021, by conducting small-scale experiments. The indicators of growth and development of yarrow of the II-V years of vegetation, the yield of raw materials, the content of essential oil and its collection per hectare under unstable weather conditions were studied. It was found that with sufficient moisture supply and a comfortable level of air temperatures in 2021, a high yield of medicinal raw materials of this crop is observed. At the same time, low water supply and high temperatures in 2020 had a negative impact on plant development, a drop in yield of 1.35-1.65 t/ha was established, which led to losses in the collection of essential oil per hectare by 3.23-4.32 kg/ha. A decrease in the degree of negative impact of drought on yarrow plants of the II-IV years of vegetation was achieved through the use of silicon-containing microfertilization Siliplant. Double treatment with this drug contributed to a decrease in the yield of raw materials to 5-6% and the collection of essential oil per hectare to 5-7%. in the control – 21-24% and 22-24%, respectively. Despite the high yield of raw materials in the III-III years of yarrow vegetation, the use of Siliplant allows collecting ether-oil raw materials for 4 years. Thus, the inclusion of Siliplant microfertilization in cultivation technology allows plants to adapt to hydrothermal stress conditions and makes it possible to obtain stable yields of raw materials with a high collection of essential oil per hectare, regardless of weather conditions.

Relevance. Interspecific hybridization in the genus Allium L. is the best way to increase biodiversity by introgression of desired traits within the genus. This is valuable for signs such as resistance to diseases and pests, accumulation of important metabolites, obtaining new sources of cytoplasmic male sterility. The creation based on interspecific hybridization of fundamentally new plant forms with unique genetic material makes it possible to expand the selection of genotypes that are valuable in practical terms.Methods. To characterize the breeding material, the plants of interspecific allium hybrids were evaluated using morphological and phytopathological analyses. The analysis of plants of interspecific hybrids of the genus Allium L. from various inbred offspring from BC1-2 combinations of crossing species A. cepa × A. vavilovii and A. cepa × A. fistulosum by breeding characteristics was carried out. Plants were studied by weight, color, bulb shape, number, height of seed stalks, seed productivity and resistance to downy mildew.Results. The biodiversity of plants was revealed: by weight, shape, color of the bulb; by resistance to downy mildew of plants of the first year of vegetation and seed plants; by the number, height of seed stalk; by seed productivity. Plants of interspecific allium hybrids formed bulbs weighing up to 120 g, white, yellow, brown and red, elliptical, broadly elliptical, round and transversely elliptical bulb shape. Phytopathological assessment of allium plants of the first year of vegetation and seed plants revealed diversity in inbred offspring with resistance to peronosporosis. In the combination of crossing species A. cepa × A. vavilovii plants of the first year of vegetation had the largest number of resistant plants to downy mildew (up to 66.7%). According to the seed productivity of plants, depending on the combination of crossing, inbreeding generation and backcross, highly fertile plants with increased seed setability (up to 2.0 g /plant) were identified. The conducted studies have demonstrated an increase in the biodiversity of allium plants obtained based on interspecific hybridization, backcrosses and inbreeding.

Seven accessions of vegetable fennel selection of the Federal Scientific Vegetable Center for Ecology were studied, in which significant differences were found in the degree of expression of the main morphological parameters (the length of the seed, endosperm and embryo). The length of each seed, endosperm (on a longitudinal section), and embryo (after isolation) were analyzed sequentially. The experiment was repeated four times, in each repetition at least 30 seeds. The indices IE/S, IZ/E, IZ/S were calculated as the corresponding ratios of the length of the seed, endosperm, and embryo.Results. A group of vegetable fennel samples showed significant differences in the length of the seed, endosperm and embryo and their ratios. The variety Udalets used as a standard had a seed length of 6.85±0.164 mm, an endosperm length of 5.30±0.118 mm, and an embryo length of 2.35±0.093 mm. Population No. 17 of the FSVC and variety Corvette of the VNIIO selection and collection sample vr. 161 local populations from India significantly (by 18.5 and 17.5%) exceeded the average value of the standard for seed length at a 1% significance level, and the minimum value of the parameter (5.65±0.109) was noted in population No. 10 of the FSVC. The minimum endosperm length was noted in samples No. 10 (4.16±0.094) and No. 11 (5.11±0.167), which is 21.5 and 4.5% lower than the standard. The largest endosperm was possessed by the seeds of the Korvet variety (6.18±0.169 mm) and sample No. 17 of the FSVC (6.09±0.158 mm), which exceeds the standard by 16.6 and 14.9%. The remaining samples exceeded the standard in this indicator, but to a lesser extent. The length of the embryo only in the Corvette variety (2.38±0.097 mm) was at the level of the standard, and even slightly exceeded it. For the rest of the specimens, this indicator varied from 1.44±0.065 mm for No. 10 to 2.25±0.165 mm for No. 10, which is significantly 4.2–38.7 below the standard. Depending on the sample, the coefficient of variation of indicators changed for the length of the embryo (17.7-32.8%), the length of the endosperm (9.6-12.2%) and the length of the seed (8.6-12.8%). A close relationship was noted only between the length of the seed and the length of the endosperm, the correlation coefficient varied from 0.595 (No. 11 FSVC) to 0.837 (Udalets St). All values of the correlation coefficient had a positive value. According to the value of the Ie/z index, the seeds of accessions No. 15 of the FSVC and vr. 161 India. Seeds of accessions No. 17, No. 10 and varieties Corvette with an index from 0.30 to 0.39 are assigned to the third class. The fourth class includes seeds of the variety Udalets (St) and selection sample No. 11 of the FSVC.

