Relevance. Chicory root (Cichorium intybus) is a very valuable technical, vegetable and medicinal crop. The development and improvement of a scientifically based fertilizer system is one of the most important issues in agricultural production, since it determines not only the level of crop yield, but also the direction of changing, increasing and preserving soil fertility in general.Material and Methods. The aim of the research was to identify the most effective doses of mineral fertilizers and methods of their application (basic and top dressing) to ensure maximum yields of root chicory root crops. The research was carried out in 2021-2022 in the field of the Rostov Vegetable experimental station on chicory – Branсh of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution Federal Scientific Vegetable Center. Chicory seeds of the Petrovsky root variety were used for sowing. Mineral fertilizers were applied in the form of azophosphate and potassium sulfate.Results. On sod-podzolic soils, the use of mineral fertilizers had a positive effect on the yield of chicory root crops. The more developed the leaf rosette of plants, the higher the yield of root chicory.Conclusion. In the soil and climatic conditions of the Non-Chernozem zone of the Russian Federation, the greatest effect from the use of mineral fertilizers on root chicory is observed with a mineral nutrition system that includes the main application at a dose of N60P60K60 and top dressing at a dose of N60P60K60.

Relevance. The climatic conditions of the Primorsky Territory, the determining factors of which are its geographical location at the junction of the continent of Eurasia and the Pacific Ocean, are unique, which determines the main directions of breeding vegetable crops at the Primorskaya Vegetable Experimental Station – branch of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution «Federal Scientific Vegetable Center» (PVES – branch of the FSBSI FSVC). The article provides an overview of the main achievements of the station's scientists' long-term work on tomato breeding for open ground and identifies the main tasks for further development of this area in the conditions of the south of the Russian Far East.Results. Based on the results of many years of research, the model of tomato variety of universal type for open ground was specified taking into account the requirements of the modern market of Primorsky Krai: ripeness group – medium-early or medium-ripening, short sprouting-flowering period; determinant plant, compact with medium or high foliage and medium-sized leaves (important for mechanized cultivation); brush – simple or intermediate; stalk – without articulation or with thickening (easy fruit detachment); fruit – of different shape, weight 60-100 g dry matter content not less than 5%, with uniform coloring without a spot at the stalk in milk ripeness and different coloring in biological ripeness, resistant to cracking, vertex rot, with high storability and transportability; resistance – to sudden temperature changes, soil overwatering, high temperatures and air humidity during the fruiting period, to diseases of various etiologies, primarily to Alternaria and Phytophthora. Since a significant factor in reducing the productivity of varieties are diseases (as a result of increasing aggressiveness and expansion of the species composition of pathogens), the priority at present is breeding for immunity. Within this framework, intensive search for valuable sources and creation of new source material based on hybridization, individual and family selection from the best varietal and hybrid populations is carried out. Among the achievements of breeding of PVES promising are varieties Fitilek and Echo (tolerant to Alternaria), varieties Odyssey, Patrokl and Summit (tolerant to Phytophthora), on the basis of which parental lines are created. The breeding process also involves the most adaptive open field varieties of FSVC selection and the source of group resistance to Alternaria and Phytophthora - variety Ottava 30.Conclusion. Creation of targeted breeding achievements will allow to expand the variety range and saturate the vegetable market of this economically important region of the south of the Far East Primorye with domestic varieties within the framework of the import substitution program.

Relevance. In the harsh climate of the Arctic, where the warm season with a maximum average daily temperature above 10 °C lasts only three months, scientists in the crop industry are conducting tests and creating unique varieties of crops that will be able to provide the northern regions with fresh and vitamin-rich vegetable products.Materials and Methods. In the Nenets Autonomous Okrug, at the Naryan-Mar Experimental Agricultural Station, an innovative technology for priming seeds of vegetable legumes with electromagnetic exposure developed by JSC «Concern GRANIT» with the «TOR» device was tested on domestic varieties of Pisum sativum L. и Vicia Faba L. selected by the Federal Scientific Vegetable Center (FSBSI FSVС).Results. The tested varieties of vegetable legumes beyond the Arctic Circle were able to fully realize their productive potential, and the results of observations of the growth and development of crops confirmed the presence of favorable conditions for the selected crops. The quality of vegetable products and the obtained seeds of vegetable legumes in the Arctic in 2024 turned out to be higher than in the Moscow region due to a lower phytopathogenic load. Electromagnetic priming with the «TOR» device made it possible to obtain, in the conditions of the Far North, the productivity of green peas in responsive varieties and seed productivity in beans – by 3-16% and 12-35%, respectively, more than in control. Thanks to the use of the «TOR» device, acceleration of ripening, an increase in yield and product quality are noted, which is especially important in the conditions of a short growing season. Thus, favorable conditions and competitive opportunities for agriculture in the geographical location of the Russian North provide good opportunities to produce organic products in ecologically clean areas, which will be competitive not only in the regional, but also in the national and international food markets.

