Relevance. Broccoli cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. convar. botrytis (L.) Alef. var. cymosa Duch.) is widely spread around the world due to its dietetic attribute, preventive and healing effect, cooking simplicity. F1 hybrids production is the main stream in modern crop breeding as they surpass varieties in evenness and yield quality. However, it takes up to 6 years of inbreeding to obtain pure parent lines capable for hybrid creation. Thus biotechnological methods, especially doubled haploids production technology shell be implemented in selection process. 100% homozygous line can be worked out in one generation by this technology. Nevertheless earlier researches revealed such plants low seed set that hinder their application in mass production. Therefore after pollination seed set level identification is an important step in applying lines gained via in vitro process.Materials and methods. Broccoli cabbage regenerated plants produced by isolated microspore in vitro culture method were used as raw material in our study. Flower and bud pollination was held in climate cells.Results. Study of 11 broccoli cabbage DH-lines disclosed genotype influence the ability to set seeds after bud pollination. 93.3% genotype A and 95.5% A1.3 pods were seedless in our experiments. Most genotypes demonstrated 50.3-85.7% seed set level. Low and middle ability to form seeds prevailed mainly. This peculiarity should be considered while dealing with regenerated plants by raising the number of crossings for successful breeding.

The study of the correlation relationship between the signs, the informativeness of the indicators makes it possible to conduct a preliminary assessment of the plants and more objectively to identify forms with high economically valuable characteristics. Their integrated assessment will identify the best source material for further selection. In literary sources, information on the correlation in broccoli between yields and its elements are not the same. The purpose of our study was to analyze the contingency of various traits and to identify significant correlation links between quantitative traits in broccoli hybrids (42 samples). They were obtained using doubled haploid lines (DH-line) of early maturity at 2 planting dates (spring and summer). Studies were conducted in the Odintsovo district of the Moscow region in field experience in 2015, 2016. Significant influence on growth and development was provided by the developing weather conditions during the growing period. The fluctuation of humidification and temperature conditions differed significantly during the years of study and the time of planting, which is an important circumstance for analyzing the data obtained. Based on the results of the research, it was concluded that the value of the correlation coefficient and the strength of the correlation relationship between the characteristics (mass, diameter, head height, plant height, vegetation period) are different and depend on the set of test specimens and growing conditions. A significant stable manifestation of positive correlation was revealed during all the years of research and the time of planting between the diameter and mass of the head (r = 0.45-0.96). The variability of the correlation of other economically valuable traits is marked.

Relevance. In order to expand the range of food products for the crews of the International Space Station (ISS), studies have been conducted on the specifics of developing natural flavoring vegetable additives in the form of powder for freeze-dried dishes.   The aim is to evaluate new broccoli hybrids as raw materials for the production of natural flavoring vegetable additives in the form of powder for freeze-dried dishes of increased nutritional value and high degree of readiness for consumption, including components of children's, dietary and cosmonaut nutrition.   Methods. The objects of the study were 6 new broccoli hybrids (2 hybrids of domestic and 4 of foreign breeding).   Results. In domestic hybrids F1 (Detskiy delikates, Macho), the average vitamin C content in natural flavoring vegetable additives in the form of freeze-dried powder of a high degree of readiness for consumption was 1.66 times higher than in foreign hybrids. The highest vitamin C content was noted in the domestic hybrid children's delicacy 419.4 mg %. β-carotene was best preserved in the hybrids F1 Detskiy delikates (2.58 mg %), F1 Macho (2.56 mg %), as well as in the hybrid F1 Batavia (2.52 mg %). The amount of sugars in natural flavoring vegetable additives in the form of freeze-dried powder was on average 1.17 times higher in domestic hybrids than in foreign ones. At the same time, some foreign hybrids showed a high level of accumulation. So the largest accumulation of the sum of sugars was in the F1 Lord (12.85 %). A high level of sugar content was also observed in F1 Macho (12.84 %) and F1 Detskiy delikates (11.63 %). The F1 Fiesta accumulated the least nitrates (77.1 mg/kg). According to organoleptic indicators, the F1 Detskiy delikates has been identified. High organoleptic indices were also noted in the F1 Macho and the F1 Batavia.

