Purpose. To study the morphological features and determine the biometric indices of leaves of English roses. Methods. Field, morphological, descriptive, biometric. Morphological descriptions were carried out in accordance with the Atlas of morphological features of rose varieties (Rosa L.) (2009) and the Illustrated Guide to Flowering Plant Morphology (2004). Results. The morphological features of the leaves of English rose varieties were determined. Quantitative (length of complex leaf, number of leaf plates, area of leaflet, total leaf area) and qualitative (leaflet shape, leaflet edge shape, leaflet base shape, leaflet tip) were studied. Varieties of English roses that have maximum and minimum values for these indicators were highlighted. Conclusions. The morphological features were revealed and the biometric indicators of the leaves of English roses from the collection of the State Dendrological Park “Alexandria” NAS of Ukraine were determined. The amplitude of variability of morphological characters of the studied varieties was determined. Peculiarities of the morphological structure and biometric parameters of leaves of English rose varieties can be diagnostic signs for determining varieties within the boundaries of the species. Plants with increased photosynthetic productivity of the leaf apparatus, which is characteristic of the ‘James Galway’ and ‘A Shropshire Lad’ varieties, have an advantage in landscaping.

Purpose. To investigate the variability of plant biometrics of cutting lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) varieties depending on the concentration of microfertilizer Avatar-1. Methods. Field study, biometric technique, comparative approach, statistical evaluation, generalization. Results. Dependence of the plant height, the diameter of the leaf rosette, the number of leaves per plant, the leaf area of plants on the concentration of microfertilizer Avatar-1 was defined. Investigations of cutting lettuce ‘Afitsyon’ and ‘Concord’ varieties by Dutch breeding were conducted in 2016–2017 in the collection sites of the department of vegetable growing in the scientific-experimental field “Fruit and vegetable garden” of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine. In order to determine dependence of plant biometrics of cutting lettuce varieties on the concentration of complex microfertilizer Avatar-1, the following scheme was used for the both varieties: variant 1 – water (control); variant 2 – 0,10% solution; variant 3 – 0,25% solution; variant 4 – 0,50% solution. Plants were treated with microfertilizer three times during the vegetative period. Alterations of plant biometrics of cutting lettuce ‘Afitsyon’ and ‘Concord’ varieties depending on the concentration of complex microfertilizer Avatar-1 was studied. Conclusions. It was found that in case of three-time plant treatment with complex microfertilizer Avatar-1 at the time of harvesting, the best plant biometrics was registered in variant 3 (concentration 0,25%) for the both ‘Afitsyon’ and ‘Concord’ varie­ties of cutting lettuce. The height of plants of the cutting lettuce in ‘Afitsyon’ variety exceeded this figure in ‘Concord variety by 1,1–1,4 cm. The concentration of microfertilizer had no significant effect on the diameter of the leaf rosette of ‘Concord’ variety (25,1–25,9 см). The diame­ter of the leaf rosette of ‘Afitsyon’ variety was 26,0–28,7 cm. In cutting lettuce, the largest leaf area per plant was registered in ‘Afi­tsyon’ variety (3516.5 cm2/plant) in case of plants treatment with 0,25% solution of complex microfertilizer Avatar-1 that exceeded this figure in ‘Concord’ varie­ty by 660 cm2/plant. The best plant biometrics of cutting lettuce of the studied varieties and optimal concentration of complex microfertilizer Avatar-1 (0.25% solution) was defined that is important for improving agricultural cultivation techniques.

Purpose. Comparative studies of the photosynthetic apparatus of winter wheat varieties of modern and earlier breeding in the relation to their productivity. Methods. Field, pot experiment, biometrical, gas analysis, analytical and statistical ones. Results. It is found that the modern high-yielding winter wheat varieties have a higher rate of flag leaf photosynthesis during generative period of development, particularly at grain filling period, improved ability to store assimilates in stem and effectively use them later for grain growth. The modern varieties form crop canopy with greater leaf area and chlorophyll indexes and larger photosynthetic capacity and maintain functional activity of photosynthetic apparatus longer at the end of the growing season. Conclusions. The superiority for grain productivity of modern high-yielding wheat varieties, originated from the Institute of Plant Physio­logy and Genetics, NAS of Ukraine, over varieties released before the “green revolution”, results from increased capacity and durability of functioning the crop photosynthetic apparatus, higher CO2 assimilation rate and optimization of source-sink relations in whole plant.