Relevance. Deforestation is a major environmental challenge that has persisted over time and worsened in recent years. It is a primary concern for developing countries, including Ethiopia, due to its negative effects, such as biodiversity loss and increased greenhouse gas emissions. This study investigates the key drivers of deforestation and community perceptions of its impact in the Shabe Sombo district, Jimma zone, southwest Ethiopia.Data Collection. Primary data were gathered through questionnaires from 187 household heads selected simple random sampling. Additionally, interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with purposively selected individuals.Study Areas. Four kebeles; Atiro Gefare, Mirgano Baso, Yanga Dogoma, and Sombo Daru were purposively selected from the Shabe Sombo district.Data Analysis. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were employed. Quantitative analysis was performed using SPSS to evaluate questionnaire responses, while qualitative content analysis was used to interpret interview and FGD data. The findings were expressed through descriptive statistics such as percentages, frequencies, tables, and charts.Results. The study identified several direct causes of deforestation, including agricultural expansion, fuelwood collection, settlement expansion, grazing land expansion, and logging. Indirect causes included economic factors, policy and institutional factors, social factors, and population growth. As a result of data analysis we suggest that It is necessary to inform the population about the consequences of deforestation. In addition, this will solve many problems: the loss of variety of plants, subsequently restore forestry, control illegal cutting and use alternative energy sources in nearby settlements.

Relevance. In protected ground cucumber is one of the most profitable crops due to its high rate of maturity, shade tolerance, yield and possibility to get fresh fruits almost all year round. Vegetable producers prefer parthenocarpic hybrids of cucumber, as small-fruited lumpy cucumber hybrids of parthenocarpic type for universal use are in great demand among consumers. The advantages of parthenocarpic hybrids compared to bee-pollinated hybrids are higher early yield, ability to set fruit without pollination in any weather. Unfortunately, the main areas in the protected ground are occupied by foreign hybrids of parthenocarpic type, so the selection of domestic competitive parthenocarpic hybrids of cucumber for spring film greenhouses is currently quite relevant.Materials and Methods. The experiment was laid in 2021-2023 in Odintsovsky district of Moscow region in the conditions of the ground spring film greenhouse of the type ‘Block’ on the basis of the head institution of FSBSI FSVC. To study parthenocarpy, the aligned selection material obtained earlier as a result of selections and four or more insuchtings (self-pollinations) was involved in the work. During 3 years, about 40 breeding lines of cucumber were evaluated annually for this trait. In 2023 we studied the inheritance of parthenocarpy trait by F1 hybrids on 27 hybrid combinations from crosses of 13 maternal and 15 paternal forms, evaluating the hp indicator ‘degree of dominance’.Results. Rigid selection of cucumber breeding samples on the degree of parthenocarpy, during 3 years, allowed to improve this trait on average by 10.3-17.1%, depending on the year of research and genotypes of the studied samples. We selected 3 lines (L-132, L-135, L-161) of female flowering type, which differ not only by high degree of parthenocarpy, but also by stability of this trait manifestation over the years. The manifestation of parthenocarpy in F1 hybrids largely depended on the genotype of the initial forms used in hybridisation and varied from positive heterosis to negative dominance and even negative heterosis. In our experience, 45% of hybrid combinations showed positive heterosis effect on this trait, indicating the possibility of creating hybrid combinations with a higher level of parthenocarpy compared to the parental forms. Hybrid combinations with the highest heterosis effect on the parthenocarpy degree, compared to the parental forms, were identified. One of these combinations, according to the results of 2-year evaluation of the complex of economically useful traits transferred for testing to the State Commission of the Russian Federation for testing and protection of breeding achievements (FGBU GOSSORTKOMISSIA"), according to expert evaluation, in 2023 under the name F1 Dendi.

