Clubroot disease (causative organism Plasmodiophora brassicae Wor.) is among the most economically important and harmful diseases of the cole crops, and the damage due to this disease may reach up to 50-75% of the yield and even 100% in epiphytotics years. Even resistant varieties become susceptible over the years, because of appearance of the new pathogen races and change of climatic conditions in the main growing areas of the crop. In this context the Laboratory of Plant Immunity and Protection, of Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution “Federal Scientific Vegetable Center” implements continuous phytoimmunological evaluation of collection and selection specimens and also directional material rather than just annual monitoring of causative organism dissemination in order to find new resistance sources. For this purpose an artificial infection background is used: compost obtained from decomposed nodules on the cabbage roots affected by clubroot disease (infection load 105-106 spores/cm3). The resistance of white cabbage varieties was evaluated during the harvesting period using five-point score of the root system damage, which formed the basis for categorization into resistance groups. For the analysis of artificial background intensity and specimen ranking the individual plants of the white cabbage variety Slava 1305, which is a susceptibility standard, were randomly planted in the entire area of the infection background. The impact of atmospheric conditions in the study year on the results of phytopathological evaluation of cabbage selection specimens against the infection background is demonstrated. Under unfavorable conditions for pathogen development (2014) the most specimens (74%) were categorized as relatively resistant, while in favourable for pathogen year 2015 relatively resistant specimens comprised only 5% of the total number of studied specimens. Since the same specimen may show different level of resistance depending on the year conditions, the stability of character manifestation is the important criterion for identification of the resistance resources. Phytopathological evaluation aimed on selection of clubroot-resistant forms in the Moscow region should last for at least three years even with the use of infection background. Long-lasting evaluation showed that the strains No 234/15,140/14,216/17 exhibiting high resistance to clubroot against artificial infection background regardless of the year conditions are the most valuable for selection. The resistance of white cabbage selection varieties to clubroot disease was studied against the infection background.

Relevance. In recent years, physiologists are very interested in studying the characteristics of the growth and development of seedlings under conditions of etiolation. Etiolated seedlings, as a model object, are interesting in studying the responses of a plant organism to the effects of various biotic environmental factors. In this regard, a comprehensive study of the characteristics of the influence of Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Хсс) on growth processes in the early stages of development of white cabbage plants, depending on the racial composition of the pathogen, is very important.Material and method. The study was carried out on the basis of the immunity and plant protection laboratory of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution of the Federal Scientific Vegetable Center (FSVC). The material of research were seeds of two varieties of white cabbage with different resistance to vascular bacteriosis and four races of Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Хсс1, Хсс3, Хсс4 и Хсс6). Sterile seeds of each variety were laid out in Petri cups. Infection with different races of Xcc was carried out by introducing into each Petri cup 1 ml of a bacterial suspension of a two-day culture at a concentration of 106 cells/ml. Half of the Petri cups were placed in a thermostat without illumination, the other was exposed to light under a 16- hour regime of illumination with diffused light. The magnitude and orientation of biological effects of studied factors on biometric parameters of seedlings were evaluated by the relative deviation of the difference between parameters of the experimental and control variants.Results. A different degree of influence of the resistance of the variety and the aggressiveness of the pathogen race on the growth of individual parts of the seedling has been established, and the response of etiolated and photosynthetic seedlings to infection is often the opposite. In the susceptible cultivar Slava 1305, acceleration of root and hypocotyl growth in the dark (Хсс3, Хсс4 and Хсс1) and inhibition of these processes in the light (Хсс1, Хсс4 and Хсс6) were noted. Relatively stable SB-3 F1 hybrid has more pronounced raspecificity of the effect of Xcc on root growth and stimulation of hypocotyl growth in all variants, which was 2-8 times lower in etiolated seedlings when infected with Xcc6 and Xcc1 races than in light ones, and when infected by the races Xcc1 and Xcc4, the effect was comparable.

