Research staff All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Vegetable Growing – Branch of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution Federal Scientific Vegetable Center in collaboration with Russian state agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev agricultural Academy conducted research (2014-2016) on the effect of fertilizers and plant growth regulators on changes in the quality of onions of the Pervenets F1, Bennito F1 hybrids and Poisk 012 F1 during storage. As a result of research, the greatest effect was obtained from the complex application of N90P90K90 in combination with trace elements (tenso-cocktail) and a growth regulator Zircon. This system allowed to obtain high biochemical parameters of onions. At the end of the 7 months of storage (October-may), the highest dry matter and sugar content and the minimum nitrate content was observed in Pervenets F1 onions, as well as in hybrid Bennito F1. In the latematuring hybrid onions Poisk 012 F1 at the end of storage, the dry matter content decreased to 6,8-7,3%, sugars to 3,6-4,1%, vitamin "C" to 3,2-4,9 mg%, and nitrates increased to 92,1 mg/kg, which led to a decrease in product quality and large losses of onions from diseases and natural losses (up to 48-59%). The main reason for these losses was the lack of maturity of bulbs,low solids and sugars during harvest. It is obvious that for long-term storage it is necessary to use bulbs with a dry matter content of at least 10%. It was found out that feeding of onions during the beginning of the formation of food organizations with potassium nitrate, treatment with a growth regulator of Zircon and a complex of microelements of tenso-cocktail contributes to better preservation of the quality of onions.

Relevance. Fermentation of cabbage is a common way of processing, which allows to preserve and strengthen its useful qualities. To date, breeders have proposed a significant number of varieties and hybrids of cabbage, each of which has its own individual biochemical characteristics. Traditional sauerkraut is carried out after harvest. Long storage can affect the change in the content of organic acids and sugars in cabbage.Methods. The aim of the work was to study the parameters of the fermentation process of eight varieties and hybrids of cabbage by selection in the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution Federal Scientific Vegetable Center by the intensity of sugar reduction, accumulation of organic acids, organoleptic parameters and activity of lactic acid microorganisms. Fermentation was carried out after a 5-month period of storage of heads.Results. The results showed that the storage period did not affect the fermentation result of most of the studied varieties and hybrids of cabbage. There are varietal differences in the initial content of mono-and disaccharides, organic acids, which affected the fermentation process. The increased content of malic acid in the variety population Podarok, F1 Severyanka contributed to the slowdown of the first stage of fermentation. Varietal features of the Parus population contributed to the slowdown of the first and second stages of fermentation, which was manifested in a decrease in the rate of destruction of sugars. Variety Zymovka 1474 in the process of processing by fermentation accumulates a significant amount of succinic acid, which can characterize its special difference among the studied varieties and hybrids. The best organoleptic characteristics were distinguished by hybrids of fermented cabbage F1 Likova, F1 Natali, F1 Mechta and F1 Snezhinka. The results of the study suggest that the processing of cabbage by fermentation should take into account its individual varietal biochemical features. This will not only preserve the valuable nutritional properties of the cabbage itself, but also strengthen them by optimizing the natural process of lactic acid fermentation. The result will be the best organoleptic effect achieved by an optimal combination of lactic and citric acids and mono-sugars.

One of the most important crops among all types of Alliums is onion, the value of which is determined by the nutritional and medicinal properties. It is used not only as a seasoning for food, but also as a source of a number of biologically active substances. The biochemical composition of the bulbs and its green leaves in different periods of growth and development varies, depending on the variety, environmental conditions and agrotechnical methods of cultivation. Creation on the basis of interspecies hybridization of fundamentally new forms of Allium plants with a unique combination of genetic material allows to expand the possibility of selection of valuable genotypes in practical terms. The study was performed on plants of the inbred progenies I4-5 from BC1-2 bulbous forms of interspecific hybrids of Allium crossing combinations F5(A. cepa xA. vavilovii), F5(A. cepa x A. fistulosum). The biometric assessment was carried out after harvesting and drying the bulbs according to the "test Procedure for distinctiveness, uniformity and stability" according to the main breeding characteristics: the color of the dry cover scales of the bulb, the mass of the bulb, the shape of the bulb. As the standard used plant varieties Odintsovets. The biochemical composition of onion samples was determined by the content of dry matter, monosaccharides, the amount of sugars, ascorbic acid, antioxidants. Based on the biometric assessment of the forms of interspecific hybrids of onions, 5 forms were identified according to the uniformity of such features as the color of dry cover scales and the shape of the bulb weighing 50-60 g, which are a qualitatively new source material for breeding. In determining the biochemical composition of the isolated forms of interspecific hybrids of Alliums on the main breeding grounds found that the plants of these forms of onions indicators of dry matter (15%), monosaccharides (1.15-1.71%), the amount of sugars (11.17%), were at the level of the standard, or exceeded it, but the total content of antioxidants (8.22 mg/g) inferior to the standard.

