Relevance. Common thyme or garden thyme Thymus vulgaris L. (Lamiaceae L.) is the medicinal and aromatic plant containing essential oil which is the source of thymol and other phenol derivatives. This species is characterized by significant morphological and chemical polymorphism. Thymus vulgaris L. has numerous varieties and subspecies which are complicates for the identification of raw materials and makes its quality unstable. The study of intraspecific variability, not only by phenotype but also by biochemical parameters, is an urgent task in the search for varieties and samples of Thýmus vulgáris L. that are promising for the medical industry.Materials and methods. The research material was obtained from botanical institutions and firms in Russia, the Czech Republic and Germany and introduced on the experimental field of Vegetable Growing Department of The Russian State Agricultural University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy. Studies were conducted from 2014 to 2019. Sowing the seeds was carried out in the 3rd decade of March in cassettes in a winter greenhouse. Seedlings planted in the field at the end of MayField experiments were laid at the «Vegetable Experimental Station named V.I. Edelstein » in accordance with generally accepted methods of field experiments. A comprehensive comparative assessment of the studied samples was carried out according to a number of criteria, in accordance with the recommendations of the State Register of Selection Achievements and the matrix of the morphological description of plants of the Lamiaceae family developed at the Leibniz-Institut for Pflanzengenetik und Kulturpflanzenforschung (IPK, Germany). Harvesting of raw materials and crop yield was carried out in the phase of mass flowering. Laboratory studies were carried out in the laboratories of the Vegetable Growing Department, Department of Botany, Selection and Seed Production of Garden Plants, Russian State Autonomous University – Moscow Agricultural Academy named after K.A. Timiryazev. The quantitative determination of essential oil was carried out according to the GF RF XIV. Statistical analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel.Results. The possibility of growing samples of Thymus vulgaris L. of different geographical origin under the conditions of introduction in the Moscow region is shown. A comparative study of the main morphological characteristics of plant samples of Thymus vulgaris L. revealed significant variability in the form of inflorescence, leaf index, the presence or absence of pubescence, anthocyanin staining, torsion of the leaf, color of corollas and leaves, plant height, yield, quantitative content of essential oil and flavonoids. At the same time, the height of the plants was relatively stable every year and between varieties. According to a set of indicators, the most productive and stable samples was “Di Roma”, which is characterized by a high yield of aerial mass (104 g / plant), a consistently high content of essential oil (1.04-1.8%) with a predominant thymol component (39-80%), high flavonoid content (1,47-2,26%). Varieties "Medoc" and "Deutsche Winter", which at a lower yield are characterized by a high content of essential oil and flavonoids.

Relevance. The article presents the results of a study of the increase in the amount of reducing sugars in the inversion of sucrose due only to thermal effects during ultrasonic processing of vegetable and fruit monocomponent purees (with or without added sucrose). The relevance of the study is to identify the quantitative thermal component of a separate process in the total inversion of sucrose at the specified parameters of ultrasonic action on the product.Material and methods. to perform this task, experimental samples of carrot, pumpkin and Apple puree with the addition of sucrose in an amount of 5% (by weight) and without it were previously made, which were then subjected to heat treatment at the same temperature and time exposure (at a temperature of 50 °C for 30 minutes). To study the dependence of the degree of sucrose inversion on the component composition of the processed product, the mass fraction of reducing sugars – fructose and glucosewas determined in the manufactured experimental samples of natural fruit and vegetable purees (without added sucrose) and in mixtures of purees with sucrose (according to a given recipe) before and after heat treatment at the specified parameters, depending on the recipe composition and pH of the medium.Results. The obtained results of the study of the carbohydrate composition before and after thermal exposure show that the amount of reducing sugars in products subjected to heat treatment has significantly increased, compared to the initial content. Thus, in Apple puree with added sucrose, the mass fraction of fructose after heat treatment of the mixture increased by 197 mg per 100 g, i.e. by 3.8%, and glucose – by 192 mg per 100 g, i.e. by 6.7%. The total invert sugar content of the Apple mixture increased by 4.8 %. In the carrot mixture of puree with sugar, the content of total reducing sugars after thermal exposure increased by 5.4%. At the same time, in carrot natural puree, the increase in reducing sugars was only 3.6%, which is 1.5 times lower. In the pumpkin puree mixture with sugar, the total content of reducing sugars increased by 3.9%, and in the natural puree, the amount of invert sugars increased by only 2.7%, which is 1.4 times lower than puree with added sugar.

