Relevance. Forests play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance and providing habitats, oxygen, and carbon sinks. However, deforestation resulting from mining, logging, infrastructure development, climate change, and agriculture is leading to their depletion.This paper aims to investigate the underlying factors driving deforestation and their socioeconomic and ecological consequences.Results and Discussion. Deforestation has resulted in the loss of 10 million hectares of global forest cover annually, with direct drivers including fires, logging, and converting forests to agricultural land. Indirect drivers encompass political elections, military conflicts, population density, and corruption. Economic growth, road expansion, and politics have exacerbated the pressure on forests, resulting in biodiversity loss. Deforestation is predicted to continue at a rate of 10 million hectares annually until 2025. To mitigate this issue, measures such as reducing emissions from deforestation, promoting sustainable forest management, and enhancing protected area management can be implemented. Furthermore, legal action should be pursued to address the issue of deforestation.

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. Cabbage Kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala) is a green, red and purple leafy vegetable cultivated in Northern and Central Europe, as well as North America. Kale deservedly occupies a high place in the list of functional products due to its high content of biologically active substances. Kale contains vitamins, minerals, antioxidant compounds, carbohydrates, unsaturated fatty acids, proteins and dietary fiber. Despite its high attractiveness as a functional food product, it is not cultivated on a massive scale in Russia.Methodology. The purpose of this work is to study the content of phenolic compounds in two varieties of kale cabbage to substantiate recommendations for its cultivation in Russia. The variety and hybrid of kale cabbage – Dwarf Blue Scotch with green leaves and the hybrid Redbor F1 with red leaves – were used as the object of the study. The content of soluble phenolic compounds and flavonoids, as well as the qualitative composition of phenolic compounds in kale cabbage, was studied. Determination was carried out according to generally accepted methods. Grown plants at the age of 16 weeks were used as samples for analysis. The experiment was carried out in laboratory conditions in 5 replicates.Results. The results of the studies indicate a fairly high content of phenolic compounds and flavonoids in the studied varieties of kale cabbage. It has been demonstrated that the Redbor F1 hybrid is characterized by a higher content of soluble phenolic compounds compared to the Dwarf Blue Scotch variety by an average of ~20%. It was concluded that this Redbor F1 hybrid can be used to develop methods for increasing the efficiency of the synthesis of secondary metabolites that are beneficial to human health, and is recommended to farmers for cultivation in the Russian Federation.

Globally, preferences for fruit trees have fluctuated over time. However, the most desirable attribute of cultivated fruit tree species has not been consistent across all species and locations. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine farmers' preferences for fruit tree species and the associated problems they face in four different study sites, categorized by gender and family size. Equal sampling techniques were used in each selected study site, resulting in a total of 120 household heads participating in structured interviews. The data collected was then analyzed using SPSS version 26 software, utilizing the Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Across the study sites, a total of fourteen fruit tree species from ten families were found to be preferred. The preference for fruit trees based on gender showed no significant difference among respondents between kebeles per woreda. However, the preference for fruit trees based on family size showed a significant difference between kebeles per woreda. The number of species preferred for their subsistence value was twice as large as those preferred for commercial reasons. The proportions of these preferred species and the percentage of observed problems with fruit trees varied significantly across the studied sites. Of all the interviewed household heads, 70% in Fenika, 36.6% in Kite, 66.6% in Shesheka, and 50% in Kometa kebeles encountered severe problems during fruit tree planting. The most common problems identified were disease or pest infestation, lack of expert support, land availability, knowledge, and access to seedlings. In order to address these issues, it is important to utilize indigenous knowledge and scientifically tested research approaches to alleviate the factors that influence farmers' preferences.

