Relevance. Anthocyanin pigments can be synthesised in the stem, leaves, calyx, peel and pulp of tomato fruit. These compounds protect the photosynthetic apparatus of the plant, neutralise free radicals, increase the efficiency of phosphorus and nitrogen assimilation, have an osmoregulatory function, antimicrobial activity and increase the level of adaptation to unfavourable environmental conditions. In addition, anthocyanins from plant foods play an important role in the prevention of type II diabetes, neurodegenerative processes, cardiovascular and infectious diseases. Therefore, the cultivation of tomatoes with anthocyanin-coloured fruits is a perspective area for the vegetable industry in Russia. Vegetable products containing antioxidant substances belong to the functional products and conform to the concept of a healthy diet. As one of the most popular and frequently consumed vegetable crops, the anthocyanin content of tomato is advisable to increase in the fruit (peel and pulp).Material and methods. In this work we studied breeding samples of FSBSI FSVC: L-Ch-365, L-IR-2080, L-Zemba, hybrid combination F1 Zemba x L-Ch-365, variety of Siberian Botanical Garden Bosare blue. The aim of our research was to determine the quantitative composition of phenolic compounds - anthocyanins in different tomato samples, and on this basis to determine the objectives of breeding to improve the content of phenolic compounds.Results. As a result of the research, the quantitative content of anthocyanins in fruits of dif- ferent tomato specimens has been studied, on which the dietary and medicinal quality of the fruits depends. The sources of high content of anthocyanins (L-Zemba, L-IR-2080) have been obtained, which will make possible to conduct directed breeding work for high content of phenolic compounds. It has been shown that anthocyanin-rich tomato samples can be rich in carotenoids, which gives an opportunity to create new varieties and hybrids with high content of water- and fat-soluble antioxidants. Potential samples for breeding according to the complex of biochemical indicators have been identified: L-Zemba, L-IR-2080, Bosare blue. It has been shown that selection for high content of anthocyanins can be performed at various stages of fruit ripening (large ripe fruit, blangetongue, biological ripeness), selecting the most intense colouring. The Zemba tomato variety developed at FSBSI FSVC has a sufficiently high anthocyanin content and is recommended for cultivation in production.

Relevance. Potato starch is widely used in the food, textile, perfume and pharmaceutical industries. The starch content and the size of starch granules in potato tubers are varietal characteristics (Solanum tuberosum L.). The knowledge of morphological properties of starch plays a key role in the technologies for the production of consumer and industrial goods.Materials and methods. The studies were carried out in 2020-2021 at the experimental base of Federal State Budget Scientific Institution “Federal Scientific Center of Agricultural Bio-technology of the Far East named after A.K. Chaiki” (Primorsky Krai). The object of the research were 11 varieties of different maturity dates. Morphological structure of starch granules was evaluated by image analysis on Countess II FL automated cell counter.Results. The varieties studied had predominantly rounded and oval pellets regardless of maturity and genetic origin. Differences in starch granule size depending on tuber size and ripeness group were noted. Early maturing varieties had granule size less than 20 microns regardless of tuber fraction. The exception is the variety Queen Anne, in small tubers of this variety starch granules larger than 20 microns is 67.86%. It was noted that the proportion of medium and large grains increased in varieties with a longer growing season. For example, the variety Augustin medium-ripening had a proportion of medium and large grains in the large and small tuber of 47.72 and 41.48%, respectively. The maximum number of grains larger than 20 microns was observed in the mid-late varieties Kazachok (63.77%) and Smak (92.22%).Conclusion. The method using a cell counter and subsequent processing of microphotographs of starch granules is an accessible, economical, simple and effective approach to phenotyping potato varieties and hybrids of Solanum tuberosum L. by physical and chemical parameters of starch. This method can be used for accelerated analysis of a large number of samples on a limited amount of natural material, including in field and farm laboratories.

