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.

Relevance. Currently, there is an acute problem of meeting the growing demand for berry and fruit products. One of the ways to intensify agricultural production in the field of horticulture and crop production is to increase the efficiency of environmental management through the use of resource-saving technologies. One of these technologies is drip irrigation, which improves the quality of crop production.Materials and methods. Field studies were carried out on the territory of the educational and experimental farm of the laboratory "Michurinsky Garden" of the Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy. The experiment was established in the fall of 2018 and is a two-factor study of various levels of moisture on the growth and development of raspberry seedlings. The first factor included options for maintaining soil moisture in the range: 1) control (without irrigation); 2) not less than 60% of the lowest moisture capacity; 3) not less than 70% of the lowest moisture capacity; 4) not less than 80% of the lowest moisture capacity. The second factor was the raspberry varieties Solnyshko and Nagrada.Results. Constructed moisture contours according to the study options showed that drip irrigation contributes to the optimum moisture concentration in the soil for seedlings. The most developed root system in comparison with the control was obtained on irrigated variants with maintaining a moisture content of at least 70 and 80% of the lowest moisture capacity. Here, the maximum values of the volume of the root system, the number of roots, and the average length of the root were obtained. It was revealed that in variants with irrigation, the root system of seedlings spreads in the upper layer (mainly 5-15 cm).

Relevance. Cucumber is very popular and in demand in households of the population (personal subsidiary farms), as evidenced by the data on the acreage occupied under this crop in the territory of the Russian Federation (37.4 thousand hectares).Methodology. This article presents the results of evaluating the combinational ability of eight parthenocarpic inbreeding lines and testing thirteen new hybrid combinations obtained on the basis of the studied lines under the conditions of spring-summer turnover in a polycarbonate unheated greenhouse in the Moscow region in comparison with the hybrids F1 SV 4097 CV (Seminis, the Netherlands) and F1 Piligrim (Agrofirma Poisk LLC, Russia).The purpose of the scientific work is to develop productive and high-yielding heterotic cucumber hybrids with a complex of economically useful traits for cultivation in unheated greenhouses. Testing and introduction of competitive and technologically advanced hybrids into commercial vegetable production is one of the important stages of scientific research in the field of breeding. The research was carried out in ARRIVG – a branch of FSBSI “Federal Scientific Vegeculture Center” in the conditions of polycarbonate unheated ground greenhouses during 2020-2021 (Moscow region, Ramensky district).Results. As a result of evaluation of the combinational ability of parthenocarpic inbreeding lines, it was found that inbreeding lines L.21 (2.4 kg/m2 ), L.415 (0.8 kg/m2 ), L.993 (0.4 kg/m2 ), L.1010 (0.1 kg/m2 ) should be used during hybridization as a paternal component for obtaining early-ripening parthenocarpic cucumber hybrids. To develop more productive and high-yielding parthenocarpic cucumber hybrids, inbreeding lines L.21, L.415, L.1008 should be used. As a result of the research work, four hybrid combinations (L.993×L.415, L.1010×L.21, L.993×L.21, L.993×L.1008) were identified for high yield and productivity in protected soil conditions, which exceeded the standards of SV 4097 CV F1 and Piligrim F1.

Relevance. Tomato is one of the main vegetable crops and is grown everywhere in the open and protected ground in the North Caucasus region of Russia. Therefore, increasing the production of tomato fruits in the open ground is an important task for vegetable growers in the south of our country. There is too much dependence on imported seeds. To get rid of this, it is necessary to increase breeding activity, create domestic varieties and hybrids of tomatoes with high potential productivity, resistant to adverse environmental factors and adapted to local growing conditions.Methods. The research was carried out at the experimental site of the Federal Agrarian Scientific Center of the Republic of Dagestan, located in the Primorsky lowland, at an altitude of 17 m above sea level. Agrotechnics is generally accepted in the Republic of Dagestan for tomato culture.Results. The results of the research indicate that most of the studied varieties and hybrids belong to plants of the determinant type of early maturation with average stability, with large and medium fruits of flat-rounded and rounded shape, with medium and high yields and relative resistance to fungal diseases. According to the largest number of fruits on the first brush, four varieties differ: Topaz, Yana, Chelnok, Talisman (6.5-5.7). On the basis of the "number of fruits" on the second brush, almost all varieties are marked, which is of interest to breeding. On the basis of the "distance between the brushes" varieties Yana, Marti, Grant, Perst, Topaz – are characterized by a generative (shortened internodes) type of plant (12-16 cm). The source material also differs in the shape of the fruit – 8 samples have a rounded, 3 samples have an elongated oval, 5 samples have a flatrounded and 2 samples have a cuboid shape of the fruit. The color of the fruits in the technical phase of ripeness in the studied varieties and lines was with (8 samples) or without (12 samples) an intense green spot. In biological ripeness 12 varieties and lines have a red color of the fruit.