Purpose. Determine the effect of plant densities and the use of Organic-balance biological preparation on growth, development of photosynthetic potential and seed yield of maize lines, parental components of perspective hybrids (‘Arabat’, ‘Skadovskyi’, ‘Kakhovskyi’, ‘Azov’, ‘Chonhar’, ‘Hileia’ etc.) under conditions of drip irrigation. Methods. Field, morphometric, statistical. Results. In the flowering phase, the maximum differences in the area of the assimilation surface were observed between the maize lines and between variants using different plant densities and Organic-balance biological preparation. The largest indicator of the area of the assimilation surface was at the mid-late line DK445 for a standing density of 70 thousand plants/ha and the use of organic preparation Organic balance – 0.489 m2/plant. Organic-balance biological preparation had a positive effect on the dynamics of the area of the assimilation surface of the lines, had provide an increase of 0.04 m2/plant or 9.5% over individual phases of development compared to untreated control. The maximum value of the net productivity of photosynthesis – 6.78 g/m2 per day, was obtained from the FAO 420 line at a density of 70 thousand plant/ha, in the FAO 350 line was less by 4.3% with a maximum at a density of 80 thousand. plants/ha. For the FAO 290 line, the optimal plant density was 90,000 plants/ha. It was found that the genotype of the line with a share of influence of 81.2 and 85.2%, respectively, is predominantly influenced by the plant leaf area and the net productivity of photosynthesis. The influence of the organic preparation Organic-balance on these indicators was less and amounted to 13.3 and 12.3% respectively. The least influence on photosynthetic parameters was carried out by the density of phytocoenoses (the proportion of influence of 5.5 and 2.5%). Genotype with 82.2% share had the greatest influence on the seed yield of the lineage-parental components of maize hybrids. Part of the impact of the organic preparation Organic balance was 4.0%, plant density – 5.3%. The maximum seed yield of the FAO 290 line was obtained at a density of 90 thousand. growth./ha and organic drug treatment Organic-balance and amounted to 5.15 t/ha. The FAO 350 line showed the highest yield at a stand density of 80,000. growth/ha and treatment with organic drug Organic-balance – 5.46 t/ha. FAO 420, the highest seed yield, formed at a stand density of 80,000 plants/ha – 6.58 t/ha and treatment with organic drug Organic balance – 7.08 t/ha. Organic Balance treatment increased the seed yield by an average of 8.1%. Conclusions. Photosynthetic indicators of maize lines mainly depend on the genotype. Phytocenosis density and treatment with biopreparation have a much smaller effect. Under irrigation, the maximum seed yield was formed by the FAO 420 parent line of 7.08 t/ha. The results obtained indicate that in order to plan the production of seed material of maize lines, which are the parent components of hybrids, their genotypic features, the response to the density of phytocenoses and biological preparation with growth-stimulating action must be taken into account.

