Relevance. Agricultural production is the main consumer of water. Globally, about 70% of fresh water is annually used for agricultural (food and non-food) production. Nearly 40% of the world's food supply comes from irrigation. Globally, the scarcity of irrigation water due to competition between industry and urban consumption threatens food security. Future population growth, income growth and changes in nutrition are expected to increase demand for water. The rate of warming in Russia since the mid-1970s about 2.5 times the global average. The highest rate of temperature increase occurs at high latitudes. The entire territory of Russia is subject to warming, both as a whole for the year and in all seasons. Water Footprint Accounting (WF), proposed by the Water Footprint Network (WFN), has the potential to provide important information for water management, especially in water-stressed regions that rely on irrigation to meet food needs.Methodology. The purpose of this systematic review was to collate and synthesize available data on global water use in vegetable production. Searched online databases covering the areas of environment, social sciences, public health, nutrition and agriculture: Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, OvidSP MEDLINE, EconLit, OvidSP AGRIS, EBSCO GreenFILE, and OvidSP CAB Abstracts. The search was conducted using predefined search terms that included the concepts of "vegetable crops" and "water footprint".Results. This article provides a brief overview of the vegetable growing water footprint and the sustainability of the blue water footprint. In general, a high green or overall (green + blue) WF may indicate that the vegetable crops are having low yields or inefficient water use. Low green and high blue WF indicate inefficient use of rainwater, which can lead to overexploitation of surface and groundwater. The water footprint can be considered a good economic ergometer, showing the level of water consumption required to obtain a certain vegetable product, whether it brings economic benefits or not, beneficial to society or not.

Relevance. The year-round provision of the population of our country with fresh vegetable products remainsis relevant. The creation and widespread implementation of high-tech automated phytotechnological complexes based on innovative technologies for growing plants in intensive light culture, including the development of new-generation root-dwelling environments, low-volume and thin-layer analogs of soil and systems for providing plants with water and mineral nutrition elements, is one of the promising ways to solve this problem.The purpose. Assessment of the influence of root environment conditions on the production process of cucumber plants in intensive light culture is the aim of our work.Methods. The research was carried out under controlled conditions of intensive artificial-light culture, when growing a hybrid of cucumber Tristan F1 by using of low-volume and thin-layer analogs of soil with the supply of a nutrient solution to the plant roots through a slit capillary and by drip irrigation with the use of plant growing light equipment developed at Agrophysical Institute.Results. Evaluation of the influence of the conditions of the root environment - alow-volume analogue of the soil based on high-moor peat – agrophyte and a thin-layer analog of the soil based on a clay suspension with a feed of nutrient solution through a slit capillary, on the production process of cucumber plants showed that in comparison with the control – a low-volume analog of the soil-agrophyte with a feed of nutrient solution by drip irrigation, there is growth acceleration of the cucumber hybrid Tristan F1 in the form of a positive trend and reliable values; as well as a significant increase in the number of fruits by 38-43%, the weight of fruits by 52-53% from the plant; an increase in the accumulation of raw by 38-40% and dry weight by 27-32% by cucumber leaves; an increase in the leaf surface area by 38-40%, leaf water content by 7.3- 9.6%; a significant or positive trend increase in the content of calcium in cucumber fruits by 18-29%, magnesium by 20-29%, iron by 5-16%, vitamin C by 17-23%, while the content of heavy metals and nitrates does not exceed exceeded the MPC in all variants. Methods of growing plants on low-volume and thin - layer analogs of soil with the supply of a nutrient solution to the roots through a slit capillary can be recommended for any cultivation facilities in conditions of intensive light culture.

