Relevance. Garlic is one of the most valuable food products and the increase in its production is associated with the growing needs of the population, the processing industry and medicine. Garlic is very responsive to the use of fertilizers, which are an integral part of the cultivation of individual crops and are aimed at obtaining high and stable yields with good quality products.Methods. The purpose of the research is to study the productivity of winter garlic, depending on the application of various norms of fertilizers. The studies were conducted in the arid zone of the Stavropol Territory. The objects of research were varieties of winter garlic Lyubasha, Leader, Jubileyny Gribovsky, the rate of mineral fertilizers. Potassium nitrate, monopotassium phosphate, ammonium nitrate, ammophos were used as mineral fertilizers.Results. As a result, it was established that with the use of fertilizers, the quantitative and qualitative indicators of the formation of the yield of garlic increased. The largest vegetative mass of garlic was formed when using the N120P95K50 in the food system; the highest values for plant height and leaf area were obtained, the difference with respect to control, was between 5-18 cm and 9-45 cm2 , respectively. The largest mass of the bulbs was obtained when making garlic N120P95K50 – 51-85 g, which exceeded the control by 15-18 g. Garlic plants grown with the use of N80P95K50 were the least affected with diseases - the degree of development of the diseases was less than with control, by 0.2-1.5%. The use of fertilizers in the cultivation of garlic contributed to an increase in crop yield: the highest indicators were obtained when applying N120P95K50 – 19.4-21.3 t/ha, which was more control, by 0.4-3.2 t/ha. Most of the nutrients in the bulbs accumulated when using N80P95K50: the dry matter content exceeded the control, N80P95K75 and N120P95K50 by 3-10%, sugars – by 0.3-1.4%, essential oils – by 0.02-0.1 mg/100 g, vitamin C – 2-8 mg per 100 g wet weight. The amount of nitrates in garlic bulbs was lower than the MPC by 3-33 mg/kg.

Relevance. Common dill (Anethum graveolens L.) is an annual plant of the celery family (Apiaceae). It has alternated variously repeatedly pinnatisected simple leaves character- ized by a number of morphological features including color, presence of waxy bloom, size and density of the final segments, size and shape of the leaf blade. Leaves on different nodes of the same plant can be variable. Environment conditions of plant cultivation also affect some morphological characteristics of the leaf (inc. size of the leaf and its final segments). But, under the same conditions each variety of dill possess a certain set of morphological features that determine the variety identity. In recent years, dill varieties with new morphological features of the leaf blade have emerged, and it is important to evaluate and classify the existing morphologic diversity of the plant.Methods. Several methods are currently used to describe morphological features of dill leaves structure: developed by VIR (All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources), UPOV, the plant approbation manual, description of leafy vegetables in “Cultivated Flora” compendium. There are similarities and differences between the methods in description of characteristics and their grouping according to the extent of the characters. In this study the current methods for description of the morphological features of dill leafs were compared. The described morphological evaluation of the dill varieties was carried out at 2016–2018 in open field in the Research Institute of Vegetable Crop Breeding (LLC), in the “Gavrish-Slobodskoy” Plant Breeding Center (Pavlovskaya Sloboda, Istrinsky district, Moscow region).Results. As a result, it was revealed that the UPOV method more comprehensively describes the morphological characteristics of dill leaf blade. This method can be extended in the following direction: Establish groups according to the length of leaf, using leaf blade length without petiole: small leaf blade – 5-12 cm, medium – 12-25 cm, large – 25- 40 cm; Establish new character: a density of leaf segments (in parts of the 2nd order) and identify the following groups: thin (up to 5 segments), medium density (6-15 segments), and dense (16 or more segments) arrangement of the segments; Establish new character: segment length, grouping it according their actual length: up to 1 cm – short, from 1 to 1.5 cm – medium, and more than 1.5 cm – long leaf segments. According to the evaluated leaf morphological characteristics: size, color, presence of waxy bloom, “leaf patterns”, the dill plants are very diverse. Two dill morphotypes can be distinguished by presence or absence of waxy bloom, 3 morphotypes by the leaf shape (diamond-shaped, elongated, triangular), and 27 morphotypes – by location and size of the final leaf segments.

