Pumpkin crops are an important segment in the structure of cultivated vegetable crops. Their selection is mainly aimed at precocity, increased resistance to adverse climatic factors and the most harmful diseases (true and downy mildew, olive, angular and brown spots, anthracnose, viruses and other diseases). The article presents the main directions of selection work on cucumber, squash, zucchini and pumpkin in the FSBSI "Federal Scientific Vegetable Center". A network of branches of FSBSI "FSVC" engaged in the creation of new varieties, with specified parameters, for the above crops is presented. The features of breeding work on pumpkin crops in various regions of the Russian Federation are shown.

Relevance. Increased demand in Russia for common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) varieties of domestic breeding has stimulated the Federal Scientific Vegetable Center of breeding to intensify research on the creation of new asparagus bean varieties of vegetable direction.Materials and methods. Four vegetable bean varieties – Secunda, Lika, Ulyasha, Si Bemol of the laboratory of selection and seed production of vegetable Legume crops of the Federal Scientific Vegetable Center were used as the material for the study. The counts and observations were made according to the Methodology of the State Variety Trial of Agricultural Crops, 1975. The count of productivity was carried out in the technical stage of ripeness by replications. Harvesting was carried out when the biological stage of ripeness was reached. Biochemical studies of plants were carried out in the laboratoryanalytical department of the FSBSI FSVC. The biochemical composition of vegetable bean (green bean) varieties was studied according to the following indicators: determination of the total content of water-soluble antioxidants, ascorbic acid, dry matter, polyphenols, monosaccharides, total sugar content and starch.Results. Evaluation of samples by aggregate factors contributes to the selection of the most promising and high-quality varieties for their introduction into production. As a result of the research of vegetable bean on the main economically valuable features and biochemical composition for the period from 2018 to 2020, the varieties Lika and Ulyasha were selected. They were distinguished by high productivity of beans and seeds. Green bean variety Lika was noted for the highest total content of water-soluble antioxidants, ascorbic acid and the total of sugars content, the green bean variety "lobio" Ulyasha - high content of polyphenols and the total of antioxidants in the alcohol extract. Stable high yield, adaptive potential and high quality of beans, confirmed by the results of biochemical evaluation, allow us to recommend these varieties for consumption by the population as part of the diet and as an alternative to meat and dairy products.

The results of ecological variety testing of table carrot samples in soil and climatic conditions of the south of the Rostov region are presented. The experiments were laid in the period 2020 and 2021 in the fields of the Biryuchekut OSOS branch of the FSBI FNCO in the city of Novocherkassk, Rostov region. 12 samples of carrot plants from the first year of life were studied. The most productive samples were Marlinka – 59.7 t/ha Aksinya – 55.3 t/ha and Abaco F1 standard – 51.9 t/ha. The marketability of root crops was higher in the samples of Shantane 2461-82%, Aksinya – 78.9%, Boyar – 74.2% and Primorskaya 22-72.9%. The conducted research makes a great contribution to the process of selecting the source material for the creation of new varieties and hybrids of table carrots. The isolated samples can be recommended for commercial cultivation in the Rostov region and used in breeding work as a starting material.

Relevance. When creating tomato varieties and hybrids, much attention is paid not only to the commercial component (yield, appearance and uniform ripening), but also to the taste qualities of the products. Salad tomato varieties with yellow, tangerine, and pink fruits are increasingly in demand. As a rule, these fruits do not store for a long time, so it is necessary to increase their storability and transportability. Fruits of this group of tomatoes have high antioxidant activity, which is due not only to the significant content of water-soluble antioxidants (such as ascorbic acid), but also carotenoids. The preservation of fruit largely depends on the dry matter content.The aim of investigation is to study biochemical parameters of tangerine tomatoes fruits under different ripening conditions.Materials and methods. Plants were grown in the greenhouse of Federal Scientific Vegetable Center. Biochemical characteristics of tomato fruits were studied during harvesting and after laying for storage in the milky ripeness phase according to the following indicators: dry matter, ascorbic acid, total content of water-soluble antioxidants, titratable acidity, monosaccharides, polyphenols and carotenoids.Results. The percentage of dry matter in tangerine tomato fruits does not change during storage, even increases slightly. The dry matter content of fruits from the open field is slightly higher than that of fruits from the greenhouse. The content of sugars and ascorbic acid in fruits with tangerine fruits after laying for ripening decreases slightly. However, the content of these compounds is higher in mature fruits immediately after picking than in fruits after ripening. The total content of antioxidants during ripening decreases, though not significantly (in 1.1-1.7 times).