Relevance. The production of onions and its preservation for the year-round provision of the population is an important strategic task. In March-May, there is often a shortage of onions due to high storage losses and incorrect determination of the optimal timing of implementation.Methods. Studies on the effect of fertilizers and plant growth regulators on the preservation of onion hybrids were conducted in 2014-2017 at the ARRIVG-branch of the FSVC. We tested 3 hybrids of onions grown in an annual culture on 6 variants of plant nutrition backgrounds. Harvesting of onions (turnips) was carried out manually, followed by drying in a greenhouse and laying for storage in a vegetable storehouse at a temperature of -1...0°C and a humidity of 80-90%.Results and discussion. The optimal duration of storage of new hybrids and the terms of sale of products when stored in cooling conditions for onions. Data on the shelf life and implementation of onion hybrids, depending on the nutrition background, are presented. Mathematical descriptions of the dependences of the total losses of 3 modern hybrids on the duration of storage and the influence of fertilizers and growth regulators are obtained, which is of great practical importance for the agricultural and industrial complex. Conclusions. A positive effect on the preservation of onions of treatments of vegetative plants with solutions of potassium nitrate (10 kg/ha), Zircon (0.25 l/ha) and Tenso Cocktail (0.7 kg/ha) against the background of N90P90K90 was revealed. The maximum yield of marketable products after 7 months of storage at -1...0℃ and 80-90% humidity in Bennito F1 was on the N90P90K90 + KNO3+ Zircon + Tenso Cocktail variant-89,6%, losses from diseases 2,8%; Poisk 012 F1 on the variant with the use of Zircon against the background of N90P90K90-52,1%, losses from diseases 31,2%; Pervenec F1 on the N90P90K90 + KNO3 variant- 91,4%, losses from diseases 1,4%. Pervenec F1 was distinguished by the best preservation during three-and seven-month storage. In general, the use of micro-fertilizers and a growth regulator had a positive effect on the preservation of onions.

Relevance. Pumpkin is one of the most important source of carotenoids for humans: β- and α-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin playing a fundamental role in providing twilight and color vision accordingly.Results. Investigation of pumpkin carotenoid composition, Konfetka variety, revealed for the first time that this cultivar is the only one containing exclusively lutein in pulp with lutein and zeaxanthin in peel and lutein, zeaxanthin and β-carotene in placenta. Lutein concentration in pulp reached 11 mg/100 g, peel – 41.3/100 g, placenta – 51.2 mg/100 g. Zeaxanthin was absent in pulp and reached 28.3 mg/100 g in peel, and 10 mg/100 g in placenta. β-Carotene was detected only in placenta where its concentration was as much as 94.7 mg/100 g. The results indicate great prospects of ‘Konfetka’ components utilization (pulp, peel, placenta) in food industry, production of baby food and biologically active food additives, containing lutein and zeaxanthin.

Relevance. The success of breeding work is largely determined by the source material, the search and creation of which for target breeding begins with the collection and study of collectible samples for the alignment of morphological features; for the precocity and amity of maturation; for the keeping quality and transportability of bulbs; for the quality of vegetable products (high content of biologically active substances and antioxidants); for resistance to biotic and abiotic stressors of a specific growing zone.Materials and methods. On the basis of the North Caucasus branch FSBSI FSVC, 90 samples of spring onions from 26 countries of the world were evaluated in the number nursery for the period from 2017 to 2019, 71 of them were varieties and 19 were F1 hybrids. In a hybrid nursery, 25 hybrid combinations obtained from FSBSI FSVC (VNIISSOK) were evaluated. The laying and placement of experiments, agricultural techniques of cultivation, accounting and evaluation of economically valuable traits, biochemical analyses were carried out according to generally accepted methods. The standards are the new Primo and Ampex varieties of the selection of the FSBSI FSVC and the Italian F1 hybrid Ranko, which were placed every 10 collection samples.Results.According to the results of the assessment, among the studied F1 varieties and hybrids, sources of economically valuable traits such as yield (20-27 t/ha), precocity (80-90 days), preservation (more than 85%) when laid for long-term storage up to 7 months, purple, white and pink color of bulbs, as well as sources of long-shaped bulbs were identified. The greatest interest for breeding for yield is represented by 9 promising varieties and 9 F1 hybrids of onions of various origins, as well as 4 hybrid combinations that were distinguished by high yields, the yield of marketable products and the mass of marketable bulbs. These samples are recommended for use in the breeding process as sources for the creation of new varieties and hybrids with high yields for the agro-climatic conditions of the foothill zone of the North Caucasus.r breeding