Relevance. In the difficult natural and climatic conditions of the Far Eastern region of the Russian Federation, there is a need for a comprehensive study of the source material to create modern competitive varieties with ontogenetic adaptation that can adapt to external conditions. The relevance of research is to mobilize the potato gene pool and study promising source material for potato breeding.Materials and methods. The goal of research is to identify sources of economically useful traits based on a comprehensive study of the source material to create high-yielding varieties of potatoes resistant to negative bio- and abiotic environmental factors. The object of research is domestic and foreign varieties of the collection nursery of potato of the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Soybean. The studies were carried out in the natural and climatic conditions of the Amur region on meadow chernozem soil of the experimental field of FSBSI ARSRI of Soybean in 2015-2019 years in accordance with the methods generally accepted for potato culture.Results. Varieties Fermer, Yubilyar, Zhukovskiy ranniy, Krinitsa, Rodrigo, Natasha, Delphin and Zolskiy showed stable productivity by years of research and the variation coefficient of the trait was 10.8...18.1%. Stable high tuberous productivity of plantings over the years was identified in varieties Zolskiy, Rodrigo and Natasha – 27.0-28.8 t/ha, its variation coefficient was from 15.4 to 18.1%. Varieties Delphin, Impala and Vulkan were characterized by high (over 98%) marketability of tubers. The use of the specified collection samples as parent forms when crossing in various hybrid combinations will make it possible to obtain highly productive offspring for further use in potato breeding.

Relevance. Unfortunately, there are no intensive pear plantations in the central regions of Russia due to the absence of intensive dwarf rootstocks. Therefore, the research aimed at obtaining winter-hardy rootstocks that provides early industrial fruiting of gardens, limits plant growth and gives a quick return on investment, is very important and can be applied in many different ways.Materials and methods. The research was carried out in the laboratory of selection and variety study of pears and non-traditional pome crops of the Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding (FSBSI VNIISPK). The object of the research was the common quince selected by FSBSI VNIISPK. In 2008-2010 and 2012-2014 we studied the economic and biological characteristics of the common quince as clonal pear rootstocks when propagated by green cuttings.Results. The research results show high winter hardiness of the common quince plants in Oryol region, as well as their high regenerative capacity in case of damage caused by adverse winter conditions. It was determined that some types of common quince can be reproduced by green cuttings and provide a high yield of uniform planting material. The common quince has a high seed productivity that allows to get seedling rootstocks of high quality. Some pear cultivars demonstrate a good compatibility with the common quince, moderate growth and high early maturity in comparison with the pear rootstock; there are also preliminary data on compatibility of 11 pear cultivars in a nursery, and 4 cultivars that are incompatible with the common quince.

Relevance. A possible scenario of state self-isolation during an emergency actualizes interest in the study of foreign trade turnover of food calories as a factor of national security.Methods. The article considers issues of caloric value of export and import of the Russian food market for period 1998-2017.Results. The study was based on some hypothesis that the calorie content of exported grain was higher than a import of low-calorie foods like vegetables, fruits, and dairy products. The testing this hypothesis showed a sixfold excess of food calorie content of export over import and h a seven-fold cheapness of exported calories over imported ones. It was revealed that exports was represented by plant calories (grain), and import was represented by animal calories (dairy products). It was proposed to freeze the export of plant calories into emergency period and redirecting to development of domestic animal calories.

Relevance. One of the main problems in cycovalry is getting friendly, aligned shoots with a given density of standing plants. In chicory agrotechnology, special attention should be paid to the high quality of seeding in order to ensure the rapid germination of seeds, their high germination and the early appearance of friendly, strong and aligned shoots. An important technique to achieve this goal is pre-seed preparation: etching from various pathogens, treatment of growth stimulants, etc. In the practice of growing many crops, seed dorins are used, and the shell includes the necessary substances.Materials and methods. Thus, for chicory seed pelleting we used the following drugs: Maxim – a productor, acting on various types of pathogenic fungi, as a growth stimulant - biological fertilizer Isabion, and for the best seed germination – Agrogel, which strongly swells and delays the water needed for sprouts. The article presents the results of threeyear studies conducted at the Rostov Vegetable Experimental Station on Chicory, in which seeds were laid out by hand.Results. At the same time, the laboratory and field germination of chicory seeds increases by 8.6% and 10.8%, respectively. Thanks to the seed pelleting, the technological properties of seeds are improved, looseness is acquired, which facilitates their use in the seedlings of accurate seeding. The task of the research was to determine the optimal number of seeds pelleting in the nest and the distance between plants and therefore the rate of seeding for yield and quality of harvest. The best yields are obtained in the variant with the layout of the draped seeds of three jelly beans with a step of 10 cm – 25.6 t/ha at a marketability of 90.6%.