Relevance. The use of non-invasive photometric methods for assessing the stress states of plants makes it possible to assess the physiological state and resistance of plants.Material and methods. In small-field and vegetation experiments, we studied the photometric indicators of the physiological response of potato varieties (reflection coefficients in different ranges) to nitrogen stress created by five doses of fertilizers using contact (N-tester) and remote (N-sensor) methods.Results. Potato varieties released for the conditions of the North-Western region of the Russian Federation were studied for their ability to withstand stress provided by low and high levels of nitrogen nutrition of plants and different weights of planting tubers. The resistance of plants of different genotypes to external and internal stressors was studied by the reflection coefficients measured in 4 channels, which characterized the differences in the physiological state of plants. Ensuring the potential genotypic resistance of the organism in the form of a decrease in FIS F1,3 corresponds to the inclusion of various mechanisms of plant adaptation to external or internal influences, depending on the genotype. In the vegetative experiment, of the studied photo-optical reflection coefficients, the most informative were the FIS F1,3 indicators, which showed that the overall viability of such varieties as Peterburgsky, Charodey and Kholmogorsky turned out to be increased. The reaction type of the Kholmogorsky variety is the most promising for growing plants under stress conditions.

The article is devoted to the principles of optimizing the composition of the complex of machines for cleaning the reclamation channels of the drainage network The fundamental initial documents in determining the composition of the complex of machines for the production of operational, repair and restoration works are technological maps for carrying out repair measures to restore the reclamation channels of the drainage system. Technological maps are formed taking into account the requirements for the elements of the drainage system, due to the specific conditions of the zone of economic regions, the natural and production characteristics of reclamation facilities.

Relevance and methods. Chips are considered to be one of the most popular food products with high content of biologically active compounds. The aim of the present work was evaluation of quality and antioxidant self-life of beet chips from different cultivars. Effect of drying method (convection, freeze drying) and storage conditions (paper, vacuum plastic bags and aluminum foil) on beet root chips from 4 cvs self-life was investigated. Biochemical methods of analysis and tasting evaluation were used.Results. Beet intervarietal differences in self-life of chips fat soluble antioxidants were indicated. Paper bags were shown to produce the highest AOA and phenolics values of convection drying products contrary to freeze drying chips in vacuum plastic bags. Differences in AOA and phenolics self-life of products produced via convection and freeze drying are absent. Tasting evaluation (appearance, taste, texture, aroma) revealed the lowest score for Gaspadynya cv. The highest polyphenols loss in chips stored in aluminum foil was typical for Gaspadynya cv chips, while storage in paper bags – for chips from Dobrynya cv chips. In a whole, the results of the present investigation indicate the importance intervarietal differences in beet chips production, as genetic differences determine taste and storability of the product.

Timeliness. Currently, the Russian Federation has a high demand in healthy planting material of garden strawberries. The benefits of using fertilizers when growing strawberry seedlings have been proven by numerous studies. However, a comparative study of the effect of new fertilizers and methods of their application is very limited. In this regard, studies aimed at identifying the effectiveness of the use of prolonged-acting fertilizers in the production of garden strawberry planting material in protected soil conditions are relevant.Methods. Adapted to non-sterile conditions, ex vitro healthy garden strawberry plants were planted in a peat substrate of Veltorf LLC (recipe No. 5c/2) with the addition of Pg mix starter fertilizer with the structure NPK 14-16-18 + microelements (1.5 g/l of substrate). At the same time, prolonged-acting fertilizers were introduced into the substrate in the recommended concentrations: FertiPro Gran 1M (1.25 g/l of substrate), Ruscote 5-6M (3.0 g/l of substrate), Basacote Plus 6M (4.0 g/l of substrate), control peat substrate without fertilizers, PG mix standard.Results. It has been established that for the Karmen crop with an average runner-forming ability, the effectiveness of applying FertiPro Gran 1M fertilizer to the substrate was revealed, with the use of which, on the 180th day of cultivation, the number of runners and rosettes increases by 3.5–3.8 times compared to the control. At the same time, the yield of marketable seedlings is 95% compared to 70% in the control. For the Jūnija smaids crop with a high vine-forming ability, the effectiveness of all experimental variants with the application of FertiPro Gran 1M, Ruscote and Basacote Plus fertilizers to the substrate was revealed, with the use of which, on the 180th day of cultivation, the number of runners and rosettes increases by 1,9-2,5 times compared to the control. At the same time, the yield of marketable seedlings is 94-96% compared to 65% in the control.Conclusion. The introduction of long–acting fertilizers FertiPro Gran, Ruscote and Basacote Plus into the peat substrate with the addition of Pg mix starter fertilizer allowed a 2.3 – 3.8-fold increase in the number of runners obtained and 1.9-3.5-fold increase in the number of sockets obtained compared to the control without fertilizers.