Selenium (Se) and iodine (I) are essential elements for humans, and their deficiency is widespread throughout the world. In order to obtain a functional nutritional product with an increased content of these trace elements in the vegetative experiment, foliar biofortification of two chervil varieties with selenium (sodium selenate 10 mg/l) and iodine (potassium iodide 100 mg/l) was carried out without and against the background of the use of silicon-containing fertilizers Siliplant (3 ml/l). The combined and separate application of selenate, iodide and Siliplant increased plants’ biomass. Siliplant utilization increased the accumulation of iodine by 1.7-1.9 times, and selenium supply – by 2.2-3.1 times. A significant increase in ascorbic acid content was provided by the combined supplementation of iodine and selenium (1.25-1.27 times), iodine and silicon (1.46-1.87 times) and joint application of selenium, iodine, and silicon (1.31-1.73 times), while an increase in total antioxidant activity (1.3-1.4 times) was observed for (Se+I) and (Se+I+Si) treatments. High varietal differences in the responsiveness of plants to the selected treatments were manifested, particularly an increase of polyphenols accumulation under separate and joint treatments of chervil with iodine and selenium by 1.26 times in the cultivar 21-20, and the absence of a significant effect in the cultivar 24-20. Taking into account the adequate consumption levels (ACL) of iodine and selenium, 50 g of the resulting functional product can provide up to 79% of iodine ACL and up to 40% in selenium ACL.

Introduction. The use of new covering materials is an important modern agrotechnique for cultivating of bell pepper in the open ground, which allows to minimize chemical treatments, increasing the yield, quality and preservation quality of vegetable products.The purpose of this work is to study the effect of various mulching materials (black polyethylene film and spandbond «Agrotex 60 perforated mulch») on the yield of bell pepper and also on biochemical composition of fruits and on their preservation quality in relation to the ripeness phase.Methods. The objects of the study were the fruits of two bell pepper hybrids of domestic and foreign breeding (respectively Nathalie F1 and Anetta F1), grown in the open ground using mulching materials. The experiments were laid according to standard methods adopted in vegetable growing. Storage was carried out in accordance with the methodological guidelines for conducting research on the storage of vegetables.Results. The use of mulching materials contributed to an increase in total yield and the yield of standard products in the crop structure, and also positively affected the accumulation of solids, vitamin C, monosaccharides, disaccharides and as a whole – the sum of sugars. The domestic hybrid Natalie F1 (74.9%), grown using black film as a mulching material, as compared to foreign hybrid Anetta F1 (71.3%), was characterized by better preservation quality. Significant differences in the chemical composition of fruits depending on the ripeness phase were revealed. Fruits laid for storage in full biological ripeness (red) were characterized by an increased amount of weight loss on all storage options. A positive effect on the storage persistence of bell pepper fruits with use of mulching materials on all variants of the experiment was also established.

Relevance. Obtaining modern cucumber hybrids is impossible without the constant involvement of genetically new sources in the breeding process. One of the most important tasks in the issue of creating new heterotic cucumber hybrids is to obtain, and in the future, selection for hybrid crossings, parental lines with the most important economically valuable traits. Research is aimed at obtaining new short-fruited cucumber lines with a smooth type of fruit in order to obtain hybrids with their help that combine resistance to powdery mildew for the “pm” and “pmh” genes, tolerance to the zucchini yellow mosaic virus for the “zymv” genes in combined with high yields, the possibility of growing them not only in unheated film greenhouses, but also in glazed greenhouses.Methods. This article presents two schemes for obtaining parental forms using the example of creating four cucumber lines with a short, smooth fruit. Their comparative characteristics and description of new hybrids created with the participation of the studied linear material are carried out. Materials and methods. The main studies were carried out in 2013-2020 on the basis of the Pumpkin Cultures Laboratory of the Krymsk Breeding Center "Gavrish" of the Research Institute of Vegetable Breeding (Krymsk, Krasnodar Territory). The research material is F1 hybrids and selection samples of parthenocarpic cucumber with a smooth type of fruit of various origins (34 samples in total) from the NIISOK collection. The work used traditional methods for assessing selection-significant traits and modern methods of molecular labeling. The purpose of the work is to compare two schemes for obtaining short-fruited cucumber forms, to evaluate the created lines and hybrid combinations with their participation in terms of a complex of economically valuable traits.Results. The result of the work was the creation of new hybrid combinations based on the obtained lines, two of which are included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements. These are F1 Ministar (F1 1600/16) and F1 Promini (F1 1995/16).

