The green pea collection consisting of 277 geographically distant samples varied in quantitative and qualitative traits was estimated. The molecular analysis of selected samples was conducted for the purpose of reciprocal crossing.

The article marked the stages of formation and studying of the VIR's collection of vegetable and melon crops. The structure of the collection and its significance for breeding is shown. The most important genetic resources of economically important traits are given.

Variability of seven main ornamental traits of the tall-growing, multicolored cultivar «Picotee» ( Cosmos bipinnatus L.) depending on type of growing (through seedlings or direct sowing) was studied. High variability of studied traits, especially such as «the diameter of bush», «the amount of shoots of the first order», and «abundance of flower-ing» was determined. To achieve the uniformity of these traits, the tall-growing plants with the big diameter of bush, with multiple shoots of the first order, and high seed productivity should be selected. The growing through seedlings is recommended.

On the 12-November of 2012 world scientific community of genetics, plant breeders will celebrate the 125-th birthday of N.I. Vavilov, the first scholar of the day.

The article summarizes the work undertaken in the Institute for last five years. VNIISSOK is a leader in the field of breeding and seed production of vegetable crops. Staff of the Institute solve a query of producers for food supply security in Russia.

The production of environmentally safe agricultural products, such as foods and raw material for perfumery, cosmetology, and pharmacological industry is very important today. For the first time the morphological and technological features of spicy-flavor savory and giant hyssop were studied in the condition of Lower Volga Region. The efficiency of the cultivation of these crops in chernozemic zone has been shown.

On the 18th April of 2012 Pivovarov Victor Fedorovich - Director of the All-Russian Research Institute of Vegetable Breeding and Seed Production, Academician of Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Honored Scientist of Russian Federation, State Laureate of Science and Technology, Doctor of Agricultural Science, Professor, is celebrating his 70-th Birthday and 48 years of his scientific and pedagogical activity. Dr. Pivovarov V.F. is the leading scientist in the field of ecology, introduction, horticulture, breeding and seed production of vegetable crops. Dr. Pivovarov V.F. is well-experienced in the field of solution of theoretical and practical problems. V.F. Pivovarov has founded the scientific school of the ecological breeding of vegetables with the complex resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses.

The effect of temperature during seeds germination of some species of Umbelliferae vegetable crops has been studied. There is a different reaction of vegetable crops on the temperature factor: depending on crops and temperature, the number of days until the maximum rate of growth can varied from 7,6 to 22,8 days, and percentage of germinated seeds can varied from 7% to 88%. The effect of temperature on growth of seeds embryo has been studied in different crops. The «degree of underdevelopment of embryo» (DUE) characterized the morphological and anatomical features of embryo varied from 13 to 52%. The temperature coefficient (Q10) for the rate of germination of seeds of vegetable crops of Umbelliferae was 1,23 - 1,82.

November 10-13, 2012 in Catania (Italy) the 6th International Symposium on Brassica and 18th Crucifer Genetic Workshop was held. The meeting was devoted to achievements of breeding and seed production of cabbage crops, Brassica genome research, molecular genetics, development of new lines with a high content of biological active substances, and seed quality. Scientists of VNIISSOK took an active part in the conference and presented three oral and poster presentations.

The main directions of basic and applied researches in plant breeding and seed production of vegetable crops are presented up to 2020. The ways of improvement of organizational effectiveness are proposed.