Actuality. The opposite arrangement of the first two leaves in cucumber seedlings can be attributed to undesirable morphoses. The task was set: "To find out how often this sign occurs in cucumber seedlings and whether it is transmitted in the next generations during seed propagation."Material and conditions. The research was carried out on the cucumber breeding material of the laboratory of selection and seed production of pumpkin crops (100-142 samples) on the basis of the Federal Scientific Vegetable Center in 2019-2021 in the Moscow region in the conditions of the seedling department of the winter greenhouse. Sowing of cucumber seeds for seedlings was carried out on January 10-13, March 15 and May 5. Seedlings were grown on racks in plastic pots with a 0.7 l peat mixture in accordance with the generally accepted cultivation technology. In winter – with additional illumination, in spring – without artificial illumination.Results. From year to year, almost the same selection samples of cucumber had plants with the opposite arrangement of the first real leaves. These samples differed significantly in the number of plants with an unconventional arrangement of the first true leaves, but there were differences, sometimes very strong, between families of the same origin. All this suggests that the trait is genetically determined. When sowing cucumber seeds for seedlings on January 10-13, depending on the year of research and the genotype of the material used, from 18.3 to 25.6% of samples were identified that had plants with the opposite arrangement of the first and second true leaves. In seedlings for a spring heated greenhouse (sowing on March 15), there were about 15% of such samples, and 11.0% for non-heated ones (sowing on May 5). In general, the total number of plants with the opposite arrangement of real leaves in the first node was small and varied, depending on the growing conditions and the genotype of the studied samples, from 4.2 to 11.5% of the total number of studied plants. When sowing cucumber seeds at the same time, in the winter of 2019, compared to 2020 and 2021, there were 2.4 and 1.5 times more plants with the opposite arrangement of the first two real leaves. This can be explained by the fact that when planting seedlings, families with a large number of plants with opposite leaves were rejected. Weakened plants with opposite leaves within the family were also rejected. As a result, the material involved in further work had fewer plants with an unconventional arrangement of the first true leaves. It should be noted that plants with opposite leaf arrangement had only those F1 hybrids whose parent forms also differed in this disadvantage. It can be concluded that by selecting parent forms that do not have opposite leaf arrangement, it is possible to create hybrids that will not react sharply to the deterioration of growing conditions by laying opposite leaves.

Coriander is the leading essential oil crop and occupies vast areas, both in our country and abroad, and is be used to produce linalool, with subsequent processing into other aromatic substances. Increasing its yield and quality of raw materials with the help of modern preparations is an urgent problem of essential oil production.Purpose of the work: increasing the productivity of coriander with combined use of foliar treatments with glycine and auxin-containing preparations for directed control production process in coriander seed.Material and methods. As objects for studying the effect of the drug, varieties of coriander sowing Yantar and Avangard were chosen. Plants were sown in the first or third decade of April, depending on the conditions of the year, using a SZT-3.6 seeder with row spacing of 15 cm. The seeding rate was 25 kg/ha, the seeding depth was 2 cm. concentration 10 mg/l. Drug concentrations: IAA-glycol phosphate – 25, 50 and 100 mg/l, DvaU - 2 ml/l. Treatment with a solution of IUKGF and DvaU was carried out in the phase of budding-beginning of flowering. The cutting was carried out during the period of browning of seeds on the central umbrella. The content of essential oil was determined according to SP XIV method 1.Results. As a result of the research, a positive effect of foliar treatments with glycine was revealed, both on the yield and on the content of essential oil in the raw material of coriander seed varieties Yantar and Avangard. Based on the results obtained, the effective concentration of the drug is determined not only by the characteristics of the variety, but also by weather conditions, when, depending on the conditions during the processing period and the previous harvest, different aspects of the drug action appear. The maximum increase in the collection of essential oil of coriander variety Yantar (11.1 kg/ha) was noted during the combined treatment of plants with glycine at a rate of 10 mg/l in the leaf rosette phase and IAA-GF at a rate of 50 mg/l in the budding phase; varieties Avangard (8.6 kg/ha) - with combined treatment of plants with glycine at a rate of 10 mg/l in the leaf rosette phase and DvaU at a rate of 2 ml/l in the budding phase.