Relevance. In modern vegetable growing in the southern and central regions of Russia, new scientific developments are widely used, including the use of new varieties and hybrids, a drip irrigation system, fertigation with soluble fertilizers with microelements. All these agricultural practices make it possible to increase the yield of vegetable crops by several times, as well as to significantly increase the efficiency of applied fertilizers. The purpose of our work was to establish the effectiveness of the use of calculated doses of mineral fertilizers for tomato with the main application and top dressing under drip irrigation.Methodology. Research in 2019-2021 on ordinary heavy loamy chernozem of the experimental field of the Birutchecutskaya Vegetable Experimental Station – branch of FSBSI Federal Scientific Vegetable Center (Rostov Region, Novocherkassk) with a new variety of tomato Krasny banker.Results. It was revealed that without fertilization, the yield of tomatoes was at the level of 32-35 t/ha; the use of the recommended dose of N120P120K120 in the main application increased the yield to 64- 72 t/ha; the use of the estimated dose of mineral fertilizers (for a yield of 100 t/ha) increased the yield of tomatoes to 95 t/ha. The use of three-fold root feeding of plants with drip irrigation increased the yield by 21%, and with foliar feeding – by 2-8%. As a root top dressing for drip irrigation, a solution of microcrystalline water-soluble fertilizer "Master" with a different ratio of nutrients was used, and for foliar top dressing, an organomineral nanofertilizer with growth-stimulating activity "Arksoil KKR" was used. In general, a set of agrochemical practices made it possible to increase the tomato yield under drip irrigation from 33.7 to 102.8 t/ha, more than 3 times, without reducing the dry matter content in fruits and without nitrate contamination of products.

. Heterotic selection is now widely used in crop production. The superiority of heterotic hybrids over varieties in many respects has long been known. However, the widespread use of heterosis in melon growing is hampered by the high cost of seed material, due to the lack of lines with male sterility. The aim of this work was to evaluate heterotic hybrids of watermelon obtained on the basis of a line with male sterility isolated at the Bykovskaya Experimental Station.Materials and methods. The studies were carried out in 2020 and 2021. at the Bykovskaya melon breeding experimental station - a branch of the FGBNU FNTSO. The object of research is heterosis hybrids of watermelon. The heterosis hybrid of watermelon Barkhan was used as a standard. Classical breeding methods were used in the work: incubation and hybridization.Research results. The assessment of watermelon hybrids according to the main economic characteristics revealed the best combinations in comparison with the standard. According to the content of dry matter, four hybrids of watermelon stood out, the excess over the standard ranged from 0.6 to 1.9%. The indicator of the average weight of the fetus in one LIR hybrid was at the level of the standard and amounted to 6.5 kg. The remaining hybrids exceeded the Barkhan standard by 1.2-4.0 kg. The average yield of the studied hybrids ranged from 19.0 to 22.5 t/ha. The calculation of such indicators as the degree of dominance, the effects of true and hypothetical heterosis made it possible to identify three combinations with high rates.Conclusion. Thus, it was found that the yield in heterotic hybrids of watermelon is inherited according to the principle of overdominance. Inheritance of traits dry matter content and average fruit weight ranges from minus overdominance to overdominance in various combinations. According to the complex of economically valuable traits, three combinations of table watermelon were distinguished: LKn, LMr and LFT.

The 28-spotted potato ladybird beetle belongs to the subfamily Epilachninae, which is comprised exclusively by phytophagous insects. The potato ladybird beetle is a dangerous pest of potato in the south of the Russian Far East. Besides potato, it causes damage to tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelons, marrows and eggplants. Adult beetles and larvae eat the parenchyma of leaves severely damaging them. As the result, leaves turn yellow and wither. One beetle can eat up to 15 cm2 of leave surface on average per day, and 300-700 cm2 over its lifetime. A larva can eat from 20 to 30 cm2 of leave surface while developing. This significantly reduces the yield. The body of an adult beetle is small (males, 4-6 mm; female, 5-7 mm), dome-shaped, and elliptical. The elytra are yellow or brownish with 28 black round spots. Some spots, especially the ones along the line of junction, can partially merge. The color of the underside of male beetles is lighter than in females. Male beetles have yellow or less frequently darkened prothorax, mesothorax and metathorax, epimera, and the uppermost edge of the sternites of the abdomen. The anal sternite of the abdomen has a curve with two depressions. The underside of a female beetle is black. The uppermost edge of the anal sternite is straight and with a flat depression. The body of a larva is greyish, oval and with numerous setae. There are 4 rows of black chitinous spinules on the back. Depending on an instar, larvae have a different number of projections on the chitinous spinules. Pupae are exarate, light yellow, and have larval skin remnants at the apex of the abdomen. There are two large black spots on the backside of the thoracic segments. The spots on the abdominal segments are smaller. Fairly long protruding setae grow sparsely on the bodies of pupae. Eggs of the potato ladybird beetle are yellow, elongated, with a pointed apex and a flat bottom. The surface of an egg is characterized by a fine cellular structure.