The productivity of agricultural crops is determined by the choice of varieties, planting material, the optimal time of sowing and planting depending on the climatic conditions of the region, the use of organic and mineral fertilizers, and care methods. Planting material plays an important role in the growth and development of onions and the formation of yield. Onions are very demanding in terms of nutrition, this is due to the length of the growing season, growth rates and poorly developed root system. To obtain high and high-quality onion yields, it is necessary to use fertilizers in an accessible form. Water-soluble complex mineral fertilizers quickly and evenly penetrate deep into the soil. Fertilizers improve the growth and development of plants, regulating nutrition processes, increase the yield and quality of the resulting products. As a result of many years of research, it was found that optimizing the mineral nutrition of onions through the use of fertilizers in active form provides a significant increase in the yield of onions. A comparative assessment of the productivity of onions when grown from sets of different fractions using water-soluble complex mineral fertilizers in the conditions of the Udmurt Republic has been little studied.Materials and methods. The purpose of the research: to improve the technology of cultivating onions depending on the fraction of the set and fertilizing with water-soluble complex mineral fertilizers. In 2020–2021 On onions of the Stuttgarter Riesen variety, a two-factor experiment was carried out to study the effect of fertilizing with Aquarin and Rastvorin fertilizers when using different fractions of sets for planting. The studies were carried out using generally accepted methods.Results and its discussion. In the Udmurt Republic, the optimal for planting Stuttgarten Riesen onions is the medium and large fraction of the set, and the positive effect of water-soluble complex mineral fertilizers Aquarin and Rastvorin on the yield and its structure has been revealed. However, it is more economically profitable to use the fine fraction of sets when growing onions.

Previously, surface soil acidity was amended by the application of lime, gypsum, and acidic soil-tolerant crop species. However, their effectiveness in subsurface soil acidity reduction is limited.   Thus, this review paper aimed to screen the tree species that easily overcome such problems.   Scopus, Science Direct, Google Scholar, African journals online, and Google search engine databases were used. A total of 60 acidic soil-tolerant tree species were identified. Acacia auriculiformis, Acacia crassicarpa, Arbutus unedo L., Casuarina junghuhniana, and Erythrina abyssinica were among the extremely acidic soil-tolerant tree species. Whereas Acacia cincinnata, Acacia mangium, Pinus patula, Albizia saman, Citrus x paradisi, and Cassia reticulata were belongs to some of the strong acidic soil tolerant tree species. Generally, the species' acidic tolerance capacity and planting site compatibility should be considered for the success of amendment works. Scaling out these species and large-scale plantations should be done in addition to estimating their relative percent of acidic soil amendment roles. Producing stable food in line with reclaiming acidic soil is achieved through the integration of stress tolerant fruit trees. Research on large-scale plantations, domestication, skilling up and comparative evaluation of their levels of acidic soil amendment capacity should be performed in the future.

Echinacea purpurea L. – is a perennial medicinal plant, from the herb of which dozens of preparations have been created that are used to strengthen the immune system, in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. At present, oxyconic acids and alkamides have been found in the plant’s root system, and the preparations «Anginol» and «Prostanov» have been created on their basis. The production and creation of new medicinal products from the roots and rhizomes of the Echinacea purpurea depends on a stable raw material base, which can be ensured by obtaining maximum yields of roots. As a result of studies to determine the timing of harvesting, methods to increase the yield of the underground mass in the conditions of the Krasnodar Territory, it was revealed that the high yield of roots and rhizomes of Echinacea purpurea was determined on plantations III-IV years of growing, which averaged 10 c/ha, they had an oxyconic acid content of 3,9%. In the future, there is a decrease in yield to 8 c/ha, and active substances to 2.1%. Dual treatments treatments Zircon (0.04 l/ha) and Siliplant (0.5 l/ha) both separately and in the mixture gave the opportunity to increase the yield for III and IV years to 28–30% and improve the quality of raw materials, the content of active substances increased by 5–7%. The complex use of these drugs in the V year of vegetation allows to increase the yield of roots to 10.3 c/ha with a high content of oxidic acids – 2.55%. It was revealed that foliar fertilization of vegetative plants with two-component system Siliplant + Zircon promotes the adaptation of Echinacea purpurea to dry weather conditions and makes it possible to obtain stable yields of medicinal raw materials with high quality regardless of weather conditions.