Relevance. Growing tomatoes in the Krasnodar Territory in the open ground is more expensive compared to other regions. One of the main reasons is the expensive system of protection against diseases that are widespread on tomatoes. The most dangerous diseases are late blight, alternariasis and fusariasis, during epiphytotic years, fruit yield losses can reach up to 90%. These diseases are caused by pathogenic fungi and oomycetes. The most effective way to combat them is to create highly tolerant hybrids. This is especially true for the south of Russia, where weather conditions are favorable for the development of diseases and the stress load on plants is maximum The purpose of the study. To create a tomato breeding material (Solánum lycopérsicum) of various uses based on lines with functional male sterility with genes of resistance to the most harmful diseases.Materials and methods. Since 2018, the Department of Horticulture has begun work on introducing various target names of genetic material from donors with pathogen resistance genes: late blight, fusarium and alternariasis into the line with a statement on functional male sterility. The methods of classical breeding were used in the breeding work. At the first stage, the Ph-3, I-2 and Asc genes were identified, providing resistance to these diseases in the breeding material available in the department of horticulture of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "FNC Ris". In 2023, 188 inbred lines were analyzed for the presence and allelic location of resistance genes to the Murray and Thompson method.Results. According to the results of the study, breeding material with genes of resistance to pathogens has been identified, the work on the evaluation of which will continue. Among the sterile lines, 4 samples (101- 2, 104-2, 106-1 and 107-2) have genes for resistance to late blight (Ph3), 2 samples (100-2 and 124-6) – to fusarium wilt (I-2) and 4 samples (91-1, 101-2, 105-1, 106-1) to alternariasis (Asc), among the lines-pollinators have genes of resistance to late blight in samples: 127-3, 129-4, 137-5, 140-1; to fusarium: 127-3, 99-5, 137-5; to alternariasis: 94-5, 92-3 and 95-2. 4 samples have a complex of resistance genes – FMS lines: 101- 2, 106-1 (Asc, Ph3); pollinator lines: 127-3 and 137-5 (I-2, Ph3). The highlighted lines differ in shape, weight and color of the fruits.

Relevance. New for Russia vegetable crops (vigna, kiwano, bitter melon and wax gourd), expanding their range and winning the attention of consumers, gradually increase their importance in the plant growing industry of the country. The study of the biochemical value of not only the fruits of these crops, but also previously non-traditional for food parts of the phytomass (leaves, wax on fruits) can not only more fully substantiate their consumer qualities, but also increase the efficiency of production and increase the coverage of food preferences of consumers of such products. The aim of the study is to consider from a nutritional value position the possibility of non-traditional use in Siberia of new for Russia vegetable crops as functional food.Materials and Methods. Seven varieties of vigna, kiwano, bitter melon and wax gourd from the "Collection of living plants in open and closed ground" UNU No. USU 440534 of the Central Siberian Botanical Garden SB RAS were used. The plants were grown in an unheated film greenhouse (54°49'33" N 83°06'34" E) in soil based on high-moor peat from seeds reproduced earlier in the same conditions. Standard methods for analyzing the content of ascorbic acid and pectins were used. The content of macro- and microelements in fruits (mesocarp and exocarp) was determined by X-ray fluorescence analysis using synchrotron radiation (XRF SR) and other standard methods.Results. In the exocarp of kiwano fruits, a significant, 2-10 times higher accumulation of Ca (18,246 μg/g) was noted, compared to other studied crops. A high content of Fe was found in the mesocarp and, especially, in the wax of wax gourd fruits − 141.6 and 473.2 μg/g, respectively. The amount of ascorbic acid in the leaves was 1.9-2.6 times higher than the same indicator in the fruits. The highest content of ascorbic acid was noted in the leaves of vigna accessions: Zinder − 98.35 mg% and cv. Yunnanskaya − 91.18 mg%.

Relevance. The Republic of Tajikistan is a mountainous country, 93% of whose territory is occupied by mountain ecosystems. The vertical zonation where it is possible to grow crops extends at altitudes from 350 to 4000 m above sea level. Taking into account the growing population of the republic, scientists are faced with the task of finding and implementing innovative ways and methods of obtaining the maximum volume of necessary products and biological mass per unit area while maintaining and increasing the fertility and quality of land and soil resources. Among the agricultural crops that could in the future provide high biological mass with an energy component per unit area of agricultural land include the Jerusalem artichoke plant (Helianthus tuberosus L.).Material and Methods. In various agro-ecological conditions of Tajikistan, collection material of Jerusalem artichoke (more than 25 varieties) was studied in order to determine its production potential and further introduction in various ecological zones of the republic. Jerusalem artichoke plantings were carried out in the Southern (Vaseisky, Vakhsh and Muminabad districts, located respectively at an altitude of 460, 600 and 1200 m above sea level), Central (Dushanbe, Kanask zone, at an altitude of 840 and 2560 m, respectively) and Eastern (Rasht and Lyakhsh areas located respectively at an altitude of 1800 and 2000 above sea level) in Tajikistan. In the conditions of Tajikistan, the soils mainly belong to the following types: light gray soils, typical gray soils and mountain carbonate soils.Results. It has been established that the productivity of Jerusalem artichoke varieties varies significantly depending on vertical zonation and this is mainly due to the influence of air temperature. The yield of Jerusalem artichoke largely depends on the altitude above sea level and the sum of effective temperatures. The yield of Jerusalem artichoke tubers in various agro-ecological growing conditions ranges from 10 to 63 t/ha, and the total biological mass from 30.8 to 175.7 t/ha. A relatively high yield in our experiments was obtained in the conditions of the south of Tajikistan (at an altitude of 460 m above sea level). Here, the yield of Jerusalem artichoke tubers was 63 t/ha, and the total biological mass was 175.7 t/ha.Conclusion. In the conditions of Tajikistan at altitudes from 460 m to 2560 m above sea level, the average yield of the total biomass of Jerusalem artichoke is 91.8 t/ha, which can be an important bioresource for supporting the forage base in livestock farming, as well as a food product (tubers) for the population. By widely cultivating Jerusalem artichoke on various types of soil, it is possible to significantly increase the economic return of land resources in the Republic of Tajikistan.