Relevance. Tomato considered a significant vegetable crop that plays a prominent role in the field of human health. At present, there are large numbers of tomato cultivars with a wide range of morphological and sensorial characteristics which determine their use. Farmers often use some chemical substances which have similar structure and activity with endogenous plant hormone called (exogenous) as a low-cost alternative to regulate plant growth and increase yield. Thus, the use of Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs) has become an important component of the agro-technical procedures for most cultivated species.Methods. This study aims to evaluate the effect of four growth regulators (Krezacin, Chitosan, Zircon and Energene) on growth, productivity and quality of two Russian tomato varieties (Moriana and Superjol) under delta Volga conditions. Each type applied three times on both cultivars (Soaking tomato seeds before sowing, spraying on plants at vegetative phase, spraying on plants at flowering phase with three replications.Results. The results showed that; combination between Energene and cultivar Moriana enhanced the most of studied characters (Germination – 83.1%, fresh weight of Arial parts – 241.9 g, dry weight – 74.4 g, Number of № flowers/plant – 51.0, № fruits /plant – 35.6, fruit set – 69.8%, plant yield – 2.44 kg, TSS – 5.1°Brix, Content of Ascorbic Acid – 25.6 mg/100 g); Interaction between “Energene x Superjol” gave the maximum value for Plant height (85.6 cm), Fruit weight (72.6 g); while “Krezacin x Moriana” registered the highest fruit dry matter (6.77%) and Acidity (0.53%); Applying Zircon on Cultivar Moriana increased number of leaves/plant (56.8) and nitrate contents (27.6 mg/kg); the maximum LAI (150.1 cm2 ) obtained from interaction between Chitosan and cultivar Superjol whereas, “Chitosan x Moriana” treatment gave the highest level of Carotenoids (4.12%).

The work presents the results of the study of the antioxidant activity of fruits (clapper seeds) of aromatic plants, (Apiaceae, Lindl.): dill (Anethum graveolens L.) and coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.). The plant materials for determining the total content of antioxidants were collected during an ecological-geographical experiment at the Gunib and Tsudakhar experimental bases of the Mountain Botanical Garden of the Dagestan Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, at altitudes of 1100 and 1730 meters above sea level, simulating the conditions of mountain-valley and upper mountain climate zones, respectively. Determination of the total content of antioxidants in aqueous solutions was performed by the amperometric method on “Tsvet Yauza 01 -AA” instrument. Studies have shown the variability of accumulation of antioxidants, depending on the type, variety, height above sea level of the place of growth of the sample. In terms of the total content of antioxidants, the effect of the cultivation area substantially exceeded the inter-variety differences. In the studied species, intervarietal differences appeared more clearly in A. graveolens, which correlated with the latitude of the range and the ecological amplitude of growth of these species in natural habitats. The obtained data on the study of antioxidant activity in some aromatic medicinal plants allow to evaluate their biological value, to recommend more distinguished samples for cultivation. Plant materials with a high accumulation of antioxidants that can neutralize the harmful effects of oxidative stress can be used as a source of natural polyphenols, natural antioxidants in food. This methodical approach, demonstrated in the work, can serve as a methodological basis for studying the “genotype x environment” interaction and express assessment of varieties, clones, populations, and other units of accounting for the stability and sustainability of the parameters studied, including the content of antioxidants.