Relevance. Vegetable soybean is a special variety with high added value, consumed fresh and harvested at the stage technical ripeness (R6). Accession-A is one of the promising vegetable soybean materials, studied and identified as a result of work that was carried out jointly with the Federal Scientific Vegetable Center in the Moscow Region (FSVC) and the Agrobiotechnology Department of the Agricultural Technological Institute (ATI) of the RUDN University named after Patrice Lumumba. The use of microorganisms to promote atmospheric nitrogen fixation is a common practice in soybean production.Methodology. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of two microbiological preparations based on Sinorhizobium fredii and Bradyrhizobium jaроniсum in order to identify which microbiological preparation gives the best results in terms of morphological indicators and vegetable soybean yield under the conditions region of the Non-Chernozem zone of the Russian Federation. The object of the study was accession-A of vegetable soybean. Two types of treatment were carried out: B1 – treatment with a preparation with Bradyrhizobium jaronicum (1 l/t of seeds), B2 – treatment with a preparation with Sinorhizobium fredii (1 l/t of seeds). Control without treatment (K).Results. According to statistical analysis of biometric indicators, it was found that treatment with S. fredii (B2) had the highest average values for indicators of stem diameter (11.50 mm), lower pod attachment height (11.19 cm), number of branches (3.40 pcs.) and the number of productive nodes (27.48 pcs.). Preparation B2 improved the structure of the crop, influencing the obtainment of the highest indicators of plant weight (30.47 g), seed weight per plant (15.33 g), weight of 1000 seeds (171.25 g), number of seeds per plant (98.50 pcs.), number of seeds in a bean (2.89 pcs.) and seed yield (3.11 t/ha). The use of microbiological preparations based on B. japonicum and S. fredii gave better results compared to the control treatment.

Relevance. Most of the pea varieties used in the production of canned vegetables have similar morphological structure of the stalk: shortened internodes, their limited number and location in the upper part of the stalk. The deficiency of such plant architectonics is the limitation of yielding capacity in relation to small number of yielding nodes, yielding capacity instability, and high degree of affliction by plant diseases. The production of pea varieties having an increased number of yielding nodes will allow changing the relation between the nonproductive and reproductive parts to the advantage of the latter.Methods. The pea varieties from the collection of bean cultures laboratories of the Federal Scientific Vegetable Center were used as the research varieties. The main method of work was intervarietal hybridization with subsequent single plant selection. In 2018-2019 the selected lines were seeded in a nursery with an area of 7 m2 . The forms with changed flowering pattern (Pervenets, Ranniy 28-11, Wenson) and the most yielding early and midseason varieties (Dakota, Ranniy Gribovsky 11, Voronezhsky Zelyony, Korsar, Orus, Viola, Zelyonaya Strela, Quartella) were used as parent components. The selection was performed on the basis of the following features: changed flowering pattern, the number of yielding nodes, the number of legumes on a node, as well as the length of a bean and the number of seeds in a legume. A finometer was used for the determination of the green pea hardness.Results. Sample 50-4-19 having a relatively low number of yielding nodes (6, 9) had the highest characteristics and was considerably superior to all the other samples by its yielding capacity during the first and the second harvesting periods (7.24 and 9.55 tons per hectare). The selection of the early forms with the changed flowering pattern and the shift of the attraction centre to the 2nd or to the 3rd node allow carrying out breeding aimed at increasing the early ripeness and the yielding capacity of peas.

Relevance. The value of table beetroot as an indispensable vegetable crop in a rational human diet is beyond doubt. It is possible to fill the shortage of production of this crop in the Russian Federation by increasing yields, which is facilitated by a number of factors. It is believed that the yield depends more on the variety, but the role of the medium in identifying varietal characteristics is also of great importance. In this regard, the varieties and hybrids recommended for production, along with high potential productivity, should be characterized by a wide range of adaptive properties (environmental resistance) to the stressful effects of environmental conditions. One of the effective methods to determine the adaptability of varieties to the conditions of a particular region is their simultaneous assessment in a number of geographically remote locations, which allows expanding the range of their use.Materials and methods. Research work on the environmental testing of six varieties of beetroot was carried out in 2020 according to generally accepted methods on the basis of the branches of the FSBSI Federal Scientific Vegetable Center. As a standard, the Bordo 237 variety was used - recommended for cultivation in all regions of the Russian Federation. Ecological assessment of the environment as a background for selection and assessment of the adaptive ability of varieties was carried out according to the methodology of A.V. Kilchevsky and L.V. Khotyleva.Results. According to the totality of all parameters, the most adaptive for cultivation in different regions of the Russian Federation, according to the combination of yield and marketability, it is possible to recommend the varieties of beetroot Karina and Bordo 237; according to the mass of commercial root crops - Karina and Gazpadynya. The varieties characterized by the greatest responsiveness to the improvement of growing conditions were: Lyubava, Gaspadynya, Dobrynya. The most informative background for identifying the potential productivity of varieties is the environment on the Biryuchekutsk station, on the ecological stability of the complex of signs – the Voronezh station. The most typical environments for growing beets on the grounds of "yield" and "marketability" are the conditions of Biryuchekutsk station, by weight of commercial root crop – Voronezh station.

