As a result of the research carried out in 2013-2016, the viability and originality of 1157 accessions of root vegetables have been preserved. 250 breeding accessions of carrot, beetroot and radish have been assessed for different economically valuable traits in open field and laboratory tests. Out of them, 65 accessions were selected out as sources of economically valuable traits. The early-maturing accessions of radish, such as ‘Korsar’, ‘Francuzsky Zavtrak’, ‘Mikhnevsky 1’, ‘18 Dney’, ‘Koroleva Margo’, ‘Polyna’, ‘Rozovo-Krasny s Belym Konchikom’, ‘Sofit’, ‘Kvarta’, ‘Saksa’, ‘Variant’ were regarded. The carrot accessions, such as ‘Scarlet’, ‘Koroleva Oseni’, ‘Dlinnaya Krasnaya’ were distinguished as sources of high yield capacity. The sources of high root yield in beetroot were varieties: ‘Valenta’, ‘Mestnaya iz Madagaskara’, Goldiers Super Black Beet, Zwaans Early Red Chief. The long shelf-life during wintertime was observed in beetroot varieties: ‘Slowiblot’, ‘Valenta’, ‘Lomarina’. The varieties: ‘Nevezhes’, ‘Neger Schwarz Halblange’, ‘Goldiers Super Black Beet’ were distinguished by high root marketability. With the use of world plant collection at VIR, the following varieties of root vegetables: ‘Dar Podmoskovya’ in carrot; ‘Osennya Princessa’ in beetroot; ‘Mikhnevskiy 1 ‘in garden radish; ‘Osenniy Krasavets’ in daikon; ‘Albina’ in root parsley; ‘Atlant’ in parsnip; Moscowskiy Krasavets in celery, and ‘Oseniya Udacha’ in wild radish were developed. It was also shown those varieties that had high yield capacity and root marketability were distinguished by small epidermal cell structure and large number of stomata per unit of leaf surface. It may be supposed that the large number of stomata per unit of leaf surface and small epidermal cell structure was the evidence of adaptive capacity of accessions taken for the study.

The main advantage of root vegetables is their unique specificity and high economic importance. The benefits and medicinal properties of root vegetables being highly demanded by the market requirements to the commodity are highlighted in the article. The main directions of breeding program for root vegetable crops, including species of Apiaceae family with carrot, parsnips; Chenopodioideae family with red beet; Brassicaceae family with radish, Daikon, Raphanus sativus L. var. lobo Sazonova & Stank, turnip and rutabaga. Initial breeding accessions of carrot, red beet, radish, Daikon, Raphanus sativus L. var. lobo Sazonova & Stank, turnip and rutabaga have been selected out to be used for breeding program for heterosis. The mf and ms breeding lines were developed, and with the use of them the new gene pool was created. Variety supporting breeding program and methods were also proposed.

Cтоловые корнеплоды (морковь, свекла столовая, редис, репа, пастернак и др.) являются источниками разнообразных витаминов и биологически активных веществ, поэтому они популярны во всем мире. Значительную долю в структуре производства и посевных площадей занимают морковь и свекла столовая. Согласно данным FAOSTAT, в 2018 г. в РФ произведено 1508 тыс. т моркови и 837 тыс. т свеклы столовой, что составляет 60% и 30% соответственно от существующих потребностей, даже импорт этой продукции не позволяет полностью их удовлетворить. Исходя из стратегии продовольственной безопасности, для повышения обеспеченности населения отечественной продукцией необходимо не только увеличение посевных площадей, но и быстрое внедрение сортов и гибридов F1 отечественной селекции, отвечающих требованиям промышленных технологий. С учетом этих требований в Федеральном научном центре овощеводства созданы сорта и гибриды столовых корнеплодов. Морковь столовая: F1 Надежда (сортотип Нантская), F1 Риф (сортотип Шантенэ) с урожайностью более 90 т/га, высокой выровненностью, сохранностью 95-98%, групповой устойчивостью к болезням хранения, сорт Маргоша (сортотип Нантская/Берликум) со стабильной урожайностью до 90 т/га, высокой экологической пластичностью. Одно-двусемянные сорта свеклы столовой: Бордо односемянная, Любава, Гаспадыня, с уровнем товарности 95-98%, с интенсивно окрашенной мякотью без четко выраженных колец. Репа японская Гейша и Снегурочка со съедобными листьями и сочной нежной мякотью корнеплода и ультраскороспелые формы Сапфир, Бирюза и Селекта для проточной гидропоники; скороспелые сорта редиса Ария, Соната, Миф и Мавр, устойчивые к стеблеванию и высоким содержанием аскорбиновой кислоты. Внедрение указанных сортов и гибридов в производство обеспечит хозяйствам стабильную прибыль. Государственная поддержка отечественных селекционеров поможет сделать овощеводство инвестиционно привлекательной отраслью. | Table root crops: carrots, beetroot, radish, turnips and parsnips and others are sources of various vitamins and biologically active substances, so, they are popular in the world. A significant share in the structure of production and acreage is occupied by carrot and beetroot. According to the FAOSTAT data, in 2018, the Russian Federation produced 1508 thousand t of carrot and 837 thousand t of beetroot, which is 60 and 30%, respectively, of the existing needs, even the import of these products does not fully meet them. Based on the strategy of food security, in order to increase the population's supply with domestic products, it is necessary not only to increase the acreage, but also to quickly introduce F1 varieties and hybrids of domestic selection that meet the requirements of industrial technologies. Given these requirements, the Federal Scientific Vegetable Center has developed varieties and hybrids table root crops. Carrot F1 Nadezda (variety Nantskaya), F1 Rif (variety Shantane) with a stable yield of more than 90 t/ha, high uniformity, safety 95-98%, group resistance to storage diseases, Margosha variety (variety Nantskaya /Berlicum) with a stable yield at least 100 t/ha, high environmental resistance; single- and double-seeded varieties of beets, Bordo odnosemyannaya, Lubava, Gaspadynya, with a marketability level of 95-98%, intensely colored pulp without clearly defined rings; Japanese Geisha and Snegurochka turnips with edible leaves and juicy tender root pulp and ultra-ripe forms of Sapfir, Biryuza and Selekta for flow hydroponics; precocious varieties of radish Aria, Sonata, Mif and Mavr resistant to shooting and with a high ascorbic acid content.