Relevance. The degree of variability of the linear parameters of the morphological elements of the seeds of the anise (variety Vityaz) and cumin (variety Peresvet).Materials and methods. 1) Plants: Monarda fistulosa L. (the breeding sample №5 U.P.), Monarda citriodora Cerv. ex Lag. (Simka variety), Melissa officinalis L. (Zhemchuzhina variety). 2) secondary metabolites: flavonoid glycoside linarozid and steroid glycoside moldstim.Methods. The studies were carried out in VNIIO – a branch of the FSBSI Federal Scientific Vegetable Center. The measurement of the length of the seed and endosperm was carried out using a caliper (GOST 166-89). The embryo length was determined using a Levenhuk 670T microscope and a DCM 300 MD video eyepiece at Ч 40 magnification using Scope Photo (Image Software V. 3.1.386). The lengths of each seed, endosperm (longitudinal section) and embryo (after isolation) were sequentially analyzed. The indices IE/C, IZ/E, IZ/C were calculated as the corresponding ratios of the length of the seed, endosperm and embryo.Results. The maximum length of the seed (4.76±0.10 mm) and of the endosperm (4.08 ± 0.08 mm) and the length of the embryo (1.40±0.02 mm) were noted in cumin seeds. The average values of the coefficient of variation (V), on the contrary, were minimal for cumin seeds, varying from 7.8% for the length of the embryo to 11.5% for the length of the seed. The average values of the coefficient of variation (V) for anise varied from 9.3% for the length of the embryo to 14.7% for the length of the seed. The maximum level of variability in both cultures was noted for seed size. Correlation analysis showed that a close relationship was observed in anise (r=0.912) and cumin seeds (r=0.876) only between the length of the seed and the length of the endosperm. The value of the correlation coefficient (r) between the linear sizes of the seed and the embryo was 0.195 for anise and 0.229 for cumin seeds, and between the length of the endosperm and the length of the embryo, 0.237 and 0.214, respectively. The correlation coefficient (r) between the index IZ/E and the linear sizes of the seed, endosperm and embryo had low negative values from -0.221 to - 0.345.

Relevance. The article presents the results of studies to determine the effectiveness of the use of new types of water-soluble fertilizers in different doses. The obtained results will be used for the development of new agricultural practices and improvement of technologies for growing table watermelon. Materials and methods. The studies were carried out in the Volgograd Trans-Volga region at the Bykovskaya melon selection experimental station in 2018-2019. We studied the dose of water-soluble fertilizer on the quality of the watermelon table variety Triumph. Results. Studies have found that the use of water-soluble fertilizers has a positive effect on the yield and its structure. The advantage of using water-soluble fertilizer Hakafos with the content of nutrients in equal proportions dose of 900 g/100 l, yield 7.2-10.6% more compared to other studied water-soluble fertilizers with a similar dose and 44.7% more compared to pure control (without treatments). Evaluation of the results showed a positive effect of water-soluble fertilizers on the marketable qualities of watermelon fruits. In variants with the use of water-soluble fertilizers, the fruits are larger, 18.1-34.1% more compared to the control (without treatments), and 4.2-9.2% more yield of standard products. Studies have found that the use of water-soluble fertilizers do not have a negative impact on the quality and environmental purity of products, the amount of nitrates in the fruit does not exceed the maximum permissible values. The use of this agricultural technique in the technology of cultivation of table watermelon, as studies have shown, can significantly improve the economic performance of the production of this product.

Relevance. Morphological features of 10 sorts of tulips in the conditions of early-spring forcing explored. An assessment of the influence of tulip bulb preplanting on the rate of plant growth and development as well as final product yield (cut flowers) taken. Material and methods. 10 varieties of tulips of early and middle-early flowering period: Algarve (DHT), Аvocado (TT), Crispion Sweet (FT), Davenport (FT), Destination (TT), Double Price (DVT), Luba (TT), Surrender (TT), Largo (DVT) и Snowboard (TT) were selected as objects of study. Country of origin - Netherlands. Before planting one part of tulip bulbs were completely peeled of cover scale and the other part were left unpeeled. Each variant of bulb preparation for bedding were evaluated by growth and development rate of plants, as well as the number of cut flowers on the plot. During the growing season, we studied the following morphological characteristics: plant height, flower diameter, flower height, number of leaves. Results. Studies conducted have found that all varieties under research are suitable to early spring forcing and they differ in decorativeness and fully correspond to saleable quality standards. It was found out that in case of complete removing of cover scale, the tulip bulbs root faster, start to bloom faster and give much higher percentage of flowering plants in the plots in comparison with unpeeled samples.

Relevance and methods. For the production of chicory seeds, care must be taken not only to obtain a high-grade source material, i.e. varietal seeds and masterbatch root crops, but also to store the resulting root crops in winter with minimal losses. The main requirement for growing mother chicory root crops is the placement of crops on fertile soils that are clean of weeds. Installed. That on podzolized loams the best dose of mineral fertilizers for this crop is N45P120K60, where an increased dose of superphosphate increases the yield and rootability of Queen cells, increases seed productivity for the second year. Materials and methods. The purpose of this work is to analyze the safety of root crops of chicory root and the degree of their damage by root rot during winter storage in plastic bags in burts. The purpose of the study is to identify the best way to store the mother chicory root crops and the effect of reproduction on the rootability of root crops in winter. Questions of storage of the mother material of root chicory were studied in the laboratory of selection and seed production on the example of the Petrovsky variety in 2017-2019. The material for research was the families of chicory of the Petrovsky variety in the control and elite nursery. Results. The obtained data show that when evaluating and selecting families for the purpose of obtaining highly productive seed material, the safety of root crops in long-term winter storage should be taken into account. If its values are low, the entire family should be completely excluded from the process of primary seed production. In selection and seed-growing work, a mandatory component of the assessment should be the safety of root crops during long-term winter storage.