Relevance. A commonly cultivated and demanded type of vegetable crops – cabbage Brassica oleracea L. – in the process of evolution and domestication was divided into three clusters: leafy cabbage, headed cabbage and broccoli (cauliflower). According to modern data, Broccoli was developed by hybridization from collard greens and is the genetic precursor to cauliflower. Broccoli and cauliflower have a valuable biochemical composition and are recommended for daily consumption. The characteristic of cultures of Brassica oleracea L. (broccoli and cauliflower) is given according to the most important biochemical quality characteristics. Material and methods. The research material included 30 accessions of broccoli and 35 accessions of cauliflower from the VIR collection, reflecting the ecological, geographical and genetic diversity. Accessions were grown at the research and production base "Pushkin and Pavlovsk Laboratories VIR" (St. Petersburg), biochemical analysis was carried out in the laboratory of biochemistry and molecular biology VIR using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Results. The characterization of Brassica oleracea L. species (broccoli and cauliflower) is given according to the main most important biochemical quality characteristics. As a result of using of the modern gas chromatography/mass spectrometry approach to the study of the biochemical composition in samples of broccoli and cauliflower, about 136 components have been identified from the groups of organic acids, free amino acids, including essential, fatty acids, including essential, polyhydric alcohols, sugars, and also phenolic compounds, nucleosides, and others. Regularity in the accumulation of nutrient and biologically active substances by cultures of Brassica oleracea L., by cultivar types and individual samples were revealed. As a result of our research using modern techniques new data on the biochemical composition of broccoli and cauliflower were obtained. B.oleracea within the studied botanical varieties and cultivar types has a complex biochemical composition that characterizes them as accessions with potentially high value, which confirms the need for indepth control of the biochemical composition of plants when breeding new varieties. Accessions with the optimal component composition for balanced human nutrition, which are proposed to be used in breeding for quality, including obtaining varieties for healthy (functional) and therapeutic and prophylactic nutrition of the population of the Russian Federation were found.

The biotechnological methods enable to produce the ‘pure’ lines for the short period of time that intensify the breeding program. Particularly, the anther culture is widely used to obtain double haploid lines (DH lines) in plant breeding. The technology advantage is to fast up essentially the selection of homozygous lines with different morphological traits and high level of uniformity. Contemporary breeding programs are directed at F1 hybrid development; therefore DH lines are in need to serve as the parental form for heterotic hybrid production. Nevertheless, previous data has shown that DH plants have been noticed to produce few seeds on them. To introduce the lines into breeding program for hybrid production and to multiply them, the seed formation of DH lines is worth being studied. The result of assessment of seed generation of DH lines of Broccoli that have been produced from ‘Tonus’ and convariety ‘N1’ is presented in the article There is much difference in morphological traits and both ability to recognize their own pollen and quantity of seeds in the pod among plants produced. Nine DH lines of early maturity were obtained. The differences in seed formation among these lines and between generations were revealed. It was shown the influence of genotype on seed formation in DH lines. It was also noticed the much seed formation in case of geitonogamic pollination in DH lines obtained from cultivar ‘Tonus’. The biological features of flowering in DH lines under conditions of climatic chambers have been studied.

Results of the study of possibility of cultivation of cauliflower and broccoli in the context of vertical zonality of Dagestan are presented. Physiological  characteristics, agriculture, and cultivation of early maturing varieties of cauliflower and broccoli during spring, summer, and autumn in condition of plain, piedmont, and mountain regions of Dagestan were studied. The high quality product of these crops was obtained in condition of Dagestan in the altitude of 1510 m above sea level.

Relevance. Growing plants in artificial conditions (closed agroecosystems) requires precise regulation of plant growth factors, starting from the first stages of ontogenesis. One of the parameters is the presence or absence of light in the period of seed germination. For most types of cabbage the standard method is germination in the dark, but for freshly harvested seeds (at rest) light exposure is necessary. According to the literature, the mechanisms of the effect of light on seed germination are complex and ambiguous, so the issue needs detailed research.Methods. Therefore, the purpose of this work was to study the germination of seeds of broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica Plenck) and Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa var. chinensis), taking into account the light factor and the simultaneous analysis of antioxidant activity as a marker of changes in metabolic processes.Results. The experiment has revealed a significant increase in the antioxidant activity of the microgreens during germination in the dark compared to germination in the light (in broccoli by 5.5 times, in Chinese cabbage by 4.8 times). Later on, after the seedlings are moved to the light, the differences between the light and dark versions practically disappear. After germination in the light, the antioxidant activity of microgreens in comparison with the original (dry seeds) decreased by 3-3.5 times, while in the dark – on the contrary, increased by 1.5-1.6 times. The final results of germination (germination energy and seed germination) practically do not differ in the versions. In the case of dark germination, the height of microgreens is greater (due to etiolation and stretching in the absence of light), however, later on, the differences in the versions are smoothed out. The biomass of microgreens in the version of light germination on the 4th day after sowing seeds in broccoli is by 9.1% higher, in Chinese cabbage – by 10.5%. In case of Chinese cabbage, differences remained until the end of the experiment (on the 18th day from sowing seeds), in case of broccoli they were smoothed out. Comparison of two kinds of cabbage has showen that broccoli in the closed system of the synergotron forms a much higher aboveground biomass than Chinese cabbage (on the 4th day after sowing – by 37%, on the 18th day – by 75.4% in the dark version).

