National park like Solovky Islands is a one of the example of distant North region in Russia where for a past and present time there has been the history of collecting plants for different proposes such as cultivation, ornamentation. Orthodoxy monasteries where were first attempts at vegetable growing were made, since then they have still maintained cultural plant growing. The first historical record on gardening in Russia came from XI-XII century as chronicles showed. In June, 2008 the group from All-Russian Research Institute of Vegetable Breeding and Seed Production chanced to visit this region refreshing the information about this distant-located and beautiful place.

Молекулярное маркирование селекционно ценных признаков у сельскохозяйственных растений получило большое развитие в пребридинговых исследованиях 90-х годов прошлого и начала нынешнего столетия. С ДНК-маркерами, как с основными носителями информации о структуре генома, селекционеры связывали и связывают большие надежды. Однако внедрение MAS/MARS - технологий в селекционные программы в Российской Федерации крайне затруднено. Это обусловлено отчасти недостаточностью материально-технической базы, дороговизной молекулярных технологий и нехваткой кадров, подготовленных для проведения подобного рода исследований, а отчасти и неспособностью использовать на практике необходимую информацию, добытую, зачастую, весьма нелёгким путём. Участвуя в международной конференции «Традиционная и молекулярная селекция полевых и овощных культур» в г. Нови Сад (Сербия), мы познакомились с профессором Иллинойского университета Ритой Мамм, которая любезно предоставила нам доступную информацию об использовании молекулярных маркеров в коммерческих селекционных программах США. Статья была опубликована в журнале «Crop Science», №47 (S3), 2007, с. 154-163, издаваемом Crop Science Society of America (Научным обществом растениеводов Америки). Этой информацией мы хотели бы поделиться с читателями журнала «Овощи России».

Recognized scientists in the plant protection, immune genetics and gamete selection Natalia Nikolaevna Balashova celebrates her 80th anniversary on this date 18th of June 2009. A corresponding fellow of Academy of Agricultural Science of Moldavia, Academician of International Academy of Informatization Veteran of Labor, professor she worked as a leading researcher of a laboratory of gamete selection and molecular methods; a deputy head of the All-Russian Research Institute of Vegetable Breeding and Seed Production, RAAS from 1992 to 1999; a head of laboratory of gamete selection and molecular methods from 1991 to 2002.

The subject of breeding and seed production has been studied as an innovative process, the result of which is new varieties and hybrids. At All-Russian Research Institute of Vegetable Breeding Production where the results of this complex system work can be exemplified. Cost efficiency of selection and seed production is analyzed, and methods of its perfection are offered. It has been proven that there is a necessity to build a State Corporation for seed production as a main link between modern economics and the seed production sector.

On the 25th of February 2009 the international scientific conference was held at All-Russian Research Institute of Vegetable Growing, RAAS. This meeting was to mark the 110th birthday of Kvasnikov B.V. meritorious and outstanding plant breeding specialist, the honoured scientist in agriculture science.

С 10 по 12 февраля 2009 года проходило ежегодное общее годичное собрание Россельхозакадемии, в рамках которого 10 февраля проведено заседание селекцентра, 11 февраля - годичное собрание Отделения растениеводства.

Genus Cucurbita includes about 30 species. In Russia the genus is mostly presented by 3 following species: winter squash (Cucurbita maxima Duch); acum squash (Cucurbita pero), they include marrow, Pattypan squash; butternut squash (Cucurbita moschata Duch).The research group of the institute has bred cultivars of pumpkin, marrow type and Pattypan squash with high yield and cold resistant abilities, resistant to pathogens. All these cultivars meet all high requirements of the market. With the use of all offered cultivars it has become possible to grow them one by another like a conveyer during a vegetative period in Moscow region.

Plant cultivation that should be characterized by proper yield abilities is often limited in different arable lands for the reason of abiotic and biotic stress factors. Drought stress in plants causes the high content of soluble substances that have a high osmotic potential. The plant adaptation to the high osmotic pressure in drought condition may occur either by natural adaptation to changed environment or genotype population ability under selective breeding. To implement a quick test on drought tolerance, the influence of high osmotic pressure caused by the polyethilengly-col (P.E.G.) solution of different concentrations with molecular weight 8000Da on germinating seeds of Brassica rapa L. was studied.

16 июля 2009 года на базе Краснодарского НИИ овощного и картофельного хозяйства проводился День поля для работников сельского хозяйства Краснодарского края.

On 25th of November, 2009 is a 90th date of birthday of Juriy Ivanovich Chirkov, doctor in geography, and associate professor at meteorology and climate department of Timiriyazev Academy of Agriculture. It is him a distinguished researcher who was an inventor of theory for yield forecasting in agriculture and an author of the methods applying for accurate climate assessment used for plant adaptation to the climatic condition in different regions.