The article reflects the issues of the current state of scientific research in the FSBSI FSVC, directions and prospects for the development of selection and seed production of vegetable crops are shown. Varieties have been created that realize the bioclimatic potential of the cultivation zone, meet market requirements, and are capable of producing high yields under the influence of biotic and abiotic stressors. Selection is carried out in a combination of classical methods with innovative technologies.Biotechnologists have improved the basic protocol for in vitro microspore culture for the Brassicaceae, stages of technology for obtaining doubled haploids in microspore culture in vitro for the Apiaceae are being developed. For the first time, an effective protocol for obtaining double haploids of European radish has been developed. Doubled haploids of vegetable crops of the Cucurbitaceae, Amarantháceae, Amaryllidáceae were obtained in vitro in the culture of unpollinated ovules. The Center conducts research on the increased content of biologically active substances and antioxidants. An important place is occupied by immunological studies on the resistance of vegetable crops to harmful diseases. The institution develops systems of protective measures against pests, diseases and weeds for vegetable crops based on the use of new environmentally friendly preparations. On the basis of fundamental and priority applied research of previous years, the creation of 21 varieties and hybrids of cabbage, table beet, tomato, sweet pepper, onion, chives, leek, cucumber, melon, lettuce, chervil, potato, aster, lychnis has been completed. Along with the creation of new breeding achievements, technologies for their cultivation are being improved through the use of new agricultural practices, microfertilizers, biological products and humates on vegetable crops in various soil and climatic zones of Russia. New agricultural methods are being developed in the cultivation of mushrooms. In the field of seed production, methods are being developed to increase the germination of seeds, seed production, elements of the technology for the production of mother liquors and seeds of various vegetable and melon crops; zonal seed production technologies that increase their yield. In 2021, a team of scientists received an award from the Government of the Russian Federation for scientific work "Development and implementation of innovative technologies for growing vegetables and potatoes to provide the population with environmentally friendly food".

Water is one of the main factors for the production of vegetable crops due to its crucial role in the absorption and transport of nutrients, temperature regulation and some physiological processes, including photosynthesis. Considering the growing needs of a growing population for food and nutrients, a significant part of agricultural research is focused on improving the use efficiency (WUE - Water use efficiency) and saving water without reducing yields. Given the difficulty of increasing WUE through selection due to the tradeoff between photosynthesis and transpiration, agronomic strategies are needed. Due to the shallow root system and the fresh sale of vegetable products, vegetable crops are relatively more sensitive to moisture than field crops. Deficit irrigation (DI) is a direct approach to saving water by reducing irrigation to increase water productivity (WP - Water productivity). Regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) and partial root drying (PRD) are two widely used DI planning methods along with the classic DI approach. We searched the peer-reviewed literature for studies reporting yield differences in vegetable crops subjected to irrigation deficits. The search was conducted on Google Scholar and Web of Science using various combinations of the following keywords: vegetable crop yield and irrigation deficit or moisture shortage or water shortage or drought. Moderate levels of water stress (<65% FI) adversely affect vegetable yields regardless of external factors such as soil structure, climate and production system. This level of irrigation is justified for regions where water restrictions are already in place or forecast. Based on WP growth, irrigation levels as low as 35–50% FI for tomato and pepper, and 50–65% FI for onions and <35% FI for eggplant and watermelon are optimal for areas with severe water scarcity. However, a higher water deficit may also have an adverse effect on quality in terms of reduced fruit/root/bulb size.

Relevance. Seeds play an important role in obtaining a high yield of vegetable crops of good quality. Breeders usually deal with a large number of samples. To study the source material, the seeds of the samples are sown in boxes with soil for growing seedlings or in collection nurseries of experimental stations and research institutions. It takes an average of ½ hour of shift time to manually extract a sample weighing 10 kg from a batch. Currently, there are no sufficiently efficient devices for isolating tomato seeds from batches of samples with small weights up to 100 kg. The task of research on mechanization is to increase the efficiency of the tomato seed extraction device by improving the working bodies, determining the value of the optimal mass of samples, the extraction of seeds from which is economically and technically feasible.Material and methodology. Experimental studies were conducted in order to find constructive solutions for working bodies, study their operability and determine optimal parameters and operating modes. The research program included: a study of the productivity of the layout and the complexity of its maintenance; a study of qualitative indicators, including seed loss, seed clogging, seed damage; a study of the modes of working bodies, including the number of revolutions of the whip shaft, gaps between the whips and the sieve, the angle of advance of the whips; an assessment of the convenience of cleaning and visual inspection of all surfaces of parts, in contact with seeds; analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of the design of mesh drums, scourges, mechanisms for locking semi-cylinders, the work of the fence that reclines together with the hopper.Results. As a result of the research, it was found that drum-and-whip type working organs are economically feasible for use in tomato seed extraction devices with a sample weight of at least 100 kg (i.e. mainly in primary and elite seed production), due to the fact that the time for disassembly, cleaning and assembly of working organs is 95% of the cycle (for example for samples weighing 10 kg). The clogging of the seeds meets the requirements, crushing was not observed.