Relevance. The interest of vegetable producers in small-fruited tomato hybrids has been increasing in recent years. This is due to the high commercial qualities of fruits that do not crack, contain 3 times more sugars than large-fruited tomatoes, and their range of use for canning and salads has also been expanded.Goal: to identify effective options for the use of biologically active substances in conditions of extended turnover of winter greenhouses on tomato plantings F1 Sherami.Methods. Research was aimed at studying the effect of biologically active substances – sodium selenate at a concentration of 10-5, natural coniferous concentrate (2 mg/l), EpinExtra (0.2 mg/l) and their double and triple combinations on the productivity of cherry tomatoes F1 Sherami. The treatment of plants was carried out 4 times during the growing season – after picking, when planting seedlings in a permanent place, when pouring the first brush and during the mass harvest.Results. As a result of research, it was found that the use of the above drugs increases the productivity of tomato plants of the Sherami hybrid. The maximum yield according to the results of 2018 and 2019 was obtained on the variant using sodium Selenate + KHN + Epin-extra and averaged 288.1 t/ha. Also, the use of BAS had an effect on the content of dry matter, sugars and macronutrients.Conclusion. The effect of preparations of biologically active substances positively affected the growth and development of plants. The variation of the yield increase compared to the control ranged from 5.2 to 17.2 t/ha. The maximum yield of the Sherami hybrid tomato was obtained on the variant using sodium Selenate + KHN + Epin-extra, the increase was 19 t/ha, which made it possible to obtain an appropriate income level of more than 272 thousand rubles/ha.

Relevance. The induction of gynogenic development of the culture of unpollinated ovules of Cucumis sativus L., as a part of solid nutrient media agar-agar or Phytagel™ are used as a gelling agent. The gelling agent determines the mobilization of substances in the composition of the nutrient medium and has various effects on the explants, which affects the quality of the resulting regenerates. However, there are no scientific works that explaines the effect of these gelling agents on the development of ovules and compare them with each other for C. sativus L. The aim: investigate the effect of various gelling agent in the nutrient medium on the induction of gynogenesis and the development of cucumber unpollinated ovules.Materials and methods. There are two promising collection specimens of cucumber №58 and №831 of the laboratory of cucurbits crop breeding and seed production of FSBSI FSVC were included into research. IMC nutrient medium (Induction Medium for Cucurbitaceae) with 30 g/l sucrose, 200 mg/l ampicillin, 0.2 mg/l thidiazuron (TDZ) was used for the induction of gynogenesis; agar-agar at a concentration of 7 g/l or Phytagel™ at a concentration of 3.5 g/l was used as a gel-forming agents. Ovules were isolated from ovaries in the phase of half-opened flower (FL-1) and fully opened flower (FL). Cultivation was carried out in plastic Petri dishes with a diameter of 60 mm with an air gap of 28.8 cm3 – "KS No. 1", and glass culture jars with an air gap of 140 cm3 – "KS No. 2".Results. On containing Phytagel™ or agar-agar nutrient medium, the area of ovules during 30 days of cultivation increases irregularly. Coefficients of ovule enlargement between gelling agents differed from 1.7 to 2.6 times depending on the cultivation time. The average growth rate of ovules on media with Phytagel™ was 0.08 mm2/day, while on media with agar-agar it was 0.02 mm2/day. Gelling agents type and cucumber phenotype are significant factors affecting the increase in area of entered into unpollinated cucumber ovules culture. Herewith the share of the gelling agent effect was 55.01%, and the share of genotype effect was 14.53%. The effect of flower development stage or culture vessel type has not found for both of genotypes. In the study, it was possible to achieve the induction of gynogenesis in 67% of the unpollinated ovules genotype №831 on nutrient medium with agar-agar.Conclusion. Ovules development were faster on a nutrient medium using Phytagel™ as a gelling agent than on agaragar. At the same time, the percentage of induced ovules was significally higher on nutrient medium with agar-agar for both phenotypes. Gelling agents type and cucumber phenotype were found as significant factors of the induction and the development of unpollinated ovules.

Relevance. Study of pesticide residues is an integral part of registration tests. It is present a particular interest in terms of hygienic safety of eating vegetable crops grown with use of protective agents.Methods. The analysis procedure includes an approach developed by the authors, based on microwave digestion of samples after cryo-destruction, followed by analysis by atomic absorption spectrometry with electrothermal atomisation. The approaches used in research, allow us to trace the dynamics of copper content in fruits of potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers and onions, during the vegetation periods of 2020-2021 in different soil and climatic zones.Results. It is shown that treatment with copper-containing preparations does not affect the content of copper in fruits of the studied crops during the whole experiment, except for the day of sampling immediately after the treatment. At the same time, reliable excesses in comparison with control samples are observed in experiments, where the aboveground part of crops is investigated. For example, the content of copper in tomato fruits in 2020, taken on the day of the last treatment, was 0.61±0.16 mg/kg and 0.47±0.08 mg/kg in the experimental and control samples, respectively. In 2021, the trend continued and copper concentration on the day of treatment was 0.80±0.15 mg/kg and 0.64±0.12 mg/kg respectively in the experimental and control samples. In the study of onion treated with copper oxychloride-based preparation, the concentration of copper in the whole plant (leaves + bulb) on the day of treatment in 2020 was 8.5±1.1 mg/kg in the experimental sample and 0.43±0.18 mg/kg in the control sample. In 2021, the copper concentration in the experimental sample collected on the treatment day was 14.1±3.8 mg/kg and in the control sample was 1.1±0.2 mg/kg respectively.