Purpose. To determine the manifestation of biometric features of corn hybrids of various FAO groups and find out their relationship with grain yield when grown under drip irrigation in the Southern Steppe of Ukraine. Methods. Field, laboratory, mathematical and statistical. Result. Corn crops treatment with micronutrients had a positive effect on the height of hybrids in some phases of growth and development. The greatest influence on growth processes was caused by complex microfertilizer Avatar-1; it provided a growth in plant height as compared to the untreated control, by 1–7 cm. The use of Nutrimix microfertilizer, in general according to the variants of the experiment, influenced growth processes minimally (acceleration in phases of growth and development of the agriculture crop was 1–3 cm). Plants of the mid-late ‘Chonhar’ hybrid (FAO 420) were the highest throughout the growing season among the studied corn genotypes. This figure reached a maximum in the stage of milky ripeness when plants were treated with Avatar-1 – 267 cm. It was revealed that there is a close correlation between plant height and grain yield. Conclusions. The ratio of the height of hybrid plants by groups of ripeness and level of productivity showed that for medium-early groups in the phase of linear growth termination the optimum height was 240–250 cm, in this case grain yield was 11.2–11.5 t/ha, for the middle-ripening group – 255–257 cm with a grain yield of 11.8–12.1 t/ha. For mid-late maturity hybrids the optimum plant height for high yields grain (more than 13 t/ha) was in the range from 265 to 270 cm. The optimum height of plants and the maximum yield can be achieved under irrigation using corn hybrids of the corresponding groups of ripeness and the use of complex micronutrients. | Мета. Визначити вияв біометричних ознак гібридів кукурудзи різних груп ФАО та з’ясувати їхній зв’язок з урожайністю зерна за вирощування в умовах краплинного зрошення у Південному Степу України. Методи. Польовий, лабораторний, математично-статистичний. Результати. Оброблення посівів кукурудзи мікродобривами позитивно впливало на висоту рослин гібридів за деякими фазами росту й розвитку. Найбільший вплив на ростові процеси спричиняв препарат Аватар-1, який забезпечив приріст висоти рослин, порівняно з необробленим контролем, на 1–7 см. Застосування мікродобрива Нутрімікс, загалом за варіантами досліду, на ростові процеси впливало мінімально (приріст за фазами росту й розвитку культури 1–3 см). Серед досліджуваних генотипів кукурудзи найвищими рослини впродовж усієї вегетації були в середньопізнього гібрида ‘Чонгар’ (ФАО 420). Максимуму цей показник досягав у фазі молочної стиглості за обробки препаратом Аватар-1 – 267 см. Установлено, що між висотою рослин і врожайністю зерна наявний тісний кореляційний зв’язок. Висновки. Співвідношення висоти рослин гібридів за групами стиглості та рівнем урожайності показало, що для середньоранньої групи у фазі припинення лінійного росту оптимальною є висота рослин 240–250 см, урожайність зерна при цьому становить 11,2–11,5 т/га; для середньостиглої групи – 255–257 см з урожайністю зерна на рівні 11,8–12,1 т/га. Для середньопізніх гібридів оптимум висоти рослин для забезпечення найвищої врожайності зерна (понад 13 т/га) знаходиться в межах від 265 до 270 см. Оптимум висоти рослин і максимум урожайності може досягатися в умовах зрошення за використання гібридів кукурудзи відповідних груп стиглості та застосування комплексних мікродобрив. | Цель. Определить проявление биометрических признаков гибридов кукурузы различных групп ФАО и выяснить их связь с урожайностью зерна при выращивании в условиях капельного орошения в Южной Степи Украины. Методы. Полевой, лабораторный, математически-статистический. Результаты. Обработка посевов кукурузы микроудобрениями положительно влияла на высоту растений гибридов по некоторым фазам роста и развития. Наибольшее влияние на ростовые процессы оказывал препарат Аватар-1, обеспечивший прирост высоты растений по сравнению с необработанным контролем на 1–7 см. Применение микроудобрения Нутримикс, в общем по вариантам опыта, на ростовые процессы влияло минимально (прирост по фазам роста и развития культуры 1–3 см). Среди исследуемых генотипов кукурузы наивысшими растения в течение всей вегетации были у среднепозднего гибрида ‘Чонгар’ (ФАО 420). Максимума этот показатель достигал в фазе молочной спелости при обработке препаратом Аватар-1 – 267 см. Установлено, что между высотой растений и урожайностью зерна существует тесная корреляционная связь. Выводы. Соотношение высоты растений гибридов по группам спелости и уровня урожайности показало, что для среднеранней группы в фазе прекращения линейного роста оптимальной является высота растений 240–250 см, урожайность зерна при этом составляет 11,2–11,5 т/га; для среднеспелой группы – 255–257 см с урожайностью зерна на уровне 11,8–12,1 т/га. Для среднепоздних гибридов оптимум высоты растений для обеспечения высокой урожайности зерна (более 13 т/га) находится в пределах от 265 до 270 см. Оптимум высоты растений и максимум урожайности может достигаться в условиях орошения при использовании гибридов кукурузы соответствующих групп спелости и применении комплексных микроудобрений.

Purpose. To establish biological features of plants growth and development and the formation of Miscanthus giganteus planting material depending on the cultivation technology elements. Methods. Field, laboratory, visual, weight measu­ring, mathematical and statistical ones. Results. The features of the growth and development of the miscanthus bioenergy crop were investigated including the formation of planting material depending on the combined technology elements application during the planting time, namely: planting time, rhizome mass, the granules and the MaxiMarin absorbent gel. It was established that the increase in plant height and leaf area as well as the miscanthus stems formation was depended on both the rhizome planting time, their size, and the use of the absorbent. During three-year period, increase in plant height was more intensive and leaf area was largest in case of the absorbent application, as compared to the control during all phases of the development for the first and the second planting time regardless of rhizome mass. On the average, the largest leaf area – 1905,9 cm3 – was in the final stage of vegetation in the context of the second planting time for large rhizomes and application of granules and absorbent gel jointly. Increasing the ground mass due to plant height, leaf area and the number of stems benefited the photosynthesis productivity intensity, that influenced the root system increase, and consequently the output of the miscanthus planting material. It was found that there are direct strong correlation between these indices and the rhizome mass. Ground mass growing is contributed to the increase in the rhizome mass, and accordingly the output of the planting material – rhizome. In case of application of granules and absorbent gel jointly, the ground mass of the miscanthus was growing most intensively and accordingly the rhizome mass was the largest, which in the first year of small rhizomes planting was twice as much as compared to the control and was equal to 1090.5 g, for large rhizomes planting this index was respectively 2.4 times more and equal to 1763.9 g. During the second planting time, the application of granules and absorbent gel jointly resulted in the rhizomes mass increase for small rhizomes planting 1.9, large rhizomes – 2.1 times more as compared to the control. Conclusions. Direct strong correlations were established bet­ween the intensity of the ground mass growth – the height of plants, the number of leaves, leaf area, the number of buds and the rhizome mass. The growth of the ground mass of plants was contributed to the increase of the root system, and consequenly the output of planting material. In all sta­ges of plant development, the increase of the rhizome mass was more intensive in case of the absorbent application regardless the time of rhizome planting, as compared to the control. The application of granules and absorbent jointly allowed to form the largest rhizome mass.