Relevance. The article substantiates the need and expediency of taking into account elements of biologization and ecologization of individual elements of potato cultivation technology in the field experience of the Center for Precision Agriculture. Since the experiment was conducted in a large metropolis, an important component of the technological process is the use of mustard as an organic fertilizer for green manure, embedded under potatoes.Methodology. The research was conducted within the framework of grain-row crop rotation of the field experiment of the Center for Precision Agriculture of the Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy. The work presents data on the potato crop. Potatoes were grown using two technologies (traditional and precision), two soil treatments (moldboard and minimum) and two variants of fertilizers for the preceding winter wheat (without additional fertilizing and with two additional fertilizing during the growing season). The potato yield was determined by the direct combining method, mustard for green manure by weighing the above-ground mass from the accounting area, plant deviation on the ridge and area loss by the calculation method.Results. The best result in terms of potato yield was obtained in the case of its cultivation using precision technology with the use of a moldboard reversible plough, better quality of green manure mustard, with the use of two additional fertilizing during the vegetation period of the preceding winter wheat. The method of moving agricultural machinery on autopilot showed itself quite well both in conditions of minimum and moldboard tillage; the method of moving on a marker showed the worst result in the same conditions, leading to a loss of area on a 100-hectare field of almost 1 ha. In addition to reducing the efficiency of using the useful area of the fields, deviations during the passage of units using a marker led to a shift in rows relative to the ridges, which also significantly reduced the yield and marketability of potatoes.Conclusion. The highest potato yield was obtained with precision technology using moldboard tillage in the variant of double fertilization of preceding winter wheat. The same variants showed an excess of the aboveground mass of green manure mustard. The use of the autopilot showed high accuracy of plant placement in a row and reduced losses of useful area in variants with minimum and moldboard tillage.

Relevance. Strengthening Russia's food security is one of the most important tasks and the main goal of agricultural producers and scientists in our country. The introduction of new or insufficiently mastered agricultural crops into the production process, which contributes to the fulfillment of the tasks set by the Government of the Russian Federation, the use of high-yielding varieties adapted to the conditions of cultivation, the intensification of agrotechnologies or their elements – these are currently relevant and feasible tasks.Materials and Methods. In 2021-2022, 9 varieties of common beans and 3 local forms of the foothill region of the Altai Territory were studied at the educational and experimental field of the Altai State Agrarian University: reaction and responsiveness to the conditions of the Ob zone of the Altai Territory.Results. Currently, common beans in the Siberian region are of interest not only to amateur gardeners, but also to manufacturers. Our research made it possible to select the most adapted varieties of common beans to the conditions of the Priobskaya zone of the Altai Territory. The different responsiveness of varietal samples to the conditions of the zone was revealed. Technical maturity was noted in all varieties in the experiment. The average yield obtained from the experiment was 1.09 t/ha. A significant excess of the standard yield – 1.56 t/ha was obtained from the Mf1 variety – 1.82 t/ha. The yield was reliably obtained at the standard level for the varieties: Businka – 1.37 t/ha, Zebra – 1.44 t/ha and Mf2 – 1.58 t/ha. The yield of varieties under the conditions of the experiment is obtained below, presented by the originators when describing the varieties. The mass of 1000 grains varied significantly in the experiment. Mf1 (436.2 g) and Mf2 (394.2 g) received excess weight of 1000 grains from the standard (318.7 g).Conclusion. Based on the data obtained, three varieties were identified as effective for further production and scientific work: Sirenevaya, Zebra, Businka and two local forms: Mf1 and Mf2.