Production of functional food with high levels of selenium and other antioxidants is very valuable for human protection against different forms of oxidant stress. Among leafy vegetables parsley demonstrate the highest levels of antioxidants. Biochemical analysis and fluorimetric determination of selenium revealed that foliar biofortification of 4 parsley (Petroselinum crispum) cultivars and Mitsuba (Cryptotaenia japonica) with sodium selenate (25 mg L-1) resulted in the highest biofortification level in curly parsley cultivar Krasotka (102.9) which showed the highest leaf surface area, antioxidant activity (65 mg GAE g-1 d.w.) and flavonoids content (25.9 mg quercetin equivalent g-1 d.w.), and the increase by 1.4 times in carotene content and 1,5 times in total chlorophyll content. ICP-MS method of mineral composition evaluation recorded extremely high levels of B and Si in Mustuba, which increased due to Se supplementation by 1.23 and 1.46 times respectively. In a two-year experiment with control and Se-fortified, leafy parsley, cultivar Moskvichka reached high values of seed yield and viability, and seed Se content (6170 µg kg-1 d.w.). The results of the present investigation demonstrate high prospects of parsley and Mitsuba selenium biofortification for production of functional food with elevated levels of microelement and high antioxidant activity.

Scientific relevance. The garden petunia, Petunia hybrida, is a popular and wide spread ornamental crop from the family Solanaceae. It is a promising model plant for molecular and genetic research. In vitro micropropagation plays an important role in the distribution of the garden petunia because the survivability and quality of seed material decreases significantly in every subsequent generation. Besides, micropropagation reduces the cost of production substantially. Considering that very few researchers addressed this question in the Russian Federation, this direction of research is still worthy of attention.Materials and methods. The experiments were conducted by the Laboratory of Breeding and Genetic Research on Field Crops at FSBSI “Federal Scientific Center of Agricultural Biotechnology of the Far East named after A.K. Chaiki”. Seeds of Petunia hybrida (double-flowered) were used as primary explants. Liquid bleacher ACE diluted with distilled water in the proportion 1:9 was used as a sterilizing agent (the working solution contained 0.50% NaOCl). The total time of exposure was 15 minutes. The primary explants were subcultured onto a hormone-free Murashige and Skoog basal medium containing 20 g/L sucrose and 6 g/L agar. Isolated in vitro objects were cultured in test tubes with cotton-gauze plugs at an illuminance of 4000 lx, a temperature of 22–25 °C, and a 16h photoperiod in a culture room. The duration of one passage was 60 days. Micropropagation was carried out using 7- 10 mm cuttings with one or two nodes. The pot culture of the regenerants was established under controlled conditions in a light room (photoperiod was 16 hours, temperature was 23°С).Results. The optimal method for introducing Petunia hybrida into cell culture is the use of seeds treated with the solution of bleacher ACE that was diluted with distilled water in the proportion 1:9. The optimal time of exposure is 15 minutes. Petunia hybrida demonstrated a high regeneration rate on the hormone-free MS medium – it had a fast growth and development rate, and good rhizogenesis; the reproductive rate was 8.77. For the micropropagation of the garden petunia, it is advisable to use cuttings of test tube plants, which should be placed onto a hormone-free MS medium. The test tube plants of Petunia hybrida acclimatized successfully on a soil substrate. This shows the high plasticity of the culture.