Relevance. The presented studies are aimed at obtaining new forms of tomato with a complex of genes for resistance to fungal diseases in combination with a standard type of bush and dark coloring of fruits based on marker-mediated selection.Methodology. The biological objects of the study are varieties and hybrid forms of tomato from the collection of the Michurinsky SAU. Molecular genetic analysis was performed using the following methods. DNA extraction was carried out from young leaves using a kit for isolation of NC Sample NC manufactured by Agrodiagnostika LLC according to the manufacturer's protocol. Fermentas production kits were used for PCR. Identification of the cladosporosis resistance gene was Cf-19 performed using the DNA marker R7. The presence of a fusarious wilting resistance gene was determined by a I-2/5 marker. The amplification results were visualized by agarose gel electrophoresis.Results. During the research, a collection of varieties and hybrid forms of tomato of the Michurinsky GAU was analyzed in order to identify genes for resistance to cladosporiosis Cf-19 and fusarium wilt I-2. A total of 52 genotypes were analyzed. It was found that most samples (41 samples) are characterized by a heterozygous state of the Cf-19 gene. All indeterminant and semi-determinant forms had both alleles. Of the 23 determinant forms presented in the collection, 10 had only one allele corresponding to recessive homozygote. Among all analyzed tomato genotypes, no dominant homozygous forms were noted. The study of the collection revealed several alleles of the I-2 gene. In total, four fragments corresponding to various alleles were amplified. A total of 50 resistant genotypes have been identified in the collection. Two alleys of the I-2 gene (633/693 bp) were identified in 42 tomato samples. Four varieties are homozygous in one allele (633 bp), which determines resistance. Three varieties have a second resistance allele (566 bp). One genotype has only an allele defining susceptibility (693 bp). On the basis of molecular analysis, as well as an assessment of the type of bush and fetal color, initial forms were selected with subsequent hybridization. 67 hybrid tomato plants were obtained. Evaluation of the presence of resistance genes showed that most of the resulting hybrids are resistant to cladosporiosis and fuzariosis. This is due to the presence of dominant alleles of Cf-19 and I-2 genes in a heterozygous state. Among the resulting hybrids, plants with a bark type of bush were identified. A total of 13 such plants were obtained.Conclusion. Thus, the work carried out allowed to obtain hybrid forms of tomato combine the signs of resistance to two pathogens of fungal diseases and the stem type of the bush. These forms are planned to be used in further selection work.

The growth in the cost of raw materials, vehicles, fuel, incomplete use of the crop leads to an increase in the cost of grown products. As you know, in the process of harvesting and its marketing, about 25-35% are products not sold on time, non-standard products, which are not inferior in nutritional value to the standard and stripping products. Such products are discarded or partially sold by agreement. Processing this part of the crop by solar-air drying is one of the ways to reduce crop losses and make the cultivation technology low-waste and resource-saving.Materials and methods. On the basis of the All-Russian research institute of irrigated vegetable and melon growing – branch of Precaspian agrarian federal scientific center of the Russian academy of sciences (FSBSI “PAFSC RAS”), work was carried out to study the quality of dried eggplants of the institute's selection that were not realized in due time and cleanup collection. For work, they took the fruits of the varieties Nizhnevolzhsky, Panther, Almazny, Astrakom. The goal of the work is to ensure the protection of unsold marketable products, as well as the fruits of the stripping collection from spoilage and obtaining a new product with good nutritional and taste properties, which makes the eggplant growing technology low-waste. Before and after drying, the main chemical substances were determined: the amount of sugars, dry substances, ascorbic acid, nitrates.Results Our results prove that from each ton of unsold products, you can get from 80 to 106 kg of complete dietary products. Ready-made dried eggplants contain, depending on the variety, from 21.17 to 23.86% of the total sugar, the amount of ascorbic acid ranges from 1.63 mg /% to 2.61 mg /%. The amount of nitrates is 7.6-10.2 times less than the permissible (1200 mg / kg) level. Solar-air drying is low-cost, since its storage and transportation requires fewer containers and vehicles. The amount of dried products is reduced to the original, depending on the grade and weight of the loaded raw materials per square meter by 9.4-12.5 times.

