Succulent plants are of a special interest for Russian botanical gardens’ collections, many of them are meant to be used not only in phytodesign but in pharmacy while drug manufacturing. The analysis of a species composition of the Nikitsky botanical gardens’ collection of officinal succulents is among high-priority tasks as it will highlight that advanced species for research and growth and development special aspects’ study in the introduction conditions, bioactive substances’ content in them and replenish the collection with new taxons, that are notable not only decorative characteristics but for officinal properties. The officinal succulents Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f., Aloe arborescens Mill., Sansivieria trifasciata Prain, Opuntia ficusindica  (L.) Mill., Pereskia aculeata Mill., Selenicereus grandiflorus (L.) Britton & Rose, Crassula ovata (Mill.) Druce, Kalanchoe daigremontiana Raym. Hamet & H. Perrier, with the complex of bioactive substances and a wide range of a human exposure, are exposed in the collection of the Nikitsky botanical gardens. They deserve a general pharmaceutical application while drug and cosmetic products’ manufacturing. The collection of the succulents in the Nikitsky botanical gardens was started to form in the years of 1812-1824. The total area of a new greenhouse, that was opened in 1996, is 960 square meters. The main part of the succulent collection of 985 taxons, including 87 subspecies, 38 subvarieties, 70 forms, 13 cultivars, is contained in it. Many plants are presented in the open field exposition with the total area of 1,240 square meters.

This article presents the results of studying the effect of ultrasound on the consistency of products. The task of the study was to identify the possibility of using ultrasound to change the consistency of the product from puree to homogenized. For this purpose, laboratory samples of apple puree were periodically processed on an ultrasonic generator at a frequency of 21.7 kHz, for different duration of exposure to ultrasound from 1 minute to 20 minutes. After processing, measurements of physicochemical parameters were carried out the mass fraction of soluble solids, temperature and viscosity. When analyzing the obtained results, it was found that, depending on the exposure time, the indicators of the mass fraction of dry substances in samples No.1, No.2, No.3 slightly increased relative to the control sample from a value of 11.9 to 12.4 V of sample No.4, in which the duration of exposure to ultrasound was 20 minutes, the indicator of the mass fraction of dry substances increased more significantly up to 13.8%. The same dynamics is observed in the obtained values of the viscosity of the product, which gradually increases in proportion to the exposure time from sample No.1 to sample No.4 (4600-6500 Centipoise (CP)). In addition, a comparative assessment of the organoleptic characteristics of experimental samples (taste, color, aroma and texture) was carried out after their ultrasonic treatment, depending on the duration of exposure. It was found that all the organoleptic characteristics of apple puree with an increase in the duration of ultrasonic treatment with a given parameter at a frequency of 21.7 kHz, changed depending on the time of exposure. Thus, the consistency changed from a “granular” structure (in the control sample) to a homogeneous homogenized (in sample No.3). In sample No.4 (with an exposure time of 20 minutes), mashed potatoes were obtained with a fine, finely divided creamy mass. Consequently, the effect of ultrasound with a given frequency of 21.7 kHz for at least 10 minutes allows a pureed product with a puree-like structure to obtain a homogenized puree.