Relevance. A wide range of pharmacological effects of tansy and Echinacea purpurea determine the continuing interest in the study of these cultures. Medicinal crops contain not only a large number of biologically active substances, but also trace elements necessary for normal growth and development. Agronomic bio-enrichment of medicinal raw materials allows you to increase productivity, manage product quality in the direction of enhancing the pharmacological action. Thus, the aim of the work was to study the effect of various doses of zinc acetate on the productivity of two medicinal crops of tansy and Echinacea purpurea.Material and methods. Studies were conducted from 2012 to 2018 on meadow-chernozem soil of the southern forest-steppe of Western Siberia. As objects of research, perennial medicinal crops were chosen – Tanacetum vulgare L. and Echinacea purpurea L. Zinc fertilizers were applied in the background (N125, N135P45K45) used in acetate form.Results. The introduction of zinc fertilizers into the soil contributed to an increase in the yield of medicinal crops in the conditions of the south of Western Siberia. It was revealed that the maximum yield was observed on the variants of 0.75 MAC Zn (Tanacetum vulgare L.) and 0.5 MAC Zn (Echinacea purpurea). Thus, tansy was more responsive to the use of micronutrient fertilizers. The studies established a high correlation relationship (r = 0.88–0.99) between yield indicators and doses of zinc added. The obtained optimal doses of zinc fertilizers (60 and 21.4 kg / ha) can be recommended for growing these crops in order to increase their productivity.

Relevance The phenomenon of the different quality of seeds of the sowing seed Eruca sativa, Diplotaxis tenuifolia, Brassica juncea by coloring was studied. Color heterogeneity is usually combined with the size and weight of seeds. Methods Research tasks: determine the number of seeds available for coloring in depending on different years of reproduction; identify the best fractions of morphological, physiological and productive qualities; to study the peculiarities of influence on the manifestation of ecological, agrotechnical and hereditary factors heterospermia. Results Seeds with a higher mass of 1000 were predominantly dark in color. The content of total nitrogen in light seeds was 0.2-0.3%, and crude protein was 1.3-1.9% more than dark-colored ones. The distribution of seeds of different colors in batches of different years of reproduction is shown. The best fractions of seeds by morphological, physiological and productive qualities are revealed. It has been shown that productivity and its components are higher in plants grown from seeds of dark color. The correlation of the parameters of seeds of different quality with the weather conditions of the vegetation period is noted. For all three crops, there was a steady increase in the proportion of light seeds with an increase in average daily air temperature (r = 0.59-0.94). The features of the influence of environmental, agrotechnical and hereditary factors on the manifestations of heterospermia are studied. However, the degree of influence of environmental, including agrotechnical factors in some cases turns out to be much stronger. The maximum proportion of dark (most productive) seeds is provided by a combination of optimal weather conditions, agrotechnical methods (early sowing, ripening), seed collection from shoots 1-3 orders of branching and use for sowing the dark fraction of seeds.

Relevance An adaptive approach to the selection of vegetable plants highlights Siberian region for the distinctness of the general climate manifestations. The region is characterized by the general aridity of spring and the first half of summer combined with the sharp fluctuations of temperature during the growing season, a short frost-free period. And there is a positive aspect of the Siberian climate – the high level of solar insolation contributes to the intensification of photosynthesis and hastens all growth processes, reducing the need for the sum of biological temperatures, on average, by 200-300 degrees. Methods The developmental biology of radish in Siberian conditions has a number of characteristic features. Siberian radish cultivars have individual traits of the cropper development with the formation of plant ability of productive and generative time of germination in these conditions. During the period of breeding work in the region, 9 radish cultivars have been created and reproduced with various methods. Among them 5 cultivars have been created with methods of individual and mass selection from the best hybrid combinations of crossing, 2 cultivars with method of polyploidy, 1 cultivar with the method of inbred lines with the ability to fix the necessary characteristics in the generation, 1 cultivar with the use of pigmentation genes transgression when fixing the violet colour of the radish-root. Results The study of radish growth and its development with the replanting and direct method of obtaining seeds solves the issues of expanding the distribution range of Siberian selection cultivars. Qualitative seeds can be obtained only with the replanting method in the conditions of Siberia, in which the plants go through all the necessary stages of jarovization, excluding subsequently premature bolting.