The process of embryogenesis and technological experimental protocol has been studied and applied to produce doubled haploid plants from microspore cultured in vitro in broccoli B. oleracea L. convar. botrytis (L.) Alef. var. italica Plenck. It was shown that successful embryoid development occurred from microspore isolated from buds 4-5 mm long, containing microspores at late vacuolated stage and pollen grain at twocell stage. The optimal temperature of treatment was 32 Cᵒ within 2 days after culture was launched. The embryoids were produced from the following broccoli accessions: Arcadia F1, Everest, Green Valiant, Marathon F1, and Furio. The highest embryoid yield was obtained from accession Green Valiant, and consisted of 140 embryoids per Petri dish, whereas the lowest yield was in Furio, up to 3 embryoids per Petri dish. The first microspore division was observed in all accessions in 2-3 days of cultivation. Further development of embryoids went either directly into usual embryoid or into suspensor-like structures. The embryoids with suspensor developed more slowly than embryoids without one. We observed the embryoid formation not only at distal end towards microspore originated the suspensor-like structure but also the formation of chain of embryoids, and all variation of twin embryoid combinations. The study of process of embryogenesis in isolated microspores in vitro showed that this method can be used both to produce doubled haploid plants and study the developmental stages of zygotic embryos and suspensors.

The aim of the present investigation was development of an efficient technology for obtaining powders from fresh broccoli; determination of the possibility of using domestic production of broccoli as an import-substituting product; development of regulatory documentation for broccoli powders for the food industry. The research was carried out jointly with the representatives of the Federal Scientific cen-ter of vegetable production on an experimental basis in 2016. The domestic Tonus variety of broccoli (Federal Scientific center of vegetable production) and the Maraton F1 hybrid (France), differing in appearance, vegetative period, biochemical and physical characteristics were chosen. Technology of broccoli powder production from domestic and imported products was developed using two methods of drying convection and lyophilization. The gentle drying conditions of broccoli freeze drying compared to convective drying technology provided higher content of both vitamin C and polyphenols in the final powder. Comparative studies of organoleptic and physico-chemical properties of powders obtained from domestic and imported broccoli demonstrated close quality parameters, indicating the possibility of effective domestic broccoli utilization and import substitution. For the first time in the Russian Federation, the "Organization Standard" was developed for regulation of the quality parameters of broccoli powders intended for use in the food industry.

The plant growth stimulating preparations such as Agrostimul, Lignogumat, Ecosil and Organobor (Br) were tested in broccoli.  It was shown that variety reaction in dynamic of growth of assimilation apparatus was different when treating with  the preparations. The different  plant responses were  noticed  among  broccoli  cultivars.  The data analysis was carried out, where treated with stimulators cultivars were estimated for productivity, early-maturation, output quality, simultaneously-matured heads, duration  of  vegetation  period,  and  rates of  growing  in comparison with control variant. As a result of the study, it was shown that economic suitability of broccoli  cultivars varied depending on year temperature, and particularly the optimal time when broccoli  formed heads. The application  of  growth  stimulating  preparations  in  open field  of  southern regions is very promising,  in order  to enhance the adaptability and yield capacity during yearround cultivation and multiple utilization of a soil unit. The treatment of seedlings and vegetative plants after having been planted and at the beginning of head formation with growth stimulating preparation was very effective way to stimulate the growth and development and to hasten broccoli head formation. In our study, the preparation Agrostimul was the most effective in increasing the yield of central heads by 181% in cultivar Burpess, Green Bud and hybrid, Cape Queen by 134%, while the yield of extra heads from the first to the third was increased by 445% and 131%, respectively.