Relevance. Tomato is one of the most spreaded vegetable cultures in Khabarovsk Territory. Presence of the favourable weather conditions in the region, high ecological plasticity of tomato sorts promote the tomato cultivation in open and protected ground everywhere and in large areas. The main cause of crop failure or large losses of tomatoes in the Far East is a complex, unpredictable, not meeting anywhere else in Russia the monsoon climate causing a strong waterlogging observed almost every year in July-August, the period of the main tomato harvest forming. Such weather conditions promote the development of main diseases of the solanaceous cultures, and their most aggressive races often appear. Therefore a high natural infectious background and a sharply variable hydrothermal regime are the main limiting factors in the cultivation of tomatoes in the Khabarovsk Territory.Methods. Work on the creation of a new variety with the given parameters was started in 2007 by conducting intervarietal crossings between Volgogradsky 5/95 and Zarya Vostoka varieties, followed by multiple selections against a natural infectious background. The early ripening variety of Zarya Vostoka is a local selection variety, was used in the breeding process as an early maturity donor, and Volgogradsky 5/95, a stem type of plant. The main method of breeding work to create new varieties of tomato was analytical with continuous selection. All the necessary phenological, biometric and phytopathological observations and counts according to methods generally accepted in this culture. The purpose of our research was to create a new strain tomato variety with a short period of vegetation, forming the harvest of fruit before the appearance and spread of the disease and high productive potential.Results. This publication presents the information about the new local tomato sort Galant. This sort was received by inter-sort hybridization between the stem sort Volgogradsky 5/95 and local early ripening sort Zarya Vostoka. The sort was selected as a result long-term selection on the natural infectious background with the assessment by progeny of promising lines for a complex of morpho-biological and economically valuable traits in monsoon climate conditions of Priamurye. The new sort is different from other studied non-district and local sorts by fastripeness, high productivity, resistance to main diseases and also by stem type of plant.

Relevance The structure of the flowers of tomatoes is very thin adapted to self-pollination, and any violations of the technology of cultivation in protected ground lead to a significant reduction in the ability of plants to pollinate and fruit set. Violation of growing conditions can lead to changes in the structure of the inflorescences and flowers, which negatively affects pollination and fruit formation, reducing the yield. The article presents a review of literature data and the author’s own research on this topic. It has been established that growing conditions in cultivation structures have a greater effect on the amount of pollen produced in tomato flowers and to a lesser extent, on its quality. In the flowers of the first inflorescence, the least amount of pollen is produced. This is due to the fact that the formation of this inflorescence occurs in the seedling period, while it is experiencing more stress. Basal (the first in the inflorescence) flowers produce low-quality pollen, while its amount is maximum. Additional pollination improves fruit set by increasing the amount of pollen grains falling on the stigma of the pistil. The use of bumblebees for additional pollination increases the yield by increasing the number of ensuing fruits. The formation of polynomial flowers on tomato plants – varietal reaction. More often they are found in multi-chamber largefruited tomato hybrids. Less commonly, polynomial flowers are found in tomato hybrids with plum and pepper fruits, such flowers are not found in cherry tomato hybrids. A polynomial flower - most often the first in the inflorescence. They are formed mainly in the first 4-5 inflorescences and give accreted non-harvest fruits. In order to increase the yield and quality of fruits, polynomials need to be removed in a timely manner.

RelevanceRecently, breeding work with cabbage is aimed at developing F1 hybrids, which provide the population with year-round production. The main requirements for hybrids: excellent presentation with appropriate taste, high yield stability, morphological uniformity, resistance to major diseases and tolerance to pests, as well as high keeping quality during storage. In recent years, tobacco thrips is a serious problem for cultivation of cabbage. Plant resistance to tobacco thrips is becoming increasingly relevant, at the moment in the conditions of Krasnodar region. Since tobacco thrips is the most dangerous pest in the south and quickly adapts to poisons, development of resistant hybrids should be considered the most effective way to control.Methods The purpose of breeding work is to identify highly productive cabbage hybrids with high tolerance to tobacco thrips. It was previously found that late-ripening hybrids are less affected. Therefore, in our studies, we evaluated the effect of growing terms of the same hybrids in different years of research and on their damage with Thrips tabaci Lindeman. The direction of this work is to evaluate hybrids of cabbage for leaf damage by tobacco thrips and to identify sustainable hybrid combinations and their parental forms. Studies were carried out in the central soil-climatic zone of the Krasnodar Territory. The object of research was medium-ripening hybrids of cabbage. ResultsThe degree of susceptibility of hybrids to tobacco thrips varied significantly during the three years of research, but there were distinguished lines that established themselves as the most stable: Yas25p, Ts139, Agrbh82, Pi 714, 272Br-22. Hybrid combinations with these lines showed the least loss of marketable yield and the minimum number of affected leaves in each year of the study. Of the zoned hybrids, the Revansh F1 hybrid shows a high tolerance. It was found that a later planting period significantly reduces the degree of thrips damage.