Relevance. In order to expand the range of food products for the crews of the International Space Station (ISS), studies have been conducted on the specifics of developing natural flavoring vegetable additives in the form of powder for freeze-dried dishes.   The aim is to evaluate new broccoli hybrids as raw materials for the production of natural flavoring vegetable additives in the form of powder for freeze-dried dishes of increased nutritional value and high degree of readiness for consumption, including components of children's, dietary and cosmonaut nutrition.   Methods. The objects of the study were 6 new broccoli hybrids (2 hybrids of domestic and 4 of foreign breeding).   Results. In domestic hybrids F1 (Detskiy delikates, Macho), the average vitamin C content in natural flavoring vegetable additives in the form of freeze-dried powder of a high degree of readiness for consumption was 1.66 times higher than in foreign hybrids. The highest vitamin C content was noted in the domestic hybrid children's delicacy 419.4 mg %. β-carotene was best preserved in the hybrids F1 Detskiy delikates (2.58 mg %), F1 Macho (2.56 mg %), as well as in the hybrid F1 Batavia (2.52 mg %). The amount of sugars in natural flavoring vegetable additives in the form of freeze-dried powder was on average 1.17 times higher in domestic hybrids than in foreign ones. At the same time, some foreign hybrids showed a high level of accumulation. So the largest accumulation of the sum of sugars was in the F1 Lord (12.85 %). A high level of sugar content was also observed in F1 Macho (12.84 %) and F1 Detskiy delikates (11.63 %). The F1 Fiesta accumulated the least nitrates (77.1 mg/kg). According to organoleptic indicators, the F1 Detskiy delikates has been identified. High organoleptic indices were also noted in the F1 Macho and the F1 Batavia.

Relevance. Multi-tiered onion (Allium proliferum Schrad.) refers to valuable perennial spicy-aromatic and medical crops and is widely used in various sectors of the economy: coolies and food industry, traditional and folk medicine.Methods. The aim of the research was to study the economically useful characteristics of new zoned varieties of multi-tiered onions. The objects of research were the local population and new zoned author's varieties of multi-tiered onions Uzgorak and Pachastunak selected by the Belarusian State Agricultural Academy. The studies were carried out in the field and laboratory according to generally accepted methods.Results. As a result of the research, the main morphological, morphometric and phenological characteristics, yield and quality of marketable products (green mass) of the local population and new zoned varieties of multi-tiered onions were studied. The multi-tiered onion variety Uzgorak formed a yield of green mass of 180–190 c/ha, Pachastunak – 185–195 c/ha with a dry matter content of 12.4 and 12.9 %, respectively, crude protein – 17.4 and 17.5% upon reaching technological ripeness in 24–27 and 20–25 days. New author's varieties of multi-tiered onions Uzgorak and Pachastunak are included in the State Register of Varieties of Agricultural Plants of the Republic Belarus and are recommended for home gardening.

In different agro-climatic zones of melon growing, an assessment was carried out and two-year results of agro-ecological tests of watermelon varieties of the Kuban and Volgograd selection were obtained. The cultivars of the Federal Research Center of Rice and Bikovskaya cucurbits breeding experimental station, which can be grown and are guaranteed to receive high yields of watermelon in the Central zone of the Krasnodar Territory and the Middle Volga region, are distinguished by yield and quality. Growing varieties of the Kuban selection Nitsa and Yubilyar in the steppe zone of insufficient moisture of the Volgograd Trans-Volga region for two years ensured a high yield of watermelon fruits – 16.0-17.4 t/ha, with a content of dry soluble substances in the fruit pulp of more than 10%. When testing varieties of the Volgograd selection in the Central zone of the Krasnodar Territory, varieties of the late-ripening group Ikar and Rubin showed a stable yield. Under different weather conditions of the growing season, the maximum yield of fruits was obtained. The Volzhanin variety was highly rated for quality with a sugar content of more than 12%, but under extreme weather conditions it may be inferior in yield to the varieties of the Kuban selection. A two-year agro-ecological test of watermelon made it possible to evaluate and identify varieties that are recommended to farmers for a particular growing area.