Purpose. Reveal the features of the formation of a quali­ty indicator complex in winter bread wheat depending on the growing seasons, preceding crops and sowing dates, as well as differentiate and identify genotypes with high and stable levels of manifestation. Methods. Field, laboratory, statistical. Results. A different share of the influence of the year conditions, the preceding crop, the sowing date and their interactions on the quality indicators of some varie­ties was determined. A different reaction of varieties in terms of quality indicators, depending on the investigated factors was revealed. The variation was very low for test weight, water absorption ability of flour, crumb porosity. Strong variation was observed for flour strength after sunflower and soybean as preceding crops, alveograph configuration ratio after sunflower and soybean, index of elasticity dough after corn, valorimetric value after mustard, dough dilution degree after green manure, sunflower, corn and especially after mustard and soybeans. The varieties, which on average for 2016/17–2018/19 reliably exceeded the standard both in individual indicators and in general in terms of physical indicators of grain and flour quality and dough rheological properties. GYT biplot analysis identified the genotypes ‘MIP Vidznaka’ and ‘MIP Assol’ with a more optimal combination of increased yield and a complex of quality indicators in terms of different years, preceding crops and sowing dates. Some varieties, namely, ‘Estafeta myronivs’ka’, ‘Trudiv­nytsia myronivs’ka’, ‘MIP Valensiia’, ‘MIP Yuvileina’, ‘Balada myronivs’ka’, ‘Vezha myronivs’ka’ were inferior to them, but were significantly superior the others. Conclusions. The selected by quality indicators varieties as genetic sources can be used in breeding process. A more stable level of yield and quality indicators at different sowing dates after different preceding crops should be expected for growing varieties ‘MIP Vidznaka’, ‘MIP Assol’, as well as ‘Estafeta myronivs’ka’, ‘Trudivnytsia myronivs’ka’, ‘MIP Valensiia’, ‘MIP Yuvileina’, ‘Balada myronivs’ka’, ‘Vezha myronivs’ka’. The peculiarities obtained in the research should be taken into account when evaluating and differentiating genotypes in breeding process, as well as developing basic elements of technology for growing the varieties of winter bread wheat.

Purpose. To determine the effectiveness of using contrasting sowing dates after different predecessors to assess the genotypes of bread winter wheat in terms of yield and stability. Methods. Field, laboratory, mathematical statistics. Results. A different, but reliable level of influence on the yield of bread winter wheat genotypes of such factors as conditions of the year of cultivation (66.2%), predecessors (12.5%), sowing date (6.1%) and genotype (1.7%) was revealed. Significant differences were noted in the response of the studied genotypes to the sowing date after different predecessors. Relatively less influence of the predecessors on the yield of the varieties ‘Estafeta Myronivska’ and ‘Vezha Myronivska’ was revealed, more – for the varieties ‘MIP Darunok’, ‘MIP Kniazhna’ and ‘MIP Vyshyvanka’. The sowing dates had less influence on the yield of the varieties ‘MIP Fortuna’, ‘MIP Vyshyvanka’ and ‘Trudivnytsia Myronivska’. A general tendency for decrease in the average annual yield was established in the experiment with a shift in the sowing dates from September 26 to October 16. However, for the number of genotypes after certain predecessors, the optimal sowing date was the 5th of October: after the predecessor, green-manure fallow – for varieties ‘Trudivnytsia myronivska’, ‘MIP Assol’ and ‘MIP Dniprianka’, after mustard – ‘Vezha Myronivska’, after sunflower – ‘MIP Fortuna’, after corn – ‘MIP Fortuna’ and ‘Podolianka’. In terms of sowing dates, the least variation in yield was found after the predecessors green manure, mustard and corn varieties ‘MIP Vyshyvanka’, ‘Balada Myronivska’, ‘MIP Kniazhna’, ‘Estafeta Myronivska’. Using the GGE biplot, it was found that close to the ‘ideal environment’ for the realization of the yield level of most genotypes was the second sowing date after greenmanure fallow predecessor. For different sowing dates and predecessors, on average for three years, the optimal combination of the level of yield and stability was noted for the varieties ‘Trudivnytsia Myronivska’, ‘MIP Vidznaka’, ‘MIP Assol’, ‘Estafeta Myronivska’, ‘MIP Valensiia’. Conclusions. Thus, the use of different so wing dates after various predecessors is an effective approach to organization of genotype-environmental tests. It makes it possible to identify the genotypes which are specifically adapted to certain conditions (predecessors and sowing dates) and genotypes with a relatively high level of stability when sowing after various predecessors and on different dates. This approach can be used both at the final stage of breeding to differentiate breeding lines for yield and stability, and in the development of basic elements of technology for growing newly created varieties.

The creative and organizational role of academician M. M. Hryshko was analyzed in studying the gene pool of plants in Ukraine and creating collection funds of the National Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, which has been named after this famous scientist since 1991. Investigations on introduction, acclimatization and breeding of plants were described embracing the period from post-war years to the present day. Information was gi­ven that concerns the results of the introduction and plant breeding in the early 1950s as reported by M. M. Hryshko and recent data on species and varietal diversity of cultivated ornamental, fruit, subtropical, agricultural (including energy, feed, vegetable, spice aroma, aromatic, technical, green manure, nectariferous) plants.

The article unveils the seed potential of fenugreek species to provide routine supply of methi leaf in the conditions of Ukrainian Forest-Steppe. The fenugreek species have have a wide range of morphological and economical characteristics variability that affect their seed production. A high productivity of dry seeds is inherent to fenugreek species at early spring sowing (10.04), as for this date the yield of dry seeds of blue fenugreek amounted to 0.4 t per ha, that of fenugreek hay – 2.0 t / ha, with mass of 1000 seeds, respectively, 0.71 and 9.7 gr. To obtain a spicery called «mushroom grass» the use of fenugreek hay is considered as a promising direction (Greek hay, Shambhala, hay fenugreek) along with scheduling the sowing for early spring (4.10) and late spring (25.04–15.05) , which would enable the development of greatest herbage volume and higher yield of mature seed (0.9–2.0 t / ha). Another prospective line of development is to use blue fenugreek (fenugreek blue) as a green manure and nectar bearing crop, with the sowing scheduled for spring (4.10) and late spring (25.04–15.05).