The purpose of the study. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of heterosis in short-fruited parthenocarpic F1 cucumber hybrids by the main economically valuable characteristics, when grown using low-volume technology in industrial greenhouses of the Moscow region.Materials and methods. The object of the study is short-fruited parthenocarpic reciprocal hybrids of cucumber Druzhny (F1 I73514 x I74011), F1 I74011 x I73514 and their parent inbred lines I73514 and I74011 of selection by N.N. Timofeev Breeding Station LLC. F1 SV4097CV of foreign selection of Semenis company (Netherlands) was used as a control. The study was conducted in 2020-2021 in industrial greenhouses of the "V. I. Edelstein Vegetable Experimental Station" of the K.A. Timiryazev Russian State Agrarian University-Moscow Agricultural Academy in Moscow on low-volume hydroponics in peat bags. Parental lines and hybrid combinations were evaluated by earliness, early yield, yield, number of fruits per plant, average fruit weight and marketability.Results. According to the results of the study, F1 Druzhny (F1 I73514 x I74011) and the reverse hybrid I73514 x I74011 demonstrated high positive effects of heterosis in yield (MPH=19.4...22%; HPH=13.4...15.9%; CH=9.6...12%) and the number of fruits per plant (MPH=22.5...26.4%; HPH=12.5...15.8%; CH=11.7...15%). Negative indicators of the heterosis effect were noted for earliness from germination to flowering (MPH=-3.4...-1.1%; HPH=-6.5...-4.4%; CH=-4.4...-2.2%) and average fruit weight (MPH=-2.2...-1.3%; HPH=-5.3...-4.3%; CH=-3.4...-2.4%). The value of the degree of dominance indicates the presence of positive overdominance in the inheritance of such traits as yield (hp=2.7...3.2), the number of fruits from the plant (hp=1.5...1.9) and marketability (hp=1.6...2.3). Negative overdomination was observed in earliness from germination to flowering (hp= -2...-1.3) and average fruit weight (hp=-1.7...-1.2). According to the signs of earliness from germination to fruiting (hp =0) and early yield (hp=-0.1...0.5), intermediate inheritance was revealed. The Druzhny hybrid significantly exceeded the control hybrid SV4097CV in early yield, yield and number of fruits from the plant, and the reverse hybrid F1 I74011 x I73514 was at the control level, which indicates the prospects of growing these hybrids in the conditions of spring-summer turnover on low-volume hydroponics.

Relevance. Among green and spice crops, dill occupies a special place in the human diet. The crop is widespread and is represented by varieties for various purposes. At present, dill varieties are subject to requirements for morphological (upright form of a bush, large leaf, etc.), phenological characteristics, high productivity of green mass and seeds, and quality. The biochemical composition is one of the main indicators of the quality of dill. Dill contains up to 90% moisture, however, even in that small amount of dry matter found in dill, there are many biologically impor- tant compounds that are necessary for the normal functioning of the human body. Therefore, when creating varieties, these indicators should be taken into account. For this, it is necessary to study and evaluate the parent material and identify promising forms for further breeding work in order to create varieties that have a complex of valuable characteristics. The purpose of the research is to evaluate the collection material of common dill according to a complex of breeding and valuable traits.Materials and Methods. The studies were carried out in the experimental field of the Horticulture Department of the Belarusian State Agricultural Academy in 2019–2020 on soddy-podzolic medium loamy soil. The experiments were performed in compliance with the agrotechnical require- ments for plant care throughout the entire observation period. The objects of research were breeding samples (26) of dill, selected at the Horticulture Department as a result of individual selection from the collection of varieties: Dukat, Sevastopol, Grenadier, Local Bulgarian, Mamut, Uzory, Salut, Almaz, Local Chinese, Alligator, Reshelie, Max, Dalniy, Rzheutsky, a local Krasnodar variety, Hoarfrost.Results. The article presents the results of a study of 26 breeding samples of common dill in 2019–2020. In the course of evaluating the collection material of common dill, highly productive samples were identified at different ripening periods. Differences in the content of dry matter, vitamin C, carotene, low accumulation of nitrates were revealed in the biochemical composition of common dill samples. According to the complex of traits valuable for breeding, samples were selected that can be used in further breeding work to create new varieties characterized by early maturity, high yield and product quality, as well as those having a longer term for the onset of the phase of industrial ripeness and a long period of shelf life.

Relevance. To increase the consumption of tomato and its diversity on the market, it is important to create new varieties that have economically valuable characteristics and are in demand among consumers. The aim of the research was to create a new determinant early-ripening variety of lettuce tomato, plastic, consistently productive, large-fruited, with dense pulp and high taste, tolerant to diseases.Materials and methods. The studies were carried out at the collection site of the Crimean OSS of the VIR branch (Krasnodar Region, Krymsk). The Agata Plus cultivar was obtained by crossing parental forms with subsequent multiple selections against a natural infectious background. As a mother, we used a salad variety of the Russian selection Agata – early maturing, undersized, with an average yield and fruits with good taste and average weight. The paternal form was a hybrid of the Dutch selection F1 Eploz, characterized by early maturity, medium height, medium leafiness, largefruited, dense pulp, consistently high yield and excellent taste of the fruit. The Agata tomato variety included in the State Register of the Russian Federation was taken as a standard.Results. Evaluation of breeding lines for a complex of biological, morphometric, economically valuable traits using individual and mass selections made it possible to obtain the best early ripening form of salad designation, marked by large fruit size, consistently high yield and good taste. In 2017, this form, called Agata Plus, was submitted to the State Variety Test, and since 2020 this variety has been approved for use.