The high content of phenolic compounds (quercetin-3-O-glycoside, izoramnetine-3-O-glycoside, 4'-metoxykempferol-3-O-glycoside, 4'-metoxyqvercetine-3-0-glycoside, apigenine and luteoline) in flowers of Prunus cerasifera Ehrh. in comparison with Prunus armeniaca L. has been shown. That can be the reason weak susceptibility of generative organs of cherry-plum to Sclerotinia (Monilinia) laxa (Aderh et Ruhl.) Honey.

The pomological characteristic of three cherry-plum varieties belonged to different subspecies has been given. The prevailing aromatic components and general chemical content of their fruits have been analyzed. The peculiarities of accumulation of essential compounds in tissue with high anthocyanin content (‘Krasnomyasaya’) in comparison with varieties with yellow flesh (‘Nikitskaya Yellow’ and ‘Lyusha Yellow’) have been shown.

The untypical weather conditions during the extrema drought in 1993- 1994 have been described. Regularities of the accumulation and spending of the dry substance in leaves of varieties, signi ficantly different in productivity, weke considered depending on weather conditions.

In the component composition of volatile solutions determining fragrance of the flowers in apricot and cherry-plum varieties and Prunus brigantiaca Vill. x Armeniaca vulgaris Lam. hybrids there are 36 highest hydrocarbons and benzaldehyde that prevail. There are fewer amounts of the solutions which scare bees (benzaldehyde) in the fragrance of cherry-plum varieties as compared to the flowers of apricot and hybrids. At the same time, the content of tricosane, pentacosane, docosane, heneycosane, eicosane, nonadecan that probably attract bees is higher in the cherry-plum flowers than in the fragrance of apricot and hybrid flowers. The average three years yield of cherry-plum plants (Nikitska Zhovta 10,7 and Salgirskaya Rumjanaya 28,5 t/ ha) is higher than for apricot (Recolte de Schatene 0,3; Rodnik 2,9; Ananasniy Tsurupinsky 7,4 t/ha) and hybrids (8110 – 5,2; 8098 – 6,4 t/ha) that could be explained with better pollination of flowers and better fruit formation. Prevailing components of flower aroma of these plants and their possible link with yield of the objects in questions have been analyzed.

The pomological description of studied samples has been given; the chemical composition and relation between biochemical characteristics in fruits of Prunus cerasifera subsp. macrocarpa (Erem. et Garcov.) var. pissardi Bailey has been studied. The obtained data are compared with characteristics, typical for fruits of varieties Prunus cerasifera Ehrh. and forms of Persica vulgaris subsp. atropurpureae (Schneid.) Zajats.

The results of first varietal study of 7 new genotypes of Prunus cerasifera Ehrh., bred in Nikitsky Botanical Gardens, with male sterility and one similar introduced variety 'Puntsovy' have been given. The value and defects have been marked. Their practical use in selection work and in nurseries has been suggested.