Relevance. Study the selection material of cucumber on the basis of the hypocotyl length, as well as to assess the stability of this feature depending on the year of research and the timing of sowing.Material and methods. Studies were conducted on the selection samplesof the laboratory cucumber breeding and seed production of Cucurbitaceae of FSBSI Federal Scientific Vegetable Center in 2019 and 2020 in terms of seedling branches winter greenhouse type "Richelle". Cucumber seedlings were grown without artificial illumination. Measurement of the length of the subfamily knee was performed at the stages of expanded cotyledons and the formation of the first true leaf.Results. The length of the hypocotyl varied in the phase of expanded cotyledons – from 3 to 8 cm, in the phase of the first real leaf – from 6 to 18 cm. It was found that at the early stages of development, in the phase of expanded cotyledons, it is effective to reject plants with a hypocotyl length ≥5 cm. This will allow you to get rid of unwanted samples at the early stages of growing seedlings or to conduct selection within populations. The final assessment of the breeding material for lodging stability should be carried out in the phase of the first true leaf, since the most intensive growth of the hypocotyl was observed in the interphase period "expanded cotyledons – the first true leaf". During this period, it is possible to select non-lodging samples in a group that was characterized by an average hypocotyl (3.7-4.0 cm) for the expanded cotyledon phase. In breeding samples, depending on the year of research, the difference in the length of the hypocotyl in the phase of expanded cotyledons was 0.1-0.8 cm. All this indicates the stability of this feature and, accordingly, the possibility of selecting forms with the necessary parameters. A comparative study of cucumber seedlings of different sowing periods (1.5 months difference) revealed the samples most sensitive to low light. Promising samples were selected with a short hypocotyl in the phase of expanded cotyledons (< 5 cm), which are of interest for breeding for seedling resistance to lodging.

Relevance. Ethiopians have a long history of planting trees, and they have embraced the idea of keeping natural trees with many uses as a distinctive feature of their agricultural landscapes. Farmers use agroforestry practices to maintain a number of species of multipurpose trees. The selection of tree species, their intended benefits, and ecological services are inconsistent due to variability in agroecological conditions. The main problems with Ethiopia's multifunctional agroforestry tree species were also related to management approaches.Therefore, the purpose of this article is to examine the multipurpose agroforestry tree species in Ethiopia, their management methods, and their ecological benefits. In southern Ethiopia, Cordia africana, Millettia ferruginea, Erythrina brucei, and Olea capensis are the main multifunctional tree species used. The northern part of Ethiopia hosts Croton macrostachus, Vernonia amygdalina, Faidherbia albida, Acacia nilotica, Acacia seyal, and Grewia bicolor. The central highlands of Ethiopia are also home to Albizia gummifera, Cordia africana, Croton macrostachus, Ficus vasta, and Vernonia amygdalina. Farmers use coppicing, pollarding, and pruning tree management techniques to balance their survival with integrated crops because trees regenerate naturally. Multipurpose trees offer a range of agro-ecological services, such as improving soil fertility, mitigating erosion, mitigating the impacts of climate change, and maintaining biological diversity.