Questions of quality of the sowed seeds in agriculture have paramount value. Use of highquality uniform seeds is the key to successful production of crop production. Vegetable seeds, in particular, leaf vegetables, are most vulnerable in this plan in view of their shallow amount, the long period of fructing time and some other factors. The modern tool methods of evaluation test allow to glance in internal structure of seeds and to scoop more information. The most suitable for these purposes is us the developed method of microfocal X-ray of vegetable seeds. In this work seeds of different types of green and spicy and flavoring vegetable crops are analysed: melissa, marjoram, asparagus, spinach and garden cress. The analysis was carried out both by a method of r of seeds, and by a standard technique. The most typical defects and shortcomings of internal structure of seeds influencing their economic and biological indicators are identified. Comparison of methods is carried out. It is shown that X-ray analysis of quality of seeds, in particular, viability, by visualization of images efficient and rather precise. The small error of a method is compensated with its bigger informational content: that is, the analysis is carried out not by the principle of viable and not viable seeds, there is their division as on viability (full, low quality), and on defects and shortcomings (outstanding, ugly, the defective, injured, etc.). At the same time seeds as a result of the analysis aren't utilized and remain for further work. The method differs in speed and ease of execution. The prospects of development of a method are specified. It is the integrated automatic analysis of quality of seeds. The algorithm of automatic computer X-ray analysis of quality of vegetable seeds is so far developed, the first version of the program is approved.

Relevance. Sterility is a very important trait that is indispensable for hybrid production. Genetic factor underlying in plant sterility can be now identified in large plant populations by DNA markers with high effectiveness and reliability. The evaluation of such markers enables to define their current applicability in breeding program.Methods. The markers from different publications that had been successfully used were taken to test their effectiveness on 19 accessions of bulb onion (Allium cepa L.).Results. Mitochondrial genes 5’cob, orf725 and orfA501 and alleles of fertility restoring locus Ms were also identified. Four breeding accessions had S-cytoplasm, nine accessions were with T-cytoplasm and six shared normal cytoplasm not showing any sterility gene in the analysis. As a result of marker testing, the all compositions of the genes in cytoplasm and Ms alleles in nucleus affecting the sterility had been revealed, such as one sterility maintainer, one male sterile accession, and two fertility restorers. However, it should be noted that not all markers tested were in accordance with each other, where the markers originated from chloroplast DNA of did not confirmed the results obtained with those cytoplasm-origins. As it was shown the practical use of the set of markers makes it possible to reveal necessary accessions with required gene composition for hybrid production in bulb onion.

Spicy-flavoring cultures are an indispensable source of vitamins, macro-and microelements, organic acids. Early and rapid formation and return of the crop greatly increases the value of these crops. One of the valuable spice-aromatic plants of the family Lamiaceae L. is Melissa officinalis (Melicca officinalis L.), which is grown as an essential oil culture. Melissa officinalis contains biologically active substances that can be used to enrich food products. Fresh Melicca officinalis leaves produce essential oil which contains precious substances citronellal, citrategeneric, linalool [1]. Leaves and young shoots in the open ground cut to bloom. Consume fresh or dry melissa demanding soil fertility and irrigation. The article provides information about its origin and biological features. A brief overview of the nutritional and medicinal value is given. One of the important areas of work in the creation of modern vegetable varieties is the selection of high content of biologically active substances with antioxidant activity, and suitability for growing on hydroponic plants in protected soil to supply the population with fragrant vitamin products of fresh herbs all year round. Cv. Zhemchuzhina of Melissa officinalis can be grown in multi circle hydroponics (MCH), using natural substrate (peat mixes). Young shoots of this variety can be consumed as early as 35 days after sowing, in which the content of water-soluble antioxidants in march is 5.9 mg/g in units of Gallic acid. Subsequent cuts should be carried out at intervals of 30-45 days, depending on the season. The article also describes the main elements of the technology of growing medicinal melissa in the open and protected ground for greenery and seed production.