Relevance. Summer savory (Satureja hortensis L.) is an annual herbaceous plant whose essential oil and extracts are used in medicine, perfumery and the food industry.Methods. The article presents the results of studying the effect of the ratio of blue (BL) and red light (RL) in the total spectrum of LED lamps on the morphometric parameters of plants of summer savory varieties Gnom and Perechny aromat in vitro. For in vitro culture, seeds were sterilized with 5% NaCl solution for 10 minutes, placed in Petri dishes with Murashige and Skoog culture medium (MS). Aseptic seedlings at the age of 4-5 days were transplanted into tubes and transferred to racks with LED lamps (for 28 days): (1) from 1st day to 14th day 100% RL, from the 15th to the 28th day 60% RL, 40% BL; (2) 90% RL, 10% BL; (3) 60% RL and 40% BL; (4) 32% RL and 68% BL. The total illumination intensity in all variants was 175 μmol/m2 s.Results. It was found that a change in the RL:BL ratio in the total spectrum affects the morphometric parameters of the savory plants in an in vitro culture. When cultivated under 100% RL, tall plants with long internodes and small leaves are formed, a reduction in the share of RL to 60...32% results in more short-growing plants with large leaves. The results of this work can be used to develop the technology of clonal micropropagation of valuable breeding forms, as well as to create source material for breeding by in vitro culture methods.

Relevance One of the basic directions of the cabbage crop breeding is the creation of F1 hybrids with a complex of economically valuable traits. This process is difficult and time-consuming as to get pure lines must be within 6-12 years hold inbreeding. Herewith not every line gives the desired heterotic effect that also requires additional verification. Methods Biotechnological method culture of isolated microspores in vitro, which allows in the first generation to receive a line with 100% homozygosity, was used to speed up the breeding process. Combination ability were performed in complete diallel cross on the basic morphological signs. Results Culture medium for cultivation of isolated microspores in vitro was optimized for each genotype of cabbage for the best embryoids regeneration. Maximum amount of embryoids was received on medium with pH 6.2 using ampicillin 100 mg/l and zeatin 1 mg/l: 466.7 ± 153.2 PCs/100 buds. A new source material for breeding – doubled haploid lines of cabbage was received. Lines – the best parents for F1 hybrids with high yield, compact rosette of leaves, with optimum inside and short outside cabbage stump was created. Studies have shown that optimization of breeding process in case of creation of pure lines of cabbage in 3 years with microspore culture requires to reduce the breeding process in 2 times.