Purpose. To reveal the peculiarities of leaf area formation and a structure of lentils variety ‘Antonina’ yield depending on the elements of cultivation technology: ino culation with nitrogen-fixing and phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms and the use of foliar growth stimulants. Methods. Field, laboratory. The experimental scheme included inoculation of seeds with nitrogen-fixing microorganisms (Ryzogumin), application of phosphate-solubili zing microorganisms (Polimixobacteryn and Biophosphoryn) into the row zone, and foliar feeding with a growth stimulator (Alga 600). Results. The results of studies of the leaf area formation peculiarities and the structure of lentils yield depending on the influence of cultivation technology elements are given in the article. It was found that the maximum indicators of the leaf area were formed by lentils in the flowering phase, which on average in the experiment was at the level of 37.5 thousand m2/ha, and in the control variant – only 32.0 thousand m2/ha. By inoculating the seeds with Rhyzogumin, applying phosphate-solubilizing biopreparation and foliar feeding, we obtained the maximum parameters of the leaf surface of lentil plants in the experiment. Thus, in the variant of inoculation with Rhyzogumin, application of Biophosphoryn and treatment with Alga 600 lentil plants formed a leaf area of 40.3 thousand m2/ha. However, due to the use of the phosphate-solubilizing biopreparation Polimixobacteryn and Alga 600 on the background of seeds inoculation with Rhyzogumin, the leaf area was formed at the level of 39.9 thousand m2/ha. Conclusions. When the seeds were treated with nitrogen-fixing microorganisms (Rhyzogumin) and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (Polimixobacteryn and Biophosphoryn), the yield of lentils increased significantly. Thus, in the experimental plots in the variants with Ryzogumin + Polimixobacteryn the yield was – 1.64 t/ha, and in the combination Ryzogumin + Polimixobacteryn + growth stimulator Alga 600 the yield of lentils was – 1.90 t/ha. Seed inoculation had a positive effect on plant height. The best results were obtained when the seeds were treated with Ryzogumin in combination with Biophosphorin and Polimixobacteryn – 44.5 and 44.1 cm, respectively.

Purpose. Estimate phenological and morphological characteristics of Miscanthus giganteus J. M. Greef & Deuter ex Hodkinson & Renvoize, M. sacchariflorus (Maxim) Benth. and M. sinensis Anderss., obtained in vitro, and M. giganteus, propagated by rhizomimes (ex vitro) to attract them to the breeding process and create new forms of miscanthus for use in bioenergy. Methods. Seeds of M. sinensis, as well as M. sacchariflorus (2n), M. sacchariflorus (4n), introduced into culture and propagated in vitro according to commonly used methods (M. D. Melnychuk, A. Plazek et al.) were used in the studies. Phenological observations were carried out according to the methods of V. V. Zinchenko, M. V. Roik, D. B. Rakh­metov, and others. Statistical processing of the obtained data was carried out according to M. A. Shelamov and ot­hers. Results. M. sacchariflorus (2n) in the conditions of the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine does not enter into the flowering phase, whereas in M. sacchariflorus (4n) the flowering phase begins a month earlier than M. sinensis, which is an obstacle for transpollination of these species in the natural environment. M. giganteus, reproduced by rhizomes, in overwhelming majority of indicators (stem height and diameter, number of interstices and leaves, leaf area, length and width of cluster) dominate all species of mescanthus obtained in vitro. But the number of stems in the bush of M. sinensis is the highest (63 pcs.) and is almost 2–4 times higher than those of M. giganteus, obtained from risomes and in vitro. It has been revealed that the most promising forms for bioenergy use are M. sinensis, whose productivity is about 7 kg/m2 of green mass and M. giganteus, propagated by rhizomimes (ex vitro), where the mass of the aerial part is almost 9 kg/m2. But M. sacchariflorus (2n) and M. sacchariflorus (4n) should not be considered as promising species for use in bioenergy purposes, because their performance is very low compared to other species and is only 0.25 and 2.05 kg above ground mass from 1 m2. Conclusions. On the basis of the obtained data, the most promising forms of Miscanthus were established to attract them into the breeding process and to obtain new varieties with high biomass productivity for the needs of bioenergy.