Dagestan is the largest region with irrigation system of agriculture in Russia. Irrigated lands provide 70% of total plant production. The field cultivation is carried on arable land in plain region of the republic. The drip irrigation as an ecologically safe technology for watering is regarded as major means for vegetable production farming. This approach maintains the propitious level of water and air in the soil without surface and deep drainage of irrigating water. These irrigated lands are expected to be used first of all for valuable and profitable crops such as tomato that is a leading crop in Dagestan. The experimental work was carried out at OOO ‘Dagagrocomplex’, Aleksandro-Nevskoye, in Tarumovskiy region. The aim of the study was to determinate the optimal dose of mineral fertilizers and the way of their application to improve the productivity without quality loss. The complex analysis of the technology for tomato production under drip irrigation through nontransplanting culture showed its high efficiency, because volume and quality of yield directly depended on soil moisture and precise supporting of mineral nutrition rates. The maximal yield of tomato fruits, 88.7-94.5 t/ha was observed with once mineral fertilizer application at a dose of N180P135K60 with soil humidity 70-80% (field moisture capacity), and also at the dose of N180P135K60 with basic application of N100 in nutrition rate. The result of the study showed that the optimization of two factors, namely soil water rate and mineral nutrition, enabled to produce additionally 39.2 t/ha. It was shown the tight connection between yielding and its quality; when yielding 95 t/ha, the increased contents of dry matter to 7.01%, sugar to 3.8% vitamin C to 18.46% were noticed. The high quality of produced output was supported by pre-watering threshold of moisture at 75-80% (field moisture capacity), when once fertilizer application at a dose of N180P135K60.

Physalis (Physalis L.) is grown worldwide.  P. pubescens L. is most widespread in Russia. The analysis of development of biochemical properties in fruits of P. pubescens L. in temperate climate was presented in the article. The berries of physalis have acid reaction and high nutrient value due to polyphenols, carotenoids that give orange color, also contain moderate  quantity  of  vitamin  C.  Moreover  in  the  berry juice there are significant quantities of potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper, iron, manganese and boron. P. pubescens L. is a promising exotic  crop  that  can be used for  production  of functional  foodstuffs.   Physalis  berries  are  usually used as fresh vegetables for salad recipes, providing the sweet and sour balanced taste. The whole fruit berries are also processed  into  syrups or  dried,  so that they are regarded as ‘elegant raisins’. Our study showed that the dry matter content was 15.5% in cultivar ‘Zolotaya Rossiyp’ in temperate climate,  while the ascorbic acid content  was 9.9 mg per 100 g. of wet weight. In temperate climate 318 mg GAE/100 g. polyphenols were accumulated in the berry of P. pubescens L. The titrated acidity of ‘Zolotaya Rossiyp’  berries was 0.90%,  at  pH  4.72.  The level higher than 4 confirms the low  acidity. This can be explained by the fact of presence of organic acids as a free forms in the berry juice.

Relevance. The nutritional value of gourds is quite high and is of great importance in the life of the human body. A significant point in modern melon growing is to increase yields without reducing the quality of the products obtained. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new methods of cultivation technologies that allow obtaining stable fruit yields without reducing the quality of table watermelon products of different ripeness groups, in the climatic conditions of the Volgograd region.Material and methodology. The object of research is a watermelon of medium ripening, variety Zemlyanin, and late ripening, variety Kholodok. We studied new types of water-soluble fertilizers Fe chelate, as well as Vegetable Aquarin, by using them for soaking seeds before sowing and processing plants during the growing season.Results. The use of chelated fertilizers in the technology of growing table watermelon of medium and late ripening is an effective technique for obtaining stable yields. The use of water-soluble fertilizers, with various methods of their use, provided an increase in the yield of Zemlyanin watermelon by 2.7-27.8%, and Kholodok watermelon by 2-22.4% in comparison with the control (without treatments). The largest fruits were obtained in the variant Aquarin vegetable (plant processing) Zemlyanin variety - 6.8 kg and Kholodok variety - 8.4 kg. A comparative analysis of the biochemical composition of fruits showed that water-soluble chelate fertilizers do not have a negative effect on the accumulation of nitrates in varieties of medium and late ripening. As a result of research, a positive effect of water-soluble micronutrient fertilizers has been revealed on improving the quality of fruits, which increased the content of ascorbic acid and sugars.