Relevance. Currently, food products that include prebiotics, in particular, inulin, are particularly popular. Interest in this substance is justified by its valuable properties – it is a good immunomodulator, cleanses the body of toxins, radionuclides, "bad" cholesterol, promotes the assimilation of useful trace elements necessary for human life. Inulin is contained in plants such as jerusalem artichoke, chicory, as well as in sweet potatoes, the popularity of which is increasing every year. However, sweet potato plants are afraid of cold and frost-resistant. Therefore, the creation of new varieties and hybrids that are resistant to low temperatures is an urgent problem. Cellular biotechnology is aimed at solving this problem using methods of clonal microreproduction, cell selection, somatic hybridization, etc. For rapid reproduction and obtaining high-quality planting material, biotechnology methods are used, in particular, clonal micro-propagation. However, in this technology there are difficulties associated with poor adaptation of microclones to ex vitro conditions. This fact introduces an additional requirement for the selection of optimal rooting modes in vitro and ex vitro adaptation of microclones.Material and methodology. The aim of the work was to study the influence of cultivation conditions on in vitro rooting and ex vitro adaptation of I. batatas (L.) microclones. The object of the study was sweet potato microgears propagated in vitro. I. batatas micro-gears were cultured in vitro on a Murashige-Skug medium, differing by the type of auxins. The influence of red (R) and far red (FR) light on the shoots rooting in vitro and the adaptation of microclones ex vitro was studied.Results. It has been experimentally established that the cultivation of micro-gears on a medium containing indolyl butyric acid at a concentration of 0.5-1 mg/l and under conditions of illumination by LED lamps of red and far red light in equal amounts leads to the production of microclones with a well-developed root system and vegetative biomass. The use of an aeroponic installation at the last stage of clonal micro-propagation makes it possible to obtain high-quality planting material that can adapt well to open ground conditions.

The tomato culture is the leader in terms of cultivation area and production volume among food products of plant origin. Fruits contain a variety of minerals, sugars, fats, vitamins.The goal of the study and study of economic characteristics: yield, marketability, average weight of fruits, weight of 1000 pieces. seeds and seed productivity of tomato varieties of two varieties, created by Astrakhan breeders and the use of the results obtained in planning seed production and the development of sale and purchase prices for varietal seeds to provide large farms, summer residents and owners of private farms with domestic seeds for the purpose of import substitution and suitable for various uses.Methods. The experiments were carried out in the fields of Precaspian agrarian federal scientific center of the Russian academy of sciences according to well-known methods. Studied 9 salad and 7 for mechanized harvesting varieties of tomato.Results. The article presents the results of studying the economic qualities and seed productivity of tomato varieties of two types, differing in shape, size, weight, fruit color and directions of use. The first group includes large-fruited salad varieties with non-cracking fruits, which are well stored and transported in brown maturity with an average fruit weight of 100-200 g or more. The second group – with plumshaped and elongated fruits, the average weight of which is 75-100 g, very dense, characterized by suitability for long-term transportation, and in terms of strength they are not inferior to foreign varieties and hybrids. The shape and weight of fruits of varieties of both groups are different, the yield and marketability of varieties is quite high, but the weight of 1000 seeds and seed productivity does not depend on these indicators, but is individual for each variety.

Relevance. Taking into account the narrow range of vegetable plant species grown in Russia and the global trend of impoverishment of their biochemical composition, simultaneously with the globalization of crop production, it is necessary to search for plant species and forms that are characterized by a high content of functional food ingredients (FFI) in their composition, since a decrease in the consumption of important micro-and macroelements sharply increases the risk of dangerous diseases for humans.Objective. To study the features of growth and development of plants of the Solanaceae family in the collection of the Federal State Funded Institution of Science "NBG-NSC", characterized by a high content of biologically active substances and functional food ingredients (FFI), a short growing season and a neutral reaction to the length of the day.Materials and methods. Features of development, biomorphological indicators of plants were studied according to the method of introduction studies developed in the Nikitsky Botanical Gardens [4]. The antioxidant activity (AOA) was determined by the method [5] based on the redox reaction of substances of antioxidant action with potassium permanganate. The content of water-soluble minerals was determined using a TDS 3 conductometer on aqueous plant extracts. The content of phenolic compounds was determined by photometric method using the Folin-Chocalteu reagent [6]; ascorbic acid content - by iodometric titration [7], carotenoids content - by spectrophotometric method [8].Results. The revealed features of growth and development, biochemical composition of a new vegetable crop for the Russian Federation – nightshade caripense (tzimbalo) (Solanum caripense Dunal.), bladder herb (Physalis alkekengi L.), medicinal crops - nightshade laciniate (Solanum laciniatum Ait.), vitania hypnotic (synonyms winter cherry, Indian ginseng or physalis sunny-leaved) (Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal.), great morel (Atropa belladonna L.).Conclusions. The conducted research will allow expanding and replenishing the range of new crops with an increased content of biologically active substances and antioxidants.