Relevance A commonly cultivated and demanded type of vegetable crops – cabbage Brassica oleracea L. – in the process of evolution and domestication was divided into three clusters: leafy cabbage, headed cabbage and broccoli (cauliflower). According to modern data, cabbage originated in culture from the large-leaved forms of leafy cabbage. Portuguese tronchuda is a transitional form to a typical headed cabbage. It is represented by leafy and semi-capped forms and evolutionarily related to Portuguese halega (Galician) leafy cabbage. White cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. convar. capitata (DC.) Alef. var. capitata L. f. alba DC.) is the most significant in the world and Russian economy. The characteristic of cultures of Brassica oleracea L. (varieties of white cabbage and tronchuda) is given according to the most important biochemical quality characteristics. Methods The research material included 48 samples of cabbage, including 27 samples of 13 European cultivar types, including Dutch, Central European and South European cultivar types, 8 samples – two Russian northwestern and central Russian cultivar types and 13 samples – five oriental cultivar types of Caucasian and Turkish-Balkan origin, 9 samples – Portuguese cabbage tronchuda from the VIR collection, reflecting the ecological, geographic and genetic diversity of cabbage. Samples of cabbage were grown at the research and production base "Pushkin and Pavlovsk laboratories VIR" (St. Petersburg), biochemical analysis was carried out in the laboratory of biochemistry and molecular biology of VIR. Results As a result of using of the modern non-specific metabolic approach to the study of the biochemical composition in samples of white cabbage, about 100 components have been identified from the groups of organic acids, free amino acids, including essential, fatty acids, including essential, polyhydric alcohols, sugars, and also phenolic compounds, wax, nucleosides, and others. Regularity in the accumulation of nutrient and biologically active substances by cultures of Brassica oleracea L., by cultivar types and individual samples were revealed. As a result of our research using modern techniques, including the nonspecific metabolic approach, new data on the biochemical composition of white and semi-capped forms were obtained. The cabbage within the studied botanical varieties and groups of cultivar types has a complex biochemical composition that characterizes cabbage samples as samples with potentially high value (the role and importance of far from all compounds in the organization of healthy human nutrition is known), which confirms the need for in-depth control of the biochemical composition of plants when breeding new varieties. Samples with the optimal component composition for balanced human nutrition, which are proposed to be used in breeding for quality, including obtaining varieties for healthy (functional) and therapeutic and prophylactic nutrition of the population of theRussian Federation were found.

High nutritional value of parsley determines constant interest to this agricultural crop as a source of natural antioxidants to humans. Biochemical characteristics of 6 parsley varieties (Federal scientific center selection) are investigated. Dry matter content was in the range 20.56-25.92%. Monosaccharides concentrations varied from 1.29 to 2.14%. High correlation between dry matter and monosaccharides content in leaves was revealed (r=0.97). The highest concentration of ascorbic acid was demonstrated in leaves of two varieties: Nezhnost and Breeze. The highest antioxidant activity and polyphenol content were typical for leaves of root-parsley and curly variety Krasotka (45.1 mg-eq GA/g d.w., 16.6 mg-eq GA/g d.w. and 55.55 mg-eq GA/g d.w., 15.8 mg-eq GA/g d.w. accordingly). Antioxidant activity level was found to be strictly connected with the content of ascorbic acid and a strong correlation was demonstrated between these parameters (r=0.92, P<0.01). The highest concentration of photosynthetic pigments was typical for Nezhnost variety. A quadratic relationship between dry matter content/monosaccharides and AOA/ascorbic acid happened to be peculiar for parsley. Significant intervarietal differences of macroelements accumulation in parsley leaves are revealed. Thus the highest levels of manganese accumulated Nezhnost cultivar, zinc and copper – Krasotka variety, iron – Krasotka, Moscvichka cvs and root parsley.

Relevance. Widely used traditional wine varieties of European-Asian grapes are characterized by a low level of resistance to disease and require multiple treatments with pesticides to preserve the crop and plants. Obtaining and introduction of sustainable varieties into production is one of the urgent problems of modern viticulture in the world and in our country, especially in the aspect of the ever wider dissemination of the principles of organic production. This is especially true for vineyards located in the coastal areas of the South of Russia, where the use of methods of chemical protection of vineyards from pests and diseases are limited to the proximity to the sea coast and the status of the resort region.Material and methods. The paper presents the results of the study of white wine grapes of the new generation with a high potential for resistance to environmental conditions and diseases. Purpose: research and development of recommendations on the use of white wine grapes of the new generation, characterized by resistance to adverse environmental conditions.Results. It is revealed that the experimental white wine varieties are characterized by a high level of adaptive capacity. In terms of productivity, new varieties are not inferior to the Sauvignon variety. Wine materials made from new resistant varieties are characterized by a high content of extractive and phenolic compounds. According to the organoleptic characteristics of wine materials from new resistant white grape varieties are at the level of the control variety. It is established that the level of stability of new grape varieties can be excluded from the technology of care of the vineyard measures to protect against major diseases, which significantly reduces the cost of production and allows you to get environmentally safe and organic products.