Relevance. The creation of new varieties and hybrids of sweet pepper adapted to the conditions of the Astrakhan region will increase yields, product quality and competitiveness. The analysis of the inheritance of valuable traits in F1 hybrids will also expand the base of the pepper gene pool and create new promising varieties and hybrids that meet the requirements of the modern market and consumers. The purpose of the study was to study the collection and breeding material for the creation of F1 sweet pepper hybrids with a combination of new economically valuable ones in the Astrakhan region.Methodology. The work was carried out in the Astrakhan region, Kamyzyaksky district in the VNIIOOB branch of the "PAFSC RAS" according to accepted methods and technologies. During 2021-2023, 82 collection samples and 420 breeding lines were studied, with a total area of 0.42 ha.The objects of research were 4 varieties and 1 line of sweet pepper.Results. In the collection and breeding nurseries, promising samples were selected, according to which hybridization was carried out. When studying the hybrids obtained, four hybrid combinations are of breeding interest: Cuboid red x Sprinter, Sprinter x Gift of Moldova, Sprinter x Flight, Flight x Sprinter. Inheritance was studied according to the characteristics: the type of bush, the shape of the fruit, color in the technical and biological degree of maturity, wall thickness and insemination of fruits. We studied the parental forms and inheritance of sweet pepper traits in F1 hybrids of four crossing combinations. Description and selection of combinations Cube-shaped red × Sprinter and Sprinter × Podarok Moldovan, exceeding the standard in yield by 5.7-7.3 tonnes/ha, which are of interest for further breeding work. It was determined that in the obtained hybrid combinations, the morphological characteristics of plants were inherited mainly by overdomination of the Sprinter variety.Conclusion. The research results can be applied in practice when creating the starting material for future varieties and hybrids of sweet pepper, and the resulting hybrids will complement the range of existing varieties and hybrids of sweet pepper.

Relevance and Methods. The study is devoted to the analysis of the state of technical and technological support for the production of vegetable crops in Russia. During the research, the following methods were used: analytical, monographic, economic-statistical and expert assessment.Results. It provides data on self-sufficiency in vegetable production, production of vegetable crops in farms of all categories over the past 5 years, as well as changes in the cost of production and the cost of sales of these products. The issues of providing vegetable growing with agricultural machinery and equipment, the introduction of digitalization processes in the vegetable growing sub-sectors, as well as existing measures of its state support are considered. As a result of the analysis of the current state of technical and technological support for vegetable growing, as well as the existing state support for the production of vegetable crops, the main elements that need to be developed to increase the efficiency of this sub-branch of crop production have been identified.Conclusion. Vegetable growing is one of the most significant sub-sectors of crop production, ensuring consumer demand of the population and food security in Russia; in order to achieve the necessary level of self-sufficiency in vegetable production, appropriate technical and technological support for their producers is necessary; to solve this problem, it is necessary to introduce innovative technologies for the production of vegetable products, as well as to provide the necessary amount of modern high-performance machinery and equipment, which is possible only with effective state support for the technical and technological modernization of vegetable production.

Relevance. Trophic relationships along with competition and mutualism are the most basic and significant interactions in ecosystems. To develop, survive, and multiply, insects need to consume a certain amount of nutrients at a certain ratio. Food products are complex mixes of nutrients and non-nutritive substances (sometimes toxic ones): macronutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids), micronutrients (vitamins and minerals), and water. Some nutrients are essential; insects lack the ability to synthesize them in their bodies and must obtain them from their diet or through symbiosis with beneficial organisms. Identification mechanisms being well developed in the system “phytophagous insect – plant” allow insects to successfully spread, multiply, and feed on certain plant species. The complex of hydrolytic enzymes in the insect intestine is one of the main targets for plant defense responses because these enzymes determine the availability of structural compounds for phytophagous insects. For this reason, enzymes in the insect intestine play a key role in the adaptation of insects to the pest resistance of fodder plants. For instance, when proteinase inhibitors are synthesized in a fodder plant as the result of induced insect resistance the complex of enzymes in an insect intestine might change negating the effect of these inhibitors. The development of co-adaptations due to interactions among species in food chains depends on a complicated constellation of conflicting relationships between consumers and food objects. The mechanisms of this influence may be rooted in the allelochemical interactions in the system “phytophagous insect – plant recipient”. Allelopathic interactions are among the most complex interactions because they are constituted by direct and indirect effects. Plants when damaged by phytophagous insects activate defense responses, which incorporate several mechanisms, including an increase in the concentration of secondary metabolites, many of which are phenolic compounds.The aim of the work is to describe the mechanisms of relationships in the system “phytophage-plant”. Conclusion. Management of processes of intra-water divergence of insect-phytophages in agrobiocoenoses in order to prevent the emergence of races and populations of pests adapted to live on initially resistant to them plant forms is possible in compliance with the transition to a targeted selection of agricultural crops for resistance to a complex of pests.